By Sydney Clevenger
Staff are essential to quality care in senior living communities. Elder residents who are able to become familiar with their same caregivers daily, feel more at home in their surroundings, and are more likely to ask for help when needed, or even better, have their needs met without asking.
“Having the same caregivers can really make a difference in a resident’s quality of life,” said Geneva Jacobs Dougal, director of human resources at Cedar Sinai Park, a senior community with 250 part- and full-time staff. “A caregiver who has been trained, and on staff for a while, will always be able to provide better care because continuity is important for elders, especially those with dementia or other cognitive needs.”
With staff turnover historically an issue for senior living communities, and one that can set the tone for an organization’s reputation, many senior communities wisely focus on staff training and retention.
“We put a lot of work upfront into making new employees feel welcome, and ensuring their questions are answered, and that they are comfortable,” said Jacobs Dougal. “Better employee morale typically translates to better resident care.”
One way to measure employee morale is in longevity, particularly in positions with high turnover such as housekeeping or culinary.
“Many senior communities contract out for services such as cleaning and maintenance and nursing because they have a hard time keeping qualified staff,” said Jacobs Dougal. “Residents at those communities may find contracted services have a different feel than services that are provided by in-house staff, who have more of a stake in outcomes.”
Cedar Sinai Park, which operates Rose Schnitzer Manor Assisted Living and Robison Jewish Health Center/Harold Schnitzer Center for Living, has long had a reputation for low staff turnover, and the trend continued after Covid. For example, said Jacobs Dougal, Cedar Sinai Park’s incredible building services team of 19 members, has an average tenure of 10 ½ years! The average tenure of all employees at Cedar Sinai Park is 5 years and 9 months, typically higher than the industry average in Oregon, and definitely nationally.
“Covid was rough on employees at senior living organizations, and many folks, particularly those in caregiving and nursing positions, left their fields entirely,” said Jacobs Dougal. “Most communities have bounced back from those days, but when touring a community, the longevity of staff is still an important question to ask.
“Employee tenure is a good benchmark for employee happiness, and consequently, quality of care.
“Friendly employees who look you in the eye during a visit and acknowledge that you are there, especially with a smile, also indicate a good vibe in a community,” said Jacobs Dougal. “Staff who have a good rapport and are communicating well with one another are another good indicator of employee morale.
“A good caregiver can become a loyal friend or family member. In selecting a senior community, it’s the one time elders are able to select their friends and family!”
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