We recently polled sales leaders in the senior living industry to find out what they were expecting for the year 2022 after a year that was both unpredictable and eventful. Everyone wants to see a rise in the population. Everyone wants to keep their current employees. Everyone wants to recruit the most qualified candidates.
Here are three trends to look out for in the upcoming year.
1. Get more done with less.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation reached a 30-year high of 6.2 percent in October of 2021, the highest level in 30 years. Senior care is already suffering the effects of the recession. It's time to get creative at the community level, with everything from prospect queries to resident experiences to existing staff members and prospective candidates in mind.
"Think appreciation, acknowledgment, and celebration," advises one Vice President of Sales for a prominent senior housing company. Oh, and don't forget to sprinkle in some comedy and laughter! "We'd all like to see more of it!"
Investigate low-cost methods of delivering the "WOW" factor to your residents; after all, they will be the ones who will have to cope with rate rises first and foremost. Giving them the love and attention they deserve is the most important thing you can do to help them achieve their goals.
2. Treat your staff as though they were inhabitants in your home.
Keep an eye out for the rear entrance of the house. Caregivers are still suffering from severe weariness as a result of the previous two years. In fact, some of the most outstanding healthcare professionals are deciding to leave the field. We are in desperate need of these!
Find methods to express your appreciation for their efforts without spending a fortune, such as increasing their paid time off. Some towns are increasingly offering unlimited paid time off (PTO). Improved communication among team members occurs when team members rely on cooperation between management and employees for shift coverage and completed tasks.
3. Employ individuals that share your basic principles.
Experience does not have to be the be-all and end-all when it comes to hiring. One huge Midwest senior housing company only employs what they refer to as 51ers.
"They are people who believe in our purpose, who care about elders, and who recognize that they deserve to be treated with compassion. I'm capable of teaching them how to arrange dining tables, change bed linens, and do any number of other caregiving tasks, but I'm not capable of instructing them on why there is such a high level of responsibility when it comes to caring for elders."
As the year 2022 approaches, taking a risk on individuals who have high standards, a good heart, are champions for elders, and who can create amazing experiences with residents and their families is a wise strategy to employ moving ahead.
Make sure that everyone on your team is on the same page for 2022. Find methods to acknowledge them, to celebrate your present residents, and to foster a positive culture filled with kindness, humor, and fun that will attract the next family in need of a community they can rely on to care for their aging parent or loved one.
