Managing a senior living facility is not exactly like managing a business. While there are some similarities, and some things that you can learn from running a business, there are a few things that are entirely unique to senior living centers. If you’re the manager of one of these centers, or you are about to be, then it is important that you know as much as you can in order to give your residents the best experience possible. Below are a few tips to help get you started, and hopefully make your senior living facility the best it can be.
Start With Design
One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make as the manager is how your facility is designed. Whether you are involved with the project from the ground up, or working with existing buildings, how the building is designed plays a vital role. The design is more than how the exterior and interior of the building look however.
According to OZ Architecture, planning a senior living center includes everything from “ independent living, memory care support, and assisted living options – to skilled nursing accommodations, short-term care, comfortable visiting areas, and outdoor accessibility.” All of these factors need to be considered when designing the building, and not just what color the walls should be.
Know Your Residents
The best way to learn about how to improve your senior living facility is to talk to the people that actually live there. Find out what they enjoy about your facility, and what needs improving. Sometimes a simple improvement will make a large difference, but the only way you’ll know to do it is if you talk to the residents. Have monthly meetings where residents can voice their concerns, or leave something like a suggestion box in a common area. The more feedback you can gather, the better decisions you can make.
Explore Innovations
A good business owner will always be on the lookout for new technologies and innovations that can improve their business – and it is no different for a senior living facility manager. New technologies comes out all the time that can improve the lives of seniors, or improve the way you run the facility. By keeping abreast of the newest developments, you can not only make your facility a better place to live, but you may even find some ways to be more cost-effective. For starters, you can learn about some of the newest senior living innovations here.
Hire The Right Staff
Your employees are another big part of your facility. Unlike some other businesses, resident satisfaction at a senior living center will depend largely on the residents’ interactions with staff. If your employees are smart, kind, and helpful, this will go a long way towards ensuring your residents are happy. This goes not only for those employees who work directly with the residents – such as the nursing staff- but for those behind the scenes as well. Custodians, accountants, etc., should all be aware of the challenges that come with working with seniors, and be able to handle them. Not only will hiring the right staff make your residents happy, but it will make your life as a manager easier as well.
Examine Other Facilities
Lastly, there is a good chance that you are not the only senior living facility in the area. Just like with any other business, you need to examine your competition. Find out what these other facilities are doing well, and where they are lacking. Talk to residents who have spent time at these facilities, and learn how your location can make improvements. You can be sure the other facility is monitoring your location, so if you want to stay ahead of them, you’ll need to conduct a little opposition research.
Remember Who You’re Working For
When managing a senior living center, it is important to remember who you are working for. In the business world, the goal is often to turn a profit and make your boss happy. With a senior living center though, your goal should be to make the residents happy. Your location is where people are choosing to spend the rest of their lives, and this is a tremendous responsibility. By applying some of the tips above, you should be able to keep your focus on the residents, rather than solely on profits, and turn your facility into a great place to live.