LIFELONG LEARNING
Improve Outcomes An Age Well Study, conducted by Mather Lifeways Insti- tute on Aging, shows promising results for those choosing to enjoy their senior years in a continuum of care retire-
ment community (CCRC). Researchers collected survey responses from more than 5,000 seniors living in CCRCs around the U.S. and compared them to existing research findings from ongoing stud- ies. The report examined key indicators of wellness, from physical health to general satisfaction with life. The report found that the benefits of a CCRC contribute to better emotional stability, more social satisfaction, improved engagement in a healthier lifestyle, higher rates of intellectual wellness, and a greater sense of purpose. When you are in the business of caring for people, it is essential
to stay focused on the quality of care you provide. Staff within senior living communities come from a variety of backgrounds. While there are some who are registered nurses or licensed practical nurses, there are many who do not have a nursing background. They are often promoted into their positions because they have proven themselves to be reliable, responsible and accountable employees. While these are excellent qualities, education is needed to help caregivers take on senior living core responsibilities and improve outcomes.
Shape Public Opinion & Manage Perceptions Assisted and senior living experts agree that there is more to fulfilling the “quality” promise than meeting
state or company’s standards, or even exceeding them. Quality, in the subjective sense of the word, is also about perceptions. Nothing is more valuable than managing public perception
about your community. Many industries have taken proactive steps to help shape public opinion and give patrons peace of mind that they are delivering a quality product. In particular, the restaurant industry comes to mind. The restaurant community has taken steps to manage public
perceptions with its ServSafe program. If you have worked in the food and service industries, you know how important food safety is to the company and its customers. Think about it: when you go to a restaurant or coffee shop, you
want to know that the person handling your food and drink is doing it correctly to prevent the spread of germs. You also want to trust that the food is being stored at the proper temperatures so that you don’t become sick from something spoiled. One bad review or case of food poisoning can damage the reputation of a restaurant. So how can restaurants ensure that every person on staff who may handle food or beverages knows how to do so? The easiest way is through training, testing, and certification. To demonstrate a commitment to food safety practices, many
restaurants have their ServSafe certificates posted somewhere that is visible to guests. It’s also an integral part of the onboarding process for new hires in food services. Continual training and education is essential for frontline employees to stay current on food safety handling best practices. And for employees, having ServSafe Certification on a resume can put them ahead of the pack when applying for positions in the food industry.
12 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JULY/AUGUST 2022
Nothing is more valuable than managing public perception about your community. Many industries have taken proactive steps to help shape public opinion and give patrons peace of mind that they are delivering a quality product.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance Compliance doesn’t just happen. It requires the orga- nization and internal functions to continually and con- sistently review the current compliance environment,
update processes and practices based on new and changing laws as well as industry best practices, implement policy changes when necessary and see those changes through, which ultimately guar- antees compliance. In large part, the senior living community is licensed on a
state level. It has kept out of the federal arena purposely because providers have finite resources and really wanted to focus those on what was going on at a state level. COVID-19 changed every- thing for senior living. Our communities were subject to CDC and OSHA requirements for infection prevention control (IPC) to protect the population, and variants led to this national state of emergency for seniors. The senior living community invested in safety and continually complies with CDC and OSHA regulations. The industry has accomplished that goal by investing in PPE and workforce train- ing and education. They complied with the ever-changing CDC guidelines and have spent a lot of their resources doing it. At the end of the day, it is important to reinforce your compli-
ance procedures and policies by making training a regular event. The more familiar your team is with what’s expected of them, the less likely they will be to make costly mistakes. You can also remove the stigma of compliance failure by turning negatives into positives through ongoing employee training. Investing in training and education for your employees not
only benefits the individual and the company they work for, it also raises the bar for the industry. A well-educated and trained group of professionals will be able to position the industry as an attractive option for those looking to start careers and even more importantly, will help your company increase employee retention rates, mitigate risk, improve outcomes, shape public opinion about the level of care our seniors receive from staff in our communities and ensure regulatory compliance.
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