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Sponsored by WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT


Senior Living Will Shine In These Dark Times


Mark Woodka, CEO, OnShift I


n my many years working in the senior living space, I have seen countless ex- amples of the selfl ess nature that makes


this industry so great. However, I never imagined circumstances quite like this. COVID-19 has changed everything. Every interaction we have with each


other has changed. In fact, most people and non-direct healthcare organizations have now quickly moved to a #stayhome approach to help fl atten the curve. However, this is not the case for most of


you working in senior living. You are going into work and caring for our family mem- bers. You are making incredible sacrifi ces, and for that, we thank you. I have been so impressed with how senior living operators and their employees are re- sponding to this new challenge with urgen- cy, diligence and respect to ensure resident safety. Everyone is stepping up, from industry associations and corporate leadership to our selfl ess and brave-beyond-belief caregivers. And these caregivers are going out of


their way to keep residents’ spirits up. Many are helping them FaceTime with friends and family to stay connected. Others are organizing efforts to have people write letters to residents. One community even got staff and residents involved to create a viral-worthy sing-along video about taking proper safety precautions during this time. I think I can speak for all of us when say


how touching it is to see the photos and vid- eos of family members visiting their loved ones through their windows, holding signs and sending their love. People are coming together in creative ways and it’s been so wonderful to watch. In addition, I’m encouraged that orga-


nizations are focusing on addressing the concerns of their employees at this time.


For example, as many schools and daycares have closed, childcare for employees has become a huge stressor. But I have heard how providers are trying to alleviate this concern of their employees by renting space and scheduling staff to take turns watching each other’s children. Others are moving salaried employees to hourly so they can work extra hours to support those on the front line—and be fairly compensated. But the sweeping resourcefulness we’re


seeing across the industry doesn’t stop there. Many operators are tapping into the large group of people recently out of a job, bringing them in for non-medical positions in the community. Residents get the extra care they need, we can support those in our community who need a paycheck and again, we’re able to relieve some of the stress our caregivers are experiencing. There’s some- thing for everyone. We have a great opportunity here, and I


urge providers that have not begun recruit- ing displaced workers to take action as soon as possible. When targeting these workers, it’s im-


portant to get the messaging right. Start by expressing sympathy for their situation— just imagine how it would feel to be jobless during these uncertain times. Communicate that you can help by off ering immediate work in areas like dining, housekeeping, and caregiving, that you are willing to pay for any necessary training and that you understand they will return to their jobs when businesses reopen. Finally—and here’s where the real opportunity lies— communicate all of the rewarding aspects of working in senior living, especially during this incredible time of need. If I had to bet, I’d say some of these tempo- rary workers will turn into full-time staff mem-


bers when they are exposed to the wonderful things happening in your communities. Once you have your messaging in place,


cast the widest net possible with your out- reach. Call local businesses that have closed to offer staff temporary work, and post openings on social media. Get staff involved by having them spread the word to their networks—they know good people and odds are a few of them have been aff ected. To help support your efforts, OnShift


recently created a recruiting toolkit to help you connect with these displaced workers. It features numerous social post templates, strategies to connect with affected local businesses and many other relevant best practices. You can download it here: www. onshift.com/recruiting-toolkit. We hope you fi nd it useful and see success


in your near-future recruiting eff orts. I want to once again thank everyone in


senior living for all that you are doing during these trying times. Your dedication gives me hope and makes me see the light at the end of the tunnel. We will all come out of this, but you will come out as heroes.


MARCH/APRIL 2020 ARGENTUM.ORG 33


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