Sharing Your Story: A Staff Perspective

National Assisted Living Week is September 8th-14th, 2024. Throughout the week, we will be sharing great insights on the holistic benefits of communal living for seniors, as well as spotlighting all the different people whose experiences are shaped by assisted living communities every single day.

Sharing Your Story: A Staff Perspective

A people-first mentality is so important to achieving fulfillment in an assisted living setting, both for the residents, their loved ones, and the staff working there. Prioritizing individuality makes a significant difference in the lives of everyone involved and ensures that personal dignity and autonomy are always being considered. As we shine a light on the various aspects of senior living communities, it’s important to know the people behind the work.

From activities directors, chefs and nutritionists to administrative staff, clinicians, and custodians, assisted living communities are only as good as the team operating them. The importance of planting empathy, compassion, and thoughtfulness into each day cannot be overstated. We wanted to hear from folks working inside assisted living communities, to learn why they do what they do, and why it matters to them. Here’s what they had to say:

Why this work matters.

Working in senior living communities matters because, simply put, seniors matter. Our elders, no matter their background, deserve to live this chapter of their lives in an atmosphere that offers them community, joy, and a helping hand if needed. The people who work at senior living communities do so because they are passionate about providing that sense of joy and safety to the residents.

“It is an honor to participate in life with seniors. They offer so much warmth and wisdom.” -Abby

The roles may vary from person to person, but each role is an essential contribution to cultivating a homelike environment filled with care.

“This matters to me because I can help a senior dealing with advanced illness. I am good at assessing and detecting impending problems, even when symptoms aren’t very pronounced.” -Tanesia

Whether administrative, clinical, or social, assisted living employees are passionate about meeting the needs of their residents in tandem with preserving as much independence as possible. They take seriously the role they have in walking alongside their residents each and every day.

Collecting stories.

There is such beauty in the art of story sharing. We can be transported to a different place when we take the time to hear the anecdotes of another person’s life.

“My favorite thing is listening to all the stories!” -Tanesia

Undoubtedly, one of the most cherished parts of working in an assisted living community is the sharing of stories. Residents weave such rich tapestries, telling incredible stories from their life, and inviting younger generations to sit for a moment and listen. We can learn so much about one another by exchanging the stories that have made us who we are today.

For residents needing memory care support, the stories shared are deeply special. Staff members often feel a sense of privilege in bearing witness to these moments of clarity as the residents recall special moments from their life.

“One of my favorite things about working in a senior living community is hearing the history and stories from the residents. If a patient is memory impaired, those moments of clarity are very special.” -Abby

Whether recalling personal history comes easily to a person, or comes at great levels of difficulty, the folks working in assisted living communities treat each one with a great sense of reverence. It is a gift of great magnitude to hold each other’s stories, and to share in one another’s legacies.

Celebrating Individuality.

Staff members of assisted living communities make intentional efforts at establishing individual care plans for each of their residents. Importance is placed on celebrating individual needs and ensuring that no one feels like a burden.

“The best way I have been able to provide adequate, individualized care is to compile a schedule. I tend to basic needs daily, or as scheduled. Then, I select a few residents each day to provide them with an extra conversation or visit. I rotate the “extra schedule” between all of the residents until everyone has been given extra time and attentiveness.” -Tanesia

What makes some residents feel seen and heard on an individual level may not translate for someone else. This can be true for all of us. It’s important for assisted living employees to respect individualism and to find inroads with each resident.

“It is important to treat each person as their own individual. Everyone has different wants and needs. It’s important to meet the residents wherever they are physically and mentally. It is encouraging for loved ones to know that their family member is cared for and getting individual attention from different people. I think it helps give them peace of mind!” -Abby

Believing in the inherent value that we all bring to the table is very important in this space. Holding on to what makes us who we are is a beautiful piece of what it is to be human. Having assisted living employees who place intentional value on that is vitally important.

How can we improve?

Collaborating makes all of us better. In this context, the more we share about how to come alongside our residents in a beneficial way, the better we can show love and understanding to them and their loved ones. Here’s what Tanesia and Abby want us to consider as we seek to improve:

“The best advice I can give is for staff to have activities at various times when family members can join in. For example, Bingo at different times of the day. Ice cream socials being held after 6pm would most likely draw the beloved grandkids. Some family members would participate more if the activities were during their down time.” -Tanesia

“Patience, patience, patience. It is easy to forget that this is their home, not just your place of work. We need to treat each resident like they are at home and offer as much comfort and respect in that place as possible.” -Abby

Whether it’s in the details of planning more accessible family activities, or in acknowledging that our workplace is someone’s home, the level of professionalism and care we operate within make an astounding difference. In order to give our very best to the residents in our midst, it is critical that high levels of care, intention, and respect are infused into everything we do.

If you are a senior living professional, thank you so much for everything you do. Your dedication and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated! You are making a difference every day.

Special thanks to Tanesia and Abby for sharing their personal stories for the purposes of this article.

National Assisted Living Week is September 8th-14th, 2024. Throughout the week, we will be sharing great insights on the holistic benefits of communal living for seniors, as well as spotlighting all the different people whose experiences are shaped by assisted living communities every single day.

Written by Jordie DiFernando