Employee morale is a crucial, though sometimes de-emphasized ingredient of a successful senior living housing facility. Higher employee morale in all industries is linked to improved employee effectiveness and business success. That link is even more pronounced in the senior living facility context where poor morale is linked to adecrease in the quality of care provided to residents. The benefits of industry recognition and reputation need no elaboration.
Improving Employee Morale
One easy way to do improve both areas this year is to nominate employees for an award. Even a simple Google search reveals a plethora of senior housing facility awards at the local, regional, and national levels. Awards come from a range of sources, from industry news sources to professional organizations and the competitiveness and application processes is just as varied.
Even nominating an employee has a positive benefit. It helps the nominated employee feel like a valued member of a team whose contributions are appreciated. Other employees view it as a gesture indicating that their employer cares and may be motivated to try to get nominated in the future. Of course, a win is even better. A win for an employee is also a win for the facility as the award can be listed in online and print marketing materials.
One award that those in the assisted living industry might consider submitting nominees for is the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)’s annual awards. Each year NCAL reviews nominees from across the country and selects winners in four categories: Administrator of the Year, Assisted Living Nurse of the Year, Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living, and National Assisted Living Week Programming.
All of the awards seek nominees that take a “person-centered” approach to providing high-level care. The noble caregiver award is notable because it recognizes that all staff, not just licensed nurses, play an important role in the care provided to residents. The award is for frontline caregivers including frontline nursing (licensed nurses should be nominated for the nurse award), dietary, maintenance, activities, and housekeeping staff. The noble caregiver award also considers the nominee’s actions towards their co-workers implicitly acknowledging the importance of morale in the provision of care.
NCAL is accepting award nominations until May 15, 2015 and winners will be announced June 30, 2015. The application and instructions can be found here and completed online. Award winners receive an expenses paid trip to the awards ceremony which will be held in San Antonio, Texas as part of the AHCA/NCAL Convention.
The Best Programming award is also somewhat unique in its recognition of teamwork. The award is given to the nominee facility that developed the strongest programming for National Assisted Living Facility Week. Each year, NCAL designated a theme for the week and facilities nationwide develop programming consistent with the theme. For those thinking ahead, National Assisted Living Week is September 13-19, 2015 this year and the theme will be announced soon (ideas can be submitted here). Even the act of working together to create programming helps build relationships among employees and a sense of pride in their jobs.
Contact Cambridge Realty Capital
The experienced financial professionals at Cambridge Realty Capital understand that operating a successful senior living facility is an ongoing venture that requires near constant adaptation. When that adaptation requires financing, we’re here to help. Feel free to contact us with questions.
