Heart of the Matter Blog

Although March 5 is National Employee Appreciation Day, it's never too late to express your appreciation to employees and recognize their hard work and dedication--especially through these unprecedented times. Here are some ways you can "Share Your Heart" and boost morale among staff.

As news of the COVID-19 pandemic broke, it drove fear, anxiety, and uncertainty to new levels throughout retirement communities across the nation. To provide normalcy and give residents something to look forward to amid the crisis, two senior living communities challenged the status quo and decided to elevate their already stellar culinary operations. The culinary teams at Brethren Village and Garden Spot Village were charged with creating excitement around "the love of food."

As long-term care providers, large and small, our missions focus us on service to others and meeting the needs of those entrusted to our care. Each day, we demonstrate the purest meaning of care as each of us gives of ourselves for the betterment of others.

In a year of chaos, stress, and uncertainty, 2020 showed the rest of the world the incredible efforts of our members to put in place measures that ensure the safety of residents and staff. It also cast a bright light on the workforce challenges that have been plaguing the long-term care community for years.

We often delve into things like enhanced engagement, disruption, and being person-centric in leadership books, articles, and sessions - all of which are undoubtedly key components of the leadership styles we most naturally respect and follow. As a lifelong learner and leadership junkie, I often dig deep into these topics in my reading and I recently came across a powerful quote in a Harvard Business Review article.

Having worked in the long-term care industry for over 20 years, I know firsthand the peaks and valleys of caring for individuals at one of the most vulnerable times in their life. We have the honor of building relationships with residents whose life lessons and legacy anchor us to the reason we dedicate our lives to older adults, but we also have the challenge of seeing those same residents grow more and more frail--and I haven't yet mentioned the families!