Among the many healthcare heroes in our country are the thousands of people who spend their careers working with older adults. As we celebrate Careers in Aging Week, April 17-23, we thought sharing comments from our awesome associates who work with older adults would help others understand how much they love their jobs, their coworkers and the residents who love them back!
About the community environment for those who work with older adults
At Senior Star our goal is not only to provide a fun, loving and caring environment for our residents but for our staff as well. According to one associate, we are succeeding! “Everyone that comes to work here is made to feel like part of the family from the day that they are hired. You don't get that feeling from most employers.”
But it’s more than the day-to-day routine that matters to some associates, it’s the feeling that they are appreciated and respected as individuals as they work with older adults. As one associate sees it, “Senior Star is THE BEST place to work hands down! The company constantly seeks benefits that will help us stand out among other employers. They keep associates engaged and ask our opinion on changes so that we feel heard and valued. Senior Star has gone above and beyond to support all of us during the COVID pandemic. We are Difference Makers!”
Overall, at Senior Star we strive for a fun, inclusive and caring environment for all, including one associate who summed it up by saying, “The atmosphere is business and fun, not toxic at all.”
About the Senior Star team
Many times, the workplace becomes unfriendly because coworkers feel they are in competition with each other. At Senior Star, we encourage our associates to work with older adults as a team toward a common goal. For one associate, this makes all the difference in their work with older adults. “People here are very willing to work as a team from management on down. My opinion is that I can ask anyone for assistance even if it is not my department and they are more than willing to assist. This is what attracted me to this particular company. Also, the atmosphere is very friendly and inviting. I love the residents, enjoy the people I work with and truly enjoy coming to work each day. I do feel that God placed me here at (Senior Star) to serve the residents and the people that I work with.”
It is just this feeling of support that many senior Star associates treasure. Although everyone has an occasional bad day, they know that someone is there to lean on and make them smile. According to one Senior Star associate, the key is “Great teamwork and truly loving coming to work each day. Not every day is easy, but I feel like I have a group of strong leaders and dedicated coworkers that I am able to turn to. Elmore Place is my second home!”
About the residents
For many who work with older adults, what matters most are those older adults. They are the reason they come to work each day. At Senior Star we know that enabling associates to build relationships with residents is essential to everyone’s happiness and fulfillment. Said one associate, “From the time I saw the posting of the job, I have felt this is a place that cares. Cares about the employees and it's residents. They support my making special relationships with the residents, and their families.”
And those relationships go a long way to building trust and letting residents know just how much they are loved and cherished. For one associate, working with older adults is its own reward. “What is unique to Senior Star are the residents and the relationships an associate can have with them. Getting to know them, being the resident's soft place to fall on a bad day. The smile an associate receives when a resident says hello. It is an extended family.”
For another associate, one aspect sets Senior Star above the rest. “I think the most unique thing about working with this company that makes it a great place to work is working with and around the residents. I think this is unique because most other places see so many customers go through every day. Being able to work with the residents every day and build those relationships with them makes work feel like it’s not a job.”
About the culture for those who work with older adults
Senior Star offers those who work with older adults a culture that is not only caring and respectful but embraces giving back. As an integral part of each local community, we do our best to do our part in making it a better place for everyone. For one Senior Star associate, this is a true gift.
“Senior Star is a blessing in my life. Through my work, I've been asked to get involved in charitable work and given time during working hours to give back to the community. I am continually given new tools and education that help me in both my work and personal life in a variety of ways. The leaders in our company are accessible, encouraging, and embody the best in servant leadership. I have three mentors within the organization who care about me as a person and help me achieve my goals. I am one of many who have been on the team for over a decade, and I choose to work here because of the purpose I feel and the relationships I've built within our company. It truly is an extension of family at Senior Star!”
Thanks to this culture, Senior Star continues to be a great place to both live and work for everyone. Noted one associate, “I appreciate the home-like environment, where everyone takes great pride in the community, caring for one another and all of our residents.”
For a look at the positions offered at Senior Star communities, check out our careers website and read more of our senior living career blogs.
