Working in senior living is one of the most rewarding jobs available anywhere. For those with a passion for helping others, respect for those who need that help and a desire to be part of something really special, working in a senior living community can be the perfect career. But what is it really like day-to-day? Take a look at what you need to know about working in senior living.
Working in Senior Living: Resident amenities and services
Senior living communities today are places where seniors really feel at home and as such offer a broad range of amenities and services. Among the many amenities are:
- Onsite barbershops and beauty salons
- Diverse and flexible meal plans and dining options
- A variety of housing choices
- Planned events and social activities
- Onsite fitness centers, spas and whirlpools
- Libraries, movie theaters, computer centers, and game rooms
- Safe, landscaped outdoor spaces
- Free, safe parking
- Onsite storage
In addition, residents can also opt for a variety of services that vary with the level of care and include:
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Assistance with activities of daily living (i.e., bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, meals, etc.)
- Medication management
- Security systems and safety measures
- Home and lawn maintenance
- Valet service
- Concierge services
- Transportation
Working in senior living means being on a team that provides residents the best life has to offer in a close-knit and loving community where everyone can enjoy their privacy as well as time with neighbors, friends and family. These are great careers for those wishing to work with and for people who really appreciate their contributions.
Working in Senior Living: Levels of care
Different senior living communities offer different levels of care. At Senior Star we offer levels of care that include:
- Independent living – The lowest level of care, independent living is best suited for healthy seniors who want to shed the responsibilities of keeping up the family home while remaining free to travel, pursue interests and stay active.
- Assisted living – Seniors who need help with activities of daily living, medication assistance, or mobility issues often consider assisted living to be a perfect choice. The help can be a little or a lot and is always available and upgradeable.
- Memory support – When a senior suffers from dementia, memory support provides the perfect blend of professional care and independence to help each resident pursue the most active and comfortable lifestyle possible while remaining safe.
Working in Senior Living: Age range of residents
Working in senior living you will meet seniors of all ages, normally from about 50 to 100+, who are living their best lives and receiving different levels of care. Thanks to the relatively slow pace in senior living, there is time to get to know residents, how they have lived their lives, and to find out about their amazing experiences, knowledge, and wisdom, all of which help enrich not only their lives but those of staff too!
Working in Senior Living: Typical day for residents and staff
While every day is a little different when living and working in senior living, let’s look at a typical day for “Mary,” a resident in assisted living.
The day begins with a caregiver helping Mary get dressed and prepared to go to breakfast. After getting her and her walker on the way to the dining room, the caregiver moves on to assist the next resident under their care.
Following breakfast, a qualified caregiver arrives as scheduled to dispense medications, and housekeeping staff will stop by to make the bed, clean up and pick up or drop off laundry. Mary’s next stop is the computer room to check emails and then to morning stretch class or maybe to the library to get a new book. Now it’s close to noon, so Mary will head to the dining room where she plans to have a special chef-prepared lunch with a few family members in a private dining room served by attentive servers.
When the family leaves, Mary opts for a brief rest, then it’s off to therapy in the spa and then to the hair salon for her weekly updo. Meanwhile, the staff is busy everywhere taking care of all the other residents who need their assistance, as well as preparing meals, maintaining operations, organizing and planning events, meeting with families, and reviewing care plans for each resident.
Next, Mary joins friends for a stroll outdoors, or if the weather is inclement, in the game room for the scheduled Chess Challenge. Suddenly it’s late afternoon and time for the Social Hour and Cocktails with friends and neighbors, and then she is off to a sumptuous dinner.
After dinner, it’s time to take in a movie in the theatre where staff is always available to help. When Mary returns to her apartment, caregivers arrive to help her get ready for bed and dispense medications. Together they share insights from the day and have a few laughs before Mary turns in. Later a caregiver will check on Mary to make sure she is well before moving on to their next resident.
Working in senior living is challenging and requires compassion. In return, staff gets to work in a beautiful place with wonderful people who truly need and appreciate their help. If this sounds like the right career for you, check out our career site and apply for your dream job today!