“She loves being there and has expressed that she wished she had come sooner.”
-Diane B., Daughter-in-Law
“I was struck by her compassion, sense of humor, and competence, as I observed her interacting with other residents. During the six months that my mom has lived at Country Meadows in Connections Memory Care, I have observed that same compassion over and over, with all of the residents. I especially appreciate the individual attention that she offers to my mom, of course.”
-Johanna’s Daughter
“Since mom has passed away, Cassandra has encouraged dad to come to the dining room and made him feel welcomed. He has started joining them for breakfast and to feel part of the community.”
-Cindy B., Daughter
Compassion, humor, welcomed, encouragement…these are the words used by real family members of our residents to describe the way staff in our senior housing communities interact with residents. Our staff, people who were near-strangers to our residents and their families on day one, soon become familiar faces, and more.
Familiarity and Positive Interactions are Good for Senior Housing Residents and Staff Alike
Research shows that residents who connect and build relationships with staff perceive that they have a better quality of life. In turn, senior housing staff routinely cite their relationships with residents as the very reason they come to work – and stay in their job.
When senior housing staff stay with an organization for years-and sometimes decades as often happens here at Country Meadows, where we are above industry standards in staff retention at over 60% for full-time co-workers – there is better continuity of care. Staff from nurses to housekeepers know your loved ones’ journey as they go through changes that come with aging. The same dining associate that served a resident’s first meal may well be the person who notices, weeks or months later, if that individual doesn’t seem to have much appetite.
We know it also brings peace of mind to family members when there’s a familiar voice on the other end of a phone call, and they are greeted (by name!) when they walk through the door to visit their loved one.
Social connections like this promote not just happiness, but better physical health according to Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development.
With all the positives that come from senior housing staff having great relationships with residents and their families, the question is – how to make that happen?
How to Build Positive Relationships with Senior Housing Staff and Associates
It’s all about connecting and building a relationship with individual staff members.
Fortunately, despite all the emotions that surge when a family member or beloved friend moves into a senior housing community, it’s fairly simple to get off on the right foot with staff. Respect and courtesy, like learning a person’s name and a bit about his or her job, go a long way.
As one grandchild told us last year, “Everyone greets Grandma by her NAME! How they all know her name is beyond me. They all smile when they see her and know all about her. This makes me feel secure leaving her there.”
So, all you have to do is mirror the way our staff treats your loved ones from the moment they arrive!
After you and your loved one are more comfortable in the community, share a little about yourself with staff members. Find things you have in common like interests and hobbies and take the time to learn what our staff members enjoy. In fact, one tip offered by Waldinger to help strengthen social connections is to use your skills and passions to build your social network.
The benefits of building these truly human connections with senior housing staff will show up in ways both expected and unexpected, for both you and your loved one. A time in life that has so much transition and challenge can, and will, also have moments of togetherness that uplift and bring a little joy.
“Connie’s bubbly personality, diligence in care, and exuberance were noticed each and every time our paths crossed. From the time we entered the neighborhood, she managed to share a personal story and comment on whatever was happening that particular day with our cherished mother. There was an extra twinkle in my mother’s eyes whenever Connie was on staff. Her joy was contagious.” Collete F. Daughter of Former Resident
Country Meadows Retirement Communities has senior housing campuses in Pennsylvania and Frederick, Md. Senior living options include independent living, assisted living/personal care and restorative care services. Schedule a personalized visit today to see why U.S. News & World Report rated Country Meadows communities as Best Senior Living options in 2024.
