“Working in an assisted care facility is like having 100 grandparents and they are excited and happy to see you when you arrive! It is truly that connection between the residents and co-workers that is the most rewarding part of the job. We hear this time and time again when we survey our co-workers.” So says Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Country Meadows Tracy Newcomer. “When we ask them what is the best part of their job – they don’t talk about our beautiful facilities or the money they make or the career paths and professional developments that we offer – they always talk about the residents and how they love them. They form bonds which help residents and the co-workers.”
An assisted care facility is, at its essence, people helping people. This combination of working closely with others while doing meaningful work has been found to drive job satisfaction ratings and workplace well-being measures. A Great Place to Work organization, a global leader in evaluating workplace culture, defines a great place to work as one where employees have trust in who they work for, take pride in what they do and enjoy the people they work with. The US Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being finds connection and community, mattering at work and an opportunity for growth are important components for workplace well-being.
An assisted care facility offers not only work that makes a difference and a sense of community, but job stability with career growth potential, too. With all of the Baby Boomer generation reaching retirement age by 2030, there is a growing need for compassionate senior caregivers. An estimated 70% of seniors will need long-term care in their lifetime. Argentum, a national association supporting senior living communities, projects that by 2040, long-term care settings will have 20 million job openings – 3 million of those alone in senior living, according to a recent article.
Caregiving and so much more
Compassionate caregivers are always in demand for an assisted care facility. The Argentum report estimates that 1 million home health and personal care aides will be needed by 2040. As key members of the direct-care team, caregivers help residents live their lives to the fullest by assisting them with daily routines, such as bathing, dressing and toileting, and by supporting their socialization and overall well-being. With patience and empathy, caregivers build bonds with residents and their families.
But there are plenty of other career opportunities at an assisted care facility, too. These range from part-time to full-time, clinical to culinary, licensed and non-licensed -and everything in between. These include nurses, housekeepers, activities associates, cooks, dining room servers, sales and move-in coordinators, accountants, medication assistants, fitness instructors, drivers, receptionists and administrative positions.
A sense of community
If you like working with people, a career at an assisted care facility can be highly rewarding. Whether you have regular direct contact with residents or provide a support role, you can make meaningful connections and have an impact on the lives of others as part of a community of residents and co-workers.
Newcomer adds, “When I visit our campuses, which I do as often as possible, I love to see the true joy and happiness that our co-workers and residents display when they are together. For some of our co-workers, this is a place of safety, serenity and peace. It is a place where they give and receive kindness and respect.”
Career growth potential
Finding fulfillment in helping others is why many people choose to make a lifelong career at an assisted care facility, often rising to managerial and corporate positions after starting in caregiving or other entry-level roles. For those with a passion in senior living, opportunities for professional development include ongoing staff training, mentoring, established career paths and even tuition assistance. With a variety of roles to explore, an assisted care facility can be the perfect place to find the career of your dreams.
What makes Country Meadows Retirement Communities a great place to work?
Here, family, work life balance, kindness and respect are commonplace, says Newcomer. Country Meadows strives to ensure our team is cared for with the same attention as our residents. We have more than 2,500 co-workers serving our residents with meaning, thriving with purpose and leading our company with innovation.
Our co-workers receive above-standard industry wages (and the potential to earn more based on experience) and benefits that include:
- PayActiv On-Demand Pay: Work today, get paid tomorrow
- Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off (including your birthday and a Personal Day of Meaning), with the ability to roll them over to the next year
- $2 meals, including a main dish, a side, drink and dessert.
- Helping Hands interest-free loans
- Co-worker Foundation grants for emergencies in time of need
- Employee Assistance Program for you and your family
- Military Spouses program: As a partner employer of the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership, we have committed to recruiting, hiring, promoting and retaining military spouses.
As a result, Country Meadows has been recognized as a Great Place to Work. The Great Place to Work certification is awarded to companies whose employees anonymously have rated their work experiences highly based on five principles-credibility, fairness, respect, camaraderie and pride. Through its certification programs, Great Places To Work recognizes outstanding workplace cultures and produces the annual Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For®” and Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists.
Ready to jump start your career at an assisted care facility?
Visit our Careers page to learn more about our benefits and current openings. Country Meadows offers Assisted Living care in our Frederick, Maryland and Forks Twp. of Easton locations and Personal Care services at our other Pennsylvania communities. (To learn more about the difference between Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences in Pennsylvania, visit our Assisted Living in Pennsylvania blog.)
Country Meadows
