As Americans live longer and baby boomers retire, older adults are making plans and facing new decisions on how to live their best lives. From choosing where to live to finding the right health care, there is a lot to sort through to find the right option.
According to Lee Ann O’Brien, chief marketing officer for McGregor Senior Living, one important thing to consider for those looking at senior living communities is how they provide learning opportunities, innovation and growth for staff. She asserts that this says a lot about an organization.
“You have to look at the whole picture,” she explains. “How do staff interact with one another? How do they innovate? Are staff empowered to grow? We are not static ... we are also always enhancing staff and services.”
McGregor is a senior care provider that offers a continuum of care, including independent and assisted living, as well as skilled nursing and home care. O’Brien says from management to staff, there are opportunities for growth for all who work there, and this benefits both employees and residents. She calls it a journey guided by a 360-degree perspective.
“We acknowledge the interconnectedness of our workforce, the quality of care it provides and the innovation it fosters,” she says. “We work to ensure that each patient receives the highest standard of care, tailored to their unique needs.”
The McGregor team takes both staff and resident experiences seriously, using tools and technology to measure their success. An annual resident survey and an internal employee culture survey are two important metrics that guide them.
“We are a great place to work. We aspire to be innovative and invite people into our community to move into better careers,” says O’Brien. “We also strive to set the standards for others to follow.”
Through one of these innovative programs, Earn and Learn, McGregor is collaborating with local nonprofit senior care providers to recruit and train State Tested Nursing Assistants (STNAs). STNAs are essential to senior care and provide day-to-day service. Earn and Learn is improving the health care workforce landscape in greater Cleveland and is funded by several public programs and private foundations.
“We have had a cross section of our employees participate in the program,” she says. “Many stay beyond and continue to grow with us. We are a lifelong learning organization, and some of our staff have 10, 20, 30 years of employment with us.”
A Leadership Academy program for training new managers is yet another pathway for retaining and promoting employees from within. McGregor also offers tuition reimbursement and provides resources for staff to earn professional certifications.
McGregor is looking to the future and building relationships with potential staff, as well. It recently opened its doors to serve as the clinical location for the Central School of Practical Nursing for licensed practical nurse training. The senior care leader has even spanned its reach across the ocean to recruit several nurses from the Philippines.
“We are always growing and innovating,” adds O’Brien. “It all goes back to enhancing life quality for our residents.”
