Senior Living Community Leadership

by Janelle Meyers, CSA, LALD

Finding the right senior living community is important.  Whether in assisted living, independent senior living, residential care, or memory care, stable leadership is central.  Working in senior living operations for over twenty-five years in the Minneapolis area has given me firsthand experience of what it’s like on the inside.

This article gives some tips on how to determine if there is stable leadership in a community.   It also helps you understand important contacts when it comes to resolving challenges you may encounter along the way. First, there is a manager in every department within senior housing.  On your initial visit, you likely will not encounter them all.  The concierge, the sales manager, the nursing manager, and the executive director are the leaders that you may see.

First Impressions

When first visiting or calling to schedule a tour you will most likely be greeted by the concierge. They will give you your first impression of the community. If the person smiles and says hello in a friendly manner you are off to a good start.  They often set the tone for the rest of the visit.  By no means should you judge the entire community by the first person you see.  However, do not underestimate their ability to make you and others feel welcome.

The Tour Guide

The sales and marketing director is almost always the person who will be showing you around senior living. Community relations is another common title for this role becaue of their importance to the community.  They will talk with you and learn about why you are interested in moving. Their role is to help you determine if the property will be a good fit for you or your loved one.  It is also important to know that they are not the only people involved in the decision-making process.  When it comes to needing care in assisted living, the registered nurse may talk with you during the tour too.

Clinical Support

The registered nurse in assisted living can have different titles.  Director of Health Services is a common one.  It is their responsibility to ensure that each person needing care receives it.  He or she will complete a health assessment prior to a person moving into assisted living.  The nurse determines whether the community has the staff and skills to perform the health tasks that a person may need.  They review medical records, talk with the potential resident and family before a person can move in.

The registered nurse oversees the health staff working in the assisted living.  They are also responsible for training the staff on any health-related tasks.  When it comes to challenges with care, the nurse is the person who you should speak with. This is because they are responsible for the health care staff. They can provide additional training, oversite or correction when needed.

Executive Director

You may wonder, who oversees it all.  In most cases, it is the executive director. In 2021 new regulations became law for assisted living in Minnesota.  It requires that a licensed assisted living director (LALD) be on record for each facility.  This leader is responsible for the physical property, the staff, which includes the leaders and ensuring that the community is operating according to the laws. It is a big job.

When I held the role of executive director in Minnetonka, I was responsible for the safety and welfare of the people living in the communities that I led.  In this role, I wore many hats.  Some days I was a teacher. Other days I was a disciplinarian.  Many days I would roll up my sleeves and help with caregiving, activities, food service, housekeeping, maintenance, or any other job that needed to get done.  As a leader, I knew that it was important to be clear when communicating. It is even more important to listen.

Questions To Ask About Leadership When Touring

When you visit a senior living community you may want to ask the following questions:

• Who is responsible for the staff in the community?
• Who is the Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD) on record?
• How long has the nurse been employed at the community?
• How long has the LALD worked there?
• What is the average length of retention for caregiving staff?

Stable Leadership

Whether you are starting the journey into senior living, or you’ve lived in one for a while, get to know the leaders.  Stable leadership means less turnover.  People often leave leaders, not jobs.  If there is a cohesive team, people will stick together.  When there is a revolving door of leadership, it is difficult to have a stable operation.  Longevity, which is a year or more of service in a senior living is a sign that people are more engaged in their jobs.  This often means a better quality of care and services for the people living there. The staff feel more secure when there is consistent leadership which leads to less caregiver turnover.  No matter where you decide to live there is always someone in charge.  Never be afraid to ask a question.  It is your home, and you deserve the best.