5 Tips for Improving Resident Retention at your Senior Living Facility
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on October 26, 2016
5 Tips for Improving Resident Retention at your Senior Living Facility
How senior living operators can decrease resident turnover.
Senior living facilities often place a strong focus on generating leads and attracting new residents. While there’s no question that lead generation is important, bringing in new residents is only the beginning. Retaining existing residents over time is just as valuable as attracting new residents, if not more so.
Increased competition among senior living facilities is giving consumers a broader range of care options to choose from. Senior living facilities also face the possibility of losing residents to residential care homes that offer better services and amenities. The following are some tips that senior living facilities can follow to decrease resident turnover and win the loyalty of residents.
1. Have a stable team of staff that offers individualized attention
One of the telltale signs of a well-run senior living facility is having a competent team of staff that is genuinely friendly to residents. The staff is warm and welcoming, provides individualized attention, and builds strong bonds with residents. Senior living facilities must make an effort to adequately train staff and ensure that they are well cared for so that they can care for residents in the best way possible.
2. Facilitate interaction and socialization between residents
Seniors adapt well to a community where they feel connected with other residents. Good senior living facilities encourage social interaction between residents by creating common areas where residents can spend time together and planning activities that help residents to make new friends and build stronger relationships.
3. Offer a high-quality dining experience
Another major concern for residents is the dining experience offered at a senior living facility. Not only should the dining room be comfortable and accommodating, the food needs to be top-notch. The recipes should be creative and varied. Dining options ought to be tailored to each individual, provide them with a range of choices, and meet their medical and dietary needs.
4. Encourage an active lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle is linked to falls and a number of other ailments among the elderly, so it’s important to ensure that residents get enough exercise. Physical activity can decrease the incidence of falls and improve residents’ sense of well-being. Successful senior living facilities have fitness programs and strongly encourage their residents to stay active.
5. Prioritize leisure & entertainment services
In order to maintain a high quality of life for seniors at your facility, it’s crucial to offer a variety of leisure and entertainment services that keep residents active, engaged, and eager to participate in hobbies. Entertainment options should be tailored to residents and their interests, so take the time to talk with residents and determine what they enjoy. One-size-fits-all entertainment programs aren’t likely to be successful.
These are just some ways in which senior living facilities can improve quality of life for residents and increase retention rates. How does your residential care facility measure up?
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