When you give in life, you receive; working in senior living is among the most rewarding careers. Those who choose to serve others in general and especially in senior living deserve mountains of gratitude!
Choosing Senior Living
Television shows, movies, and advertising place a high value on youth, and aging is portrayed as difficult and often unglamorous. Turn on any television channel or open any website, and you may find an ad for a magic potion to treat or delay the effects of aging, along with a heap of supplements promising to keep you feeling young.
Because aging isn’t celebrated as it should be, not everyone chooses to work in senior living. No matter how rewarding, this field isn’t appealing to everyone. Those who decide to work in senior living are here because they want to be. If you have prior experience and skills in caregiving, serving or cooking meals, cleaning or doing laundry, office-related work, or healthcare positions, you could work anywhere from resorts to spas where people come and go each day.
When someone remains in a job long-term in senior living, it has much to do with wanting the best for the residents. You get to know them and their families and develop connections.
If days get tough, you get to be a listening ear and a source of comfort to residents. You get to be an advocate for their happiness. When you choose a career in senior living, you get to be part of the residents’ stories and help guide them through a new, sometimes difficult chapter of their lives.
Improving Life Satisfaction
If residents can’t do what they’d like due to health or abilities, it can impact their overall quality of life, including how they interact with one another and staff. It can cause feelings of depression and frustration. Offering the right healthcare support where residents call home, such as access to primary care services (Pioneer Family Medicine and Legacy Medical) or home health and hospice services (All Care, CaringEdge, and OneSource), can help residents feel better AND create a more friendly environment to live and work in.
From One of Our Own:
Edgewood Regional Sales and Public Relations Director, Cami Dohman, found a career at Edgewood after she explored the Spearfish community for her own father.
“After my mom passed away, it became clear to my family that my dad needed more help. He just wasn’t safe living at home on his own. I didn’t know anything about assisted living. I felt lost. We made several appointments for tours but fell in love with Edgewood Spearfish. It felt like home. Although my dad was hesitant to make this move, he trusted us and agreed to the move. He knew several of the residents and rekindled old friendships. I knew we had made the right choice when I discovered him playing cards with a group of ladies next to the fireplace one evening. I took pictures of them and sent them to all of my siblings. I cried on the way home because I was so happy that he was enjoying his life again.”
Cami added, “A few years later, the sales director position was posted for Edgewood Spearfish, and I decided to apply. I wanted to help other families navigate the world of assisted living and thought I could offer them guidance for their journeys with their loved ones. It was the best decision I ever made. I love helping seniors find their new homes.”
Every job comes with a list of benefits. However, nothing compares to the feeling of helping someone live a meaningful, healthy chapter of life that they enjoy. Are you ready to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors? Check out our open jobs by clicking here. If you’d like to tour an Edgewood community near you, please visit our website or email us at info@edgewoodhealthcare.com.
