When you choose a caregiving profession in senior living, you’re in the people business. Whether your role is sales, accounting, management, cooking, cleaning, or nursing, long-term care is all about the people needing help.
Helpers Need Help Too
Helping others is genuinely fulfilling, but it can also be taxing. While we set out to improve the lives of others, we can quickly fall victim to jumping in too far, causing stress and, sometimes, burnout.
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To be the best caregiver, there must be downtime. Think of putting your oxygen mask on before helping others on an airplane or the adage: you cannot pour from an empty cup.
When someone has trouble in their personal life and goes unsupported, it undoubtedly trickles into the work culture and can significantly impact their service. This is precisely where giving someone a simple bit of time becomes essential.
We had the privilege of chatting with Jennifer Johnson, clinical services coordinator, at Edgewood’s Grand Forks, ND, community. She has been instrumental in improving the employee culture within Edgewood.
Jennifer explained that she’s found remarkable success in taking the time with her employees. She also makes everyone she works with realize they matter! No one at Edgewood is “just” anything. They’re not “just” a CNA, not “just” a personal care assistant, not “just” a nurse. She’s advocating the removal of ” just ” because we are all humans, no matter what the tasks at hand may be.
Jennifer Johnson, Clinical Services Coordinator at Edgewood Grand Forks
Removing the “JUST”
When someone feels like they’re “just” anything, they may feel inferior to those with different roles, experience levels, or education. Removing that word has been tremendously helpful because it brings us back to who we truly are: people helping people.
While Edgewood has many positions as an organization, each job makes the communities what they are. If it weren’t for the CEO, there wouldn’t be housekeepers. There wouldn’t be residents if it weren’t for the maintenance staff. Every hand within Edgewood washes the other. Jennifer is also a big proponent of asking staff how they’re doing with a genuine interest in their well-being to ensure that all those hands work together for the greater good.
Taking the Time
The best approach to helping others avoid burnout is to take the time. Ask staff how they’re doing and how you can support them.
Taking the time—sometimes that’s an extra five minutes to talk face to face and socialize without distractions helps us to be more accepting and to show one another grace. While caregivers have big hearts and want to help as much as possible, we’re all human and need it!
No matter our job titles, we all have complex emotions and relationships inside and outside our paid roles. Whether we know it or not, the more time we spend with others, the more hats we wear. Some days, we’re all playing the part of a parent, teacher, and mentor.
Open Door Policy
Open doors create the opportunity to learn. In another recent blog, our former president, Russ Kubik, said, “Senior living is managed from the hallways.” He couldn’t be more accurate. This is a hands-on business; all the work cannot be done in one place or with a closed door.
Jennifer explained that we have greater accountability to one another with open doors. We learn from our coworkers and get to know them on a deeper level for who they are as people.
It’s been said repeatedly across Edgewood that staff end up like family to the residents and one another. The open door and the extra five minutes to ask how someone is doing is precisely why this happens. A job is a job, but you cannot put a price tag on the perks of making solid connections and life-long friendships.
Mentorship
Providing oversight and advice to new staff is crucial to their success. If they come into work and don’t have support and proper training, they will feel beyond overwhelmed as new staff.
Not only are personal connections made through checking in, but knowledge and years of experience can be passed down to new staff members who can continue serving others with integrity. Shared expertise goes a long way, allowing staff the skills and opportunity to be promoted into other roles to keep learning and growing.
If you’re interested in making a positive impact in the lives of others, give Edgewood a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at all the benefits you’ll experience that are not listed in a typical “now hiring” advertisement.
From the fantastic residents to vast opportunities for advancement, Edgewood is a wonderful place to work and learn. Interested? Check out our open positions at www.edgewoodhealthcare.com/careers.
