Senior Living providers continue to face a variety of challenges as we get into 2022. Here are five trends that senior living communities must look into in order to help deal with these challenges and focus on a successful year.
1. SUPPLY CHAIN
COVID created supply chain issues that are only intensifying as time passes. While there are multiple factors contributing to this broken system, there are some things that can be done to help ensure success:
- Have ongoing, proactive communication with your distributor.
- Order early to give yourself more time to edit any items that may be temporarily unavailable.
- Utilize online ordering features.
- Consolidate orders if possible.
2. INFLATION
Inflation rates are higher than we have seen in years. Now is the time to review your budget and determine if goals need adjusting. Here are some great tips:
- Review your menu with your distributor and make changes based on projected item costs and the ability to use items multiple ways.
- Track all of your meals (including staff and guests) to get a complete picture of servings needed. This helps mitigate waste.
- Utilize technology to track your spend throughout the month and be proactive as you approach your budget goal.
- Utilize GL coding to maximize tracking of your purchases and decrease staff time in coding invoices.
3. STAFFING
Senior Living has been experiencing staffing shortages for years, and COVID exasperated the problem. It’s hard to focus on retention when we can’t even find quality applicants. Here are some things that can be done:
- Leverage social media to maximize recruitment efforts.
- Have an onboarding and training process in place.
- Utilize low-labor menus to increase efficiencies.
4. HOLIDAYS / EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
Your team deserves to be recognized all year for their hard work. We know that budgets are tight, but recognition doesn’t always have to come at a high cost. There are plenty of creative ways to recognize your team without much expense. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Use products as gifts that can be purchased in bulk to help decrease cost.
- Purchase fun products for employee parties.
- Find unique ways to boost morale.
5. TECHNOLOGY
Doing more with less can be daunting. Technology can help increase efficiencies, giving you more time to manage your team and take care of your residents. Take a look at some ways technology may be able to help you succeed:
- Identify your greatest challenges and review available technological tools.
- Access webinars throughout the year, allowing your team to receive CEUs virtually.
