Everyone needs to earn a living. Senior living offers great opportunities for pay increases and career growth, thanks in part to an aging population and an increased desire to provide seniors with exceptional retirements. 

The Arbor Company proudly offers a caring, vibrant environment for seniors from all walks of life. Our residents lead meaningful lives, thanks to the support of staff who work to help them shape lives of their own choosing. We think our caring staff also deserves support and recognition. That’s why we offer myriad opportunities for growth and continuing education. The 2019 Arbor Leadership Conference in May brought together community leaders from more than 40 communities in 11 states for training, a chance to network, and deep appreciation for all that our staff does. We believe in our mission and our work. We also know that it takes committed staff for us to #BeArbor. 

A recent Deloitte study arrived at the tragic conclusion that just 13 percent of U.S. workers are passionate about their work. You spend about one-third of your life at work. If you don’t enjoy that time, you spend a significant portion of your day unhappy—and maybe devote the rest of it to ruminating over your disappointing career. Senior living careers offer a chance to make a difference in another person’s life. A recent J.D. Power analysis found that a quality staff is the biggest predictor of resident satisfaction in senior living, so there’s no denying that senior care workers can make or break the senior living experience. 

Senior living executives wear many hats. They often work directly with residents, becoming friends, confidantes, and advocates. They must also lead a team that may be comprised of people with diverse interests, skills, and personalities. In that role, they must coach and encourage the people whom they hire, fire, and discipline. This can feel like an impossible balancing act, but it offers immense rewards. Senior living executives shape the future of senior living, setting policies that can make a remarkable difference in the lives of seniors, their families, and community staff.

The average person spends 90,000 hours over their lifetime—one-third of their life—at work. So shouldn’t that time be enjoyable and meaningful? Senior care careers offer meaning, opportunities for growth, and challenges that expand your capacity for empathy and critical thinking. So could a career in senior living be right for you? Here’s what you need to know about making a change.

In 2000, Kelley Skarp took a career detour that would change the shape of the rest of her life. She had built a career in the insurance industry, but when her husband’s job relocated the couple, she found herself looking for something new. She took a job in senior living, making a mid-career decision that has left an indelible imprint on countless lives.

The Arbor Company is proud to announce that Elizabeth Nix-Lloyd of Arbor Terrace Ortega has been named a 2019 OnShift Scheduler of the Year. Senior care scheduling and labor management is a challenging undertaking that requires attention to detail, knowledge about the needs of seniors, and a willingness to work closely with others. OnShift Schedulers of the Year show exceptional talent for managing all that makes senior care work. We’re honored to have Elizabeth at Arbor, and this award reflects the culture that makes Arbor so great.

The Arbor Company is thrilled to announce that our own Chris Harper has been awarded Argentum’s prestigious 40 Under 40 recognition. Chris is a zealous innovator in the field of senior living, and we’re so lucky to have him. As Arbor’s digital marketing and brand leader for more than five years, Chris has spearheaded innovative strategies that reflect our unique, forward-looking approach to senior living. Dispelling stereotypes about seniors, senior living, and aging is not easy. Chris has managed to do it in just a few years, presenting Arbor as the vibrant community it is and showing seniors that retirement can be whatever they make it.

Seniors are as diverse and unique as every other age group — perhaps even more so because they’ve spent a lifetime learning, cultivating new interests, and accumulating wisdom. The transition to senior living should offer new and better opportunities to cultivate an active and engaged lifestyle. Research consistently shows that a wide range of activities can improve health. Socially connected seniors may live longer and healthier. Physically active seniors experience reductions in the risk of virtually every disease, including dementia.

A job in senior living offers the chance to touch a senior’s life, help a family navigate the challenges of caregiving, and honor a senior’s life’s work. Senior living also comes with an enormous dose of job security. An aging population means that by 2025, more than a million new senior living positions will open up. There’s something for people of all backgrounds and skill levels in this important line of work. Whether you’re using medical training to offer exceptional care, harnessing customer service skills to ensure seniors find the right senior community, or channeling a lifetime of culinary training into healthy cuisine for elders, there’s an opportunity for you to put your gifts and interests to work.