The senior care industry is full of more exciting opportunities than ever as the field continues to reinvent itself to meet the needs of older adults. This is excellent news for individuals who are looking to start a career in or move up the career ladder of senior living communities. 

When applying for a senior living position, it is important to have a strong cover letter that accompanies your resume. Whether you’re applying via email, LinkedIn or an online search engine, a cover letter goes a long way toward introducing your skills and showcasing your personality. Unfortunately, many senior care professionals don’t put the necessary amount of time into their cover letter, which can result in fewer interviews in the long run.

If you’re ready to take your senior living career to the next level, the first step toward a promotion is to put the finishing touches on your resume. However, thanks to technology and advances in networking, your resume is not the only document that may need updating. Your LinkedIn profile can also serve as a useful tool as you aim for your next promotion.

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.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, growth in senior living jobs outpaced growth in other careers by 3.7 percent between 2000-2010. Over the next decade, senior living will see an explosion in career opportunities as the population continues to age. By 2025, the industry will need at least a million new employees. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to consider a career transition, a career in senior living offers job security, numerous opportunities, and a chance to make a difference.