The benefits of choosing a career in senior living
People 65 years old and older are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, and that means that career opportunities for people working with seniors are more plentiful and varied than ever.
This growing need is reflected in the expansion of the annual Careers in Aging Week — an observance dedicated to bringing greater awareness and visibility to the wide-ranging career opportunities in long-term care and aging services — to a full Careers in Aging Month, which is March.
This region is home to several exemplary senior living communities offering assisted living, personal care and memory care to residents. In turn, these communities offer a variety of jobs to nurses, caregivers, activity directors, chefs and dietary aides, dining room servers, facility maintenance staff, drivers, administrative personnel, housekeeping professionals, social workers and physical therapists. Each of these roles contributes to the health, well-being and enrichment of residents’ lives.
Room to advance in your career
Many communities offer competitive compensation and help ambitious employees grow in the field to ensure employee retention. For instance, SageLife, a Springfield Township, Delaware County-based organization that owns and operates several award-winning senior living communities in the area, gives its team members a comprehensive benefits package, ongoing professional training, 401K plan and tuition assistance.
“When I started working in senior living, I didn’t know all the advancement opportunities,” explained Tina Wilhelmsen, the general manager of SageLife’s Plush Mills in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County. “I started in the marketing office, applied for a full-time business office position, and then eventually got my administrator’s license to be an executive director. This field is wide open for someone looking to work in a challenging but very rewarding field.”
A life of purpose
The benefits of a career in aging can go far beyond a good wage or an impressive title, offering a genuine sense of personal fulfillment.
“People still have a misconception about how lifeenhancing senior living can be — for both residents and professionals,” said SageLife’s founder and president, Kelly Andress. “When you have a resident-focused ethos and a commitment to the holistic wellness of the seniors you work with, your personal satisfaction can be immeasurable.
“A career in aging allows you the opportunity to help people thrive, allowing them to remain as independent as possible for longer. It’s an incredible gift to be part of people’s big victories — and their everyday little wins, too.’”
An example of one such win was a project that gave one new centenarian an un
expected moment of joy at Plush Mills.
“I remember celebrating a resident’s 100th birthday,” Wilhelmsen said. “She had no family and not many friends. The week before her birthday, we sent around note cards to all the residents and had them fill in their well wishes. We ordered 100 helium balloons and hung a card on each balloon in the lobby. She was so surprised and grateful and could not stop talking about that day.”
The work of creating happiness for others can be fun, too.
“I also will never forget our flash mob dance at Plush Mills,” Wilhelmsen said. “About 50 employees, all dressed in matching tshirts, danced at a resident event. The residents’ reactions were priceless, but the time we spent practicing for the dance was the best part! The staff we work with is diverse, hardworking, and