Rewarding careers in retirement communities
Students have many options after graduation. While exploring post-secondary education or considering future employment, they often overlook the rewarding job opportunities existing in retirement living communities.
Retirement living communities give students hands-on experience in these multiple service areas and offer internal career growth in an expanding sector.
A typical retirement community is organized into different departments such as administrative, food service, housekeeping, maintenance, sales, recreation and of course, care. We sat down with two professionals who have discovered a way to turn their passions into careers.
Paula
Licensed Practical Nurse and Memory Care Manager, Seasons Olds Encore
Paula gives three reasons why students should consider a healthcare career in a retirement community:
Develop personal connections.
“First of all, in a retirement community, you’re able to get to know your residents on a personal level over time. More importantly, they become a significant part of your life. In other workplaces, you may not see the same person two days in a row. You hardly have time to make a connection, let alone start your day with hugs.”
Learn more than practical skills.
“I see a wide variety of nursing practices come alive in retirement communities. More so, the biggest gifts are gifts of patience, compassion and empathy. The smallest moments impact us all, which is something I never experienced before working at Seasons.”
Make a difference in someone’s life.
“While working in a retirement living community, you have the rare opportunity to interact with some of the most interesting people from all walks of life. You learn each resident’s different likes and dislikes and are able to make an improvement in their lives, even in the smallest ways.”
Students interested in the culinary arts are quick to begin a career in a restaurant setting. As a resullt, they are often completely unaware of the opportunities available in the retirement living sector.
Eli
Cook, Seasons Amherstburg
Eli highlights three reasons students should consider a culinary career in a retirement community:
Work-life balance.
“Chefs working in a retirement setting have a consistent, dependable schedule, often working regular 40-hour weeks. Meaning employees have more time to spend with their families, friends and loved ones. It also means they can count on a steady paycheck.”
The seniors housing sector is growing.
“People should look for careers in seniors housing because it’s quickly expanding and provides job security and competitive wages. Above all, the gratification of offering quality service to seniors makes each workday very rewarding.”
The freedom to be creative.
“Retirement food is falsely labeled as processed, boring and bland. At Seasons, our menus are diverse and cover a broad range of dishes to please everyone. Besides that, we use as many fresh ingredients because we understand how important it is to serve quality food our residents love to eat.”
Seasons recruits and hires individuals who are enthusiastic about working with seniors and who demonstrate a high regard for customer service. We train team members in all regulatory procedures and policies to ensure success in their roles.
if you possess the following skills, consider a career in retirement living:
- Customer service oriented
- Willingness to learn
- Empathetic and trustworthy
- Respectful and courteous
- Strong communication skills
- Reliable
- A team player
To learn more about the opportunities at Seasons Retirement Communities visit www.seasonsretirement.com/company/careers/