July 14, 2023
As leaders, we hold the power to inspire, uplift, and bring out the best in our team members. By fostering an environment of empowerment, we can unlock their potential, drive organizational success, and ultimately enhance the lives of the older adults we serve. As the Executive Director of The Madison Senior Living, I want to explore what empowerment means to me, its impact on the workload, and the strategies I use to empower my team members, as well as the current threats to the senior living industry and how empowerment can be a catalyst for overcoming these challenges.
Empowerment, to me, means empowering my team to have a voice for advocating their needs, being empowered to make choices, to be educated, and being involved in training their peers. With an empowered team, my responsibilities shift, so I can focus on pertinent issues and follow up. I empower through praise, education, by asking questions, and listening.
The greatest threat to the senior living industry is the stigma of dementia and not wanting to acknowledge the disease and its advancement. Communities need education for families and support groups to invite the outside community in. There is also fear with older adults moving into senior living since the pandemic and lockdown. Too many aging adults are afraid it could potentially happen again, and they will not be able to see their family. We are also seeing elders and their families waiting until there is great advancement in age and age-related diseases. They do not get time to enjoy the “resort” life of independent living before going to higher levels of care. The team is empowered to provide terrific customer service, so it’s important to get the residents and visitors excited about the community and events, and support and educate families on dementia.
As a young Director of Nursing, I found out very quickly leading by example, and always being fair and consistent was best. You also must understand your team members and how they best learn and work. It is important to show empathy, listening to your team and their needs.
In conclusion, as a leader, empowering your team members is not just a noble goal; it is a strategic imperative. By fostering an environment of trust, autonomy, and continuous growth, you unlock the full potential of your team, reduce your own workload, and enhance the well-being of the aging adults you serve. Empowerment becomes a powerful tool to navigate the challenges faced by the senior living industry, fostering resilience, innovation, and sustainable solutions. So, let’s embrace the transformative power of empowerment and lead our teams toward a brighter future.
The Madison Senior Living in Kansas City, MO offers independent senior apartments, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located near St Luke’s South/ Menorah with convenient access to major shopping centers and attractions, including Top Golf, Park Place Shopping Center, Worlds of fun/Oceans of fun, Kansas City Zoo, Union Station/Crown Center, National WWI Museum and Memorial, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Arrow Senior Living serves and employs individuals of all faiths, regardless of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or handicap, except as limited by state and federal law.
