Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Today, more than 90% of nursing homes are understaffed — is your one of them?
If your community is in a rural area, you’re definitely feeling the effects of the current staffing shortage. Rural areas have the challenge of finding enough qualified staff to fill all the roles their community needs.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, senior living communities faced staffing challenges. While some employees may welcome opportunities for added overtime, understaffing overall has negative consequences for the residents you care for. Labor shortages put residents at greater risk for malnutrition, weight loss, bedsores, dehydration, infections, and pneumonia.
The new vaccine mandate may also put a strain on your resources. In August of 2021, the Biden Administration announced it would require nursing home staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) believe the scope of the recent mandate is too narrow and that singling out nursing home workers will only worsen the workforce shortage. They believe vaccination mandates should apply to health care personnel in all healthcare settings.
Culinary Services Group agrees. We believe that vaccinations are the best way for your entire staff to protect vulnerable residents right now.
So how can your senior living community overcome staffing shortages and provide the best position care for residents?
Provide more than just a paycheck
Two popular ways to improve retention are through professional development and employee recognition.
Make sure there are ways for employees to grow within your organization. One survey found that more than 22 out of 100 employees left their jobs for better career development opportunities. Good managers should engage with their teams about their career goals and recognize individual strengths and skillsets needed to get from point A to point B.
When it comes to recognition, take the time to recognize employees for excellent work. It may be as simple as a few kind words or a small reward like a gift card or weekend off. When people are rewarded for helping each other, team building occurs more easily, and retention rates improve. In fact, employees whose managers acknowledge them for good work consistently are five times more likely to stay at a company.
Other ways to improve retention and combat staffing shortages include:
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- Paid benefits for part-time workers
- Increased advertising about the benefits of working in healthcare food service
- Rewards for long-term employees
- Walk-in or drive-thru job fairs
- Promoting work-life balance
However, this isn’t to say that pay isn’t important. About 35% of employees will leave a job if they don’t get a raise. Culinary Services Group recently developed a bonus program for our staff to improve retention. Our new referral bonus program encourages our good employees to recruit more good employees. Regardless of status or position with the company, all employees are eligible to make referrals and are not restricted to the number of referrals they can recommend.
Outsource your food service staff
Another way to address staffing shortages is to outsource your food service team. While a food service management company can’t replace nursing staff, it can recruit, hire and maintain the staffing in your dietary department, so your Human Resources team can focus on hiring and retaining nursing staff.
Culinary Services Group’s full-service contracts take staffing kitchen and dining staff completely off your administrators’ plates. Because we only recruit Food Service Directors, Chefs, Managers, cooks, and other kitchen staff, we’re experts in knowing exactly who to hire for a senior living community’s unique needs.
Every team member that works for us is provided with comprehensive training on safe food handling, workplace safety, and customer service, ensuring our kitchens are safe, healthy, and friendly environments. We’ve also built a pathway for advancement called “CSG University.” This advanced training helps us cross-train employees and prepare them for roles in mentorship and leadership within our organization.
We support continuous learning for our employees. Chefs receive regular training from our Director of Culinary to ensure they are up to date on best practices, diet modifications, and culinary trends. Our registered dietitians can receive CEU credits through our training program and access a network of support for their clinical practice. Additionally, we support our team members in achieving the following certifications:
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- ServSafe
- Certified Dietary Manager
- Registered Dietitian
Staffing must be a top priority
We recognize that for many communities, hiring and training food service staff is not a priority when faced with filling multiple nursing positions. But without the right team in the kitchen, the quality of your dining experience will suffer.
We have over a decade of experience hiring food service workers for healthcare settings. We use our highly skilled talent acquisition team to actively recruit across all major job boards and social media to find the right candidates and fill roles quickly.
Beyond alleviating staffing challenges, your community will benefit from customized menus, monthly safety auditing, and on-time food delivery. We make it a point to use the freshest possible ingredients. Plus, we cook homestyle meals that are familiar, comforting, and tailored to your resident’s likes and dislikes. To learn more, contact us here.
