The Importance of Relationships with Assisted Living Staff

The assisted living staff are the ones who will be devoting a majority of their time caring for your parents. By communicating well and establishing strong relationships with staff members, you will be able to fully understand the care your parents are receiving and appreciate everything the assisted living staff does on a daily basis.

How to Build Relationships with Assisted Living Staff

Here are some easy ways to build a relationship with your parents’ assisted living staff members:

1. Introduce Your Parents to the Staff. You want your parents to be comfortable with the caregivers at their senior living community. Introduce your parents to staff members and share them of the more personal details about your parents’ family history and personal hobbies. Sharing this intimate information will deepen your trust with the staff members and allow for more personalized care for your parents.
2. Thank the Staff Members. The role of an assisted living staff member is not an easy one. Employees work hard to ensure all residents are receiving the best care they can, and this can sometimes be emotionally or physically draining. You should make a point to thank the staff for everything they do and express how grateful you are for the care your parents receive. Knowing you appreciate all they do for your parents will help to grow the relationship you have with them.
3. Get to Know the Assisted Living Team. A great way to build relationships is by getting to know the other person. Try not to make every conversation you have with the staff members solely focused on your parents. Take time to learn about the staff members’ personal lives and interests. By sustaining deeper, more meaningful conversations, you’ll grow closer with the people taking care of your parents day in and day out.

Ways to Communicate Effectively with Assisted Living Staff

Good communication is a key component of any strong relationship. When speaking with the assisted living staff, you want to ensure you are doing so in the most effective way possible. Here are some best practices for you to follow.

1. Be Honest. It’s imperative to talk openly with staff members and to be honest with them. Don’t be afraid to voice your worries, concerns and needs in regards to your parents’ care. When you’re honest and create an open conversation, you will continue to deepen your relationship with the staff members. 
2. Listen Actively. Listening is the fundamental key to good communication. Make sure you are actively listening when the staff members are speaking to you. This will help you learn more about their specific roles and understand the care they provide.
3. Ask Questions. A great way to establish and build trust is to educate yourself on the situation at hand. Ask questions about the assisted living program and staff to gain a better understanding of what your parents are experiencing while they’re in assisted living.

Build Relationships with the Assisted Living Staff at Saint Simeon’s

At Saint Simeon’s, we offer our residents four levels of senior assisted living care based on their needs. You and your parents will work with your parents’ physician and our staff to choose the level of assistance that is appropriate for them.

As time passes, if significant changes in your parents’ needs occur, we will reevaluate the level of care needed for them to experience the best quality of life. Contact us today to learn more about our assisted living options and our care levels.