In the March edition of Long Term Living Magazine, an article was written about nursing home and assisted living residents hiring their own staff. This is a unique development in our line of work, and one that could have wonderful implications for the next generation of people who need LTC services.

You would expect the DON to be involved in every aspect of recruiting a CNA, and Judson is indeed involved. But, at the hour of decision, she silently steps aside and the residents take over.

A team of four to six residents, their homework done and ready to meet the applicant, stroll into the conference room. It is a meeting of the ages. On one side is arrayed the accumulated wisdom of the seniors who look benignly across the table at the eager young aspirant, Angelica Riviera, 19, idealistic but nervous. The dialogue across generations goes on for 45 minutes, with storytelling, jokes, and much laughter, as each side wonders how the other side will affect its future.

Isn’t this great? Imagine being a resident, and having some power in who is hired to work with you, to take of you, help you?

The DON is instrumental in this process:

“Seeing residents hire their caregivers is rewarding enough,” says Judson. “It has also elevated my understanding of what matters most to the residents. It has made me a better leader and a better person. It is an empowering and uniting experience for us all. Sitting on the sidelines, I listen to residents tell a budding caregiver what living in a facility is all about; at each session I learn something new.”

Read the whole article HERE.