Industry experts agree that the $30-billion-a-year North American eldercare and retirement industry is poised to enter a period of unprecedented growth and expansion. The expected growth will be necessary to meet the needs of an aging population, as well as the predicted demand for a greater variety of eldercare services.
As the retirement industry begins to gear up for this expected period of growth, it faces one potential problem: there likely won’t be enough qualified workers in the industry to fill upcoming employment needs. According to eldercare staffing expert Liz Taylor, representatives of the retirement industry are facing this issue head-on by reaching out to experienced workers in other fields.
Looking for a Change?
A growing number of hospitality industry workers are taking up this challenge and forging a new career path in the retirement industry. If you’re a professional with a passion for service and a hospitality industry skill set to match, you just might be the kind of person that retirement industry recruiters are seeking out.
Take the example of Holiday Retirement, the world’s largest owner and operator of independent retirement living facilities. According to Jeff Kay, a Regional Chef for the company, Holiday Retirement highlights its healthy, chef-prepared meals as a key amenity to prospective residents, and as a result, they are always on the lookout for top-notch foodservice talent. This is a perfect case in point of the significant overlap that exists between the eldercare industry and the hospitality industry.
So in spite of a few basic differences, the hospitality and retirement industries actually have a lot in common. In fact, if you think about it, both industries are involved in the business of providing top-quality care and service to the public. Here are just a few of the hospitality industry skills that can help ensure your seamless transition to a retirement industry setting.
Detail-oriented.
Hospitality industry workers are used to paying meticulous attention to the guidelines and practices that help ensure food safety and regulatory compliance. The same level of attention to detail is necessary in retirement industry settings, where many residents have complex medical needs.
Patience.
Most hospitality industry workers have learned the importance of patience through hard-won experience. This virtue can also come in handy in an eldercare setting.
Outgoing personality.
The residents of retirement communities have interesting life experiences to draw on, and many take great pleasure in interactions with friendly staff members. If you’ve honed your extroversion to a fine art while waiting tables or working at the front desk of a hotel, you’re sure to be a popular addition to a retirement facility staff.
Good observation skills.
Servers in busy restaurants often have the ability to “read” customers and predict their needs and preferences with just a quick glance. These assessments can also be helpful in a retirement home setting, where employees are expected to keep very close tabs on residents’ well-being.
Stamina.
Years of experience with double shifts and slammed dinner services can really build up your on-the-job endurance – and if you’re considering a move to the retirement industry, you’ll need it. Today’s retirement home residents are more active and dynamic than ever before. If you’re looking for a slow-paced setting, this industry may not be for you! Stamina is definitely a plus.
If you’re a skilled hospitality worker who is seeking out a change of scenery, don’t overlook the retirement and eldercare industry. With unprecedented growth predicted and a bounty of job opportunities, a new job in this fulfilling field could be just what you’re looking for.