Workplace design can positively affect employee morale throughout an organization. Read on to find out how nursing homes and assisted living facilities can benefit by making changes to the way their employee-only areas are designed. 

Nursing Home Staffing Shortage

It’s no secret that the Senior Living Industry is facing a staffing shortage. A new survey released by the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) shows that nursing homes in the U.S. continue to struggle with staffing shortages and higher operating costs. Most facilities are requiring staff to take on more responsibilities and work longer hours. Several factors have contributed to the shortage of workers including workload, low wages, environment, reduced occupancy rates and Covid-19 vaccine requirements. The staffing crisis has facilities scrambling to adjust their culture and benefits to help better recruit and retain employees.

Easing Workplace Burdens on Employees

Nursing home administrators are thinking outside of the box and looking for ways to ease the burden on their employees. Some facilities have started offering a wider range of benefits including more flexible work schedules, counseling or support groups for their employees, subsidized housing, childcare, and even free meal and grocery services. Support positions are being created in some nursing homes to help ease the burden on CNAs, allowing someone else to do the nonclinical duties like making beds, delivering trays, and answering phones.

Facilities are looking at the physicality of the work that their employees are doing and taking steps to lighten the workload by installing ceiling lifts to help prevent staff injuries and streamlining processes to help free up time. Other senior living facilities are looking into ways to make the workplace environment more enjoyable for staff.  The focus has previously been centered on the comfort and wellness of the residents, but steps now are being taken to ensure that facilities offer a positive environment for both residents and staff.

Workplace Design & Employee Satisfaction

The Guide to Improving Nursing Home Employee Satisfaction created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes several recommendations in regard to designing a positive work environment.  These suggestions include things like “create a home-like environment that is relaxing and pleasant to work in,” and “consider creating a hospitality committee or decor committee composed of staff of all levels and residents.”  The report suggests upgrading the employee-only areas and creating “an area of peace and quiet to help reduce staff stress levels.”

To understand more about how workplace design can positively influence employees we spoke with Design Manager, Alex Brewer from LOTH in Cincinnati, Ohio. She said, “the staff needs to feel supported to do their work, feel like they have a comfortable space to take a break, and want to come to work each day. This could look like a well-designed break room, an outdoor area where they can eat lunch or take a break, or even something fun like a massage chair since they are on their feet all day.”

Good Design – More Than Aesthetics 

Supporting the front-line means creating a healthy work environment – mentally and physically.  Team members need a space to recharge when they have a break and the design of employee workspaces in a senior living facility can make an impact on employee happiness. Alex explained how good workplace design in nursing homes is about more than aesthetics, it can impact employee morale, productivity and it shows the employees that the company is willing to invest in them which can be huge for employee retention and attracting Gen Z workers.

When it comes to promoting well-being for both residents and staff, Alex suggested adding biophilic design elements like access to natural sunlight and living things (greenery/plants) going on to say how biophilia “has been proven to help people heal, improve mood, and live longer.”

Studies have shown that people working in a space with biophilic design elements have a reduced level of stress and are more productive as well. Incorporating biophilic design elements into your facility can not only benefit staff and residents but can create environmentally friendly spaces that conserve water and energy and can help reduce the impact of our carbon footprint.

Conclusion – Workplace Environments are Important

The senior living facility staffing shortage has administrators re-evaluating their culture and benefits to help better recruit and retain employees.  Nursing homes can better attract and keep employees by focusing on creating a functional and desirable work environment and by looking for ways to support the comfort and wellness of both the residents and the staff. Good workplace design in nursing homes is about more than aesthetics, it can impact employee morale, productivity and it shows the employees and potential employees that the company is willing to invest in them.

LOTH has been inspiring spaces for over 130 years. They have grown to become the trusted partner for integrating creative spaces for corporate, education, and healthcare markets in the Cincinnati and Columbus regions. If you are interested in more information on workplace design or want to speak to a Design Professional at LOTH, please email info@lothinc.com. 

Nina Weierman is a 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, freelance writer and mother. She also writes about running, parenting and travel. Read the other blog posts she has written for us here.