3 Tips for Preventing Employee Burnout in Senior Care

Nashville went Hollywood last week at the LeadingAge conference with the red carpet screening of “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.” The documentary explores the ups and downs of the country star’s battle with Alzheimer’s. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m told to expect both laughter and tears along with some incredible music that will keep your toes tapping and fingers snapping long after the movie ends.

One of the great things about the movie is the awareness it brings to not only the disease itself, but also to the value that caregivers bring to Campbell and others dealing with Alzheimer’s. They are truly unsung heroes. They deserve Academy Award style recognition for their efforts caring for our nation’s seniors, day-in and day-out.

Caregiving is not an easy job. Staff can get tired, burned out and frustrated. And, they leave. That’s why today I want to share some tips to help employees beat burnout. With some extra effort, your employees can stay on the track to fulfilling careers and high satisfaction.

1. Have an open door policy – As a manager, supervisor, or team leader, make yourself available to employees. If there is something going on in their department or work group that is causing stress, staff members and residents are going to suffer. Promote your availability so that issues can be resolved quickly, showing staff members you care and avoiding putting residents at risk.
2. Encourage breaks – Breaks are important for any employee, especially caregivers who work directly with residents. Make sure they’re taking breaks when they need to, or schedule a small party to reward hard work. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive – a potluck or a sweet treat (like cookies or candy) during the day breaks up a long shift.
3. Share open shifts equally – Having the same group of employees pick up open shifts time and again can lead to problems. It may frustrate other employees as it may be seen as an unfair practice. Distribute open shifts and overtime fairly among all staff members. Get off to the right start by notifying all qualified and available employees whenever an open shift occurs.

If you’re interested in learning more, take a look at our whitepaper for tips on reducing employee turnover – a common problem when employees get too burned out.

Top photo via LeadingAge