If I’m being completely honest, this decade has not been an easy one for long-term care and senior living providers. We experienced several regulatory changes and the challenges associated with them. Margins continue to decline, occupancy is down and the workforce crisis continues to puzzle us all.
But a new decade means a fresh start, a clean slate, a chance to learn from the past and focus on the future. And that’s why I joined OnShift just about 12 months ago. I want to be a part of that future because it’s a bright one, my friends. And I’ll tell you why…
First and foremost, the people in this industry are incredible. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with so many of our customers and am in awe of the level of passion and commitment to their people and their residents. They are determined to overcome the hurdles that exist today and are extremely open and receptive to new ways of doing things. I am so thrilled they have chosen OnShift as a partner in doing so. Together, we’ve been able to uncover and implement best practices and strategies to help them be more competitive, raise the bar in terms of the levels of service and support they provide, and drive organizational excellence.
Of course, none of this would be possible without all of the hardworking and compassionate caregivers. They really are the backbone of this industry and I know that providers are doing everything they can to support them and improve their quality of life.
Similarly, the team here at OnShift exhibit many of the same qualities as our customers. They are warm, welcoming and treat their jobs as more of a calling. It’s a really exciting time to work here and you can feel that energy when you walk through our halls.
We are confident that the work we do is going to positively impact an entire industry and that’s pretty exciting. We are not just improving outcomes for the people we call our customers. We are also focused on the people that our customers take care of, and we are really making that mentality part of our DNA. Next year, we will move into a new space that allows all of our nearly 250 team members to work together on one floor, which will only enhance our synergy. I can’t wait.
The final reason I’m optimistic is because I know that we have the means to be successful over the next ten years, and beyond. And that means exists in technology, as long as we choose to embrace it. We keep hearing (and fearing) 2030 – the year when an exponential number of people will enter senior care and require 2.5 million workers to take care of them. Those providers that are relying on time-consuming and error-prone manual processes to run their organizations are already struggling today -- just imagine what that struggle will look like in ten years.
Technology will play a unique role in driving the industry to where it needs to be and I am confident that OnShift will be the common denominator that gets us there. Over the next few years, our team will fundamentally transform how providers do business by offering new ways to increase efficiencies, decrease costs and improve resident outcomes. Most importantly, we will transform the relationship between providers and employees by helping each of our customers to create a culture where people want to work.
It really has been a great year. While I am excited to spend some quality time with family and friends over the next couple of weeks, I secretly can’t wait to pick up where we left off in 2020. Big things are coming from OnShift, and we can’t wait to share them with you.
Happy holidays and cheers to the new year!