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What people say about working for a not-for-profit retirement community

The following comments are taken from the AAHSA publication, Aging Services, The Not-For-Profit Difference.

Kevin Jones, COO of Saunders House, Philadelphia, PA states, “In my 26 years in long-term care, I’ve worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Not-for-profits provide better quality because our focus is on our mission of service to the community versus the pressure to deliver on quarterly earnings. We attract committed community volunteers to lead us and enhance the quality of life of the people we serve. We provide higher staffing ratios, living wages and benefits to our employees and their families. These advantages translate into better quality and continuity of care and the ability to risk innovation.”   

Another professional writes… 

“Having worked in senior services for over 20 years, and having worked in ‘for-profit’ and ‘not-for-profit,’ I can tell you that there are tremendous differences in the ‘environment or climate’ of the community. In the for-profit community, emphasis was on the ‘numbers’ and I began feeling like a number as a staff member. At RHF, I feel like I am part of a family; myself and the entire staff are committed to the mission. We are not here for the money; we believe in the philosophy of the company, and the residents benefit from the commitment and compassion of the staff. Several of my residents have told me that there is so much love and life in the building, and that’s why I work for RHF…it is very gratifying.”  Stacey A. Montero, Property Manager, St. Catherine Retirement Community/Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF), Florissant, MO.

A staff member perspective…

“I’m proud to be a member of the staff at Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center, a not-for-profit residence for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease in Cohoes, NY. We recognize that the needs of the residents come first, and we know how important it is to treat them with the compassion, dignity and respect that they deserve as senior citizens and as human beings. I’ve worked for both for-profit and not-for-profit providers, and it’s a great feeling to be a part of the not-for-profit mission and a strong commitment to helping seniors and their families.” Barbara Ashley, Unit Secretary, Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center/The Eddy, Cohoes, N.Y.

Resident perspective…

“At a member council meeting in July 2007, residents were asked for their comments about the not-for-profit difference. Here are some of their words:

  • We are not driven by a need to make money
  • Because a not-for-profit is service-driven, not profit-driven; we don’t cut corners
  • Our people are driven by the desire to make a good community instead of being driven by a ledger sheet
  • They are caring people.”

Judith A. Lamoureux, Director of Marketing, The Atrium at The Cedars, Portland, Maine

A family member writes about her experience:

“It’s a not-for-profit. People here are committed to care for the elderly. When we toured, one of the staff’s mother was here, and that said something about the place. The staff knows everybody. My mother has lived at three or four other communities and they were nothing like this.” Jeanne W., daughter of resident at Franciscan Communities/Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, Ill.

 We invite residents, their family members and employees of Wesley Homes and other retirement communities, for-profit and not-for-profit, to post your comments about your experiences.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 12:43 pm and is filed under General Info. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “What people say about working for a not-for-profit retirement community”

  1. Christine Tremain Says:
    January 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pm

    I started my career in retirement housing with a family-owned, for-profit company. While I loved my work, my employers were not as interested in what residents had to say or my professional growth as the not-for-profit organizations I’ve worked for since. Several of my peers have left employment with not-for-profit communities to work in the for-profit world, returning soon after.

    There is a difference between being mission driven and profit driven! It is apparent to residents, family members and employees when their opinions are valued and seriously considered by not-for-profit boards and managers; where compassion and caring come before the bottom line. As not-for-profits, we still have to watch our expenses and be fiscally responsible. With no bottom line there is no mission. It just isn’t what drives us day to day. The impact we make on the quality of life of all those we serve – residents, family members and employees – is what brings us to work each morning with a smile on our face and leaves us with a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.

    There is a difference between being mission driven and profit driven. Others will try to tell you otherwise but think for yourself. How can a manager who is prodded each day by owners, shareholders and banks to cut expenses and show greater earnings put residents and employees first? Where are the dollars to take care of residents who outlive their resources? Where are the grants for employees to better themselves through continued education or to help them through personal crisis? It is the not-for-profit organization that finds these dollars.

    There is a difference between being mission driven and profit driven. A for-profit distributes its earnings to its shareholders. A not-for-profit reinvests its profit back into services for its stakeholders – residents, family members and employees.

  2. Holly Isaman Says:
    January 31st, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    I have worked in for-profit and not-for-profit; church related and business related; large corporation and small company; and after 35+ years in the work force, my most rewarding years have been spent here at Wesley Homes. Through our daily mission oriented efforts, we come to know that the true value in work comes from helping others. In that kind of environment, you truly learn about the joy of giving back and the true happiness that comes with that kind of commitment. John Ruskin said “The highest reward for a man’s toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it.” The mission of Wesley Homes does become part of your being and the rewards of the work are felt within the spirit.

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