by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger
"Not-for-profit organizations manage their financial resources in accordance with their missions," says the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) in their booklet The Not-for-Profit Difference. In other words, the very reason a not-for-profit organization comes into existence is to meet a need, right a wrong, make a difference — something more than simply making money. And the staff who join the organization are often drawn to the mission more than the paycheck. As a result, the caregivers, receptionists, janitors, and administrators at a not-for-profit retirement community are usually there because they want to be. That sense of caring shines through in the way they do their jobs and the way they interact with residents. "I love my job," says Diane, of Providence Healthcare & Rehabilitation in Palos Heights, Illinois. "I just love being here. It's the best job in the world." And Jeff, at Royal Park Place in Zeeland, Michigan, gets his whole family involved — this August they'll present a slide show of their vacation photos, and once a month they play Wheel of Fortune with the residents. Money can't buy that kind of caring.
2. Measurable quality
Jim Collins, best known for his book Good to Great, also wrote a companion piece called Good to Great and the Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking is Not the Answer. In it he says, "For a business, financial returns are a perfectly legitimate measure of performance. For a social sector organization, however, performance must be assessed relative to mission, not financial returns." When staff love coming to work every day, when they go "above and beyond" without even having to think about it, high-quality service is almost automatic. AAHSA cites numerous sources that put numbers to this quality, such as:
- Residents at not-for-profit nursing homes receive 37.2% more hours per day of registered nurse care.
- Residents at not-for-profit nursing homes receive 22% more hours per day of care from other licensed staff.
- Not-for-profit nursing homes have .74 serious deficiencies cited, compared to 1.25 cited at for-profit nursing homes.
In addition, a 2006 survey by Consumer Reports found, "Not-for-profit homes are more likely than for-profit ones to provide good care." As AAHSA's booklet explains, "Quality, not earnings, is the barometer of a not-for-profit organization's efforts. All proceeds in a not-for-profit are reinvested in improving the physical environment, serving more people, offering more and better accommodations and services, and, ultimately, fulfilling the organization's mission."
3. Stability
If the retirement community near you is a not-for-profit organization, chances are it has existed in the same community for generations. That kind of stability can inspire confidence, trust, and peace of mind in an era when aging services providers are popping up like dandelions to meet the anticipated needs of the Boomer market. Deana, of Holland Home in South Holland, Illinois, noticed the difference right away. She had previously worked for new organization with new facilities she was trying to fill before the paint was even dry. "But Holland Home has been here in South Holland for 35 years," she says. "There is so much history here, so much tradition — it really gives you a feeling of solidity."
Providence Life Services opened its first skilled nursing community in 1960, out of a sense of calling to provide Christ-like care to aging church members. Today we offer a full spectrum of life-enhancing services in multiple locations, always drawing on our decades of experience to fulfill today's needs and expectations.
If you have questions about how a not-for-profit Providence community can help you get the most out of your retirement, contact us!
