Better run retirement communities realize the benefits, both to residents and to the community, of giving more control to residents over choices and more programming. By setting a goal is to deliver care that is more resident centered, communities across the country have improved resident care and customer satisfaction, and have done so while making a profit. The message to retirement communities is clear: “Good care is good business.”

The person centered based value model works well in non-profit and for profit organizations. But it costs money, so how can a person centered strategy be justified? More often than not, this strategy starts with the activities and programming department. Although not a profit center, the activities department is the starting point to address the psychosocial and wellness needs of the residents. Programming staff often don’t know how to defend the importance of their work and expenses they incur in building the experience for their population. Here are 4 reasons why they positively impact the bottom line of the organization:

1. Increases lengths of stays at higher functioning levels: Not only do higher levels of activities and programming increase the lengths of stays of residents, but it also helps keep residents at higher functioning levels by delaying decline. The business application means that not only is there less turnover in terms of residents but the population is also less expensive to care for.

2. Drives higher satisfaction: Activities and programming are direct drivers of satisfaction for residents, families & staff. By contributing to person centered experiences, the result is better care and experiences for residents, as they value exercise of choice, which also leads them to be healthier and happier. It has also been shown that family members view activities and individualized care plans as critical areas of quality.

3. Helps to market the community: Activities and programming are often the best support for admissions & marketing. The department helps make the community more attractive by showing off the life of residents, how their needs are addressed and what the prospective residents will be doing on a daily basis.

4. Enhances the therapy experience: Programming can prove to be a major asset to a rehab team. Not only can the therapy session be extended with support outside of the gym, but it also is a fantastic way to improve the overall experience for short stay residents.