Senior care facilities are busy places full of unique residents who bring their own personality and flair to the neighborhood. But it’s not just residents who make a senior living community feel like home; it is also the team of staff members who work there. Senior care facility staff are truly the heart of the residence, and each person has a passion for serving others and years of experience they put to work every hour, every shift, and every day.

Whether you are looking at independent living, assisted living, memory care, or a nursing home, you will find staff members who are there to help out with a smile, including the professionals you see every time you visit and those who spend most of their work days behind the scenes.

Here are a few of the most common types of senior care facility staff you’ll find in a residence, as well as what they do and other titles you might see depending on the type of community you are researching.

Administrator

As the leader of the senior care facility, the administrator is involved with all aspects of how the facility runs. They are often in charge of:

• Hiring director-level staff members.
• Solving problems and investigating concerns from residents, guests, and staff.
• Keeping up with quality assurance and state regulations.
• Developing and overseeing budgets.
• Setting the tone and culture of the community.

Other similar titles: Executive director

Their experience and training: Administrators have years of experience working in senior living communities, typically in other leadership roles. Some may even have experience working as a caregiver, nurse, or dining room server and have worked their way up with dedication and continuing education. Most administrators have also completed some type of administrator-in-training (AIT) program, where they are paired up with a more experienced mentor to learn from before taking on their own role as community leaders.

Depending on the community and the state the facility is in, an administrator might have more than a college education in public health or health care administration. They may also have certifications, such as Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) or Certified Assisted Living Administrator.

Director of nursing

The director of nursing is the clinical expert and go-to person for the entire senior care facility. They are often in charge of:

• Hiring nurses and caregivers, including those in leadership positions.
• Creating and overseeing nursing care policies and procedures.
• Being the contact person for emergency planning and medical crisis prevention.
• Performing chart audits and overseeing documentation from clinical staff.
• Being the face of the community’s clinical expertise for local physicians, medical groups, home care agencies, and outpatient clinics.
• Developing schedules and workflows for clinicians on the floor to maximize resident care and satisfaction.

Other similar titles: Nursing director, nursing manager

Their experience and training: All directors of nursing are licensed or registered nurses. Most have advanced degrees, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). They may also have taken extensive classes in gerontology or restorative care. In addition, a director of nursing has years of experience working as a floor nurse in a clinical setting, with at least some of that time spent serving seniors.

Depending on the size of the community, a director of nursing might also have an assistant director of nursing (ADON) who also supports the nurses and caregivers in the community, a care plan nurse who writes individualized care plans for each resident and plans and facilitates quarterly reviews of the care plan, and a nurse scheduler who creates schedules for nurses and caregivers.

Activity director

The activity director in a senior care facility serves a critical role: creating opportunities for social connection, friendship, and new learning. They are often in charge of:

• Creating a calendar of events and activities that appeal to a wide variety of resident interests.
• Preparing supplies, hiring entertainers, and decorating for events.
• Maintaining a complex budget for events throughout the month.
• Involving and welcoming guests and family members with special events held regularly in the community.
• Planning outings into the greater community for meals, shopping, errands, cultural opportunities, exploration, and more.
• Creating and maintaining partnerships with outside organizations, such as local places of worship, libraries, sports and fitness centers, etc., so that residents can pursue their interests.
• Facilitating and leading enjoyable events throughout the day and evening, as well as evaluating how they went and making changes for the future as necessary.
• Managing a staff of activity professionals and volunteers for the community.

Other similar titles: Lifestyle director, event coordinator, happiness director, life enrichment director

Their experience and training: Depending on the type of senior care facility and the state the community is in, activity directors might need to attend educational courses to become activity director certified (ADC). These professionals might also have a college degree in recreation therapy and may even be certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS).

Director of dining services

As the leader behind delicious meals (that are certainly not “hospital food”), the director of dining services is tasked with leading one of the largest teams in the senior care facility. They are often in charge of:

• Working with their chefs to create seasonal and fresh menus for three meals daily, with multiple choices for each entrée and side dish.
• Working with a dietitian or nutritionist to ensure specialized dietary needs are being met without removing any taste or dignity from the meal experience.
• Involving residents in the menu planning process and working closely with them to ensure satisfaction.
• Creating and overseeing the hospitality side of the dining experience.
• Ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal safety guidelines and regulations.

Other similar titles: Executive chef

Their experience and training: Directors of dining services typically have years of experience working in a leadership position in a busy kitchen, specifically in a senior living or hospital setting. They may or may not have completed advanced education as chefs, but most have worked closely under a mentor to learn how to create menus and an exceptional dining experience.

The director of dining services manages a busy staff who ensure all residents and guests are served delicious meals three times a day. This staff can include chefs (executive and sous), dining room managers, and dining room servers.

Building and grounds director

This professional is typically in charge of both maintenance and housekeeping services, as well as ensuring safety for the community. They are often in charge of:

• Hiring, scheduling, and overseeing housekeeping and maintenance staff.
• Keeping up with all local, state, and federal regulations regarding safety oversight.
• Working with local emergency responders to develop emergency and natural disaster protocols.
• Educating all staff and running regular practice with fire drills, natural disaster drills, etc.
• Fixing machines and systems, scheduling landscaping work, and ensuring that the community is looking and functioning its best.

Other similar titles: Maintenance director, environmental services director

Their experience and training: Building and grounds directors do not necessarily need extensive experience in senior care facilities but do need to have experience in a similar environment. Some have continuing education in construction, engineering, or other trades. All have experience managing a diverse staff of team members.

Team members who work for a building and grounds director might include maintenance workers, landscapers, and housekeepers.

It takes a team to run a senior care facility

There are many more experienced and friendly professionals who work in senior living communities than the ones listed here. It takes a team of hardworking individuals to ensure residents are cared for, healthy, happy, and comfortable. When you research senior living options, take time to get to know the staff members at each community. You’re sure to meet dedicated people who are compassionate, smart, and kind.

Senior care facility rules and requirements vary based on company-specific policies and state-level regulations. The content above represents common guidelines but may differ from a particular facility’s policies or requirements. To learn the regulations that apply in your state, contact your local Oasis Senior Advisor.