Creating a sense of belonging at work is not always a goal on a strategic plan—but current research proves that it should be. LeadingAge released learning opportunities and resources you can use now to help create a culture of belonging and other important aspects of building an inclusive work environment.

Read more about Workplace Belonging Impacts Success and access the new resources page from LeadingAge.

There are many skills found in an excellent coach that can transcend into the workplace and our teams in aging services communities. LeadingAge curated invaluable resources and tools—like the free NurseLEAD program, coaching self-assessment form, and a guide to individual development plans—to assist members as they develop their leadership teams and continually improve their organizations.

Read more about Leading Like A Coach and access the new resources page from LeadingAge.

The aging services sector is full of caring and relationship-minded people, but the systems and structures around our field are often punitive, hierarchical, and outdated. Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General released a framework for how organizations can improve the well-being of staff and organizational culture. So where can you start? LeadingAge provides resources and tools to help member organizations learn about candor, build trust, and improve transparent communication. Read more on building cultures of candor.

In the current aging services workforce crisis, efforts to recruit staff and build a future pipeline are more important than ever. With an incredibly competitive labor market, organizations need to stand out and that requires a new collaborative effort between marketing and HR. In addition to Opening Doors to the Aging Services Workforce resources, LeadingAge members now also have exclusive access to new tools for building recruitment pipelines, including peer interviewing tools, high school presentation template, job fair checklist, and more. 

LeadingAge knows the importance of organizations living out their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and today provided members resources to help address systematic issues related to DEI. Organizations can learn how to take first steps and how each well-meaning statement can be translated into meaningful action and quantifiable outcomes in the new LeadingAge article Living Out Your Commitment to DEI.

A vast list of resources—including a toolkit and thought leadership blog from LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston—will also help your organization walk the talk.

Despite the many advocacy efforts at the state and federal level, professional caregivers are still paid below the living wage in far too many areas—contributing to instability and a lack of access to food, child care, health care, housing, transportation and other basic necessities. Today, LeadingAge released valuable member resources about wraparound supports and services and shares ways providers are seeking to Stabilize the Workforce Through Wraparound Supports.

Is it possible to take lessons learned from person-directed care and adapt them for long-term care work environments? Like those receiving care, wouldn’t staff like to have influence, the ability to solve problems, share responsibility, contribute, and exercise autonomy? Organizational culture change can be challenging and take patience, but with a multi-faceted approach it is possible to gain organization-wide support. 

LeadingAge released resources on organizational culture today to help members create staff-centered workplaces and use Lessons Learned from Person-Directed Care.

Professional caregivers don’t stay in the sector because of the pay, and as LeadingAge’s LTSS Center @UMass Boston has found, wages are not commensurate with the level of expertise and skill required of caregivers. To help unpack the long-standing, multi-faceted Wage Dilemma in Aging Services, LeadingAge released resources, research, and tools on compensation and benefits to help members navigate the challenge in their organizations.