Nate Hamme’s Post

My non-profit, Ceca (which Celebrates healthcare workers across the country to encourage better quality and improved patient and resident experiences), is participating in "Thanksgiving in June". Today is obviously a special day for me, my 41st birthday, but it also happens to be the 11th anniversary of Ceca's founding by the Matthew and Rosemary Lawlor family. The cause is near and dear to my heart and as you can see below has made a huge impact on not only caregivers around the country but the nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living communities and homecare provider organizations we support. I would be honored if you'd consider a (tax deductible!) donation to our organization--one which will go directly to cash awards for care workers, including but not limited to certified nursing assistants in nursing homes, nurses in hospitals, housekeepers, dietary workers and other support service providers in care centers around the country. When workers are highly engaged and feel appreciated, we all reap significant benefits--lower employee turnover, better patient outcomes and a higher quality of life for those living in long-term care communities. Your support means a great deal to me and this organization which I have served and stewarded over the last 11 years--through the pandemic and major changes in the healthcare industry. Our entire team sincerely appreciates your consideration...and I am so very thankful we connected. Best in life, Nate

Patient (and resident) experience starts with employee experience. You can't provide exceptional care without cultivating engaged team members, and recognizing their efforts in a meaningful and structured way that prioritizes customer satisfaction. What you celebrate matters--and your employees notice. Thoroughly enjoyed writing the first of a two part series for the The Beryl Institute on why employee recognition--and more specifically caregiver recognition in skilled nursing, assisted living, hospital, home care and hospice communities--is a strategic imperative worth investing in. Ceca Foundation

A critical conversation with Learn2Care on supporting, developing, recognizing and engaging your care-force. Ceca Foundation is honored to partners with dozens of organizations to better celebrate their team members, leading to improved retention and better experiences for employees and their clients alike.

I know we're all acutely aware of the workforce challenges confronting the skilled nursing (SNF) and senior living (CCRC) industry. In case you needed some hard data around it, Fitch Ratings has gotchu. Wanted to emphasize one element of Director Richard Park's comments on the data and what organizations need to do to overcome the shortage: "a combination of externally focused initiatives to increase career pathways and recruit potential employees from other industries and countries **as well as internally focused initiatives to improve the quality of the work environment, workplace culture and employee training and development.**” Thank you, Richard. It's not just providing pathways to new professionals and recruiting better. It's providing a more appealing experience to your current staff and by showing your current employees they are valued. We have seen it first hand in Ceca Foundation partner organizations. People love what they do when they are show how they transform lives. They love what they do when their actions are noticed and their accomplishments are celebrated. And engaged employees are going to be your best recruiters when they say "come with me for a better employment experience."

Enjoyed my conversation with Elena Jonathon at CareSmartz360 about the fundamental need for care workers to feel appreciated. But we need more than "employee appreciation"--your yearly holiday parties, birthdays, and a stack of pizza. They want to be RECOGNIZED! Ceca Foundation built our caregiver Award program on the Science of Recognition. We've shown organizations the substantial impact it has on employee engagement and retention--saving them tens or even hundreds of thousands in recruitment, training and on-boarding. We help cultivate happy people as a strategic partner for skilled nursing and senior living communities, and homecare and hospice providers. And as a non-profit, you know you will always get more than you could ever expect. Come celebrate your caregivers with us...

Glad to see McKnight's Senior Living cover a very important conversation from Meg LaPorte and the Maryland Regional Direct Services Collaborative a couple weeks back. We heard loud and clear from care workers that they need to be shown their organizations see them and notice their contributions--and that they're supported in essential ways, including through #appreciation and #recognition. Our IMPACT framework has been central to the success of the Ceca Award over the last decade--driving employee engagement, retention and satisfaction. And while it is clear organizations want to provide this essential positive reinforcement, it's also clear they are stretched for time--in many cases near a breaking point. That's where Ceca Foundation comes in with our model of direct administrative, operational and marketing support to complement our recognition technology and cash awards for caregivers. As a mission driving non-profit--it's a win-win-win for organizations, their team members, and those they care for.

An honor to speak with Idealist.org members on the importance of celebrating your team members--in non-profits, healthcare orgs, and beyond. Coordinated and comprehensive recognition that highlights impact provides direction and allows organizations to reinstate and reinforce vision and purpose. Please join us tomorrow at 3pm ET! Ceca Foundation Idealist.org #employeerecognition #employeeengagement #pauseforapplause

Congratulations David Leader and Providence Place Senior Living on the well-deserved honor! In my years of working with David, I have seen first hand what a passionate and capable leader he is, and his team at Providence Place is second to none in their commitment to providing exceptional experiences for residents and employees alike. 🎉

In my years of working with CCRCs, I've found some of the most intelligent, resourceful and passionate people and organizations working in the sector. I have no doubt that the senior/long-term care industry will continue to grow and provide an essential service to older adults looking for community and an extra level of comfort and peace of mind. Undoubtedly, as new players enter the market and competition for residents and talent increases, there are challenges and opportunities these companies will have to confront. And Ceca will continue to serve and partner with these organizations with the "tri-brid" goal of improving resident experiences, employee satisfaction, and quality of care. Do you agree with Fitch that there is a "deteriorating outlook" for the sector in 2024 and beyond? How will organizations need to respond to market forces to remain appealing and competitive? And what does your experience in the long-term care industry tell you about the future of CCRCs? Please share in the comments below! Ceca Foundation Fitch Ratings LifeSpan Network AHCA/NCAL LeadingAge Argentum