What would it be like if somehow each CEO were “forced” to live in her own community?
By Steve Moran
This post started innocently enough. I came across this Dilbert Cartoon:
When I saw it, my immediate thought was “Isn’t this just like Senior Living?” I posted it in the Senior Living Leadership group on Facebook. (Come on, you should be a part of that group). I didn’t originally plan on posting it as an article, but the Facebook post almost immediately generated some thoughtful comments that inspired this post.
Including these two:
“I find it fascinating that so many people fiercely protect the old way of doing things. Meanwhile, many consumers say they would rather DIE than go to a nursing home or even assisted living. Ummm, if that isn’t a hint that maybe you should be doing something different I don’t know what is!”
“I suspect change would accelerate like nothing we’ve seen yet if CEOs and owners were required to live in their own facilities — specifically, the nursing care area for those with CCRCs. Most have the luxury of knowing they will never need to, given their significant personal resources.”
The second one really hit home. Over the last few months, I have had a few instances where I have been around senior living leaders who seem to be hinting they are not even interested in moving into their own communities.
So I find myself wondering, what would it be like if somehow each CEO were “forced” to live in their own community and . . .
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They had to live in the smallest unit in that community or share a bed in a two- or three-bed nursing home room or dementia unit.
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No one knew they were the CEO or a part of the leadership team.
As a writer, I have a few times been invited to stay in a senior community for a night. The communities knew who I was and that I was a writer. And, if I am honest, none of those experiences have been all that great. Nothing horrible and maybe my expectations are too high, meaning 4-star hotelish.
And yet . . . if you are offering up a guest suite, the goal should be to create an “11-star” wow experience.
As I walked away from those experiences, I found myself thinking if my experience as a guest was “meh”, then what is it for residents?
Don’t get me wrong, I have been to some communities where I would love to live, but not many . . . and that kind of makes me sad.
How about you?
