Does Facility Management really increase resident satisfaction and provide a better experience for your residents and staff?

By Susan Saldibar

A new study has revealed a distinct connection between workplace environment and services and quality of life.

Sodexo, a Senior Housing Forum partner, and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) conducted a study surveying international Facilities Management (FM) professionals on a range of questions, in an effort to better understand the link between FM and quality of life; more specifically to Sodexo’s Six Dimensions of Quality of Life.

The Results

As it turns out, the impact is significant. And there are some key insights that can be of help to senior living communities as they strive to align FM functions and services to meet increasing needs and quality standards of their residents.

  • 61% of those surveyed said that improving the workplace environment and employee wellbeing would have a high impact on their organizations over the next 2 years.

  • 30% of those surveyed said that it would enhance social interactions among colleagues.

  • 22% said that it would improve the ease and efficiency in daily tasks.

  • 22% said that it would promote a positive impact on health and wellbeing.

The Impact

Okay so what does this all mean? It means that there are real numbers behind the notion that FM, when executed effectively, has a direct impact for both the resident and staff experience.

The study found that a large number of those surveyed are already bundling facilities management services together. What were the advantages?  

  • 75% felt that the most important advantages of integrated outsourcing are cost efficiencies.

  • 68% felt that the most important advantage was the creation of a single point of contact for clients, simplifying the chain administration and avoiding duplication of management systems.

  • The most outsourced services were cleaning, maintenance and security.

It makes sense. Why would a senior living community want to pay the overhead to maintain staff for services that a third party provider can offer at a more economical rate? As Satya Menard, CEO of Service Operations for Sodexo said, “More and more, clients are looking for IFM (Integrated Facilities Management) partners who can deliver workplace environment where employees feel engaged, safe, healthy, happy and productive – where their quality of life is a priority. This confirms what we see every day around the world with our clients.”

How are you using FM to increase resident satisfaction and provide a better experience for your residents and staff? Are you outsourcing your FM? Click here for more details on how FM can positively impact residents and staff.