Understanding Employee Retention in a Life Plan Community

Abstract

Life plan communities are a type of senior living community that offers tiered lifestyle and healthcare options on one campus. The life plan community we studied has over 300 residents and is a nonprofit organization with a staff of approximately 250 employees, in addition to volunteers and interns. High employee turnover exists at both the staff and leadership levels. We utilized a mixed-methods approach to data collection, analyzing termination report data provided by the organization’s human resources department, employee interviews, and biannual professional association survey data. Findings revealed key challenges related to early employee retention and satisfaction driven by gaps in communication, training, and clarity of expectations. Strong commitment to the work was demonstrated by medium- and long-term employees.