Insights in Seniors Housing & Care
By: Morgan Graphman, Director of Business Intelligence, Ascent Living Communities | April 11, 2024
Business Environment | Ideas and Discussion | Senior Housing
In the dynamic world of senior living, the partnership between operators and owners holds the key to transforming ordinary buildings into vibrant, thriving communities. Operators are tasked with managing relationships with various owners, each with their unique needs, expectations, and strategic objectives. Conversely, owners oversee multiple operators, each bringing their distinct management styles, market insights, and operational approaches to the table.Success in senior living lies not merely in the individual efforts of operators or owners but in the seamless alignment of visions, strategies, and growth goals between these crucial stakeholders.
The Heart: At the heart of every high-performing operator-owner partnership lies a foundation of continuous and open dialogue. This goes beyond addressing issues as they arise; it involves maintaining a constant flow of communication characterized by transparency, mutual respect, and collaboration. Whether it's sharing successes, addressing challenges head-on, or providing regular updates, fostering a culture of open dialogue creates an environment where everyone is kept informed and aligned with the overarching objectives.
At the operational level, transparent communication channels play a pivotal role in ensuring effective relationship between operators and owners. Operators possess valuable insights into day-to-day activities, resident satisfaction, staffing dynamics, and service delivery optimization strategies. By facilitating open dialogue around these operational insights with owners, operators enable their owner-partners to gain a deeper understanding of the operational intricacies and how they translate into financial performance. This mutual exchange of open communications empowers owners to make informed decisions, offer strategic guidance, and actively participate in driving operational excellence.
The Core: Collaboration serves as the core of success in the operator-owner relationship. It involves more than just recognizing each other's expertise; it requires a shared commitment to working together, leveraging complementary strengths, and aligning actions with collective goals. Collaboration isn't merely a buzzword—it's the secret that transforms individual efforts into collective achievements. By bridging the expertise of operators with the strategic vision of owners, collaboration creates a synergy that propels the partnership forward and drives sustained success in senior living communities.
True collaboration emerges when owners demonstrate confidence in operators by entrusting them with operational data and insights. By leveraging critical data such as occupancy rates, resident demographics, and care outcomes, operators fortify their ability to drive performance improvements, implement data-driven strategies, and deliver superior outcomes for residents and stakeholders alike. This provides owners with confidence in current and future financial outcomes through informed data sharing. This trust-based collaboration fosters a sense of partnership, mutual accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes, laying the groundwork for long-term success and growth.
Movement for Success: To propel these relationships toward success, implementing practical measures is vital. Here are five simple, yet effective steps to consider:
Building a robust operator-owner partnership requires a comprehensive approach rooted in understanding, communication, collaboration, and trust. Mastery of these crucial elements cultivates a partnership that transcends individual interests, nurturing a culture of innovation and excellence.
Through this synergistic approach, stakeholders enhance the performance of senior living communities, enrich residents' lives, and contribute to the broader community's well-being. By deepening their commitment to open dialogue, collaboration, and trust, stakeholders unlock the relationship's full potential, propelling sustained success and growth in the evolving senior living sector.
Morgan’s journey in senior living started at a young age when she would go to work with her mom, who worked as a physical therapist at a community throughout her career. During high school, she worked as a dining room server in her local senior living community, solidifying her passion through direct daily interactions with residents. Going to college, Morgan knew that senior living was her calling and after graduating first in her class with a degree in Finance she went headfirst into the industry. She started out at a large corporation, immersing herself in all the different operational facets of the business. She then transitioned to Ascent Living Communities and worked at various communities in various roles. She helped Ascent’s growth with community level support with acquisitions and new construction projects. She then transitioned from the community to the home office and now enjoys being able to help Ascent complete portfolio! Within Ascent, Morgan's responsibilities extend across every department. She's instrumental in various capacities, including designing and implementing BI tools to amplify community transparency, collaborating with emerging tech firms to optimize efficiency, and crafting pro-formas and valuations to explore avenues of growth. Outside the office, she loves spending time with her husband and two kids.
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