How to Hire and Keep Top Caregivers for Your Assisted Living Facility
- Nate Jones, CPCU, ARM, CLCS, AU
- Nov 26, 2025
- 2 min read
The quality of care in an assisted living facility directly depends on the staff you hire. Attracting and retaining skilled caregivers is essential for resident satisfaction, safety, and operational success.
This guide provides actionable strategies for hiring, training, and keeping high-quality caregivers in your facility.
1. Understand Your Staffing Needs
Before hiring, evaluate your facility’s needs:
Determine staff-to-resident ratios based on care level
Identify roles: caregivers, nurses, activity coordinators, support staff
Decide on full-time, part-time, or per-diem positions
Read more about recommended staffing ratios from the American Health Care Association (AHCA).
2. Recruiting Qualified Caregivers
Finding skilled caregivers requires a multi-channel approach:
Post job openings on senior care-specific job boards
Partner with local nursing schools or training programs
Use social media and professional networks for outreach
Offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract top talent
Find out more recruitment tips from the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).
3. Conduct Effective Interviews and Screening
Screening is critical to ensure you hire trustworthy and competent staff:
Perform background checks and drug screenings
Verify certifications (CPR, first aid, dementia care, medication administration)
Conduct behavioral interviews focusing on empathy, patience, and problem-solving skills
4. Training and Professional Development
Ongoing training ensures caregivers stay competent and confident:
Mandatory state-required training for assisted living staff
Specialized training in memory care, fall prevention, and infection control
Encourage professional development and certification programs
5. Retention Strategies
Retaining quality staff reduces turnover costs and maintains care quality:
Offer competitive pay and benefits
Recognize and reward performance
Create a supportive and inclusive work environment
Provide opportunities for career advancement
Foster strong communication between staff and management
Protect Your Facility and Staff with Wexford Insurance
High-quality staffing also means managing risk. Wexford Insurance helps assisted living facility owners nationwide secure coverage to protect your staff, residents, and facility.
Key policies include:
Final Thoughts
Hiring and retaining skilled caregivers is critical to the success of your assisted living facility. By focusing on recruitment, training, and staff satisfaction—and protecting your business with Wexford Insurance—you can ensure high-quality care and a thriving facility.
Contact us today.
