At Atria, we take pride not just in the happiness and wellbeing of residents, but also in the quality, satisfaction, and career advancement of the staff in our communities. We celebrate their achievements, take an active interest in their personal development, and set up training programs to further their careers and ensure that Atria is one of the best companies to work for.
According to the Spring 2021 Atria customer satisfaction survey, top-notch customer service is one of the reasons that residents enjoy living at our communities. We know that our staff and employees deserve credit for the quality of that customer service. So if you want to join a team that takes pride in its work and takes proactive steps to meet and mentor the people it hires, read on for a glimpse into what life is like for an Atria employee in these five communities.
Atria Tarzana
At Atria Tarzana in Los Angeles, California, Executive Director Shak Rafat instills Atria’s core values – trust, integrity, and respect – into his team. He makes sure that new employees are welcomed on their first day with a celebration that includes a sign and balloons. He also takes the time to meet one-on-one with new employees, and provides this advice for anyone interested in senior living jobs: “If you strive to enhance lives every day, you’ll be rewarded with a feeling of fulfillment.”
That advice has resonated with many of the staff at Atria Tarzana, including Carlos, the valet, who spent an entire day helping a widowed resident find his wife’s wedding ring, which had gone missing. Carlos has been at Atria Tarzana ever since the community first opened – thirteen years ago – and Shak calls him “the heartbeat of the community.”
Atria Windsor Woods
Executive Director Janet Brown of Atria Windsor Woods in Hudson, Florida, is protective of her staff. She understands that they’re balancing their work and personal lives, and they know what she means when she tells them it’s a privilege to work for Atria. One of Janet’s most recent hires who she’s especially grateful for is a new bus driver. She’s always coming up with ways to make operations more efficient, and she’s kind and compassionate with the residents – and always positive.
What’s Janet’s advice to someone interested in the benefits that Atria careers provide? “We can teach anyone to do a job, but we can’t teach compassion,” she said. “That must be in your nature.”
Atria Forest Hills
Since Executive Director Jill Draggota arrived five years ago at Atria Forest Hills in Queens, New York, she has focused on hiring compassionate team members who love what they do. She’s helped put together a training program that involves the directors of Atria Forest Hills sitting down with new hires from other departments each month – an initiative that Jill says helps make everyone feel like they’re part of a team.
Speaking of teamwork, Jill also feels as if the support that Atria communities receive from the Support Center – Atria’s headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky – is “unmatched.” Her tip to anyone considering interviewing for senior living community jobs: “If you’re looking for a career with purpose, this is it. Be ready and willing to help wherever it’s needed.”
Atria Crestavilla
When Brian Keys, the executive director at Atria Crestavilla in Laguna Nigel, California, heard the news that the community received excellent customer satisfaction scores, he threw a celebration. Staff and residents gathered safely in the courtyard to hear an announcement of the names of the employees who were recognized in the surveys. They were all given awards.
The consistent, outstanding work that Brian’s team does at every opportunity continues to inspire him to go above and beyond. “Atria has a track record of developing talent,” Brian said. “Many people who work here go on to become executive directors at other locations. We’re passionate about investing in people and watching them grow. We call it the ‘Crestavilla Glow.’”
Atria Rancho Peñasquitos
Quinn Hernandez, the Executive Director of Atria Rancho Peñasquitos in San Diego, California, was not surprised when he learned that the community was among Atria’s top rated senior living communities, according to the Spring 2021 survey. At Atria Rancho Peñasquitos, various members of the staff collaborate to gain a better understanding of how the community operates. Care staff members might work at the front desk, for instance, or the Chef may come out of the kitchen and pitch in wherever help is needed, especially during trying times, like the peak of the COVID pandemic.
Quinn values feedback from the employees at Atria Rancho Peñasquitos. He meets with them every day and listens to their input about how to improve. “Understand that we are working in people’s homes,” he tells new hires. “Making sure that residents are happy and well cared for is always the ultimate goal.”
Join the team
The senior living industry is growing, and senior living careers are among the most in-demand jobs in the market today. We’re committed to hiring and training people who want to make a difference. If that sounds like you, read about the benefits and perks of a career at Atria, then search our open positions at a community near you.
Learn more about what makes Atria a great place to work and current open positions at atriacareers.com.