A planned expansion of its care coordination program has prompted the nation’s largest senior living company to advertise for an “aging expert” to develop and implement care delivery and best practices into its daily operations.
Brentwood, TN-based Brookdale Senior Living is seeking a gerontologist to provide additional expert knowledge to support the health and well-being of its residents, according to Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Kim Elliott. According to the job posting, the position will play a “pivotal role” in incorporating evidence-based practices into care delivery, developing aging-related programs and serving as a thought leader in aging-related initiatives, both internally and externally.
“The gerontologist position will support Brookdale across multiple departments, integrating current research and best practices for care delivery, programming, environmental design and more,” Elliott, a McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee from the inaugural 2019 class, told McKnight’s Senior Living.
With Brookdale’s planned expansion of its value-based care coordination program, Brookdale HealthPlus, from its current 48 locations to 130 communities by the end of the year, Elliott said, the new position will collaborate with the clinicians to share expertise that benefits the HealthPlus model and overall care delivery.
Brookdale HealthPlus, launched in early 2020, has led to 78% fewer urgent care visits for residents, 36% fewer hospitalizations and 63% higher annual wellness visit completion rates compared with such metrics for individuals living in private homes, according to a recent corporate presentation. The program was named an Argentum Best of the Best Award winner at the association’s annual conference in April.
The gerontologist, Elliott said, will be a member of the company’s clinical services center of excellence, working alongside clinical staff as well as leaders in resident engagement, memory care and asset management.
“This person will play a crucial role in developing and implementing care delivery, developing programs and helping to incorporate the best gerontological practices into daily operations,” she said. “This position will help connect clinical expertise and senior living, enhancing the overall strategic approach to resident well-being.”
Adding a gerontologist role to the team, Elliott added, reflects the company’s proactive commitment to integrating specialized knowledge directly into management and care practices. The move also underscores Brookdale’s “dedication to advancing the quality of life of our residents through expert-led, research-based strategies, tailored specifically to the aging population,” she said.
Brookdale is actively recruiting for the role and will fill it “when we find the right person,” Elliott said.
