Employee perks programs can help nursing home and assisted living owner-operators to attract better workers and to lower turnover.

Last fall, the Weiss family visited the Pine Valley Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, a long-term care facility in Spring Valley, New York, for a family celebration with their grandfather, a resident at Pine Valley.

The staff ushered the family to a private area of the dining room, provided them with place settings and utensils, and swiftly brought Grandpa in his wheelchair from his room so he could join the party in comfort.

The entire family marveled at how the entire staff was accommodating and pleasant. They left with a new respect for the staff and appreciation for the level of care that their loved one was receiving.

According to Noah Kaminer, Pine Valley’s administrator, “employees provide care day in and day out to residents, but they are also the ones that often interact with residents’ families. It may be cliché, but for long term care facilities our employees are our greatest asset.”

That’s why Pine Valley invests an extraordinary amount of effort to attract, retain and motivate quality employees. Motivated employees are happy and productive, believes Mr. Kaminer.

“With lower reimbursements and rising expenses, he explains,” it’s hard for us to always raise salaries. However, we always look for creative ways to reward loyal employees.”

Pine Valley is a member of Prime Source GPO, a national group purchasing organization and procurement company that specializes in servicing long-term care and assisted living facilities. As a GPO member, the facility is eligible for and takes advantage of Prime Source’s Employee Perks Program.

The perks program allows Pine Valley employees to receive exclusive discounts on travel, cell phone plans and more through an extensive network of affiliates. Prime Source’s program provides exclusive access to savings of up to 75% on over 12,000 products and services, including travel, dining, electronics, cell phone plans and more.

Having an employee perks program can deliver widespread benefits for LTC owner-operators. Employee perks programs can help attract quality workers and lower turnover. It can help increase employee loyalty and satisfaction leading to greater staff productivity.

According to CEO of Prime Source, Michael Greenfield, “if you want to attract talented healthcare workers, it is important to understand what motivates people. Employees want a salary, health insurance and their 401k, but studies also show that, employees want to be appreciated. ”

More and more companies today are using employee perks programs, like the one offered by Prime Source. In fact, many of the companies in Fortune Magazine’s list of “best companies” have earned their stripes partially through the use of thoughtful and extensive perks available to employees.

Stryker, a medical equipment manufacturer on Fortune’s list, lends employees and their families medical beds, free of charge. Employees of JM Family Enterprises, an auto services company, are rewarded on their 10th anniversary with a weekend getaway at a resort in Boca Raton, Florida.

However, perks aren’t just for large companies and showing appreciation doesn’t have to be expensive. A round of golf, tickets to a ballgame, or a gift certificate are often enough.

What should an LTC owner-operator look for in an employee perks program?

“Your employee perks program should include a wide variety of discount offers so that each employee has a chance to save,” says Mr. Greenfield. Joining the program should be cost-free for the facility. The program should also be easy for members to sign up for and use.