Effective Team-Building Strategies That Get Results in Senior Care Settings

Teamwork is vital in any workplace, but it is especially critical in senior care communities. When staff members coordinate and collaborate effectively, they not only deliver higher-quality care but also create a safer environment for both residents and colleagues. Because caregivers play such an integral role in residents’ daily lives, investing in team-building strategies fosters stronger collaboration, strengthens relationships, and cultivates a unified, supportive workplace culture.

Read on to learn practical, results-driven strategies that will help your team work more effectively, improve care quality, and create a thriving workplace culture.

Effective Team-Building Strategies for Senior Care Communities

Kimberly Best, RN, MA, dispute resolution expert and founder of Best Conflict Solutions, LLC

Working as a team in senior care can be challenging, especially given the daily stresses and demands of the job. However, some team-building strategies have proven particularly effective in strengthening collaboration and supporting staff in this unique environment.

Facilitated Circles

Kimberly Best, RN, MA, a dispute resolution expert and founder of Best Conflict Solutions, LLC, has worked with healthcare organizations for years and has found that a dispute resolution technique called Facilitated Circles can be transformative for the industry. “Unlike generic team-building exercises, circles create psychological safety where staff can address the real challenges they face, from difficult family dynamics to the emotional toll of loss,” she explains. “When a CNA can share their frustration about feeling unsupported during a resident’s passing, and a supervisor can respond with understanding rather than defensiveness, you build genuine team cohesion.”

Conflict Management Training

Best has also found conflict management training to be highly effective, as senior care teams frequently encounter micro-conflicts—ranging from family disagreements over care plans to staff tensions about workload distribution and the everyday stress of caring for seniors. “Teaching teams how to address these conflicts constructively prevents the buildup that destroys morale–especially when you know that your team, from supervisor to staff, has each other’s back,” she says.

Meetings and Workshops

Shanda O’Dennis, learning and development associate at Friends Services Alliance

Activities promoting open communication, trust, and collaboration tend to be highly effective in the senior care industry. “Regular team meetings where everyone can voice their ideas and concerns create a sense of inclusion and shared responsibility,” says Shanda O’Dennis, learning and development associate at Friends Services Alliance.

Communities can also organize workshops and training sessions focused on empathy and understanding the unique challenges that staff and residents face. “This helps build a supportive and cohesive team environment,” she says.

Employee Recognition Programs

Employee recognition initiatives and company events can be powerful drivers of team unity. At MorseLife Health System, the Above and Beyond recognition program empowers staff to nominate peers who go the extra mile. “This initiative not only acknowledges exceptional performance but also creates a culture of appreciation and positivity,” says Samantha Kirk, wellness and employee engagement coordinator.

Company-Wide Events

Samantha Kirk, wellness and employee engagement coordinator at MorseLife Health System

Company-wide events play a key role in strengthening community, celebrating staff, and showing appreciation for their hard work. Each year, MorseLife Health System hosts four major gatherings along with numerous smaller observances that bring employees together and reinforce a culture of connection.

For example, one of the most anticipated events is Employee Appreciation Week, which includes massages, facials, live entertainment, catered meals, MorseLife merchandise, and raffles for prizes like iPads and Chromebooks.

Team-Building Strategies That May Not Fit Senior Care Settings

The senior care industry is unique, and team-building strategies that are popular among other industries may not work so well for senior care. Kirk explains that extended events can pose challenges in terms of participation and overall effectiveness. “At MorseLife, we’ve found that hosting multiple shorter events throughout the week has more success and engagement,” she says. “This approach is particularly beneficial for our clinical staff, who have ongoing responsibilities and limited flexibility to leave their workstations.”

While activities like trust falls and problem-solving games may be common in other industries, they can feel out of touch in healthcare environments. In fact, introducing them after a recent resident loss may leave staff feeling resentful rather than supported or connected. “Surface-level activities that ignore the emotional reality of caregiving miss the mark entirely,” explains Best.

O’Dennis has found that overly competitive activities also tend to be ineffective in senior care settings. These activities can alienate staff members who might not value competitiveness or have the physical ability to compete, often leaving them feeling uncomfortable or disengaged. “While competition around work performance can awaken that desire to be high performing, focusing too heavily on competition can create divisions within the team rather than fostering unity,” she explains.

Dispelling Common Team-Building Misconceptions

Many believe that a one-size-fits-all approach works for team-building, but that’s not always the case. In fact, team-building strategies should be tailored to fit the needs and dynamics of each group. “Another common belief is that team-building is a one-time event, when actually it requires consistent effort and follow-up for long-term success,” says O’Dennis.

Addressing difficult topics is an essential part of effective team-building. “The biggest misconception is that team-building should be fun and avoid difficult topics,” Best explains. “In senior care, teams bond through shared purpose and mutual support during challenges, not through entertainment.”

How to Get Staff Buy-In

For team-building strategies to be effective, communities need staff buy-in. Kirk notes that it’s important for leadership to listen to and understand staff needs, then tailor activities based on employee feedback. Doing so can ensure the activities are meaningful and effective.

O’Dennis suggests that leaders clearly communicate the benefits of the exercises and involve staff members in the planning process to foster a sense of ownership and commitment. “Regular feedback sessions and celebrating small wins can also help maintain enthusiasm and demonstrate the positive impact of these initiatives,” she says.

Best recommends that communities start with conflict management training for supervisors, allowing them to see how well the strategies work and become strong advocates for broader training. “When leaders experience how these skills reduce their daily stress and improve staff retention, they become advocates,” she explains. “Frame it as practical skill-building rather than team-building and connect it directly to outcomes they care about: reduced turnover, fewer grievances, improved family satisfaction.”

Strategies for Implementing Team-Building Practices

Communities looking to implement team-building strategies should start by understanding their team’s unique needs. O’Dennis advises communities to consider the team’s roles, the population served, staff experience levels, and specific challenges they face. She advises holding regular meetings and feedback sessions to foster open communication and inclusivity. “Introducing team-building activities like workshops and training sessions that enhance interpersonal skills, and teamwork can significantly improve collaboration and trust among staff members,” she explains.

Kirk emphasizes the value of putting team-building strategies into practice early, before challenges have a chance to escalate.“While it may feel intimidating at first—especially knowing that not every activity will resonate with everyone or produce immediate results—it’s important to stay committed,” she says. “The long-term benefits far outweigh the initial challenges.”

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.