food service worker

home care aide

cook

receptionist

housekeeper

Era Living

This company has many advantages as a therapist---there is very fair and knowledgeable management of our department and as a result there are no ridiculous productivity standards in place, unlike many other settings for therapists.  Also they consistently hire high quality, motivated, talented health care professionals for all disciplines that truly make collaboration with colleagues a pleasure.  The pay is slightly below the standard but the work environment in general is much higher. The benefits are comprehensive and I feel valued as an employee.  Overall I would say that it is an excellent company, but in terms of program development I find that there have been multiple barriers over the years that are ultimately frustrating. Slow corporate level response to approving and implementing strategies that would make delivery of services more streamlined  and efficient has stymied expansion.  There seems to be a general expectation to do more with less support and resources, leading to difficulty maintaining a healthy work/ life balance in some cases.  I believe upper management is sympathetic but not highly responsive, and over time this can be frustrating.

A typical day at work includes, 10 minute meetings prior to the shift, 4-7 tables which makes 20-30 residents a night and great company.

I learned a lot from Ida Culver House Broadview, such as; how to read, anticipate and satisfy the customers needs. How to work with an elderly crowd, what to expect and what should and shouldn't be done. The environment is a "yes" environment, meaning, we try our best to meet their needs and/or exceed their expectations. I learned that being loyal, efficient and friendly not only make the customers happy, but yourself as well.

Coworkers grow to become like family. They're all friendly and sweet. We all have different personalities but that's what makes the environment. Diversity.

The hardest part of the job would probably be multitasking and having the patience. If one doesn't know how to multitask then the job gets harder and a lot of pressure gets put on your shoulders. Patience is a need in working in a retirement home because elderly people do have a short patience, the older they get.

The most enjoyable part of the job is knowing that you can make a persons day, just by being there and serving them their meals. Putting a smile on their faces and helping make their lives a bit easier.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Food was awesome pay was reasonable.  Co-workers were good to work with.


What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Most of the clients were rude to staff at times, working for rich people did have its benefits if you can put up with the rudeness.  As the lead RA, in memory care the job was overwhelmingly demanding.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment was decent, a very diverse culture 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I supervised 4 Cna's, passed medications to 27 residents in a dining room , as well as communicating with nurses, doctors, families and other staff, on a constant daily basis, ensuring all residents were fed the correct diets, monitored blood pressures to properly give medication.  I was on my feet constantly and even developed plantar facitis in both my feet during my 2 year employment. It was a great opportunity to learn new skills. I would never work for ERA again.

Working at this company has its ups and downs. Most of the staff are high school and college students, which makes the workplace feel social and energetic, but also sometimes disorganized. Management seems to change constantly, which can be frustrating because policies and expectations are always shifting and communication isn’t always clear. The absolute best part of the job is getting to know the residents—building relationships with them and being part of their daily routines is genuinely rewarding and what makes the work feel meaningful. That said, special events and buffet-style meals are extremely stressful. These days are chaotic, understaffed, and overwhelming compared to normal shifts. There’s also noticeable tension between different departments within the community, which can make teamwork harder than it needs to be. Overall, it’s a job with great moments and great people, but also ongoing organizational challenges that can make the experience exhausting at times.

Era living is a great company that puts the health, happiness and longevity of it's residents first. As an employee of the company you become part of the family/community, and that really boosts the atmosphere of each location as well as the moral and comrade-dory of the employees. I had a great manager, that gave of her time to better me as an employee, and also as a person. The hardest part of the job is all of the memorization that comes with having a large resident base, but the challenge of that was greatly outweighed by the joy that came from serving the residents. Getting to know the residents and developing meaning relationships with them while having the opportunity to learn their about their life was the most rewarding part of the whole job.

 Responsibilities for other departments(i.e nursing, marketing, etc) fell on the reception team. Turnover rate was high, rarely saw a department fully staffed. Management would go out for steak lunches when their teams were understaffed with multiple events at once. Interview applicants would turn down job upon hearing neighboring companies paid more. The employees were caring and put their all into caring for the residents. Got free pizza parties once every few months. Free training for CPR/First Aid. For nurses they pay for the CNA program provided you stay with the company for x amount of years afterwards. President of company is excellent but tends to leave things to home office these days without check ins.

I am going to try and be as objective as possible. First, the residents were always my priority while working there, and I truly cared about them, but I can't say the same for upper management who prioritized their appearance over genuine care and concern for the residence well being, especially during covid. The company ensures everything is perfect when families visit, but then the behavior changes once family leaves. Upper management doesn't take accountability for their behavior and are known for cutthroat tactics in their sales and business endeavors. Human Resources focuses on controlling and covering up issues that arise rather than truly bridging the gap, resulting in a high turnover rate and dissatisfied employees. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
I loved working here, and with the exception of a few people I had zero issues with anyone.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
directors giving contradictory instructions

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
it was actually a very good place to work

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It was busy, working reception required quite a lot of multitasking much of the time, between phones, residents, visitors, employees, etc. but it was wonderful once I got into the routine of the place

The Gardens at Town Square has been an amazing learning experience. There is room for growth within the company and never a shortage of hours to be worked. My supervisors and fellow team members are very hardworking and always happy to offer assistance as needed. Turnover rate is incredibly high and management fluctuates with new people that come and go. This can affect scheduling and other difficult aspects of the job. However, it is overall a good workplace.

First, let me say I love the work I do and the population I work with. Unfortunately, I am leaving because of poor management, ever increasing demands and no recognition of my skills and the effort I put into my work. I am not payed a livable wage (I live in subsidized housing). In addition, they are not willing to work with my current needs, even though I have been with them 5 years.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Food service worker 63 salaries reported	$21.05 per hour
Home care aide 47 salaries reported	$24.49 per hour
Cook 42 salaries reported	$24.89 per hour
Receptionist 37 salaries reported	$21.38 per hour
Housekeeper 27 salaries reported	$21.31 per hour

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