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The Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative has partnered with Hallmark Business Connections for an employee recognition program called “You Make a Difference.”

The program lets administrators order greeting cards and certificates that can be printed or emailed, and lets them easily personalize awards. They can also opt for a monetary incentive, in which employees can receive and redeem gift cards for major retailers, restaurants or travel companies.

Advancing Excellence is a coalition of long-term care providers.

 “From my own personal experience, I have seen first-hand the importance of staff stability and the significant role that employees make in the life of a resident. We are passionate about creating a more personal and meaningful world, and we are honored to put this passion to work for the long-term care industry,” said Gus Thompson, chief client development officer of Hallmark Business Connections. The division of Hallmark is the business relationship unit of Hallmark Cards, and helps in turning “customers into advocates,” the company said.

Facilities are being asked to find creative ways to increase employee engagement and recognition, with only a third of employees in a recent study saying they felt “appreciated” or “engaged.”

Companies that score in the top 20% of building a recognition-rich programs are able to achieve a 31% lower voluntary turnover rate, Hallmark noted. Nursing homes often struggle with turnover, especially among certified nursing assistants. 

“Through the employee recognition tools and resources now available, facilities across the country will have the ability to recognize, reward, and connect with their employees and further reinforce that they truly do make a difference,” Thompson said.

Managers can download PDFs of resources such as “Recognition 101,” “Best Practices” or “Recognition Tips,” which includes helpful phrases to say. They can be accessed via the website www.aeltcc.org.