It's not enough to just provide comfortable rooms and social activities for people who live in a senior living community. It's about making sure that residents feel safe and that families can trust that their loved ones are being cared for in a safe place. But a lot of facilities don't realize that risk planning is one of the most important things that will help them succeed in the long run. When corners are cut or oversight is too limited, the costs don't just show up on a balance sheet; they can also affect reputation, staffing, and the health of residents.
Donna Hurley of Fresno is the Director of Risk Management at FCRRG. She has seen firsthand how good planning can mean the difference between stability and crisis. Her work shows why skipping preventive steps often leads to problems that are bigger than most operators think at first.
At first glance, it might seem like skipping a safety drill, delaying a compliance audit, or postponing facility upgrades saves money. But in reality, the opposite is true. Without careful planning, small problems can turn into big ones. For example, a resident falling could lead to a lawsuit, a fire hazard could force people to move temporarily, or a medication mistake could damage trust between staff and families.
These events put a strain on the community's trust and cost money in the form of insurance claims and legal fees. When a facility's reputation is called into question, it becomes harder to get new residents, which costs more money than it would to prevent the risk.
There are strict rules that govern senior living facilities, and these rules are always changing. When a company doesn't put risk planning first, compliance gaps start to show up. These could lead to fines, failed inspections, or even short-term closures. A fine or suspension of operations can put smaller businesses in a bad financial situation.
Donna Hurley says that compliance shouldn't be seen as just checking off a box. It should be a part of the culture of the community instead. Facilities avoid the costly mistakes that happen when auditors or inspectors find problems that could have been avoided by making regulatory awareness a part of daily life, from paperwork to staff training.
One of the less obvious costs of poor risk planning shows up in insurance renewals. Carriers closely examine claims history, safety records, and compliance track records before setting premiums. Facilities with repeated incidents, even if relatively minor, often see their coverage become more expensive year after year.
Risk planning acts as a direct control on these costs. Facilities with clear safety policies, thorough incident reporting, and proactive mitigation strategies demonstrate to insurers that they are lower-risk. Over time, this can mean the difference between a manageable premium and one that eats into operating budgets.
Another overlooked area where risk planning plays a role is staffing. When employees feel unsafe, unsupported, or unclear about procedures, turnover rises. High staff turnover in senior living doesn’t just create HR headaches; it reduces continuity of care and increases training costs.
Facilities with strong risk frameworks tend to foster environments where staff feel confident in their responsibilities. Training, open communication, and a culture of accountability reduce stress for caregivers and create a more stable workforce. That stability, in turn, benefits residents who rely on consistent and familiar care.
It’s not just regulators and insurers paying attention. Families considering where to place their loved ones often pick up on signals of whether a facility takes safety seriously. Are hallways free of clutter? Are staff members trained to handle emergencies? Does the community have transparent protocols in place?
Even small mistakes in safety awareness can make people doubt. Once those doubts set in, families might choose a different community, even if the facility has good prices or amenities. This effect on reputation is one of the hidden costs that facilities often don't think about.
The good news is that bad results don't have to happen. Planning ahead makes you stronger. Facilities that put risk management first not only lower the number of accidents and claims, but they also make life better for everyone who lives there. Trust and long-term sustainability are built on clear rules, regular training, and open communication.
For Donna Hurley of Fresno, the goal has always been to make managing risks feel less like a chore and more like an investment in people. Risk planning protects not only the organization but also the dignity and health of every resident when done correctly.
Trust is a big part of senior living. Families expect that their loved ones will be safe when they are in the care of communities. Bad risk planning breaks that trust and costs more than just the money lost right away.
Leaders can make risk management a stabilizing force that helps staff, comforts families, and protects residents by being thoughtful and proactive. Professionals like Donna Hurley show that making safety a part of every part of a business keeps communities both compliant and caring. Strong risk planning isn't just about avoiding problems; it's also about making the world a safer, more sustainable place for the people who need it most.
