Rachel McDonald, Resident Engagement Director at Stroudwater Lodge, has been named to the Future Leaders Class of 2026 by Senior Housing News.
To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for older adults and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
McDonald sat down with Senior Housing News to share what drew her to the senior housing & senior living industry, the biggest leadership lessons she has learned, her thoughts on the future of senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.
SHN: What drew you to the senior housing & senior living industry?
McDonald: Healthcare is very important to me. Growing up, I watched a lot of my family and loved ones go through battles with cancer, dementia, heart disease, and various mental health challenges. I was in and out of hospitals and communities visiting them. I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare to be there for people who are going through similar challenges the same way that healthcare workers were there for myself and my family.
I have been in senior living for as long as I can remember. My first “official job” was working in the dining room of a senior living home. Before that, I was volunteering and visiting senior living homes since I was a young child. I took a short break from senior living when my grandmothers were both battling dementia. In that time, I found myself lost and not enjoying what I did professionally. It was then that I reflected back to the job I loved most and it was working in senior living. I then went on to get my Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, focused in healthcare to get back into the field of healthcare as a professional.
Senior living is a way that I can give back to others and heal through my own grief. I am unbelievably thankful for all of my time spent in this field.
SHN: How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it changed over time?
McDonald: I have been fortunate enough to hold leadership positions and attend conferences to develop my leadership skills since high school and college. At that time, the biggest thing I felt was important was working towards my own success. I worked hard and sought out as many opportunities to learn as I could. I attempted to climb every ladder I had access to.
I realize now that what’s most important is working towards the success of others even more than your own success. When you invest your time in others, you learn from them and you create more opportunities for them to learn and build their own careers. Having a successful, capable, and talented team can achieve far greater results than being a successful person ever could.
But one thing that has remained true to me since a young age, and that is leading with heart. In senior living, the associates make a difference in the lives of every single resident they interact with. Being able to support and encourage others to show the same kind of compassion and make a difference in our residents lives is so meaningful to me and my life.
SHN: What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while serving the senior housing & senior living industry?
McDonald: Something that is important to me is that a task or idea may be small, but it can make a huge impact. I think people get so caught up in the day to day and completing their daily tasks or dreaming about big elaborate plans, that we forget that the little things make a difference. Making a connection with one resident in a special way, creating a program important to a resident that they can share with the community, or just doing a small favor to help them out can mean everything to someone. You never know what someone is going through, and that small task you do can brighten their day and truly make a difference.
I want to inspire others to learn this same lesson. I encourage associates to get to know each and every resident individually and to learn about who they are, what their history is, and what their interests are, no matter what their position is. Every resident has a story to be shared and I would love to see each resident celebrated in their own special way. Not to mention that making the personal connection will exponentially improve the level of care they receive, their enrichment day to day, and their overall quality of life.
SHN: In one word, how would you describe the senior housing & senior living industry and why?
McDonald: Meaningful.
We’ve all had successes in our lives and we’ve all had battles too. You live and work your entire life and strive for the dream job, dream home, and/or dream family. Then, once it happens, what’s left? Our residents too had those jobs, homes, and families. What’s left when they no longer have family to take care of and are no longer able to work or run a household? I think that’s up to us. They still have more life to live and we have so much to learn.
I think there is so much opportunity to celebrate our residents and their stories, while also giving them the opportunity to relax and enjoy life after all of the hard work and triumph they have been through. This can be incredibly meaningful to our residents and to their families. To create ways to honor and celebrate their individuality and experiences. But it can also be so meaningful to the associates who work in this profession as we can learn from the residents’ lessons and their stories.
Senior living is an opportunity to help others and help yourself through this work by creating meaningful connections with one another.
SHN: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges currently facing the senior housing & senior living industry?
McDonald: The biggest opportunities are individuality and celebration of our residents and their stories. To create a home for them to live in and a sense of family. The adult children of our residents often relate moving a parent into assisted living to dropping their child off at college or pre-school for the first time. What as a parent do you want for your child in those moments? You want them to be safe, have fun and enriching experiences, and to enjoy their time. We should want the same for our residents. It’s not just about finding a place to live. It’s about finding a place to feel at home and live out the rest of their lives to the best of their abilities and enjoy each moment they have left.
As far as the biggest challenges, we see it the most in staffing and space. The older population is growing as people live longer and the world’s population grows. We need to invest time and money into our older adult population, safe places for them to live and be able to afford, as well as properly supporting and funding the associates who work in this field.
SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the senior housing & senior living industry over the next 5-10 years?
McDonald: The biggest impact on senior living in the next 5-10 years will definitely be technology. No matter how far technology goes and the trends that people follow like AI and whether you support it or not, I urge people to still lead with heart and compassion.
The bottom line is the people we serve are just that, they are people. They aren’t numbers or statistics. They each have stories, experiences, triumphs, and lessons to share. I think technology to an extent can be helpful to support the efficiency and ability to support more people in a better, safer way.
Software that tracks our residents’ needs, care, engagement desires, and other demographic information is very helpful in the day-to-day function of senior living and should be utilized as such. However, I believe it shouldn’t be used as a replacement for everything else. We still need to encourage creativity, individuality, and connection first and foremost in healthcare.
SHN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?
McDonald: In my opinion, all Future Leaders should have the ability to communicate effectively. I think communication is the most important skill to refine as a leader. Throughout all of my time as a leader in various fields and positions, one thing remains to be true and that is how we treat and react to one another can change an entire team dynamic. Many times when there is conflict, it comes down to miscommunication or someone feeling they haven’t been heard, listened to, or supported.
I think listening is just as important as talking. I think finding out and learning from others about their thoughts and ideas is how we best improve our practices and care for others. I think all Future Leaders should be able to communicate with associates at all levels, residents, families, visitors, and professional partners. Each person has a different perspective and putting all of those into consideration when leading can help the overall well-being of everyone involved.