National Skilled Nursing Week is meant to honor workers in America’s nursing homes, and plenty of leaders now roll out the red carpet for staff members with annual celebrations and prizes. But CareRite Centers, operating 33 facilities in four states, might be the standout when it comes to making teams feel a part of something bigger.

The company has made a multimillion-dollar commitment to staff and resident experiences that exceed the norm, draw local and national interest, and keep applicants coming and current workers staying. Its’ 10th annual nursing home celebration this spring was no exception, with each building in its network offering events, vacations and raffles to show appreciation for everyone, from housekeeping to the back office.

In this McKnight’s Newsmaker Podcast episode, CareRite Chief Experience Officer Ashley Romano explains why her Experience Team is committed to staff appreciation with a “wow” factor year round and how preparation for skilled nursing week — and opportunities to be honored or win luxurious prizes — actually starts months beforehand.

“A little bit of fun goes a long way,” Romano says, calling Skilled Nursing Week the “Super Bowl” of CareRite staff experience efforts. “It's a beautiful way to celebrate every single discipline. … We wanted to make sure that every single one of our team members knows just how important and impactful they are, not only to the lives that they serve, but to one another.”

Listen in for Romano’s tips on growing your own employee appreciation event, keeping staff motivated with meaningful incentives throughout the year, and building a better reputation as an employer by involving team member families and the broader community in more activities.