Senior Living’s Labor Crisis and the Fix Operators Are Missing | Matt Strange — Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

The senior living workforce conversation is changing fast, and operators who adapt now will have the advantage moving forward. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Matt Strange, COO of Procare HR, to unpack the evolving labor landscape in senior housing and what operators must do to attract, retain, and engage frontline teams. Matt shares why predictable scheduling may be one of the biggest hidden drivers of employee retention, revealing ProCare HR’s research around the “14-day scheduling sweet spot” that improves attendance, reduces turnover, and creates workforce stability.

Key Ideas:

The current state of the senior living labor market in 2026
Why predictable scheduling improves retention and attendance
The “14-day scheduling” workforce strategy
How geography impacts workforce expectations
Competing against retail, logistics, and remote work opportunities
Why culture matters more than compensation alone
The connection between employee engagement and resident experience
Leadership strategies for rapidly growing operators
The role of AI and workforce technology in senior living
How labor analytics can help prevent turnover and burnout

Meet the Hosts:

Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/

Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/

Connect with Our Guest

Matt Strange: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strangem/

Learn More about the Procare HR

https://procarehr.com/

Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing .

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