Staff Testimonials for Senior Living - Suggested Questions and Video Tips

Staff Testimonials for Senior Living - Suggested Questions and Video Tips

Staff members are such an integral part of your community and the experience you provide to your residents and their family members.  Staff testimonial videos, either focusing on one particular staff member or several, are a beautiful way to help current and prospective family members and residents get to know your staff and how much they care.  These videos are great tools for recruiting new staff members as well!  Here are some tips, footage suggestions, and sample questions that you can use to capture and send content to HeartLegacy for the production of a beautiful staff testimonial video.  

Getting Prepared & Video Tips

  1. Prepare a well lit space with a pleasing background for the interview location. 
  2. The person you are interviewing should be facing a light source of some type, if possible.  Avoid having the interviewee sit with their back toward a light source such as a bright window, because it will be very difficult to see the person being interviewed.
  3. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time (see examples below).  Some interviewees might appreciate seeing the list ahead of time so that they can gather their thoughts beforehand.
  4. Set up a tripod, if available, for steady footage.
  5. Have the interviewee use a lapel mic or other microphone, if possible.  If you don't have a microphone, position the camera fairly close to the interviewee in order to get the best audio.
  6. Make sure the interview does not take place in a noisy location such as in front of a fountain or in a busy room.
  7. Record in landscape orientation.
  8. Capture extra footage of your interviewee beyond the actual interview.  This can be done before or after the actual interview.  The HeartLegacy team can show some of this extra footage while the interview audio is being played; this creates a more dynamic and interesting video.  Examples of extra footage to capture:
    1. performing day to day job duties
    2. arriving to work
    3. interacting with residents and/or other staff members
    4. walking around the community
    5. standing outside in front of the community smiling or waving

Suggested Questions

General

  1. What is your name and title?
  2. How long have you been working at this community?
  3. What are some of your responsibilities?
  4. What do you love most about your job?
  5. What is your professional background?
  6. What makes your community different?
  7. Why should a family choose this community?
  8. What motivated you to pursue a career in senior care?

For Executive Director

  1. Why did you choose to work for this community?

For Activity Directors

  1. What are your favorite activities to coordinate with residents and why?

For Caregivers

  1. Tell us what you love most about helping residents.

For Executive Chefs

  1. What are some of the special meals you make for the residents?
  2. What are some of the residents' favorite meals and/or dining events or specials?
  3. Tell us about your experience as a chef.

For Sales Directors

  1. Tell us more about what makes your community different and why a family should choose this community.

Owners and C-Level Staff

  1. What do you look for when choosing employees to manage your communities?
  2. What core values are important to your organization?
  3. Tell us about programs you have in place to create the best possible experience for your residents.