NOBLESVILLE — As thousands of Hoosiers file for unemployment during the novel coronavirus pandemic, a senior living community in Noblesville is aggressively trying to hire.
Five Star Residences are hiring immediately for nearly every position. Representatives at the facility said during the COVID-19 pandemic it is critical to get these spots filled.
Instead of community members coming to the dining hall for lunch, staff members are delivering meals to their front doors. Right now, they need to hire around 12 employees to serve and cook the food.
"I really want to stress if anybody is displace in the restaurant industry, we are able to help them out," Janice Pegues, executive director of Five Star Senior Living, said.
Pegues said the facility is looking for dependable people who have a passion for working with seniors.
"So we can give sons and daughters that peace of mind of being just that a son and daughter, allowing us to partner with them so they can come and go and be in that role and not be stressed or overburdened," Pegues said.
There are also openings for those who provide direct care for seniors, like certified nursing assistants. Five Star has been aggressively trying to fill these open positions for months.
"During COVID-19 we want to be proactive," Deanna Teegen, director of resident care at Five Star, said. "If we have a staff that is not feeling well we want them to be able to stay home and not worry about whether or not the residents will be taken care of here."
The community's coronavirus task force team has policies in place to protect the staff and seniors. Right now, no visitors are allowed. Every day staff members are screened for symptoms before they enter.
One challenge is that there is no mass transit in Noblesville so applicants must have reliable transportation.
