As the U.S. population ages, the demand for aging services has never been greater—or more full of potential. From clinical care to leadership, from innovation to community programming, careers in senior living offer growth, purpose, and lasting impact. At Ebenezer, we’ve seen firsthand how people from all walks of life have built meaningful, rewarding careers in aging services. And for many of our leaders, it all started with a single step.
Chelsea Adney, Executive Director at Willows Bend, didn’t begin her career with a management title. In fact, her introduction to senior care began in childhood, playing her viola for residents at her great-grandmother’s nursing home. Later, she became an activities director and eventually moved into leadership. What’s kept her in the field all these years? The culture.
“Working with seniors is so rewarding and Ebenezer has always had this culture of putting people first,” Chelsea says. “Even with our growth, we’ve never lost sight
Chelsea’s story isn’t unique at Ebenezer. Many of our current leaders began in entry-level roles, including caregivers, activity staff, dining services, or interns. For Brittany Bell, now a Campus Operations Director, it all started with an administrator internship at the Ebenezer Ridges Campus. She was drawn to the organization’s values and stayed because they held true.
“I learned from people who did what they said and said what they did,” Brittany reflects. “Their guidance helped me develop confidence, navigate complex decisions, and see what was possible within the organization,” she continued. That mentorship became a turning point—giving her both the skills and the support to rise into campus operations leadership, and to now mentor others in turn.
After working at an assisted living community in Seattle, Washington, "I knew if I ever came back to Minnesota, I’d only work at Ebenezer,” Brittany shares. “We do what we say and say what we do. That integrity is key—not just in how we treat residents, but how we grow our people.”
That growth is central to our mission. Whether someone begins in a part-time caregiving role or joins with a healthcare administration degree, Ebenezer provides opportunities for advancement across disciplines and departments. We invest in internal talent through mentorship, training programs, and leadership development, creating a culture where people are encouraged to speak up and pursue their goals.
“The best advice I can give someone entering this field is to put yourself out there,” Brittany says. “Let people know you want to grow. There are so many opportunities across the organization, but people won’t know unless you tell them.”
Nationally, the senior care industry is facing a seismic shift. By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be over 65. The need for services across the care continuum—assisted living, memory care, home health, and more—is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in healthcare support and personal care are among the fastest-growing occupations over the next decade.
Ashley Jackson, Executive Director at Amira Choice Roseville and Amira Choice Roseville at Lexington, sees this as both a challenge and an incredible opportunity. “There’s such a need in our communities for senior healthcare,” she says. “We don’t have enough providers for the work that’s already here—and even more is coming.”
Ashley emphasizes the growing need for innovation: “It’s a great time to figure out how we can serve people in new ways—through creative programming, flexible models, and technology that helps us work smarter.”
Ebenezer’s leaders are already rising to that challenge. Across our communities, we are embracing digital tools, exploring AI integrations, and designing programming that reflects the next generation of residents—those who expect a tech-friendly, personalized, wellness-focused experience.
“We’re seeing a new demographic of residents,” Chelsea notes. “More independent, younger residents with different expectations. Baby Boomers are going to change how we approach everything from programming to clinical workflows.”
Technology is a big part of that shift. As Brittany explains, “We’re an industry that has worked really hard—but not always smart. Now we need to get smarter. Technology and AI will absolutely play a role in how we continue to care for people efficiently and with excellence.”
Yet for all the tech-forward thinking, Ebenezer remains grounded in its human-centered mission. Anita Cornelius, Regional Director of Assisted Living, puts it simply: “Senior living allows you to impact lives on a deeply personal level. That’s why we do this work.”
Anita is passionate about leadership development and believes the future of aging services depends on strong, compassionate professionals at every level. “Whether you’re starting in dietary or administration, there’s opportunity here,” she says. “You just need to be open to learning, growing, and making a difference.”
She is also grateful for the support she received from those she worked with in the past and vows to pay it forward, stating, “Had leaders in my past not given me the opportunity they did, one even 'putting her job on the line' because she believed in me more than I believed in myself, I would not be where I am today. That is why I am committed to supporting others in their career growth.
At the heart of every story our leaders share is one common thread—caring.
Stacy Femling, who began as an intern at Ridges and is now the Regional Director of Assisted Living for New Development, recalls moments with residents that changed her life. “Being with someone at the end of their life—hearing their stories, receiving their gratitude or advice—it hit me. I wanted to keep making that kind of impact.”
That kind of caring cannot be taught—it’s lived. And it is what sets aging services apart from so many other career fields. Whether you’re a caregiver, a nurse, a social worker, an executive, or an IT specialist, your work touches lives in tangible, lasting ways.
At Ebenezer, we are proud to be a place where careers begin—and where they flourish. We believe in growing leaders from within, supporting people at every stage of their journey, and creating a culture that values heart, innovation, and integrity.
As we celebrate Careers in Aging Week, we invite people of all ages and backgrounds to consider this field, not just as a job, but as a calling.
Because here, you don’t just grow your career. You grow a legacy of care.