You Deserve a Raise/Promotion – This Is How to Ask for One
Senior living and care work is demanding under the best circumstances, and many employees have taken on added responsibilities, longer shifts, or expanded duties without a corresponding bump in pay. If that sounds like your situation, asking for a raise or promotion that reflects the work you’re actually doing is reasonable, and preparation makes a real difference in how that conversation goes.
This approach applies whether you work in an administrative role or provide direct care. Just tailor the specifics to your own position.
Be strategic about timing.
In general, the day before the end of your team’s workweek tends to be a better time to ask than the start of it. People are typically more receptive later in the week, while the beginning of the week is often dominated by other priorities, which can mean your request doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
Timing around your own performance matters too. If you’ve recently been recognized for an accomplishment, that’s a strong moment to raise the conversation. The reverse is also true: right after a visible mistake isn’t the moment to ask.
Focus specifically on performance.
Keep the conversation centered on the value you bring, not on your personal expenses or bills. Schedule a dedicated one-on-one with the right manager, and make the case on merit: what you’ve taken on, what you’ve delivered, and why that justifies the ask.
Come fully prepared.
Back up your case with real data. Know the average compensation for your role, and factor in your geographic region, experience, and any relevant credentials, since senior care salaries vary significantly by these factors. Writing down two or three specific examples of added responsibility or impact beforehand, rather than relying on memory in the moment, makes your case noticeably stronger and easier to deliver calmly.
It also helps to have a backup plan ready. If the budget genuinely isn’t there for a raise, could additional time off or more scheduling flexibility be on the table instead? Think through what would meaningfully improve your work-life balance and come prepared to counter-offer if the first answer is no.
Know your value beyond the base number.
Compensation isn’t only salary. Shift differentials, additional certifications you’ve earned, PTO structure, and benefits all factor into your total value to the organization, and it’s worth knowing where you stand on each before the conversation starts. If a raise isn’t immediately possible, understanding what else is actually on the table gives you more to negotiate with than salary alone.
It’s also worth considering the timing of the broader organization, not just your own schedule. If your facility is in the middle of a difficult budget cycle or has recently announced financial strain, that context doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask, but it may shape what kind of answer is realistic right now versus in a few months.
If you don’t get the answer you wanted.
Not every ask results in an immediate yes, and that doesn’t necessarily mean the answer is permanently no. Ask directly what it would take to revisit the conversation, and request a specific timeline rather than a vague “let’s check in sometime.” Put that follow-up date in writing if you can, even just in a brief follow-up email summarizing the conversation. This keeps the commitment concrete for both of you and gives you a natural, low-pressure way to bring the topic back up.
If you consistently hear no without a clear path forward, or if the reasoning feels like it keeps shifting, that’s worth paying attention to as well. It may simply reflect real budget constraints, but it can also be a signal that it’s time to explore what your skills are worth elsewhere.
If you’re also considering a new opportunity
Sometimes the right outcome is a stronger position within your current organization, and sometimes it’s a better fit somewhere else entirely. If you’re exploring what’s out there, Aspen works with candidates across senior care and long-term care roles, at no cost to you, and can help you understand what your experience is actually worth in today’s market.
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash