We are proud to share that The Bristal Assisted Living collection, along with all communities and services managed by Ultimate Care Management including 305 West End Assisted Living, Encore Luxury Living, and Elegance at Home, has once again been officially designated Great Place to Work® Certified™!
Now recognized for the second consecutive year, this honor reflects something deeply meaningful to us: the voices and experiences of the people who make our communities feel like home every day.
At The Bristal communities, we believe that extraordinary resident experiences begin with an extraordinary team culture. A workplace grounded in compassion, collaboration, and respect naturally fosters stronger connections, deeper purpose, and a higher standard of care for residents and families alike.
What does it mean to be designated a Great Place To Work?
Great Place To Work Certification is widely considered the global benchmark for workplace culture and employee experience. The recognition is based entirely on confidential feedback from team members across the organization, offering a direct reflection of what it truly feels like to work within the Ultimate Care Management family.
The Great Place to Work Model is a framework for understanding how workplace culture drives business success. It is built on a foundation of trust, pride, and camaraderie. At the heart of their methodology is the Trust Index™, a rigorously developed employee survey that has become the global standard for quantifying the ROI of workplace culture, leadership impact, and measuring the employee experience.
“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that The Bristal stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”
What do this year’s survey results show?
This year’s survey results paint a powerful picture of that experience:
- 85% of team members feel good about the ways we contribute to the greater community
- 85% say, “I make a difference here.”
- 85% feel a special sense of pride in what the organization accomplishes
Most notably, 81% of employees surveyed said that The Bristal is a great place to work, significantly higher than the 57% reported at a typical U.S.-based company. Simply put, it means our team members – across all of the senior living communities managed by Ultimate Care Management – report feeling welcome, supported, and inspired. Based entirely on confidential team member feedback, this recognition captures what it’s really like to work here, from trust in leadership to opportunities for growth.
The themes that emerged most often in employee comments centered around residents, people, team, love, diversity, discipline, and family — words that reflect the heart of our communities and the culture that we strive to build together.
The honor doesn’t just reflect where we are as an organization – it helps guide where we’re going. By nurturing a positive and engaging environment for our team, we clarify our vision: to redefine what assisted living can be through excellence, integrity, collaboration, enthusiasm, and respect.
What does this recognition say about our culture?
Address the team members, Chief Operating Officer Amy Silva-Magalhaes intoned, “What makes this recognition truly special is that it comes directly from you. Your feedback, commitment and the pride they take in your work makes this possible. This honor speaks to the culture we’ve built together — one rooted in support, compassion, and a shared commitment to excellence for both our team members and the residents we serve every day.”
As we continue to grow and evolve, this recognition serves as both a celebration and a reminder of our purpose: creating supportive, meaningful environments where team members feel valued and residents feel truly at home.
We invite families exploring senior living, and professionals seeking a purpose-driven career, to discover what makes The Bristal and all of our sister companies, such special places to live, work, and thrive.
This article was originally published in April 2025, and was updated in May 2026.
