7 Reasons Why You Should Hire an Interim Leader

Interim Leaders have become critical to senior living and long-term care organizations, especially to provide immediate stability, strategic direction, and experienced leadership during times when continuity is essential.  

While many think that interim leaders are only brought in to fill an executive position due to a planned or unexpected departure, the fact is they are needed for so much more. Interim leaders are hired for various reasons and serve in a number of capacities.  Let’s explore the many reasons why interim leaders are hired:

-Expertise During Growth & Expansion  

During a transformative period, such as fast growth or expansion, hiring an interim leader such as an Interim Nursing Home Administrator, Interim Executive Director, Interim Director of Nursing, or Interim Director of Resident Services, etc. will enable your organization to gain access to the expertise and skills needed without having to create a full-time role. This will help you to quickly scale up without adding employee headcount. 

–Crisis Management

During a crisis such as a pandemic, interim senior living leaders step in quickly to restore order and provide direction. Since interims are often seasoned industry professionals, they know how to lead under pressure, make tough calls, and manage people and processes with a cool head and calm authority. In addition, they bring clarity in communication whether internally with staff or externally with family members to rebuild trust and credibility. While managing the crisis, the right interim leader can lay down the groundwork for long-term success and help an organization to emerge stronger. 

-Buys Time & Reduces Risk

Hiring an interim executive while you conduct a full-on search for a permanent hire makes sense. Since executive searches take time, hiring an interim leader is a worthwhile investment. It allows your organization to maintain momentum while conducting a thoughtful and thorough search process to avoid rushed decisions. Organizations that are too quick to pursue perceived right talent may experience costly hiring mistakes and in the long run may have a negative impact on staff and operations.

-Ease Heavy Workloads

Hiring an interim who is an industry expert can offer help with a heavy workload. They hit the ground running and will immediately assess the situation, establish priorities, and suggest solutions to reduce pressure on the existing team. In addition, they will take on critical tasks whether in operations, clinical, or administration, allowing other team members to focus on their core responsibilities without carrying an extra work load and potentially suffering burn out. 

-Address Spike in Turnover

If your senior care organization is experiencing a spike in turnover at the executive level, an interim leader can be key in assessing the role and making suggestions for what to look for in the next hire. Interim leaders come in with an objective eye and can quickly assess what’s driving turnover. They can diagnose the root causes whether it’s burnout, communication gaps, toxic culture, heavy workload or lack of recognition and value. Small immediate changes like flexible schedules, reassigning responsibilities or recognizing hard work can make a big impact and help retain team members. They can also make suggestions to improve onboarding, mentorship, and recognition programs to better support new hires. 

-Offer Innovative Ideas

Senior living and long-term care interim leaders are seasoned industry professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and vast experience. One of their greatest strengths is their ability to introduce fresh thinking and proven strategies. Many interim leaders have worked across multiple communities, regions, and systems. This gives them a wide range of best practices, from staffing models to care delivery improvements. They know what works and what doesn’t. Plus, they can introduce new technology tools including AI and Robotics or recommend smarter use of existing technology. They often look for solutions to help push the team and organization forward. 

-Try Before Buy 

Think of “Try Before You Buy” as a test drive before making a long-term hiring decision. Rather than relying on references or interviews, you get to see the leader in action! You can watch how they manage teams, solve problems, communicate, drive results, etc.  without making a long-term commitment. Also, this is a great way to test interims for culture fit. You want to make sure that they align with your organization’s values, goals and objectives. If the interim proves to be a great fit, they’re already in place and knows your staff, and residents…often making the transition seamless. 

The current business environment in senior living demands agility and flexibility. Interim leadership can assist you through these transformative times and bring new insights and innovative approaches. They’ve seen a little bit of everything, so they are good at stepping-in and managing tough situations which is what your organization may currently need to avoid any business disruption.

What Traits Should You Look for When Hiring an Interim Leader? 

When hiring an interim leader for a senior living facility, you’re not just filling a seat, you’re bringing in someone who must stabilize, lead, and deliver results quickly. Here are the key traits to look for:

-Rapid Adaptability

They must quickly understand your operations, team dynamics, and challenges—and take action without a lengthy onboarding.

-Strong Leadership Presence

Interims should lead with confidence, earn the staff’s respect, and provide a sense of calm and stability from day one.

-Deep Industry Experience

Look for someone with a proven track record in senior care leadership who understands compliance, clinical standards, and regulatory pressures.

-Crisis Management Skills

Many interims are brought in during times of disruption—so you need someone who can assess issues fast, make sound decisions, and lead under pressure.

-Excellent Communication Skills

They must communicate clearly with staff, residents, families, and stakeholders—especially during uncertain or stressful periods.

-Objectivity & Fresh Perspective

Interims bring an outside view. The best ones identify problems others may have missed and offer solutions without bias or internal politics.

-Results-Oriented Mindset

They should be focused on hitting targets—whether it’s improving survey readiness, increasing census, stabilizing staff, or rebuilding processes.

-Mentorship Ability

Great interims don’t just manage—they coach. They help develop the internal team and prepare them for success after the interim period ends.

-Integrity & Professionalism

Interims often walk into sensitive situations. You need someone who’s discreet, ethical, and focused on doing what’s right for the organization and its people.

Interim leaders are a smart and strategic solution when your senior living or long-term care organization needs stability, speed and seasoned leadership without a long-term commitment. 

Interims step in quickly, keep operations running smoothly, address urgent matters and often improve systems and morale. Whether you’re facing an unexpected vacant position, turnover, transitions, heavy work loads, new projects or crisis situations, interims bring fresh perspectives, real world experience, and result-driven focus. Interim leaders just don’t fill gaps, they move your organization forward when it matters most.

As Senior Living and Long-Term Care Recruiting Specialists, we present interim options within 1-2 business days! For more information or an immediate need of an interim leader, contact MedBest at 727-526-1294 / cwiseman@medbest.com / www.medbest.com

ABOUT MEDBEST

MedBest is an award-winning national Executive Search Firm exclusive to the Senior Living Industry established in 2001.  We recruit and acquire exceptional senior care talent, permanent and interim executives, for the full continuum of Senior Living and Long-Term Care facilities across the US including Assisted Living, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Life Plan Communities, Independent Living, Memory Care,  Skilled Nursing Facilities, and Hospice and Home Health Care. Contact us at 727-526-1294 / www.medbest.com.