Donna Hurley
Donna Hurley brings over two decades of leadership, insight, and heart to the senior living industry. Known for her strategic approach and deep empathy, she bridges the gap between operational excellence and compassionate care. At the forefront of risk management and organizational development, Donna is dedicated to helping senior care providers build safer, more sustainable environments where residents and staff alike can thrive.
Donna Hurley, Director of Risk Management at Future Care Risk Retention Group, Inc.
Based in Fresno, California, Donna Hurley is a seasoned senior living professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership. Her passion for long-term care began in high school, when her father’s diagnosis with vascular dementia inspired her to pursue a career focused on improving the quality of life for seniors through compassionate, effective care.
Throughout her career, Donna Hurley has earned a reputation for strengthening senior living organizations through team development, staff training, operational efficiency, and innovative infrastructure. She has held leadership roles, including Director of Marketing and Community Relations, Specialty Project Manager, and President of Operations, each reinforcing her commitment to empowering staff and enhancing resident well-being.
As Director of Risk Management at Future Care Risk Retention Group, Inc., Donna helps senior care providers implement tailored risk management programs that elevate compliance, safety, and operational performance. Future Care RRG was founded to bring stability and partnership back to the senior care insurance market, focusing on proactive engagement and custom solutions that improve outcomes for both residents and facilities.
Driven by empathy and expertise, Donna Hurley continues to advance a culture of excellence in senior living, ensuring every facility she supports delivers care that is safe, dignified, and centered on the well-being of its residents.
The Evolving Role of Risk Management in Senior Care
In senior care, risk management has traditionally been synonymous with compliance—meeting regulations, passing inspections, and avoiding penalties. However, as the sector evolves and expectations rise, organizations are recognizing that risk management must go much further. It now encompasses proactive safety measures, comprehensive staff education, and strategies that address both physical and operational risks before they escalate into crises.
Donna Hurley explains that this shift reflects a deeper understanding that effective risk management is not about reacting to problems but about anticipating them. It’s about creating a culture of safety, transparency, and accountability that protects residents and supports staff in delivering the highest quality of care.
From Compliance to Culture: A New Paradigm in Risk Management
In the past, compliance dictated the boundaries of risk management. Senior living facilities operated under a checklist-driven model, meeting standards set by state and federal agencies, maintaining records, and adhering to safety protocols. While these measures remain essential, they only cover a fraction of the risks that can arise in today’s complex care environments.
Modern risk management is a cultural transformation. It integrates compliance as a baseline but goes further to embed risk awareness into daily decision-making. Every department, from nursing to dining services to administration, plays a role. This approach transforms risk management from a task assigned to a compliance officer into an organization-wide mindset.
For example, instead of merely responding to falls, facilities now analyze patterns, identifying high-risk times, areas, or individual residents, and adjusting staffing, flooring materials, or activity schedules accordingly. Similarly, instead of reacting to data breaches, organizations implement cybersecurity awareness programs and perform regular digital audits. The goal is prevention, not punishment; collaboration, not compliance for its own sake.
Proactive Safety Protocols: Preventing Harm Before It Happens
Proactive risk management in senior care begins with recognizing that prevention is more effective, and humane, than response. By addressing risks before they cause harm, facilities can safeguard residents’ health and well-being while reducing liability and operational costs.
1. Environmental Safety Audits
Regular walkthroughs to identify tripping hazards, faulty lighting, or outdated equipment are essential. Preventive maintenance schedules help ensure that everything from fire alarms to HVAC systems operates safely and efficiently.
2. Infection Control Measures
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of strong infection prevention programs. Beyond compliance with public health mandates, this includes continuous monitoring of sanitation protocols, staff vaccination programs, and quick-response isolation plans to prevent outbreaks.
3. Resident Risk Assessments
Individualized risk assessments—covering falls, nutrition, medication management, and cognitive decline—enable facilities to tailor care plans. These assessments should be dynamic, updating as residents’ needs evolve.
4. Emergency Preparedness
Natural disasters, power outages, and medical emergencies pose serious risks to vulnerable populations. Robust emergency response plans, including drills and communication systems, ensure both residents and staff can act swiftly and safely.
When implemented consistently, these measures not only protect residents but also reinforce trust with families and regulators alike.
The Power of Staff Education: Building a Culture of Preparedness
Even the most comprehensive safety protocols are only as effective as the people implementing them. Staff education is therefore a cornerstone of risk management in senior care. Donna Hurley emphasizes that continuous training fosters both competence and confidence, helping staff respond effectively to emergencies and everyday risks.
1. Regular and Scenario-Based Training
Training should go beyond initial onboarding. Regular refreshers and scenario-based exercises—such as simulated medical emergencies, fall responses, or cyberattack drills—ensure that staff can act quickly and appropriately under pressure.
2. Cross-Departmental Awareness
Risk doesn’t stop at department lines. For example, dietary staff should understand choking risks, maintenance teams should be aware of infection control principles, and administrative staff should recognize phishing attempts. This interdisciplinary awareness strengthens the facility’s overall resilience.
3. Psychological Safety and Reporting Culture
Staff must feel comfortable reporting incidents, near misses, and hazards without fear of retaliation. This openness enables early intervention and continuous improvement. Encouraging feedback and recognizing proactive behavior fosters engagement and shared accountability.
In essence, staff education transforms risk management from a set of rules into a living, breathing practice—one sustained by knowledge, communication, and empowerment.
Operational Risk Management: Beyond Physical Safety
While physical safety remains a top priority, the operational side of senior care carries its own complex web of risks. Financial mismanagement, technology failures, regulatory changes, and reputational damage can all impact an organization’s ability to deliver care.
1. Financial and Strategic Risk
Rising costs, changing reimbursement models, and staffing shortages can strain resources. Strong budgeting, transparent reporting, and strategic forecasting help mitigate financial risks while maintaining service quality.
2. Data Security and Privacy
With the increasing digitization of health records, cybersecurity has become a major component of risk management. Facilities must ensure data encryption, access controls, and compliance with HIPAA regulations, as well as train staff to recognize phishing and other cyber threats.
3. Reputation and Communication Management
Public perception can influence occupancy rates, partnerships, and even regulatory scrutiny. Transparent communication with families and stakeholders—especially during incidents—helps maintain trust and credibility. A well-prepared crisis communication plan can prevent small issues from escalating into PR crises.
By expanding the definition of risk management to include operational and reputational factors, senior care organizations create more stable, sustainable systems that can weather change.
Technology’s Growing Role in Risk Mitigation
Advancements in technology are transforming how senior care facilities identify, assess, and manage risk. From predictive analytics that forecast resident health declines to wearable devices that monitor vital signs, tech-driven insights are enabling earlier interventions.
Key examples include:
- AI-powered fall detection systems that alert staff instantly when movement patterns suggest a fall risk.
- Electronic health records (EHRs) that track and flag potential medication interactions.
- Data dashboards that compile metrics on incidents, compliance, and staff performance for leadership review.
While technology cannot replace human care, it enhances decision-making, reduces human error, and streamlines risk monitoring processes.
Creating a Resilient Future for Senior Care
The evolution of risk management in senior care reflects a broader shift in the industry, from reactive compliance to proactive care. Facilities that embrace this change position themselves not only for regulatory success but also for long-term sustainability and community trust.
Donna Hurley emphasizes that by integrating safety protocols, education, and operational strategy under one cohesive risk framework, organizations can protect what matters most: the dignity, safety, and well-being of their residents.
In the end, effective risk management isn’t just about preventing harm; it’s about creating environments where seniors can thrive, staff can perform their best, and families can feel confident that their loved ones are in capable, compassionate hands.