%20(2).png)
Your lived experience is your greatest strength.
As a peer specialist in senior living, you'll use your lived experience to support older adults navigating depression, anxiety, grief, and isolation—providing hope through connection.
You know what it's like...
To feel alone. To wish someone truly understood. We believe people who have been through their own lived experience have something powerful to offer those who are struggling. Especially older adults living in nursing homes, personal care facilities, and assisted living communities who too often go without that kind of connection.
And that's why we want you on our team.
What does a Certified Peer Specialist do?
You'll support older adults as they navigate mental health recovery in nursing homes, personal care facilities, and assisted living communities.
Provide everyday emotional support
Be a consistent, caring presence for residents dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, and loneliness.
Reduce isolation and build connections
Encourage residents to engage with peers, activities, and the community around them.
Set goals and create action plans
Work alongside residents to identify what matters to them and take steps toward it, at their own pace.
Coach through coping strategies
Share techniques for managing stress, navigating change, and building resilience in later life.
Support through difficult days
When a resident is struggling, you'll be the person who gets it because you've been through it yourself.
Paid Training & Certification
We cover everything
Flexible Hours
Part-time or full-time
$500 Sign-On Bonus
$2,000 if already certified
A Team That Gets It
Supportive community
Getting started is easy
Whether you're brand new to peer support or already certified, we'll guide you every step of the way.
1
Get trained
We cover your certification class, hotel, and orientation. Already certified? Skip to step 2.
2
Build your schedule
Choose part-time or full-time hours. Work a schedule that fits your life.
3
Support Others
Use your lived experience to support older adults navigating their own recovery in senior living settings.
4
Grow from here
Want to advance? Many of our managers started right where you are.
Start earning before your first day on the job
New to peer support?
We cover your $1,000+ certification class, hotel, and orientation costs. Once you start, you'll receive a sign-on bonus.
$500 sign-on bonus
Already certified?
Skip the training and get started faster. You'll receive a larger sign-on bonus for bringing your certification with you.
$2,000 sign-on bonus
"For a long time, I thought my past was something I needed to keep to myself. At Peerstar, it's actually why I'm good at what I do. When someone I'm working with realizes I've been where they are, that I get it because I lived it, you can see something shift. That moment is why I do this work."
K.R.
Certified Peer Specialist
If this sounds like you...
Then you might be exactly who we're looking for to work with older adults in senior living.
.png){kind=small}
You're good with people
Whether you've worked at a front desk, cared for others, or served customers, people feel at ease around you.
You can be a positive role model
Your past doesn't run your present. You're in a strong, stable place, and you can use what you've learned to support someone else.
You're comfortable with older adults
Maybe you've cared for a parent or grandparent. You understand the patience and warmth it takes to connect with someone navigating aging.
You think on your feet
Not everything goes according to plan. You're good at rolling with it and finding creative solutions.
.png){kind=small}
You're patient & kind
You know that getting better takes time. You can be there for people without judging them.
You've been through hard times
Whether it was stress, anxiety, trauma, or grief, you've faced challenges and worked hard to get through them.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical day look like in senior living?
No two days are the same. You might sit with a resident and talk through what's been weighing on them, guide them through a coping technique, or accompany them to a doctor's appointment. Some days you're supporting someone through grief or loneliness. Other days, you're encouraging a resident to reconnect with an activity they used to enjoy. The work is personal, flexible, and rooted in genuine connection.
Is this part-time or full-time?
We offer both, depending on what works for your schedule. Part-time means maintaining at least 20 billable hours per week; full-time means maintaining 30 billable hours per week. All CPS positions are paid hourly, and pay varies by region and setting.
Will I work inside the facility or travel around?
Most of your work will take place within the nursing home, personal care facility, or assisted living community where your assigned residents live. You may occasionally travel to accompany a resident to an appointment or community activity. Mileage is compensated for any trip over 10 miles.
Is this job emotionally hard?
It can be. You'll work with older adults going through significant challenges, including loss, isolation, and health changes. But you'll also have support, training, and boundaries to take care of yourself too. And the impact you make is deeply rewarding.
Do I need to be certified already?
No! We cover the cost of your certification class and hotel. Once you complete training and start working, you'll receive a $500 sign-on bonus.
Is this like being a therapist?
No. Peer specialists aren't therapists or social workers, and they don't do clinical duties. You'll support residents on their mental health recovery journeys by using your own experience to provide guidance from an equal level.
What benefits do I get?
It depends on your hours. If you maintain 30 billable hours a week, you're considered full-time and eligible for health insurance, 401k, and a higher PTO rate. Part-time staff receive a lower PTO rate. Both full-time and part-time staff receive mileage reimbursement.
Will I work alone or with a team?
You'll work with residents one-on-one, but you're never totally on your own. You'll have a supervisor, regular check-ins, and a team of other Peer Specialists to lean on. In senior living settings, you'll also coordinate with facility staff.
What if I've never worked in mental health before?
That's totally fine! Many of our best people came from jobs like retail, restaurants, childcare, caregiving, or office work. If you're kind, reliable, and eager to learn, we'll teach you the rest.
What if I'm already certified?
Even better! If you're already a Certified Peer Specialist, you can skip the training and get started faster. You'll receive a $2,000 sign-on bonus instead.
What counts as "lived experience"?
Lots of things count! Dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, or mental health challenges. The important thing is that you have reached a place in your journey where you can positively support others in a similar situation.
Ready to do work
that changes lives?
Join Pennsylvania's most trusted peer support team. Fill in your details below, and we'll reach out to chat more about working in senior living.
Questions? Email us at careers@peerstarllc.com