What is your degree background? I earned my bachelor’s degree in applied health science with a specialization in health care administration from Bowling Green State University.
What is a day in the life for you at your job? My day to day life as a Nursing Home Administrator changes and evolves daily! One of the great joys of this occupation is the daily challenge of adapting to the environment and being ready to wear any number of different hats throughout the course of the day. While no two days are ever the same, one constant is in my interactions with our Residents. The first thing I do when I arrive each day, is to go room to room to greet each resident and to say, “Good morning!”
I take as much time out of each day as possible to spend socializing with our Residents in some way, whether it’s joining in on a card game, playing BINGO, or having lunch with them. Building relationships is the purpose I had in beginning a career in Long-Term Care so those moments I’m able to spend with our Residents is priceless!
How has your work impacted older adults? I have worked in Long-Term Care for 13 years, with seven of those being a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA). Over the years, my focus has always been on providing my community’s residents with the absolute highest level of care, safety, respect, and love. It has been a great privilege of my life to have had the opportunity to make a positive impact on so many older adults, and it is a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
What advice would you give to your younger self when thinking about working with older adults and the aging population? Working with older adults and the aging population requires you to step out of your comfort zone and to be prepared to embrace new challenges every day, sometimes even every hour! To have a successful career requires you to have the willingness to adapt to an always changing environment, and to come in every day with a servant’s heart – always be prepared to serve others!