My career in long-term care started during a transition in my life. I was living in Idaho and going to school to become a teacher, at the time I wanted to work with kids. I quickly realized this was not the career path that I really wanted. I was at a crossroad and decided to pack up everything and move to Oregon to live with my grandparents. I knew the first thing I needed to do was to find employment.
My grandma suggested there as a job opening at an assisted living close to where they lived. I didn’t know of any other opportunities so as I drove into town from Idaho, I just dropped in at The Suites Assisted Living to apply for anything that was available, and I was hired as a shower aide.
I had not done anything like this before; I was terrified to get started. As a shower aide my job was to help residents shower for 8 hours a day. You get uncomfortable and comfortable quickly. It turned out to be so rewarding working with the residents. I learned to ask a lot of questions, “How do you like your hair washed? What clothing do you prefer? What can you do on your own?” It helped build that relationship, connection, and trust. This experience helped me discover that I love working with the elderly population.
That first job as a shower aide started my whole career. I became a caregiver, lead caregiver, medication technician, lead med tech, resident care coordinator, office manager, assistant administrator, and in less than 10 years I became the executive director overseeing the entire operations of the community.
Working in long-term care is indescribable. The stories the residents tell, the wisdom they have, their sense of humor, and the relationships that are created are simply the best. In this business we have the ability to help them break down their walls, get them out of their shells, really learn what they like. It can take a little time, but the relationship and bridge of trust grows. We help residents embrace their new living situation, show them it’s different than they thought it would be and it really is like a family and a community.
We had a resident in her late 60s, she was so angry her family had moved her in. Her house had burned down, and she was mentally in a really bad place when she moved in. Little by little we helped her get to a better place. Now she participates in everything. She’s been the resident council president, served on our welcome committee, and helps other residents in the community. She expresses so much gratitude to our team for basically saving her life. She’s a totally different person than when she first moved in.
Working in long-term care is indescribable. The stories the residents tell, the wisdom they have, their sense of humor, and the relationships that are created are simply the best.
The staff can have a massive impact just by doing simple things; fixing a resident’s hair before lunch, making sure clothes fit well before an activity. Making one small difference in their day has a major impact. Walt Disney said, “It’s not magic that makes it work, it’s work that makes it magic.”
I miss working hands-on with the residents, but I am able to make a greater impact in my leadership position. I’ve been working in long-term care for 18 years and I get to make an impact every day. I also still see opportunities to continue learning and growing in my career. One day when my son is grown, I would love to work at the corporate level, I would also love to share my knowledge and experience to help other communities thrive.
To do this work, you have to have a love and passion for helping and serving people in the community. You have to be here because you want to do work that makes people’s lives better. Don’t be afraid to start, you might not know it’s your passion until you find out. Everyone works as a team and supports each other. I really believe tough times don’t last; tough teams do. Work hard, always do the right thing, and just be true to yourself and you will succeed.
