A Voice for All

Heidi Specht is a CNA at Locust Grove Retirement Village in Mifflin, PA. She works each day to make sure that her patients’ needs are heard. She isn’t just compassionate about being a caregiver, but also about being a voice for those who need it. Although she didn’t always work in healthcare, she always enjoyed working with the elderly and being able to help those in need.

Heidi’s career began when she started volunteering at a group home across the street from Locust Grove. Many of the Locust Grove patients came to visit the home and it was then that she had the chance to interact with them. She greatly enjoyed having the opportunity to connect with them, and she quickly realized that she belonged in healthcare. In 2013, she decided to become a CNA, and started working at Locust Grove.

Three years later, Heidi is still a CNA at Locust Grove and she couldn’t be happier with her decision to work there. She loves being able to help the patients, and now as a CNA, she gets to spend a lot of time with them. But, what she likes most about working at Locust Grove is being able to be the speaker for the patients. She is able to express or vocalize for the patients what they need and want and she finds this to be an extremely important part of her job.

From votes on activities they would like to participate in, or just their personal needs, Heidi makes a point to be sure that the patients are heard and understood. This gives the patients a sense of value, and it allows them to trust Heidi when she cares for them. It’s important to her that their needs are met so that they are comfortable with her and their stay in the care center.

Heidi mainly works in the short-term therapy hall, and she finds that humor is additionally as important as trust and being heard when working with the patients. Heidi is always smiling, laughing and joking. Her light-hearted spirit is what keeps them going and allows them to get along so well. It’s no surprise that in the few years Heidi has worked there, she has had several individuals who have grown close to her.

One of Heidi’s rehab patients in particular had a strong impact on Heidi. She suffered a stroke and was unable to bear weight or walk. Because of her struggle to get up, she didn’t even want to get out of bed. Heidi spent a lot of time talking with her, getting to know her, and within six months, she was finally able to walk again. The patient  and her family still keep in touch with Heidi today.

Heidi is motivated to come to work each day by thinking about the patients, and knowing she will be able to care for their needs. She has a deep compassion for them which she says helps her to understand how the patients are feeling. Heidi believes that compassion is the most important of our Core Values because “you can’t have all of the other Core Values without compassion because your heart wouldn’t be into it”.

Heidi is a motivation for all who work in healthcare. We are so thankful that Heidi has found her calling in short-term care. She hopes to one day become an LPN, but for now she just wants to be the voice for all. Thank you Heidi for being a representative for our patients!