Michelle knew twenty-five years ago that her calling was in long-term care. She went to school for it and knew all along that it was where she belonged. She worked hard to land herself a job in activities and never left. Although she has only been working at The Village at Harbor Pointe in Salisbury, MD for a few months, the experience and knowledge that she brings with her makes her a great asset.
The first thing that Michelle did when she arrived at The Village at Harbor Pointe was evaluate what was working and what wasn’t for the residents. Michelle has always incorporated intergenerational programming into her work and knew right away that she needed to introduce that at her new job. She quickly began to formalize the already existing “Adopt-a-Grandparent” program.
The premise of the program is to bring the younger generation into the care center to meet and spend time with the residents. Many types of groups get involved such as the Girl Scouts, home school students, daycare programs, and teachers. Michelle tries to involve as many members of the community as she can in this program and she has found the number of people willing to volunteer has grown tremendously. Michelle will do whatever she can to get consistent groups to come into the care center. She said “I leave no rock unturned, I find resources where I can.”
The program so far has proven to be a great success. Michelle told us that the Girl Scouts who come to visit the residents actually donated an iPad to the care center so that residents can Skype with their families. In February, the residents will then support the Girl Scouts as they get their badges. The relationships that are fostered and built through the program are unlike anything else. Not only does it make the residents happy, but it’s educational and special for the Girl Scouts as well.
The daycare groups tend to come in monthly for specific events. Michelle is a traditionalist and likes to make the holidays special. She has the daycare program come in to Trick-or-Treat and also during the Christmas season. The visits really create a comfortable and special environment for the residents during the holidays.
Once a year, a group of nursing students from the local university comes in to interview residents and publish their stories in the university’s newsletter. The students absolutely treasure their time meeting with the residents and learning from their wisdom. This program benefits all generations and all individuals involved.
We asked Michelle why she thinks this program is so important. She said, “There is so much wisdom with older people. When I was a college student, I loved listening to their stories. It’s a non-threatening way for people to connect, and to bring the youth out of residents.”
Michelle truly takes her work to heart and finds passion in bringing generations together. She not only wants to better the lives of the residents, but she also wants to bring the community together. It’s employees like Michelle who truly represent what Consulate Health Care is all about. We hope Michelle stays at The Village at Harbor Pointe for many years and continues to pursue her dream of helping people join together. Thank you for all that you do Michelle!
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