It’s been said that the little things in life can make the biggest difference, and we agree. No matter how big or small, a kind gesture has the ability to make a person’s day better. Just ask the family of one Consulate Health Care resident who set out to do exactly that: make everyone’s day brighter.
For the past two years, the Edwards family has been a constant source of light for the Bay Breeze Health and Rehabilitation Center in Venice, FL. After their mother, Phoebe Edwards, was admitted as a resident, the Edwards family started getting to know the people living and working within the care center in a deeper way. They saw the staff’s appreciation for Phoebe as a person, the attention to detail her care plan received, and just how many people were focused on her well-being and happiness. They decided they wanted to show their appreciation in a bigger way, and show it they did.
The Edwards family started their own tradition of giving back to a staff of caregivers they felt had given so much to them. “You can tell that people actually have a heart. They’re not just caregivers, they have a place in their heart for everyone who walks through those care center doors.” This past holiday season, they assembled Christmas present goodie bags containing stuffed animals, gift cards, candy, pencils, and many other items for each member of the more than 100-person team. The Edwards’ have purchased seven, yes seven, flat screen televisions for Bay Breeze and still drop in for surprise giveaways for staff members throughout the year. When the Edwards family arrives, you always know they’re going to spend time with other residents, too, often stopping to chat and ask about how their day has been. Incredibly, these gifts, donations, and acts of kindness have come without cost or the expectation of receiving anything in return – straight from the goodness of the Edwards family’s heart.
To recognize the Edwards for their contributions to Bay Breeze and the impact they’ve made on the staff and residents alike, the care center members held a recognition ceremony in their honor, a gesture that brought tears to the family’s eyes. The staff awarded them with a plaque and built a bench for the care center courtyard with a grateful message of remembrance: “To the Edwards family.” Right now, the bench sits in the very front of the lobby for every person who walks in to see.
It’s not the size of
the contribution that makes the Edwards so special to us, but rather the thoughtfulness and the willingness to consistently put others’ needs ahead of their own. Their generosity and compassion towards every employee and resident is why we’re happy to call them honorary members of the Consulate Health Care family. Their contributions have made our staff feel more than appreciated, and while we know just how wonderful our staff is, it’s always a treat to see others acknowledge it as well. Thank you, Edwards family, for being a constant source of light that will continue to brighten the Bay Breeze care center with every visit.
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