When dreams become reality

When we came across a recent event that was held at Consulate Health Care of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, FL, we knew we had to meet the person that put it together. We often hear about the great events that our care centers put on for their residents, but this particular event was above and beyond amazing. The Great Gatsby themed Senior Prom was coordinated by, none other than our very own Kiki.

The senior prom looked as though it was the type of gala put on by professionals. The decorations were beautiful, and the outfits that everyone wore appeared as though they had come straight out of a movie. Kiki not only put on a wonderful event to pep up her residents, but she took it to another level by making it out of this world. This type of enthusiasm for her work is what Kiki is most passionate about. She said that one resident cried at prom. The resident told Kiki that she never had a chance to go to her own prom and this meant the world to her to be able to attend the Great Gatsby Senior Prom.

We asked Kiki what inspires her to plan such elaborate events. She said, “I ask the residents what they are interested in, and then we create it. I create an event and make sure the residents like it first, and that they’re happy”.  She doesn’t just plan events because it’s fun, or because she enjoys it, she plans events for her residents purely to put a smile on their face.  This year, Kiki wanted this event to be very special for them. She had employees and members of the hospice adopt residents who didn’t have clothes, so that they had something to wear to the event. She had someone do their hair and their makeup. She made sure that anyone who was there was taken care of. Even residents who no longer live at Winter Haven came back for this event.

So much went into the creation of this fantastic prom. It was definitely a team effort, and without the support of her executive director and the activities department, Kiki would not have been able to pull it off. The team is a big part of why Kiki loves what she does. All of the teamwork and preparation for the Great Gatsby event paid off. We asked Kiki what her favorite part about hosting the event was and she said “The final result – to see the residents’ happy faces. It was so worth it.”

Kiki is a very motivated and driven employee. She began working at Winter Haven in 2004 as a CNA. Since then, she learned that her passion lies in not just helping people, but making them happy. She found that putting on events and making someone’s day is the best part of being a caregiver. So, she went back to school and ended up as the activities director. Since then, she has put on hundreds of events of all sizes and themes. She has done outdoor canvas painting, several themed dances, and many outings. According to Kiki, “Bingo and trivia are not enough, they (the residents) are still alive and they want to have fun.”

Kiki truly loves what she does and for her, coming to work is not a job, it’s her passion. When we asked her what she believes is the most important of her job, she said “To have passion and to make the residents feel like they are home, and can enjoy themselves again.” Kiki would like to stay at Consulate Health Care and keep delivering amazing events to her residents. Kiki said, “I love what I do. It is sometimes difficult, but with the great family at Consulate Health Care, we make it happen”. We are so thrilled to have Kiki on our team and cannot wait to see what her next event will be. Great job Kiki!