Our Residents Become Our Family

In our communities, we are lucky to witness very special interactions between employees and residents. It is a real treat to see a resident smile when chatting with a server, housekeeper or receptionist. Often, these interactions become part of the everyday routine. Our Take Initiative pillar is demonstrated by our employees who take extra time to get to know our residents and make it a priority to ensure each resident has a great day. We believe it makes everyone better versions of themselves when we share these bright moments of triumph.

Jordyn Osterhout has worked at Independence Village of Brighton Valley for three years and has a very special relationship with one of her residents, Genevieve, whose sweet heart and silly nature sparked a friendship between the two. During the Thanksgiving holiday brunch, Jordyn noticed that Genevieve’s family wasn’t in the dining room and that she seemed to be looking at everyone else’s families eating together. Eventually she approached Jordyn and mentioned that her family intended to be there but couldn’t attend. Upon hearing this news, Jordyn came up with an idea to make this holiday a little extra special for this very lovely resident. She invited her younger siblings and her cousin to spend a couple of hours with Genevieve in her apartment. “It was amazing to see how happy she was to see us at her door,” recalls Jordyn. Taking time out of her personal life to make a resident’s day extraordinary is important to Jordyn because she has learned their routines, listened to their stories and has made it a priority to visit with them during and after her shift.

 “I care about the residents very much. They are basically like family to me, so I want them to have these positive experiences every day, especially on holidays.” – Jordyn Osterhout