The Single Best Day of My Professional Life
My heartfelt thanks go out the 35 fellow Lenbrook residents and associates with whom I traveled with on our annual Fall Colors Tour to the North Georgia mountains. You all made that day the single best day of my professional life!
As we took in the beauty of the fall leaves on our way to Lake Rabun, enjoyed our lunch and day at the Lake Rabun home of one of our residents, and travelled back, I saw our associates demonstrate the Lenbrook Way (Caring, Competent and Responsive). We were living our Mission in real time: To enable our residents to enjoy the gifts of independence, good health and personal fulfillment to the fullest extent possible through our programs and services.
Super Coordination
I recognize the roles so many played in making our trip a huge success — massive amounts of planning, coordination and hard work — but it was ever so worth it.
None of this would have been possible without, Helen, our Supervisor of Resident Engagement. I can’t imagine what it is like managing so many “bosses” on a trip like this. She did a great job of respecting everyone’s roles yet demonstrating great leadership by directing me (and other “bosses”) when she needed to and getting me out of the way when I wasn’t needed.
The unending logistical coordination required for an event like this quite frankly is a nightmare. Just looking at the planning memo on this event, I saw the many “stakeholders” involved from every angle. But every step was orchestrated and appeared effortless to the residents.
I had peace of mind throughout, even as we eagerly awaited the arrival of the busses. I had total confidence in our supervisor’s planning.
Exemplary Caring and Responsiveness
Keeping three dozen people on track and on time was critical. I was really impressed by the associates shifting from the various phases of the tour to keep this event on schedule. They showed immense responsiveness and lots of caring to make sure no one felt rushed. During the lunch phase every single associate jumped in to help so residents could receive their lunch at one time and enjoy it together. How caring!
The competent and responsive planning of this event allowed us to achieve what is core to our culture…producing resident-driven programs. This annual trip began when a Lenbrook resident, a third-generation Lake Rabun resident, decided she wanted to share the history of her home with her beloved neighbors. It has grown over the last eight or nine years. The planning of this year’s event combined with the encouragement of resident involvement doubled the participants this year! And the level of caring made it over-the-top special.
True Teamwork
One of our values is teamwork. I certainly saw that demonstrated on our trip. It didn’t matter what position an associate held, everyone was working towards a common goal.
Our Programs and Events Assistant, Courtney, organized a perfect lunch and then everyone chipped in to manage key pressure points. Our care techs were just as comfortable passing out lunches and drinks as they were helping a resident or tending to minor medical issues. Our bus driver, Gladys, is so much more than a driver. She is competent and caring, and as one resident told me, “I can’t begin to tell you how valuable she is to us.”
Our Mission
Lastly, I saw our mission in action, our ability to enable residents to enjoy the gifts of independence, good health and personal fulfillment through our programs and services We had one 96-year-old who wanted to get out of his apartment and go. Because he was cared for and supported he was able to be fully engaged in the experience. We had others who were visibly delighted to know that they could keep experiencing the world. We had every need and circumstance taken care of.
Handling such a wide range of abilities could not have been possible without our Clinic Manager/Assistant Director of Nursing, Nettie, helping residents to understand the demands of the trip and ensuring our Enrichment Team had the right support on site.
What makes me so proud to work alongside Lenbrook’s associates is that they exemplify the culture I want to be associated with. This was an effort that shows how Lenbrook can and does make a positive difference and impact in the lives of our residents. This was truly an event that “you just can’t get anywhere else.”
Thanks to all of you for the single best day of my professional life!
Chris Keysor is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lenbrook. His passion for the senior living industry began early in his career as a CPA with KPMG Peat Marwick. Chris progressed in executive responsibilities over the years, working for a senior healthcare provider, healthcare financing organizations and senior living consulting groups. Chris is also a nationally ranked Ironman triathlete, which he says comes in handy raising his two young children with his wife here in Atlanta.