Without much experience in a senior living community, Solinity Marketing’s Chase Caples embarked on a five-day Senior Living Bootcamp journey at Remember Me Senior Care, an Assisted Living and Memory Care Neighborhood in Cleveland, TN. In this recap, learn more about Chase’s journey through Solinity Leadership’s Senior Living Bootcamp and how his view and knowledge of the industry transformed.
Marketing and Administration: A Unique Move-In Experience
As soon as Chase arrived, he received a warm welcome from the Marketing and Administrative team at Remember Me Senior Care (RMSC). Instantly, Chase was made right at home as he was ready to begin his weeklong journey into senior living.
During the first day of the Senior Living Bootcamp, Chase shadowed the Administrative team. His experience took an interesting turn as a new resident was moving in that very day. Chase got a firsthand look at the move-in process, from start to finish. He also had the opportunity to sit in on a move-in meeting, where RMSC's administrative leaders met with loved ones to discuss the resident's readiness for the move. Right at the start of the week, Chase was fully immersed into the world of senior living. One of the skills he learned by observing the team at Remember Me involved proper communication with residents with dementia–which is crucial in a dementia care community.
Clinical and Care: A Holistic Approach
During the shadowing experience in house one, Chase was able to interact with the various residents, engaging in fun activities, walks around the RMSC neighborhood, gardening, and crafts.
The most surprising situation observed while shadowing the care team was the extensive range of tasks undertaken by caregivers. From assisting with meals to personal care needs like bathing and restroom use, among other activities of daily living (ADLs), their involvement in residents' lives was comprehensive.
During this shadowing experience, Chase had learned about a phenomenon known as sundowning. Symptoms of sundowning among residents with dementia become most prevalent as the sun goes down every day. This is when residents tend to get more irritable, confused, and anxious, among other symptoms, so this can be a challenge for the clinical care team, but fortunately, the expert care team at RMSC has the skills needed to properly communicate with the residents and help put their minds at ease as symptoms occur.
Dining and Dietary: Meeting the Residents’ Needs
On the third day, Chase shadowed one of the cooks in house five and the culinary supervisor. He observed as they guided him around the campus, showcasing the commissary where food is stored, along with emergency food storage. Chase even tapped into his cooking skills and lent a hand in preparing and cooking lunch for the residents. Throughout this experience, it was most rewarding being able to help prepare food for the residents to enjoy.
What surprised Chase the most during this experience was the level of personalized care provided by the dining and dietary team. Residents' individual dietary needs and preferences were meticulously catered to, ensuring each meal was enjoyed to the fullest. From Chase's perspective, the most challenging aspect of the dining and dietary teams’ role is effectively communicating with residents to understand their meal preferences and feedback, since residents may not always provide verbal feedback.
Activities and Life Enrichment: From Planning to Execution
On the fourth day of Senior Living Bootcamp, Chase shadowed the Activities and Life Enrichment department at RMSC. From planning to executing activities with residents, he gained insight into the thorough process involved for those with dementia. During the planning phase, the Activities and Life Enrichment Director had Chase review resident face sheets and plan activities based on their interests. He was amazed by the attention to detail in tailoring activities to each house's residents' interests. As the planning wrapped up, it was time for Chase to enjoy the activities with the residents—an experience that left a lasting impression on him, both memorable and enjoyable.
Housekeeping and Maintenance: Learning the Importance of Daily Tasks
During his final day at the senior living bootcamp, Chase dove into the daily routines of housekeeping and maintenance departments. Working alongside Remember Me's dedicated team, he felt the privilege of directly contributing to residents' well-being. Every small task he undertook held purpose, highlighting the profound impact even the little things can have on enhancing quality of life.
Through this hands-on experience, Chase gained valuable insights into the life of a senior living community employee. Witnessing their unwavering dedication to enriching residents' lives left a lasting impression on him. It wasn't just about performing routine tasks and responsibilities, it was about serving the aging population that has spent their entire lives serving us. For Chase, it was about giving back a fraction of what this generation has given to him.
Senior Living Bootcamp: Making an Impact
For Chase, the Senior Living Bootcamp wasn't just about learning—it was a fully transformative experience. It sparked a newfound appreciation for the tireless efforts of those working behind the scenes in senior living communities to ensure the residents’ final years are good ones. It was evident to Chase how every department within the community worked together to accomplish the same goal–to care for the residents.
This experience helped to mold Chase’s perspective of the industry and inspired him to make a real impact in senior living.
Are you interested in participating? Learn how you can get involved today by visiting solinityleadership.com.
