Being a house manager at an assisted living facility isn’t easy,
but in caregiver Sharon Ford’s words, “It’s not a job;
it’s a calling. It’s not just coworkers and residents; it’s
family.”
She loves what she does and believes that with Manchester she’s going
places. Whether it’s through the relationships she forms with residents
or the skills she acquires in the process, Sharon has devoted her life
to the industry and more specifically her Manchester Place family.
“When I look at each resident, I look at him or her as though they
are my mother, sister, or even myself,” Sharon said. “I think
of them as I would my own father or brother.”
The Call to Caregiving
For anyone working in senior care, there’s almost always a story
and for many, a calling which drives them to work long and often emotionally
and physically taxing hours. Sharon’s inspiration is her mother,
who lived in a nursing home and experienced a traumatic injury from which
she never recuperated. Sharon’s mother had suffered from poor care
and Sharon recognized that something had to be done to ensure that other
peoples’ loved ones would be treated with the care she wished her
mother had received. It was Sharon’s mother who first recognized
what Sharon’s calling was and told her to follow it.
“My mom asked me on her deathbed, ‘Why don’t you do what
God has called you to do?’ I knew then that I had to fight for those
lives, for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.”
When Trouble Strikes, Team Unites
Every senior care facility has high risk individuals, because with age
comes health complications, which makes places like Manchester necessary.
Risk factors for the elderly include muscle weakness, poor balance, blood pressure
fluctuations, poor or slowed reflexes, foot problems, and more. A strong
team is a necessity for an environment like this. Manchester treats its
employees like family and encourages an atmosphere of mutual respect and
caring, much like a real family.
“Through trials and tribulations, we stick together for our residents,”
Sharon said. “We’re together in this. Just like I wouldn’t
leave my resident to fend for themselves, I wouldn’t leave my teammate
behind in a difficult moment.”
This bond produces positive results for residents and staff, as it makes
for a safe, secure and positive environment.
Another Day, Another Lesson.
Every day is different for those who are older. That means, every day is
different for caregivers as well. The key, Sharon said, is to take things
one step at a time and adopt your own method of coping and problem solving.
“When I find myself in a difficult situation, I do what my supervisor
Erin always does: I take a deep breath, follow the steps I was given and
go with the flow,” Sharon said. “I have to be flexible and
move forward regardless. Bottom line, I can’t anticipate whether
or not one day will be better than another, but I can always adjust my
attitude and make the best of whatever kind of day I’m faced with.”
Sharon has had to deal with a lot of emergencies, Erin said, which is normal
with this age group who have health conditions. Keeping your composure
when you’re facing stressful situations is hard, but our team copes,
comes together, and grows together in the process. In the end, we get
through it as family.
A Caregiver’s Reward
Here at Manchester, our goal is to help our residents maintain the best
possible health and live connected, joyful lives. Sharon and her team
play an integral role in ensuring we can attain that goal. Sharon recognizes
that what she does is far more than just a job; it’s a calling.