Felichia Fields

“In May, every week we do an event. We have a lake, so on one of those Saturdays the residents will help us so the employees and their families can go fishing. Residents just do little things like go around the lake and hand out water bottles and crackers, and they can interact with the employees and get to know their families.”

— Felichia Fields, Assistant Executive Director, St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, MS

“I listen to their ideas and their concerns and make sure I respond to them in a timely manner. What may be insignificant to you may be very important to them at the time.”

— Mae McDaniel, Executive Director, Riggs Manor, Tupelo, MS

“I send thank-you notes, if they did something or helped someone else without being asked. We celebrate the small successes.”

— Yolanda Kelly, Administrator, Crestview Nursing and Rehab, Atlanta

“For everybody’s birthday, we get them an individual cupcake and coordinate to have everyone sign a card. We also do a monthly newsletter with employee updates, birthdays, anniversaries, facility updates.”

— Zachary Ziesemer, Administrator, Willowdale Nursing & Rehab Center, New Holstein, WI

“Whenever anyone sees someone doing something over and above, they can nominate that person for a gold star. That person gets entered in a $200 drawing each month. Also, our executive director and administrator and I know everybody’s names and ask [about family and hobbies]. It’s incredibly empowering to people if they know they aren’t just ‘the nursing assistant on second shift.’”

— Sharon Wladkowski, HR Director, The Manor, Morrisville, VT

“We do recognition weeks. We’ll have breakfasts and lunches, individual thank you cards and we’ll hang the banners. When it’s dining services week, we serve them.”

— Mike Hendee, COO, Vinson Hall Retirement Community, McLean, VA

“We do team lunches. And if someone is gone for two to three days, we’ll go in and decorate their office.”

— Jon Stirewalt, Executive Director, Traceway Retirement Community, Tupelo, MS

“Empowering and encouraging them to have fun. When you’re having fun, it’s not work, so we really stress the fun part, and taking time to engage with residents. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

— Colin Marshall, President, Quadrum Global – Senior Living & Long Term Care Division, Miami Beach, FL