For almost as long as there has been a Buena Vista Care Center in Santa Barbara, CA, Miguel Pulido has been there — making sure the residents of the nursing home are fed and happy.
Pulido is fast approaching his 50th anniversary on the job, and the residents and staff at Buena Vista couldn’t help but celebrate.
Pulido was first hired as a dishwasher Aug. 14, 1974, at a time when Buena Vista was struggling to find a lead cook who was consistently up to the task, he told McKnight’s. He made himself available, the nursing home promoted him in 1975, and the facility’s lead cook problem has been on a 49-year hiatus ever since.
Buena Vista is a 150-bed facility with twice-daily mealtimes for residents. Its leaders estimate that Pulido has served around 4 million meals during his career.
The entire Buena Vista community was invited to celebrate his golden anniversary at a party March 14. Around 100 guests participated, including 30 residents whose lives have been touched by Pulido’s culinary craft.
Because so many people were involved, it was hard to keep the event a secret, said Cindy Jordan, Buena Vista’s administrator. But Pulido was surprised when several of his family members arrived to share in the celebration.
Cooking with care
The festivities included a live mariachi band and celebratory tacos for guests. Pulido also was given a crown by Dava Ashley, the president of Covenant Care, which owns Buena Vista. Jordan also gave a speech to honor Pulido’s achievement.
“He’s a constant fixture in the kitchen,” Jordan told McKnight’s, “so he’s helped train every employee that has worked there, especially as a cook. The residents and that staff that go to the kitchen — he’s always willing to help them and greet them with a smile.”
It would be easy for a cook to have a very behind-the-scenes role, but Pulido never settled into that, Jordan said.
“When he’s on breaks, he comes out and interacts with residents and staff,” she explained. “On his shorter breaks, he always goes to the patio where there are a bunch of residents and he’s always talking and catching up with the residents he’s built up a rapport with there.”
Pulido says he always tries to take whatever is on the menu and make it special for the community he serves.
“When they come and ask for an extra plate, they like it. That makes you feel real good,” he said.
Jordan said she hopes other nursing homes can find ways to show appreciation to their longest-serving staff — even if they may not have anyone who has been around for 50 years.
“It is so important to recognize the years of service,” she said. “It’s not the norm, so when they show their loyalty and dedication, it’s definitely worth celebrating.”
As for Pulido, not even a recent knee-replacement surgery has kept him down, and he has no intention of retiring after his official anniversary in August. When asked about his future plans he said, “Well, I’m just going to try to keep on going.”
For more stories on the brighter side, take a look at this story about brightening the fabric of long-term care life.
