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Chaplain’s Corner: Changes
September 13, 2024
Happy National Nurses Week! We couldn’t imagine our community without the dedicated care our nurses provide to residents in healthcare levels each and every day. And one of the many benefits of retirement living at Kirkwood is receiving care from a Wellness Nurse in Independent Living, even if the injury is as surface as a scrape.
We have been celebrating our amazing staff all week long. Beverly Parnell, Director of Skilled Nursing, and Cevannah Price, Director of Assisted Living, express immense gratitude to their staffs across our community at Kirkwood.
“The definition of teamwork can be seen through Janet Lambert, Lindsey Cullom, and Julia Gravelle,” Cevannah says. “Janet and Lindsey, who have been with Kirkwood Assisted Living and Memory Care for almost 5 years each, are my right and left hand. I could not do this job without them. They not only are strong individually, but together they are a force to be reckoned with.”
She explains, “Since moving into our brand-new Hillside building, we have had twenty-six move ins. The paperwork, organization, and care needed to accommodate these transitions, while continuing to care for our already established residents, cannot be managed by just one individual. Janet and Lindsey communicate with families, residents, and staff to ensure all needs are met behind the scenes, and they are also part of our frontline, hands-on team. They warmly welcome residents into a new environment and provide a sense of security and comfort to all involved. Our Assisted Living and Memory Care residents are also in the very capable hands of Teresa Spencer, Teresa Bowens, Holly McCay, Stephanie Knight, Sandria Lipscomb, Janetha Terry, Bethany Swiney, Natalie Jacks, Denise Leverett, Ramona Lazare, and Kim Dobbs. I always say, ‘You can teach people a lot, but you can’t teach people how to care.’ And with this group of nurses and resident care assistants, you don’t have to.”
Cevannah continues, “Julia was our missing puzzle piece for Independent Living. Although she new is new to the team, she jumped right in, made this position her own, and may be the most organized individual I have ever had the pleasure to work with. She not only works perfectly well independently, but she is a team player and steps in when needed without question. We are grateful to know that our Independent Living residents are being cared for by someone who loves them as much as we do.”
In honor of Nurse’s Week, we want to thank all of our nurses for pouring their hearts into their work every day. Nurses are the backbone to our nation’s healthcare system, and we are so grateful for the loving staff we have in our Kirkwood family. Kirkwood would not be the special place it is without them.
