In May, I had the privilege of attending the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards ceremony in Chicago. There, I was in a room full of truly remarkable women who have contributed so much to the field of long-term care. At my table alone, there were Hall of Honor awardees Amy Schectman, president and CEO of 2LifeCommunities, who leads efforts to serve middle-income older adults through a new brand, Opus; Luz Liebeskind, chief financial officer with River Springs Living, whose work includes expanding a skilled nursing facility into a network of senior housing and care programs; and Spirit Award recipient Lena Robinson, a CNA/med tech for Benchmark Senior Living who put off her retirement plans when COVID hit so she could stay with the residents who needed her.
And then there was me. I, too, was an honoree this year. All I could think of was, what have I done that would include me with such an incredible group of women?
The next morning, as I was waiting for the Forum to begin, I found myself talking with several other very distinguished honorees, including Carol Silver Elliott, president and CEO of Jewish Family Home and immediate past chair of LeadingAge. I mentioned my feelings about wondering how I was a part of this incredible group of women, and she graciously responded about the value of the work I have been committed to over the years, of supporting and helping individuals and communities build a person-directed culture. Without this, she said, she and others would not be able to accomplish all that they do.
Returning home, I thought about this and was reminded of two things. One is a favorite quote, “Enjoy the little things in life, for someday you will look back and realize they were the big things,” by Robert Brault.
The other was a story I often share from early in my nursing career. I was caring for a patient who had been in the hospital for about a week following a hip replacement (yes, that was a few years ago!), and all she wanted was to have her hair washed – REALLY washed, not the bed-bath kind that I was taught in nursing school. I found a way to make that happen, and when she left several days later, she gave me a very special gift: a bell with “World’s Greatest Nurse” etched on it. Well, as my daughter, who was 5 years old at the time, informed me that I wasn’t really the world’s greatest nurse, that she just thought I was! And I realized that this was enough. It’s not always about saving lives; it can be about making someone’s day, honoring their individual choice and wishes.
In my role as director of education with Pioneer Network, I see the value of these “little things,” the difference it makes when values such as knowing the person and putting person before task are honored. I have been privileged to meet and work with incredible people who are doing those little things each day. Many of them, like me, likely don’t see just how impactful what they are doing is.
Never is this more evident than in planning our annual conference, Pioneering a New Culture of Aging. Beginning with the review of session submissions received, continuing as I have the privilege to work with each of the guides (speakers) as we put the program together, and then culminating with the sharing that will happen when we come together in Denver this July.
You may not know their names, or be aware of the work they are doing, but I believe that in this group of guides, including Hope Carwile, innovation specialist from Vivage; Carrie Chiusano, executive director for the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence; Amber Jedlicka, director of post-acute care at Meth-Wick Community; Adria Paxton, administrator, Devonshire Acres Nursing Homes; and so many more, there are future Women of Distinction.
As Pioneer Network values remind us, each person can and does make a difference.
Having someone recognize that you have made a difference in your career and in your life is gratifying, and I thank McKnight’s for the incredible honor they bestowed on me. But I know, because I see it every day, that there are so many others who are equally — and in fact more — worthy of recognition, including my fellow Pioneer Network team members, Penny Cook and Cathy Lieblich. Though we’ll never be able to recognize all we would like to honor through programs such as the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards, let’s not forget to recognize the individuals who are making a big difference, and the big and little things they do every day.
Joan Devine is director of education for the Pioneer Network, Rochester, NY.
The opinions expressed in each McKnight’s Senior Living marketplace column are those of the author and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Senior Living.
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