The Continuing Adventures of Just a Waiter - Being a Family

Each of our residents have different relationships with their families.  Some are very close.  Some keep each other at arm's length.  Some are family in name only.  Some have no family at all, to speak of.  For those residents that are close to their families, this is a very trying time for both sides.  We see residents get very emotional about not seeing their kids or only able to see them through a window.  We have families call and, even though they are very thankful for our restrictions right now to keep everyone safe, you can hear the sadness in their voices because they cannot be here physically for their relatives.  It's a hard time for everyone.  But this is where we, as a team, step in.  We are a part of their families and they are a part of ours.  Not just during this trying time, but all year round.  They just happen to need us now more than ever.  And they need to be reassured that we are there for them to comfort and help to the best of our abilities. 

The beauty of a company like Heritage Greens is that this family atmosphere is pretty much a standard that emerges from all of our associates.  It's never listed as a requirement, it just naturally evolves that way.  We become a family to our residents, to their families and to each other.  Now that our restrictions will be changing somewhat because of consistent testing and the vaccine availability, the family part of our workplace will not change.  And I love that about HG.  Now, mind you, not every associate has this mindset, but those are few and far between and one learns to not put much stock in them unless when  necessary.  Sometimes they come around, sometimes they don't.  Ah, well.

Over the last year, we have lost some residents and it's never easy.  Some were covid related, some were not.  Some were residents that no longer lived at HG, for one reason or another, but kept in touch with us. Either way, it still affects us.  We  grieve with each other over the loss and we grieve with their families.  It is that kind of love and care that we give our residents that makes us different from so many places like HG.  We are invested in our residents and in each other.  We go through everything together and that is important.  I feel that it reassures people when they move their loved ones into our facilities.  And it is important to us to be able to give them that peace of mind.  

We have endured through this pandemic as a family.  We have gained and lost associates and residents.  We have learned to adapt to new ways of doing things on an almost daily basis.  We laugh together and we cry together.  We are family.  That is all.