The Westbury Senior Living Executive Director Shares How She Got Her Start in Senior Living

Senior living has certainly changed over the past decade. An industry that once provided very little hands-on care has blossomed into a wonderful option for older adults. It now provides varying levels of assistance with residents’ activities of daily living, while arranging many opportunities for socialization and community. I am fortunate to work for Arrow Senior Living leading The Westbury Senior Living team. I would like to share a little about my journey to becoming a senior living leader.

I developed a love for this type of work from a early age. My very first job was working in dietary in a skilled nursing facility and when I was old enough, I switched over to a caregiver position. While I loved what I was doing, I saw things I knew weren’t being done with the best interest of the residents in mind and that really bothered me. Concerns were reported and ignored by management. I knew at that moment I wanted to work toward a career where I would have more control over issues that arose and to be an advocate for the residents. I spent several years working in different areas of senior living and eventually became a Residential Care and Assisted Living Administrator in 2012 and went back in 2017 and acquired my Skilled Nursing Facility license.

I have a passion for working with seniors and even though it can be a very difficult job at times, it is also very rewarding. At the end of the day, it is a good feeling knowing that I have had a positive impact on the people in my care. That’s what keeps me in senior living.

Arrow Senior Living wants to provide a five-star experience to the seniors that reside in their communities. That is something that speaks to my heart, and it makes it a lot easier to do my job when the company you work for has the same mindset.

There is going to be an increased need for senior living communities in the coming years and months, and for the industry, I have a lot of concerns. I feel like there aren’t enough individuals with a passion for this type of work and work ethic seems to have taken a major hit, especially during these past couple of years dealing with COVID. I do feel like there are good companies like Arrow that will continue to strive to provide the best senior living experience possible. I only hope we are all able to have quality teams to support the increased need.

I would tell anyone considering a career in senior living management it is absolutely worth the work that is involved and everything we do is appreciated by the ones we care for. I would also tell them to be strong and to not give up during the difficult times, because they will happen, but there are people that continue to need someone to love and care for them.

Arrow Senior Living and I invite you to reach out and learn more about a career in senior living. Working in this industry can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Whether you’re interested in caregiving, management, or another aspect of senior living, there are a wide variety of roles available that allow you to make a positive impact on the lives of older adults and their families.