Growing up, I was often uncomfortable around the elderly. I loved my grandparents and great-grandparents and treated those that were older with respect, but never really met them where they were or understood their individuality. My parents made it a priority to instill in my siblings and me the value of learning from those who have had many different life experiences and to spend time with them on a regular basis. This first resonated with me at the age of 12 when I interviewed my great-grandfather, Willard, about his experiences in World War II. He was just a Kansas farmer that landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day, served in the North African Theatre, and also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded during the D-Day Invasion and honorably discharged after a second wounding during the Battle of the Bulge. I was one of the first people he had ever told about the details of his war experiences. The trust that he placed in me and the courage that he showed in reliving those years of his life made me both amazed and honored that this nearly 90-year-old patriarch in our family would have been so valiant, yet humble. When he passed away I was 17, but I had his interview recorded, a gift that I could share with the rest of my family and have as a lasting memoir of him.

I did not have much engagement with the elderly again until I accepted a position as a receptionist at Meadowlark Hills. I was nervous not only because it would be a new work environment, but also because I didn’t have much experience interacting with the elderly apart from my family. I soon learned that I did not have anything to be nervous about because all of the residents and staff were so welcoming, kind, and patient as I learned the ins and outs of my new job.

During my first few months, I learned the value of putting people before tasks, whereas before I was a much more task-oriented person. When I took the time to listen to the residents’ stories, I felt a new passion for and understanding of those around me. I realized that the residents were truly amazing people, each with their own unique personality and life story, and each with something to share. Working at Meadowlark Hills has made me see firsthand that everyone has different gifts and talents that when shared, support and connect the community as a whole. Learning about person-directed care and putting those skills into practice has helped me to bridge gaps between my generation and those that I serve.

Meadowlark Hills is the first and only retirement community that I have encountered that emphasizes the importance of person-directed care. Staff members interact with residents as their equals, demonstrating the type of genuine care that would be shown to an older family member. The culture here at Meadowlark Hills is one of kindness, inclusivity, and that values individuality. I have also seen residents adopt the practice of this culture in their interactions with each other, staff members, and in welcoming new residents and other stakeholders to the community.

One unique aspect of person-directed care that Meadowlark Hills offers is all of the different opportunities to pursue, share, and explore new passions. There are opportunities for social, physical, spiritual, and personal growth that you wouldn’t find many other places. These different offerings that residents can choose to take advantage of has taught me that you can still learn new things as you age, you can explore and develop new or old hobbies, you can always enter new relationships, and you can always contribute to the growth of a community.

Being at Meadowlark Hills, I feel like I have the opportunity to leave a positive impact on my workplace as well as the residents and staff here because of my new perspective on aging. I no longer see my elders as difficult to relate to, rather, I see them as people I can learn from, serve, and grow with. I know that I can practice servant leadership to demonstrate person-directed care to the residents here and continue Meadowlark Hill’s commitment to staying on the leading edge of the culture of aging.