Family members who work together at GlenFields help create a homelike environment for our residents.
When Pat Schilling, TMA, NAR, was 17 years old, she began working at Glenhaven, the original nursing home at GRH before GlenFields was created.
“When you look back at it all now, there are so many memories,” said Pat. “We did things so differently then – there have been a lot of good changes and remodels.”
One such change has been the implementation of the household model of care, which means residents live in “households,” or living units made up of 18 private rooms, and shared community spaces such as a kitchen and dining room, living room, and sunrooms. The household model of care is geared to help GlenFields create a true homelike feeling for our residents.
This is easy to do when many of your staff are actually family!
Pat’s daughter, Sam Thompson, RN, grew up watching her mother work at GlenFields, eventually deciding to pursue a career in healthcare herself.
“I always felt a pull in that direction,” said Sam. “Nothing else felt right – it just felt like nursing was meant to be.”
Sam began working as a CNA before becoming an RN in 2016. She went on to get her BSN, and began working as an RN Care Coordinator at GlenFields in 2018. Pat and Sam both worked together in the same household for a year and a half during the pandemic.
“It was nice because we’re on the same brain wave,” said Sam. “We’re just in tune with one another, which makes problem solving even easier.”
Now, Pat primarily works in our short-stay household in GlenFields, Fair Winds, but sometimes covers shifts in other households, where she and Sam get to work together.
“It makes coming to work a little more fun,” said Pat. “Knowing that you’re going to bump into each other is always something to look forward to.”
Pat and Sam aren’t the only mother-daughter duo at GlenFields – and they’re not even the only mother-daughter duo in their family! Pat’s mother, Phyllis, once worked at our nursing home and is now a resident with us. Pat and Sam don’t often work in the household Phyllis lives in, but know that she’s being cared for like family.
Part of the Household
In the household model of care, employees typically work in the same household each shift, which allows them to develop closer bonds with the residents who live there.
“You form closer relationships with people, from the residents to the staff,” said Sam. “You’re also able to pick up on the little things even more – you can tell when a resident’s mood is off one day, which can make it even easier to tell when they’re not feeling well or something is bothering them.”
For Pat, the best part about working at GlenFields is that connection to the residents and other staff.
“We have such a good group here,” said Pat. “The whole community at GRH is so friendly.”
“Everyone is supportive of each other here,” Sam agreed. “The GlenFields team is exactly that – a team. We’re all each others’ cheerleaders. It’s a great place for our residents to live and our staff to work.”
