Senior Care Academy

Fostering Connection and Belonging in Senior Living: Cecelia Hitzke

Caleb Richardson, Alex Aldridge Season 2 Episode 5

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Join us as we explore the inspiring world of senior living with Cecilia Hitzke, executive director at Creekside Senior Living. Originally on a path to become a hospital administrator, Cecilia’s passion shifted to senior living after her impactful experiences as a hospice volunteer. Her journey from activity assistant to executive director has been fueled by her dedication and creative background in music, which brings an extra layer of joy and innovation to her leadership style.

In this episode, Cecilia shares how she’s boosting staff morale, creating a positive work environment, and championing meaningful resident engagement through initiatives like resident ambassador groups and cultural events. As a board member of the Utah Assisted Living Association, Cecilia also discusses her advocacy for affordable senior care and the importance of education in the field.

We touch on empowering seniors to stay socially engaged and the surprising ways they’re adapting to technology through online classes. Cecilia also offers valuable insights for anyone considering a career in senior living, highlighting the deep fulfillment that comes from building connections. Plus, we end with a piece of advice from a Creekside resident that reminds us all: making one meaningful connection each day can make a world of difference.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to today's episode, where we are joined by Cecilia Hitzke, a licensed health facility administrator and the executive director at Creekside Senior Living, part of Stellar Senior Living. If you remember, we had Adam Benton on a few weeks ago. Having held various leadership positions across several senior living communities, with a strong educational background from Minnesota State University and a passion for enhancing the lives of seniors, cece is a dedicated leader in her field. She also serves on the UALA board as the PR and marketing chair and has a really fun background as a former rock and roller with the Q5 band in Moorhead. Cece, welcome, I'm excited to chat with you for a little bit.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, I'm happy to be here.

Speaker 1:

The first question I have is what inspired you originally to pursue a career in senior living, in that long-term care space?

Speaker 2:

So I initially had gone to college to be a hospital administrator but I ended up talking to a hospice company. So I started off as a hospice volunteer and just seeing everything that they had offered with that end of life process I realized from moving from hospital to long-term care this is where my passion was and what I wanted to help with. So I moved from there to an activity assistant and that was such a fun role. Especially with having a music background. You have fun all day with residents. It is one of the most fun jobs. So I moved from activity assistant to activity coordinator and then I ended up moving here to Utah and I was a business office manager and then moving up to my role of executive director from there.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome. So what a lot of the times the thing that gets you into the field but it's common, you know, you hear that you you care about seniors and you kind of saw this is amazing, it's fun, hanging out with them gets you into it. And then the day to day can be kind of brutal sometimes. So what has kept you in it as long as you've been in it, especially as you kind of have progressed as like a activity, activity, uh, assistant and activity coordinator, especially on, like, the pay side, the gap is different versus as you moved up. So what's kept you in it?

Speaker 2:

For me, there's a lot of day-to-day things that happen. There's always one good thing that I remind myself on my drive home of. This is why I'm still in and do what I do. One of the things that happened last week is I had a resident just write a very nice letter just explaining the benefit of living at Creekside, how our staff have been providing good care for him, and just hearing that feedback of how we're impacting his life. If I have something like that every day, it keeps motivating me, even though it is stressful.

Speaker 1:

Love that Really fast. I'm going to put a timer Normally iPhones. I can see how long we're going for. I want to make sure we don't go crazy, so I'm going to set a 30-minute timer in my pocket. Perfect, I should have.

Speaker 2:

Oh, you're good. Cut Edit.

Speaker 1:

Okay, that's amazing and I think that those, like you said, those daily activities and those daily little golden nuggets is like, oh, that's why I'm here. Um, for me, starting was with my grandparents and the experiences that I had with them. Same thing you get into it and you kind of have to find those golden nuggets with everybody, every resident that you're helping. Um, I am curious as far as you touched on your journey shortly, but your career as you progressed, what motivates you to keep on moving up as far as leadership within the community, from activities coordinator, which is a lot of fun, versus an executive director, which can be a lot of stress? What motivates you to keep going?

Speaker 2:

I versus an executive director, which can be a lot of stress. What motivated you to keep going? I had an executive director that I worked under and just seeing how he managed the building and the impact just one person can make in the building, I wanted to be that one person and help make sure that I can help any of the departments as best as I could. So just from his leadership and everyone else supporting me in those roles, I thought you know what I'm'm gonna try and do it, so I just went for it and I've enjoyed it, since it just depends on the team you have too, but it really is an enjoyable position. So it was just seeing good leadership that I was under I love that.

Speaker 1:

Um, with your background in music and fun things like that, how do you feel like that's inflow or influenced the way that you approach running the day-to-day there?

Speaker 2:

I think it's just having fun because, like you said, it is a different role moving to executive director from activity coordinator. But if I can still have something fun to bring to the staff and residents, that's something that I can help provide. So with a music background too, I'm involved with some of the activities myself. So with a music background too, I'm involved with some of the activities myself, so I can play piano during lunch or I can provide some of those services for my background and still be there to have fun with the residents and again with the staff. It's a really hard job being a CNA and being a housekeeper and being a server for this type of population. So if I can do something fun for all staff meetings or if I can do something fun our shift reports just to help re-motivate everyone during their shifts, I think that background from activities and most people that are in activities are pretty outgoing, so I bring a little bit of crazy fun to each day that.

Speaker 1:

I'm there, that's awesome and I think that is a unique perspective A lot of executive directors if they're coming more from the business side of operations because ultimately, as far as the success of the community goes financially, it's like executive director on that level. But having the activity side to make it fun and that's what makes people want to stick around is when because it can be brutal on the day-to-day or not brutal but difficult, and so having something fun even within the staff is and in the end, that does help your financials right, because turnover is very expensive, Finding new people is expensive, recruiting is expensive and it also affects your care if you're constantly having turnover.

Speaker 2:

So if you are able to bring something that people want to stay and continue to work for you, in the end it does help your bottom line, which is what I'm there for.

Speaker 1:

That's really unique insight. I think people worry a lot about the bottom line and then because of that, they push harder and harder on the front line staff, which ultimately leads to so many indirect costs that it's just better to make it a positive environment. That's one of the key challenges. I think that's in the industry is the staff turnover, because it can be difficult. Are there other challenges within senior living more broadly, but also like assisted living and memory care, that you think people or maybe you didn't expect when you got into it originally?

Speaker 2:

I think right now there is still a stigma specifically for memory care. It is a beautiful environment with having memory care facilities because it just it helps the residents so much having that routine and having a special environment when you're going through a cognitive decline like that. So part of it is helping with that stigma of families realizing this is a very safe and nurturing environment for my family member to be in and it's not the memory care community that I'm expecting in my head, where they're going to be locked in their room and they can't come out and there's behaviors and it's completely different. So for me, one of the challenges is helping families see the benefit that a memory care can provide. Challenges is helping families see the benefit that a memory care can provide and a lot of times after a tour they go oh, this isn't at all what I expected this to be. But I think that's one of the biggest challenges is knowing this is where your parent is going to have, or your loved one is going to have, the best care.

Speaker 1:

We had it's not released yet, but we had Teepa Snow on and it was really cool, almost role playing, because I was like, how do you handle and how do you make the best experience for people with cognitive decline? And she's like, well, let's do this. And she's just like, on it. And even you know, I'm not in cognitive decline. I guess you can argue that everybody sort of is on a long enough time horizon, but, um, how I felt really heard and like it went from something that was difficult or confused um into something that was an awesome interaction in that, that role play. Um, once you get a memory terror resident in their families on board, they did the tour there. They see that the facility can provide that support. How do you, on an ongoing basis, um kind of share like micro wins and happy things with the family, so that way they're constantly getting um, what's the word I'm thinking of?

Speaker 1:

they're getting validation of their decision yeah, this is the best thing for mom or dad.

Speaker 2:

It's all about communication. So even if it's just a picture saying, hey, your mom was in painting class today, Look at her smile, she made an amazing watercolor portrait. Or we went outside and had ice cream and enjoyed the sun, it's all about just communicating with that family and going. This is the benefit of what your mom is providing here. And they can also see the benefits from care too, because a lot of times the common things we do when we start going through the dementia process we no longer do, such as showering or brushing our teeth. So they start noticing oh, mom looks better and she smells better and she's getting the care that she needs. So they can see it too. But I think communication is the biggest key for that. Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Just showing this is an interesting. So I have a two and a half year old and we were had a really hard time. It's not the same, but it's kind of. As far as the communication aspect, there was a daycare. We were trying to find a place. Where are we going to? You know, it's the same where it's somebody that we care about so much.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's a stressful decision.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and the one that we ended up deciding on. We loved it because they sent those updates throughout the day of like hey, wes is doing so-and-so, or this or that, and pictures, and I think that that's something that gets overlooked, because you get so in the weeds, day-to-day that it's like just sending the family a quick text or like a picture or like an update, saying this is what we did today. Your mom loved it. It makes a huge difference. It really does. Mom loved it.

Speaker 2:

It makes a huge difference. It really does, and just to know that they remember, that you know and that you care enough to send them an update and go. I know that you're worried and I want to help ease any of those worries that you have, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And it's also a different guest that we had on is pretty affluent person. His mom is going through cognitive decline and he feeling that he mentioned is like guilt. He's like I know that she's doing good but like I can't give her that support and I feel really guilty. And um, where she's living at she gets updates and a lot of times he calls and she's like I can't talk right now. I'm I'm going to do xyz activity. That's going on and it just like helps alleviate that guilt.

Speaker 1:

Is that things are, things are happening yes, exactly um, how do you incorporate each resident's personal interest, whether it's music or, um, maybe a veteran who really enjoys hunting? How do you incorporate that into their care plans and into the, the daily life?

Speaker 2:

it's just getting to know the person. I mean, it's all about individualized care. So if we do the first initial interview before they move in and go, so what are your interests and what are your hobbies? But then it's also still continuing to get to know them as they reside in your community fortunate enough to have a little pond there with fishing poles and they can go fishing. So it's just knowing their interests. Or if they want to go to the theater, we can do an outing to the theater, or we can always incorporate those things and we're always updating our activity agenda for the people that we have in the community because their interests change as we get new people living there.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, have you found any success? Say that you have a prospective resident that's looking into it and you find interest as far as trying to help the family feel the most comfortable and and the resident. Any success maybe finding a different resident in the community and kind of matching them and saying, hey, this is sally, sally, this is susan. They you both really enjoy. You both went to eisenhower Junior High 50 years ago. I think it'd be really fun to talk or something like that, yes, we do have a.

Speaker 2:

it's called a resident ambassador group that we have and they will go to the apartment of new residents and do just that, just so they know. Hey, I was in your shoes. This can be overwhelming because you're now going from your home you've lived in for 60 years to a place with 100 new people. It can be extremely overwhelming. So they go. I've been in your shoes. This is what I did to help myself. This is how I can help you, being a resident here and knowing how the day to day routines go. So we have the resident ambassador group put together, but especially during meal times, that's one of the biggest times for people to socialize. So we had two gentlemen that had served a mission in Jerusalem, for instance, and so we had paired them for lunch and they had a great lunch together just discussing their items together. So again, just knowing your people and then kind of helping with those relationships while they're there, make the interactions happen.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

I love that. There's something that you've done before that, I'm curious, is like incorporating their interest into their world. I'd love if you could share more about the mini musicale programs that you put on and the impact that that had for the residents of the community.

Speaker 2:

So the last one we had. It was a mini musicale. Like you said, it was put on by a resident. He's actually been doing that for about 20, over 20 years.

Speaker 2:

He's had a group of just local talent come together and they just perform and he resides here. So he said you know, I would love to put this together. He did the whole thing, he planned it. We just said we will have the space, we will have the cookies and we will have the chairs, and he put everything else together and from the other residents, seeing that he was able to bring his passion into the community, they said it was one of the best events that we've held there because they could see how much it meant to this gentleman.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I love that, so back one step as far as finding the resident ambassador, how do you identify those within your community?

Speaker 1:

And as far as resident ambassadors, over the years, what have you found are some of the best or the key attributes of the ambassadors that make the best impact for residents moving in?

Speaker 2:

Someone who wants to do it, I mean that's a good start. Someone who is outgoing and can help with any type of personality Because, again, there's over a hundred people, you're going to have a lot of different personalities coming in. But if it's someone who is patient and understanding and willing to work with that person and their personality, those are kind of the best people that we try to look for. But again, a lot of times we just have people volunteer and go. I would love to help so and so when they move in, or I would love to be a part of this and just make sure they feel comfortable. So most of the time we just have volunteer residents be a part of that group.

Speaker 1:

And so, as far as an ambassadorship goes in the community, is it like you have one or two, or is it if they make a connection? They're like I want to be that person's ambassador specifically, or is it more general than?

Speaker 2:

that it's more general.

Speaker 1:

I think we have a group of six right now that are kind of our welcoming president, ambassador, committee go, get them and make everybody feel welcomed and, yes, that's a great group yeah, um the something else that I'd love to jump into is talking about your role on the UALA board as a PR and marketing chair. What does that look like and how is being on the UALA board impacted your day to day as an executive director? As you kind of, I think as an executive director you're working on a community, but as the board you kind of have to zoom out and look at assisted living more holistically maybe.

Speaker 2:

There's definitely. For me, there was a great benefit of seeing the backside of everything that's happening to help the assisted living communities. Uala is definitely trying to provide a lot more education for the communities. Consistent education is always something that is going to help with the care that we provide. So, with all of the education classes that we've been providing, that's a huge part of what we're doing, but also seeing how the UAL board is helping on the legislative side with.

Speaker 2:

Right now, our big focus is New Choice Waiver, which is going to affect everyone, especially now with this silver tsunami coming in. Coming in, there's going to be a lot of places that aren't accepting new choice waiver, but a lot of people that are not having the funds to live in an assisted living community but need to live there. So we're running into this big problem that's going to be happening where people are not going to have a place to live. So our big advocacy right now is trying to increase the reimbursement rate for new choice waiver. And just seeing the background and everyone on the board that is so dedicated to making sure this happens so that people have the best place to live at the end of their life, it's amazing. It really is just seeing the backside of all of that.

Speaker 1:

It is incredible to have associations like the Utah Assisted Living Association that goes and goes to fight for legislative rights for executive directors. There's a community that we work with, um, and they are a hundred percent new choice waiver, which is very like, not common at all right and it's the people there are.

Speaker 1:

You know, they've gone through really hard things, um, so they or they maybe don't have family support, so they aren't able to get, they aren't able to pay for these nicer communities and it's sad to see that this community that's trying to help so many New Choices waiver, like the I don't know how to say this in the best way possible. The caliber of staff sometimes because they don't have the budget, because the reimbursement rate is so much lower than what you get from private pay. That's like staff and then the staff to resident ratio, just so many things that make it difficult to building to keep it up. It's like as far as cleaning and just maintenance, it's it's hard to see. So it's cool that you all is going to bat for, for assisted livings across the state to try to improve that.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, yeah, there really is. I mean just with, like you mentioned, the payroll alone is one of your biggest expenses of running an assisted living. So the more resources you have, especially from private pay, the more you can pay your CNAs, the more that they're going to stay Again. It all ties into that bigger picture, so it's definitely going to be a concern moving forward.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, there's the upward and downward spiral of being able to charge. More is when you can charge more you can do. Get better staff who can provide better care to makes a better experience, and it keeps going up and it's kind of the same downward. So I think once that change happens it'll be awesome.

Speaker 2:

Yes, we'll be all of the positive, we're fighting for it. But again, just seeing the advocacy on the side of other board members that are going into legislation, they're going into the Capitol, they're doing all these things and pushing, it's very motivating to see the passion they have for helping the people that aren't even in our communities yet.

Speaker 1:

But preparing for those people, yeah, that aren't even in our communities yet, but preparing for those people, yeah, touching back on the education aspect of what you all is putting out for people, what kind of education is it like, caregiver?

Speaker 2:

trainings. Is it like what? Yeah, what education is broad, yes. So every year we do a big conference which has a bunch of different educational pieces to it. The last two years we did have Tipa Snow who was our guest speaker, and she came out and did a wonderful training for everyone. But throughout the year we also do have different roundtable groups as well. So, especially for executive directors, there's been a new inspection process in place. So for us to make sure that we're doing what we need to as a community, the regulations and that inspection process have changed a little bit. So for us to make sure the executive directors are performing the best that they, can we provide that education, saying, okay, these are the changes. What are you guys doing in your community? Who has the best practice in this? Who has the best practice in this? How can we combine minds and make sure that we're all providing the best care?

Speaker 2:

Because, especially in this industry, of course we're competitors sure that we're all providing the best care, because, especially in this industry, of course we're competitors, yeah but we're all on the same page of wanting to provide the best care for our seniors. So we have a great camaraderie with the people that are in the area as well and making sure that we are providing that care across the entire state.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I heard. I can't remember who I was talking to, but he said in the space, your competitors. But really your competition isn't the community across the street, it's trying to, it's the educating a senior that moving out of their home is a better option sometimes, yes, so it's a lot less about you know this resident. If it goes to that, if they move in there, we're losing somebody, it's like no we're, that was a win for both communities, even though they're competitors.

Speaker 2:

Yes, exactly, and we always want it to be the right fit. Like Creekside is different than a different building down the road, so it's up to what that resident thinks is going to be the best choice for them, because we want them to have that quality of life and enjoy the place that they live.

Speaker 1:

So it's a different fit for everyone. Yeah, and ultimately, as long as every senior living is providing the better care, it's a win long-term, five, 10 years from now as, like I said, the silver tsunami is coming in with their misguided, maybe tainted, understanding of what senior living looks like from the seventies.

Speaker 2:

Right.

Speaker 1:

That if somebody moves in somewhere and they have a good experience five years from now, that'll elevate what assisted living means as far as on the UALA board. As the PR and marketing director specifically, what does that kind of entail? Is that your job is to try to make sure that everybody's attending that awesome conference, or what does that look like?

Speaker 2:

Right now it's also just promoting the word of UALA, just making sure that buildings know who we are and how we can help support them. Sometimes, especially with smaller buildings, you may not have the resources that bigger buildings do, but we're here to help serve all of the buildings in Utah. So if you're trying to look for, like I mentioned, what is the new inspection process or how can I ask this question when I don't have someone directly above me, or how do I get the resource for this, we help provide a lot of those resources. One of the resources that you all have put out a few years ago was like a mock survey so you could go through your building and go am I in compliance with these things? And it was available to the communities. So it's us just making sure, and me as the PR and marketing who are we and what are we doing is pretty much my role.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome and it's the cool thing is that you, what you're teaching people and the brand that you're building for you all is like we're just here to help. That's about all there is. So it's a good brand to be able to build. That's about all there is. So it's a good brand to be able to build. Yeah, you have a lot going on in your world. Executive director, the UALA board. We've had other executive directors that I've talked to that they hadn't had a weekend vacation in the Christmas holiday for eight years. How are you balancing and for the professionals out there that are kind of feeling that it makes it difficult to stay in the industry, how do you balance personal demands with also the demanding roles of what?

Speaker 2:

you're doing on a day-to-day. It's different for everyone and I think I have the same answer a lot of people do, but for me and my role as executive director, it's trusting the people that are managing with me, so I make sure I have the right people in the right place. I know that my dining director is taking care of this. I know that my nurse is taking care of this, so if I need to have a day off or if I need to balance that work-life balance, my team has got it. I'm just there to support them. So they're the experts in their field too. So that is the biggest piece that you can have is knowing you have those competent people in place.

Speaker 1:

That's going to help people step into the role and that leadership in their area of expertise is because it's like I trust that you are the marketing director here, I trust that you're the activities director, I trust that you're the lead caregiver, the lead nurse, Um, and you know they might make a mistake and you have to reel it, not reel a trust back in, but reel in the communications. But it ultimately just makes a better work experience. And then also, like I said, that personal life just not taking every single issue onto your own shoulders is the way to make it just a good experience.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and it just makes a difference when you feel that trust too. Like I feel that as well in my role. So if they are able to feel that you just perform better. But I know a lot of buildings and even when I first started as an executive director, it's hard if you have to make some of those changes because you go well, now I'm going to have to take on that role, so we might as well just leave that person in. So it's sometimes hard, especially with turnover, but sometimes it's better to get through that hard time and then you find that person that's perfect for that role and you go this makes a world of difference. So it's it's just, yeah, finding your team.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I love that. Um, a lot of people in the world um have kind of a negative outlook on aging. Um, there's there's a lot of peeves that I have of like that's just what you do when you get old and it's like what are you talking about? How has your career in senior living impacted your perspective on aging and caregiving and just everything?

Speaker 2:

My biggest thing, I think, with seeing people in that generation is and this is the advice I get all the time is if you want to do something or you have the inkling of going somewhere or doing something or traveling, just do it, because pretty soon you're going to be 90 and you're not going to be able to do it. So, the biggest advice I've always gotten is just live your life the best you can, and I know it sounds cliche, but I really take that to heart from everyone I've talked to.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's a cool perspective because I imagine a lot of the residents that you talk to when maybe talking about their life, they probably talk about those experiences when they traveled or the experience when they did the scary thing that holds people back and that's like when they get into their 80s and 90s and that's what they care about and it's a lot less about.

Speaker 1:

It is things that people you know keeping up with the Joneses I you know I bought the better boat than I doubt. You hear that very often I have a nicer boat than my neighbor when I was 42.

Speaker 2:

But I'm seeing a lot more of that too, where people are they're very proud of the life they lived, which is really nice to see too. So it's just creating the life that you're proud of I.

Speaker 1:

One of my like personal life missions is, um, what I truly believe is that every, every person is leading an amazing life, and a lot of the times, um, when they get into their later years, they don't feel that way. Maybe they don't their kids aren't as around, or they they did the thing, like you said, they like they just lived life. Um, they had experiences, they did some cool stuff. They also worked for 40 years like everybody else. And then they get there and they feel like they're looking back on life and like, oh, I didn't, I wasn't famous or something, and so they don't feel valued. But it's cool to have seniors that are proud of their life, and then our job, I feel, as people that interact with seniors, is to try to highlight the life that they've lived. Every chance we can Like just bringing up the experiences they've had, asking about you know, what did you do in your what, what sport did you like in high school, and just like makes them remember oh, wow, I was a cool person.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and sometimes they get forgotten or like your life was valued and you made a difference in a lot of other people's lives.

Speaker 2:

That's the biggest thing people want to feel while they're going through that end of life is I created value in someone else's life. So the biggest thing, the only regret I've ever heard from someone like you said, isn't oh, I didn't buy that boat or I didn't do this. The only regret I've heard from someone would be I didn't spend enough time with my family. That would be the only one I've heard. Wow.

Speaker 1:

I think that's powerful, as people listening to this trying to chase whatever they might be chasing, to a financial end or just knowing that that's the regret. When people are looking back on 80 years lived, that's what they care most about.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's a good perspective to have.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's something that so many people miss out on because they think, oh, when you get old, old people are so like it's so annoying and you want to keep climbing the ladder which is good too, yeah.

Speaker 2:

But that that is the most important thing that they reflect back on.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, love that. As we're getting closer to the end of this episode, I'm curious what trends you see shaping the future of senior living, what things you're excited about, maybe in the technology sector or in the legislative sector. What trends do you see happening over the next handful of years, into maybe the next decade?

Speaker 2:

Right now, actually, on the technology side, we're going into the generation now where the residents all have iPhones, so this is a new trend that we're also getting used to, where we no longer have, like the landline phones and we're just adjusting to the needs that they're doing. We're moving from the generation that was scared of using QR codes and doing all of this stuff on the Internet because they're going to take your information to people that are like oh yeah, I have an iPhone, I can do that. Do you have an app for that?

Speaker 2:

So, it's just adjusting to more of the accessibility to what they are having. Yeah, I think that's going to be one of the biggest changes that we're going to see.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome. We have an app called Helperly Connect and that's just like fun, interest-based piano classes online for seniors and we have analytics on the back end. You can tell if they join from a tablet, a phone or a desktop and it's between tablet and phone. I think it's like 87%. So I think that's a really outdated. Like you said, we're getting not necessarily outdated. We're getting to the seniors that you know they've had technology and they've adopted it and it's like, oh yeah, I've got an iPad or I've got an iPhone or I've got whatever, and they're used to it. And I think that a lot of communities are still, when they're approached with technology, they think, oh, my residents don't use that, and it's like they probably would. Or yeah, so yeah, and even it was a different mindset for me.

Speaker 2:

I mean, we still print paper for it's still paper generation. But it's just knowing, as we're moving forward, that's going to be more of their main focus, of their main focus. One of the other things that we're noticing too, like you had mentioned, with having a good name building for assisted livings and independent livings.

Speaker 2:

it's starting to be a younger population, so tailoring some of the activities and the amenities that we have in our buildings to people that are still driving and still active and still working, that's one of the bigger things we're tailoring to as well.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome and I think that that's a really cool trend of younger people moving in, more technologically savvy people moving in. It just makes it where assisted living can be. It's not quite the same as like a college dorm, but it's kind of fun, like you went throughout your life and now you're back to just like hanging out with your buddies and just having a really social life.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it just having a really social life versus like a care building which we can, we provide the care. But yeah, it's more of that social aspect, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Which is really cool. I think that's what seniors well, that's what everybody needs is some sort of social engagement in their life, and it's cool that that's what senior living is becoming.

Speaker 2:

I agree.

Speaker 1:

What is your goal for Creekside Senior Living in the coming years? And then after that, what's your goal for UALA in the coming years, as you're obviously have new choices, waiver, but maybe beyond that.

Speaker 2:

It's continuing to so. For UALA side, I know just from my chair role with PR and marketing. Specifically it's getting more of the buildings involved and showing them the resources that we do have available so that we can all be on the same page together. I think we're still moving in the right direction. A lot more people have joined and know kind of what's going on but involving more of the buildings, more in the South too. Like we have a mini conference in St George coming up.

Speaker 2:

So some of those buildings to go. Hey, you know we are still here. We're an advocate for you as well. So making sure that we provide resources for the whole state is what we're moving toward for our goals with UALA and then for Creekside specifically. It's just enhancing the lives of the residents, families and staff that we have there every day.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome. I like on the education aspect of UALA, really fast, I went to the. I've gone to the U all the conference the last two years um, and it's cool to see that it's not just like executive directors, but you have like the whole array of staff that are there getting educated on high level. Like this is what the industry is. This is where we're going, this is what we're fighting about. Fighting for sorry um, and just aligns the entire staff of the community. That's supporting the senior rather than being just for executive directors or the management.

Speaker 2:

Um and moving forward to one thing we're trying to put together, um, as the wall aboard is more of that education, like you mentioned, for the frontline staff, because we have the train the trainer kind of program right now, but if we can directly train the staff that are helping with these cares, that's more of our focus moving forward as well.

Speaker 1:

That's awesome Wrapping up. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in senior living or any sort of kind of long-term care management? Do it, it's fun.

Speaker 2:

That's fun, I mean it's a crazy whirlwind of a career, but every day is fulfilling and there are hard times. But if this is something you're interested in, the first step is to just do it, just apply and have resources available. We have the UALA website. If you want more support on that too, you can join a committee. I mean, there's a lot of ways you can get involved. But I say, just do it.

Speaker 1:

Awesome. Could you share like a final thought or piece of advice for listeners? Maybe they're going through a hard day and they haven't had that golden nugget from a resident. When days like that happen, and maybe they're listening to this episode what would you say to them?

Speaker 2:

What I would say. One of the residents that I talked to and she gives me daily motivational advice. She says human connection is the greatest power we have. So, whatever we have going on throughout the day, if you make one connection, one human connection, and you make someone's day, that's the best thing that we can do. So make someone's day today.

Speaker 1:

Awesome, that's an awesome invitation Just go. If you're having a hard day, don't wait for somebody to make your day. Try to make theirs, and it'll, in turn, make your day.

Speaker 2:

Come back to you Exactly.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you mentioned youalacom. As far as people that want to join youala, is it just youalacom, and then who to join youala? And that's where we'll wrap up.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. If you just Google the Utah assisted living association, there is a committee form on the dropdown box that you can also kind of browse through and see if you're interested in joining a committee.

Speaker 1:

PR, marketing committee.

Speaker 2:

Sorry, but that's a good way to also get involved and see what we're working on, and then you can be involved in our calls and see what impact you can make as well.

Speaker 1:

Awesome. Yeah, you all is doing amazing things. You're doing amazing things. Career has been awesome, so I really appreciate you taking some time today and I think this will impact a lot of people in the space. Awesome, thank you so much. Thanks, cece.