Recently I was visiting with a resident who wasn’t feeling very well. He lamented to me that he felt his time on this earth was soon coming to an end. He was 92. He said he was ready as he no longer had a purpose to be here. As we continued to talk, I said to him, “What do you mean you have no purpose? Do you realize how many people depend on you each day?” He paused for a moment and said, “What do you mean?” I told him he had 3 other table mates alone who depended on him to be at each meal and looked forward to his presence. He said, “Well, I guess I never thought of it that way.”
This chance encounter got me to thinking about how important it is for each of us to think about our purpose on this earth and what an impact we all have on each other. As I related to my resident, he also has an impact on each of our staff because he is so welcoming and loving and makes a point of saying nice things. The staff look forward to being around him because he has great words of wisdom and experience to offer.
When we look at hiring at Argent Court, we don’t look for people with the most experience; we look at their heart and willingness to serve. We look for people who feel they have a purpose for doing this job as we understand first hand our own purpose for creating a loving/caring environment which honors the people we serve. Argent Court has the following mission statement:
Argent Court is committed to providing exceptional assisted living that demonstrates our dedication to improving quality of lifestyle choices for seniors, and at the same time provides reassurance to those who love them.
Central to our commitment is the key element of personalized, responsive care for residents, extended in the spirit of service and an atmosphere of appreciation for those we serve and with whom we work. We strive to assist and accommodate our residents in a manner that fosters their independence, preserves their dignity, protects their rights, respects their privacy and honors their contributions in life.
The staff is edified by the fulfillment of their “need to serve” others in our work together. We adhere to the principles of professionalism, integrity, and team work. We also believe it benefits both residents and staff alike to celebrate and enjoy good fellowship as often as possible.
As I tell all the staff, this is more than a job, this is a calling. This is a calling of the highest order as we have the opportunity to touch lives and to make a difference each day. None of us realize how important we are to those around us. We all have a purpose.