Defining Moments

When raising children I often reminisce on core moments and wonder what definitive time, event, or activity makes lasting imprints, shapes the way of thinking, and how do those develop into life purpose.

When I was in 4th Grade, my grandparents had a rental house next door to us. I came along later in life, so I felt like an only child with two sets of parents; my parents and my almost grown siblings. We lived out in the country with very few neighbors so when the moving truck pulled up, I ran next door to meet my new best friend, only to find an elderly woman in her 80’s who was frail and lonely. My mom is quite the southern chef. There is always room at her table and for those unable to join, there is tinfoil and a covered plate with myself or my dad as her personal delivery service. Somewhere between the back and forth covered plate runs to Ms. Alma’s, a bond formed that led to afternoon snacks, specifically Funyuns and Diet Coke and eventually into a deep and unlikely friendship.

Ms. Alma came to all of my events, birthday and tea parties included. Having 11 year old friends and your 80 year old friend all together at one event was a funny dynamic but she fit right in.

During elementary school, we had to write Tropicana speeches and that year I wrote about our unlikely friendship which took me to state and I won.

Looking back, I wonder did that friendship leave an imprint on my heart that led to such passion for senior living?

In many ways I feel we owe it to the generation that shaped our future, to build a senior living experience that honors their past, values their present, and makes their tomorrows better.

What moments defined your passions? What memories left an imprint on your heart big enough to create a movement?

My Story

Grab a glass of sweet tea and join me at the front door of where this story begins..

I love photography so much. It sets the scene, captures the colors and somehow freezes time to a moment I can take you to without words but in retrospect only gives me the image of a moment I wish I could go back to… So here they are - my grandparents who were married over 60 years. This is the house, the front door, and if I put the gallery of photos up- you would even see the glass of sweet tea on their kitchen table. This is the front yard to where my roots were planted so deep. Out of the scene, only yards away is my parents house. We kids put some miles between those two houses.

My grandfather was a worker. He finally retired at 87 and when he turned 90 his company asked if he would come back- they just couldn’t find men like him and we were shocked he actually considered.

Then my grandmother- she was my built in best friend. She was the closest thing God ever made in his image. She struggled with mental illness but that was something I never knew until I was much older and yet she was the sweetest kindest soul. Her innocence in some way met me in childhood and I valued her friendship. She had real conversations with me, encouraged me, and loved me so hard. I spent so much time with her because I knew I was enriching her life but the memories actually meant the most to me.

My grandparents both lived a lot of life, my grandmother was a social bug who stayed on the go. She would call all of the children and grandchildren and see what they were up to and then she would decide who needed to come pick her up so she could go with them. She always had an assorted calendar of plans to choose from. Then my grandpa— he is a natural homebody. If it isn’t found at home, he isn’t looking for it unless of course it is a family engagement then he is always present. It wasn’t until recently we have found him very intrigued with small things like carving pumpkins—it only took him 80 something years to carve his first pumpkin. He was a strong man, a provider and I don’t think life gave him the opportunity to enjoy all the small things. It’s been fun watching him experience some first times at 90 years old. So fast forward to me- and senior living. I have always had a heart for elderly. My mom instilled that in me at a young age and after we lost my grandmother I was seeking to fill a weeping void and I found happiness by bringing fun, engaging activities, and first time experiences to residents in assisted living. I started from scraps- the office I walked into was an utter mess but yet without resources. I started from the ground up building a program and though it wasn’t easy. I literally watch it bloom into something beautiful. So how do you create a program that keeps grandma who was a busy body occupied at all times-always waiting for the next big thing entertained? How do you get grandpa who by trait was a worker not entertained by much now out of his element in a community style of living—how do you engage and recreate purpose? How do you encourage and advocate? Knowing what it takes to build a program that reaches each and every resident where they are means wearing a lot of hats, working relentless hours and pouring out everything you have in you to create, build, and inspire. This is where my company is here to change senior living from the inside out- to help you build a program and resources that is sustainable to implement a movement of seniors who are active and happy and who are engaged with a purpose. My consulting team will bring support to your program with behind the scene help to redefine the senior living experience.

-Katie