Love ‘Em or Lose ’Em

<sub>L to R: Temesha Watkins, Talicia Thomas, Bob Speelman, Linda Reed and Regina Parrish

January 14, 2021</sub>
NOTE: This was taken from the blog of Foundations Health Solutions leader Bob Speelman. Bob works closely and frequently communicates with our Foundations Health facilities. It is so inspiring to see how each care team embodies the vision of our founder and nursing home developer, Brian Colleran, to be "A Culture of Care."

Ever have one of those days that you are just so thankful for the people you work with that you can hardly express it in words?

I had one of those days this week when I went to Maria Joseph Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, our 280-bed, all-private room facility in Dayton, Ohio. While I was there, I worked on Brunner 4 with Linda Reed (STNA with 33+ years experience), Regina Parrish (STNA with 28 years experience), Temesha Watkins (STNA with 20 years experience), and Talicia Thomas (STNA with 4 ½ years experience). These ladies laughed, joked and loved on each other and their residents the entire day. They are a family of caregivers. It was Talicia’s first day at Maria Jo and you would have thought she had been there 20 years. Linda, Temesha and Regina welcomed her right in and were incredibly motherly toward her to make sure she felt comfortable and part of the family.



These women represent everything that is good about caregivers, our industry and our company. They go above and beyond every day for our residents. They are the very essence of our Culture of Care. I loved every minute I had with them and want to do everything possible as a company to honor and respect these caregivers and others like them in our facilities because they have chosen to work for us and make a difference. I guess, to say it another way, I want them to know they are loved.

“non–love ’em leaders are more apt to ignore their employees, tell them what to do and when to do it, expect obedience, fail to respect them, thank them, challenge them, care about them. Ultimately, they believe the love ’em approach is not part of their job.”

- Beverly Kaye

Being a love ‘em leader is easy! Treat your employees fairly and respectfully. Listen to them. Help them get what they want and need. Thank them. Challenge and develop them. Care about them. Work alongside them. Laugh with them. Cry with them. If we would do this at every one of our facilities we would engage and retain these amazing team members and we will continue to be the Culture of Care we all desire to be.

Bob Speelman, STNA