Making a Difference Every Day

^{Left to Right: Nina Colvin, Jeannie Everett, Bob Speelman}

_{January 22, 2020}

NOTE: This was taken from the blog of Foundations Health Solutions leader Bob Speelman. Each week Bob works at one of our Foundations Health facilities in different roles. Whether working in housekeeping or as a nursing assistant, he sees firsthand how we embody the vision of our founder and nursing home developer, Brian Colleran, to be "A Culture of Care."

Is there such a thing as a perfect caregiver? I'm not sure, we have A LOT that would rank up there as perfect. This isn't just a job for them. They love taking care of people. They are following their calling. Jeannie Everett is one of those caregivers.  

Jeannie works at Lafayette Pointe Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Lafayette, where Nina Colvin is the administrator. Jeannie is 68, has been an STNA for 20 years, and 12 of those years have been at Lafayette Pointe. Before becoming an STNA, Jeannie ran the office for her father's excavating company. Jeannie is the oldest of nine children.

When Jeannie's mother became ill years ago, Jeannie helped take care of her until she passed at age 65. Jeannie found through this experience that she wanted to dedicate her life to care for others and began doing home care for children with MR. After doing that for a while, she became an STNA and began caring for the elderly.

To see Jeannie in action is truly heart-warming. She has a motherly love and compassion for her residents. She has a bond with them that is so evident. She told me, "I can't tell you how many funerals I've attended over the years." Her residents become part of her family. 

I had the privilege of meeting Jeannie's baby sister Lauren, "Squeak," who's an RN at Lafayette Pointe. I had to ask how Lauren got the nickname "Squeak" and Jeannie smiled and said, "My dad had nicknames for all of us. When Lauren was born, she didn't really cry, she made more of a squeak, and my dad gave her the name." We had a good laugh.

I absolutely loved every minute with Jeannie and her residents. I left Lafayette Pointe with a feeling of pride from the fact that Jeannie has chosen to be a part of our care team. She is an amazingly perfect caregiver. She is doing what she loves and is making a difference every day.

"Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light.

You'll never know how much your caring matters.

Make a difference for another today."

Amy Leigh Mercree

Bob Speelman, STNA

Each week, Bob Speelman visits a Foundations Health Solutions nursing home. He works alongside a variety of departments to ensure Foundations Health is excelling in the vision of founder Brian Colleran's "Culture of Care." Foundations Health continues to practice the principles nursing home developer Brian Colleran instilled, such as resident and family satisfaction, positive employee culture, and investment in the community.

Bob's Blog