Learning to Yearn

^{Left to Right: Shawnna Fairman, Bob Speelman, Kayla Chambers, Cassie Webster, and Heather Mathena.}

_{January 10, 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."

I worked with a fantastic team yesterday at Saybrook Landing up in Ashtabula. Shawnna Fairman is the administrator there and is doing an amazing job. From the minute you enter the doors, you can feel our Culture of Care is alive and well. You see it on the faces of the employees and residents alike. The smiles, the laughter, the joy - it was truly a wonderful day.  

I went to Saybrook Landing to spend the day with an outstanding STNA by the name of Cassie Webster. Cassie is 27, has three children, and has been an STNA for ten years. Nine of those years have been at Saybrook Landing. I hit the floor with Cassie and quickly learned that this wasn't about her. She truly is an amazing STNA but Cassie is quick to point out how special her team is. She introduced me to Kayla Chambers, her fellow STNA on the unit and Heather Mathena, the nurse and unit manager.

The four of us chatted for a little bit. We talked about the rehabilitation unit and how the team worked together to cover it. No room assignments, the whole unit was everyone's responsibility, nurse included. Heather said, "How we do on this unit with our residents is a reflection on me." She listens to, helps, values, and respects her team.  

Kayla said, "This is their home, we just happen to work in it, and we need to respectful of that." I smiled and told her that sounds like one of our Core Values:

Core Value #4 - Our Residents do not live in our workplace; we work in their home.

Listen to the team talk about teamwork and what Culture of Care means to them:

The team at Saybrook Landing has a passion for making a difference. They aren't just doing a job or performing tasks. That is our Culture of Care. There's an old saying:

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

I would say if you want to build an amazing Culture of Care, don't hire people to do tasks and give them orders and policies. Instead, inspire your people to care, to give their very best every day to our residents and each other. Learning to yearn for the impact we can have and the difference we can make in the lives of others.

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