Love Surrounds and Sustains Us at Catholic Eldercare

When you talk to people at Catholic Eldercare (CEC), you’ll discover a common thread — love. Although unsolicited, it is freely given among staff, tenants, residents, and families, with nothing expected in return. 

Love is shown through music at RiverVillage East, as Activities Director Steve Johnson begins his shift with a song. “Every day before I leave my house, I pray that I’m divinely guided, and will bring joy into people’s live,” he says. “Sometimes I’m the last bit of love and joy that people experience prior to passing away. I didn’t realize this would be such a meaningful job.” 

Love is expressed to memory care residents in the form of drawings and paintings that spark loving memories and fill their days with beauty and peace. “Artwork can change your whole experience,” says Marie Barta, director of operations for skilled care services. “We didn’t realize how powerful the art would be.” 

Tenants of Wyndris are establishing loving friendships through daily activities and social gatherings. These friendships have carried people through hospital visits and times of grief and loss. “It’s so genuine,” says Jenny Downy, a Wyndris resident. “There’s nothing artificial here.” 

Gwen Anderson shares and receives love every day in her role as therapeutic recreation coordinator. “People here have a lot of love to give,” she says. “The reason I’ve stayed so long is I get back even more than I give.” 

Kola Adetola is the Director of Nursing for the Albert J. Hofstede Care Center. He says, “I have a loving family here at a CEC, and giving love and joy to our residents gives me joy.”

Director of Health Services Tecla Welch, RN, BSN agrees. She says, “We’re a family, from the CEO on down, and I can feel it when I walk in the door. We love the people in our care, and we treat them with love, respect and dignity.” 

Tracey Franklin, RN-BSN-PHN is the nursing manager in the memory care unit where she witnesses what she describes as, “a whole mish mash of love.”  She says, “We lovingly assure families they’ve come to the right place, and the bottom line is you can’t fake love. It just naturally happens here.” 

As we celebrate love in the month that is dedicated to it, we hope you feel loved, spend time loving yourself, and nurturing the love you find in family and friends.