Living Branches

"I lead the dining services front of house team at Dock Woods. Most of the time I go where I’m needed, whether that’s helping in the bistro as a cashier or planning and setting up for a special event. Seven years ago I started as a dietary aide in Health Care. You have the same set of residents in a dining room every day, so you really get to know their diets, their likes and dislikes, their allergies. You really get to be a part of their home. Our assistant director of dining services really took me under her wing and gave me an opportunity to be a team lead, and I’ve been in this role for a year and a half. In some ways Hearthside Bistro is the same as Health Care because you get to learn the likes and dislikes of the usual guests who come throughout the day, but there’s more variety. We have a deli, a grill, a pizza station, and sometimes we have special food events, too. And we don’t just serve residents: we also serve other team members and residents’ families. One thing I’ve learned is that leaders aren’t always perfect, and sometimes it’s better to fail with grace than pay attention only to the good things. It’s about being able to understand where we missed the mark and how we’re going to improve for the future. You learn a lot more from your missteps than you do by saying you’re always right. I try to pass that on to the front of house staff, especially the younger ones. Being told you did something wrong doesn’t mean you’re in trouble, it means you’re learning something. I also like to remind them that if we treat this place like a job, that’s all it will ever be. But if we treat it like a community — if we ask residents their names, how their day was — then it becomes more than just a workplace. It becomes a community. That’s how I think of Dock Woods: it’s a place where you find a lot of happiness and fulfillment. I never really knew my grandparents, so I didn’t spend a lot of time around older people until I started here. And now it’s like I have a couple hundred grandmoms and grandpas!" James, Dining Services Dock Woods

The ribbon is cut! Last Thursday we welcomed hundreds of residents, team members, and community guests to the open house for our Serenata Memory Care neighborhoods for Health Care and Personal Care residents at Souderton Mennonite Homes. We were joined by state Senator Maria Collett and Rep. Steve Malagari, who were instrumental in securing $2 million in state funding for these new neighborhoods. Over the next few weeks we'll put the finishing touches on the neighborhoods and plan to welcome current Health Care and Personal Care residents with dementia to their new neighborhoods in December.

Come see the future of Memory Care at Living Branches! On Thursday, November 7, you're invited to an open house and dedication for Living Branches’ newest Memory Care spaces: a Personal Care and a Health Care neighborhood for residents living with dementia. The ribbon cutting and dedication will begin at 2:00 p.m. Let us know you're coming! Please RSVP at https://lnkd.in/ei_KU6vM

“I’ve been in housekeeping at Dock Woods from day one. I clean the bathrooms and sweep and dust in Residential Living. It makes me feel good to do this job that needs to be done, and I like to make sure I can be there for everybody who needs help. We’re always here for residents, and they’re here for us, too. There have been times I came to work and just didn’t feel like myself. But residents' smiles helped me feel good. It reminds me of why I’m here. You really get to know people over time. I see the caregivers rally around residents and help them come back to full power and be the life of the community again. I have a friend over in Country Cottage, and I was going to go visit her one day. But she wasn’t around because she was in an activity! Whether it’s bingo or Tai Chi or whatever, they’re keeping active – they’re up and out and doing stuff. And it’s beautiful in Country Cottage because they just rebuilt it. It’s bright and cheery, and the residents are together because they have these big, beautiful rooms to be together in. I’ve been fortunate to also end up living here in Dock Manor [HUD community for seniors]. I don’t have my mom and dad anymore, so this is the next best thing. Souderton Mennonite Homes was a help to me when my dad needed care. They were excellent – I just can’t say enough. I had good bosses who worked with me and stood behind me during everything I went through with my dad. They were flexible and understanding. When my mom and dad passed, everybody rallied around me because they care. The name of the game is caring.” Brian Housekeeping, Dock Woods

Our Country Fair was a great Country Fair! Living Branches team members and residents alike had a ball at our all-campus Country Fair day, featuring line dancing, a petting zoo, cornhole, old-fashioned tractors, food trucks, and more.

“I love helping people, and I get to do that a lot through solving problems and finding the best solutions when it comes to buying. I’m kind of like an air traffic controller – I’m doing purchasing as well as helping figure out what products to buy at the right price and from where. We put a lot of thought into what we purchase to make sure we’re not just getting a good value but considering the effectiveness and long-term impact as well. I also have another role at Living Branches that’s entirely different from purchasing. I help with the Living Branches Experience training for new team members. We are intentional about making sure we get the message across on the organization’s culture and how we do things here. New team members are in a fragile place of transition, and I get the honor of welcoming them and making sure they know what we are all about, and what we stand for. During the training we refer to John 15:5A: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” When you tap into the source of life, you produce good for the benefit of others. You don’t know what it means to someone when you smile, remember their name, and address them in a kind way. Taking time and being present with people can make a lasting impact beyond what we realize. I’ve heard it said that you can’t fill a glass from an empty pitcher. When our teams are poured into and they feel valued and appreciated, it’s easier for them to give that to the residents and to their coworkers as well. For me, I came from a place of emptiness to being transformed by God’s love being poured into me, and as a result, He empowered me to love others. I feel I owe it to people to reflect this in how I treat them, so they know they’re valued and loved. Bringing energy and passion in my encouragement during the Living Branches Experience, and purposing to live it out each day, is one way of doing that.” Robert Purchasing Clerk

Now that construction is complete at Dock Woods, we're seeing residents, families, and team members getting the most out of the refreshed Health Care spaces! In this video, join Living Branches President/CEO Ed Brubaker for a tour of the renovated Health Care Center.

“I lived with my grandparents in Trinidad while my parents got settled up here, and I used to cook with my grandmother. Every time she would make bread or roti, I was learning right there next to her. My parents also cook a lot. My father’s one of 12 children, so he had to learn to cook to survive. I graduated from culinary school and worked as a corporate chef for 18 years, and now I’m one of the chefs here at the Apple Orchard Café. Souderton Mennonite Homes was a little different for me because I did a lot of catering, so now I’m trying to put that knowledge into this job. I learned to get used to all the residents and the regulars. You get to know everybody’s order. Some people order the same thing every time, and you try to offer them something new. Sometimes I get them, and sometimes not, but I try to make everything as appealing as possible, especially if it's something new. I did a cold curry chicken salad with carrots and raisins and gave some customers a little taste. I try to bring my culture into everything I do. Taking residents to the islands without having to go there! I try to make every day as fun as I can because we’re here all day. We’re here for eight-plus hours. This is a great place to work – it’s kind of cool, calm, and collected. We work hard to give everybody what they need, and we love when everyone trusts the process. And I learn something every day. Recently we made a roux – that’s what you use to thicken things – and one of my colleagues puts it on a sheet pan and bakes it so that when you use it, it kind of crumbles and has a longer shelf life. I took some of that crumble and used it to make my Alfredo sauce, and it was great! I’m going to do that from now on. Every day when you come to work, you should learn something new.” Serron Chef at Souderton Mennonite Homes

“I started at Dock Woods before Dock Woods and Souderton Mennonite Homes affiliated and became Living Branches. In 2007, I was the office manager and ran the whole front desk for about 14 years. I used to go in early to eat breakfast and chat with a group of residents. I would get the pulse and see their perceptions of things. Sometimes residents call me to assist them even when it’s not a billing issue because of my reputation. They just got to know that I would get the solution for them. Now I oversee the billing department for Living Branches to make sure it's all moving and that nothing looks unusual. One person on my team does the private pay billing and the other does the medical billing for therapy and some residents in Health Care. I always say there are two styles of leadership: managers and leaders. You could be a great manager, but maybe you are micromanaging or thumbing everybody. If you're a leader, you teach them how to do it and let them own it. I might get from A to B this way, and you might get from A to B in a unique way – so be it. You as a leader need to know your team’s strengths. If you are just trying to get to the finished product, you’re not looking at the whole picture. The personalities that thrive at Living Branches are trainable, willing to learn, and good at relating to people. You don’t have to be an extrovert, but you will still need have good critical thinking skills and you can't be afraid to say, ‘I don’t know the answer, but let me find out for you.’ The people who come here want to be here. They’re here to help the residents because that's what it comes down to in the end. You have certain tasks that you do all the time, but all those tasks trickle down and impact residents. At the end of the day, we work in someone’s home.” Cyrena Billing Supervisor for Living Branches

Move-in day! A HUGE thank-you to all the team members who coordinated move-ins and helped residents settle into their new rooms in Dock Terrace, the newly renovated skilled nursing community at Dock Woods. Residents, families, and team members are already enjoying the bright and colorful common spaces, from lounges to kitchens to courtyards. We're also excited to offer a choice between private rooms or companion suites.