Ease residents’ transitions to make a lasting impact
SKLD Plymouth’s Tara Sanford lives by a quote commonly shared in leadership training: “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference.”
As transitional care liaison at the facility, Tara reminds herself of this every day as she strives to make a difference in the lives of her residents and their families.
Tara began at the facility in 2015 as admissions coordinator and recently became the transitional care liaison.
Transitioning care with love
Once a resident is ready to move from a hospital or home to SKLD, Tara works tirelessly to make that transition as smooth as possible. Her goal is to help patients and families make the most educated decision about post-hospital care and long-term transitions. “It’s not an easy time for everyone, but I help to smooth out the unknowns for them,” she says.
Because it’s SKLD Plymouth is a new location and situation for many of these families, building trust with patients and families is key. “It can definitely be scary for the families and residents to trust someone with this decision, so it’s my job to build and keep their trust.”
Tara has a tried and true method to building trust and making this connection with residents and their families.
Identify the needs of the patient and figure out the best way to fulfill that for them.
Take into account the “little things” an individual wants outside of the actual medical care to make them as comfortable as possible.
Needs can vary for every prospective resident, says Tara. “We really have people from all walks of life. Everyone is so different and has different needs. Recently, we’ve seen younger people with a wide-range of medical, emotional and physical needs.”
Skilled nursing facility goes above and beyond to accommodate resident needs
A top priority for Tara is comforting those in need. She says, “Life is about giving to others. In my job, I’m fortunate to see the positive impact I’m making, which makes it even more worthwhile. Not everyone is in a position to make positive transformations on a daily basis.”
One aspect Tara is especially proud of at SKLD is the fact that they go above and beyond to accommodate residents that other facilities cannot. For example:
“There was a resident who came to SKLD who had previously had challenges reported on their referral. Other facilities were unable to accommodate the patient due to previous challenges. I was able to go out, meet with the family and patient to ensure that SKLD could accommodate this patient’s needs.
This resident’s family was at a breaking point because no other skilled nursing facility was willing to admit the resident, and he wasn’t getting the care he needed. The family is so appreciative and still thanks us to this day for going above and beyond for them.
That family became part of our SKLD family. They ended up helping out with other patients, becoming the adopted family of residents who didn’t have family.”
Over this last year, Tara and her team have done everything possible to be there for the residents and families during this challenging time. Tara says, “The pandemic has been very challenging for everyone in and out of the healthcare industry. The guidelines constantly change, but we work together as a team tirelessly to adapt to these changes and do what’s best for those we care for.”
Tara makes a great effort to stay positive through it all, and encourage her team to be positive too. “I believe true humility is remaining teachable regardless of what you know. It’s important to be versatile and adapt to new changes and circumstances as a way to break down barriers to help others and do what we do best.”
To try and make the days a little brighter, Tara keeps a listening ear for something the residents may enjoy and does her best to make it happen. “Recently I overheard that one resident really wanted a Coke and one wanted a specific candy bar. I ran out to the store and got these items to give them. The smiles on their faces would brighten anyone’s day!”
Residents dance despite everything
Throughout her time working in skilled nursing, Tara has learned valuable life lessons. It’s often the little things that make a big difference. She says,
“I’ve learned that every conversation and interaction matters. Attitude is everything.”
With that in mind, Tara knows just when residents need her to infuse a bit of joy in their lives. “Sometimes I’ll put on old country music in my office and when the residents are around they’ll dance to it. My ‘best friend’ is a 103-year-old who loved sitting in my office painting pictures for other residents.”
Tara hopes that everyone will think back on their daily experiences with joy.
“The patients or families may not remember what was on the lunch menu or what exercise they performed, but they will remember how they felt that day. I hope to create happy memories with them every day.”
When Tara isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her eight-year-old son and watching him play hockey. She’s excited for things to start opening up to welcome visitors back into the facility. Tara says, “I’m excited for the future and to see the improvements we’ll have made from this time. We miss seeing our family members every day and are all eager to welcome visitors back into the building.”