Ebenezer Senior Living, Orchards of Minnetonka’s management company, considers their committed, caring staff to be their most important asset. The Caregiver Spotlight recognizes one individual who is doing exceptional work at an Ebenezer community and who embodies the high level of care and teamwork we value. This month, we are celebrating Tammy Swee. We hope the interview with Tammy below will provide a helpful snapshot of life here for our residents and our caregivers.
q: Which Ebenezer community do you serve, and how long have you worked there?
A: I work at the Lake City care center in Lake City, Minnesota. I have worked here currently for eight years, although I have worked with Ebenezer for a total of 22 years through various transfers to other communities and a return to this one.
q: What is your position/role/title?
A: I am the RN Manager on the day shift. My role is to manage approximately 50 beds of the building with mainly long-term care residents. I also supervise nurses on the unit and work directly with providers to ensure quality of care for the residents. I assess residents and get to know them well in an attempt to reduce hospitalizations proactively, which is a crucial indicator of our success. I also work closely with various hospice programs to ensure comfort for the terminally ill and assist with support for the families.
q: What is the most meaningful part of your work?
A: The relationships I have with the residents, families, and staff. It is especially meaningful to me when I feel like my teaching has helped someone become more knowledgeable. I love watching others grow.
q: Can you tell us about your best day at your Ebenezer community?
A: My best day would be a day that I got a lot accomplished and resolved problems in a way that helped others. I might have made some people smile and laugh, or it might even be a day that has made me feel deeply compassionate toward others and cry a little.
q: How do you and your coworkers support each other in the work you do?
A: I always make a point of asking my coworkers how they are doing, pitching in, and helping whenever and wherever I can. I let them know we are all working together as a team, and each individual staff member is an important part of the team. Communicating well and listening to coworkers’ ideas and the thoughts they share is important. We laugh together and show we care about each other’s personal and professional lives through daily interactions where we are always kind, positive, and respectful.
q: How is Ebenezer different from other employers or senior living communities where you’ve worked in the past?
A: Ebenezer cares about the quality of the lives of their residents, and they also care about the well-being of their employees. They provide great health care benefits and fair wages. They also provide excellent educational opportunities, including educational benefits and various trainings with hotel and travel expenses, if needed. They accept people for who they are and do whatever they can to help you succeed.
Thank you, Tammy!
If you are looking for caregiver jobs, please visit our Careers page. For more information about life at our Ebenezer communities, plus articles on health, finances, technology, and intergenerational learning, visit our Ebenezer blog.
