Helping to make a difference, that is what keeps Tommie Westfield, resident services director at The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence in Collegedale, hard at work and why she is one of the 2014 Exceeding Expectations winners for the entire company.
Only three were chosen out of more than a 1,000 associates in 24 senior living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities across the Southeast. News of the accomplishment spread quickly at her community. “A lot of the families are just excited for me,” said Ms. Westfield. “They have been congratulating me and telling me I deserve it. I never expected to get something like this. I never saw myself as exceeding. I just try and do my job to the best of my ability every day for the residents.”
Ms. Westfield has worked in the senior healthcare field for four years and three of those at Morning Pointe. It was in her early 20’s, she said, when she figured out that she wanted to go into the field of nursing. Her two sisters are nurses as well. But it wasn’t until a job at an area nursing home when Ms. Westfield realized that she really wanted to care for seniors. And, after coming to The Lantern at Morning Pointe, she knew her calling was working with seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. “I love working with the residents,” said Ms. Westfield, “just helping them to do things they can no longer do. If I were in that position, I would hope someone would do the same for me.”
Ms. Westfield worked her way up at The Lantern, starting off as a licensed practical nurse and later becoming the resident services director in charge of all of the caregivers and the full care plan for each resident. “I love my job. I love the people,” says Ms. Westfield. “The staff is great, the residents are awesome and the families. I think I am where I’m supposed to be.”
Ms. Westfield said while she doesn’t come to work to get the extra recognition it’s always nice to hear a compliment. “It’s a great feeling to know that I am doing what I need to be doing in my job,” she said. “I am where I need to be and I am doing the right thing.”
“I come into work to try and help people,” said Ms. Westfield, “I enjoy it, the feeling you get when you have done something to help others.”