There is a community in our neck of the woods which is very much like us. It is about the same size, has almost the same amenities, even has the same food service as we do and is a non-profit. One difference is that it is a “Life Care” Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) which means it has more wealth because it costs more to live there, but I do not think that is a factor. From what I can tell, there is very little difference at all, except for one. The residents and staff of the other community rave and rave about how they have the best community compared to anywhere else. They believe they have the best food, the best people and the best quality of life. Honestly, it gets a bit obnoxious and irritating.
When I accepted the position I have today at Beatitudes Campus, I was aware of a phenomenon that never made sense to me because I kept hearing differently from just about all of the residents. I heard over and over about how wonderful life is at Beatitudes Campus. I’d hear, “I should have moved here five years ago” and, “everyone is so happy” etc. But then a Satisfaction Survey would come along and statistically our residents would rank us below the average norm across the nation. I was missing something; it did not add up.
My entire adult life and ministry has been dedicated to creating a community that will work to assure that all others have the greatest quality of life possible – with individuals (no exceptions) always capable of reaching their fullest potential for happiness and wholeness and making a difference for the better in this world. It still is my calling in life as I am determined now, as much as ever before, to do all that I can to see that this community strives for that same goal, not only for us, but for those around us as well. My belief is that, when this occurs, the quality of life we experience today will be nothing less than extraordinary.
In order to go forward, though, we need to know where we are. A large percentage of you have already completed the Holleran Resident Engagement Survey which benchmarks us against other communities and shows our progress toward the goal to see that you are “engaged and satisfied” with your community. Your satisfaction is not my goal, though, nor the Campus’ and never has been. Simple satisfaction is too low a bar for a community like ours which strives to help all realize purpose, happiness and the opportunity for extraordinary new possibilities in this chapter of your life. So, though the survey includes a level of satisfaction, we are looking for “engagement, fulfillment, empowerment, delight and an acknowledgement that you are aware, more than ever before, that you made a wonderful choice to live here and are a beautiful addition to our community. Because you are just that!
Last Friday was the deadline for returning your surveys. However, we still need your voice, as it is the only way we can become all that you want us to be. If you still have not completed your survey, would you do so in the next few days? It does make a difference. Please, help get the word out to your neighbors as well: Fill out your survey! The more participation the more we can all work together to create the community we want.
I know this is one of the greatest places for anyone to work and serve, and we all want our residents to one day believe it is one of the greatest places to live. When we get there, we will not need to boast, we will be too busy making a difference in other’s lives to have time for that. *
