Employee Highlight: Grace from Farmington Square in Beaverton, OR
In our monthly newsletter, we will be highlighting our inspiring employees who have dedicated years to working with our seniors. This month, we had the honor of interviewing Grace Gonzalez.
The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
— Steve Jobs
Grace exemplifies a strong work ethic, loves her job, and approaches work with contagious enthusiasm. In December, she celebrated her 15th work anniversary with Farmington Square Beaverton. She began her career in 2006 as a Med Aide, with no formal training in senior care or caregiving. She has since been a Caregiver, Activities Director, and is now the Wellness Coordinator at FSB, where she manages the schedules of the team members – ensuring the residents are well-cared-for.
From the beginning of her career with Farmington Square, Grace knew that senior living was the right fit for her. She loves how active the job is, and how it keeps her moving every moment of the day. The most rewarding part of her day, she says, is her interactions with the residents. Whether she’s engaging them in activities, like trivia using the IN2L, playing games, or just eating lunch together, Grace says the resident’s joy, and companionship make her day. She shared that each of her residents has so much to give and to learn from! It’s apparent to her that the residents have led full and beautiful lives, and she finds them inspiring.
Grace’s many years of work in senior living have given her a lot of wisdom to share, and she enjoys coaching new employees, especially regarding resident engagement and activities.
When asked what motivates her to work so hard every day, she shared some of her wisdom, "Work is work – you know you have to work. You have to find your cup of tea. You have to look for something you like, and this has been a really good fit for me. I can see myself being here another ten to fifteen years."
When asked how she would like to spend those ten to fifteen years, she shared that she hopes to be a Wellness Director one day.
Grace’s optimism regarding the future of Radiant Senior Living, and of her team was apparent. When asked about how the team at Beaverton keeps motivated during difficult times, like the pandemic, she explained how the connection between the employees helps. It’s a tight-knit group, and they all help each other stay optimistic. The resident’s optimism also helps. Grace says they’re all adjusting to the "new normal" – and that the residents have taught her that life goes on. She says, "We can learn a lot from the residents."
Work-life balance is important, and Grace shared that in her free time she enjoys gardening, staying active, and baking for her 5 grandchildren. Family is at the center of Grace’s life. She has one daughter and two sons who live at home with her. It’s a full house, and she loves it. She visits her family in the Bay Area as often as she can and hopes to visit her cousin in Arizona this autumn to see the Grand Canyon for the first time. She told us her goal for the future is to spend more time with her loved ones.
Before ending her interview, Grace wanted to share her work philosophy: "A person who loves their job really makes a difference. A job is a job. If you like what you do, it’s good for yourself, and it shows. A good employee makes a big difference with our residents."
We couldn’t have said it better. Thank you, Grace, for your amazing dedication to our residents! We look forward to seeing how you grow over the next 15 years.