advertisement

Lucky 13!

Thirteen is unlucky? Says who? Certainly not the staff members of Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire, who are celebrating their 13th anniversary working at the senior living community.

Ovidiu (Ovi) Manea, director of general services, remembers seeing the signs marking the groundbreaking for the construction of Sedgebrook. "I have a background in mechanical engineering, and I thought it would be interesting to be part of a community from the ground up. I'd know all of the secrets within its walls, right from the very start," he recalled. Ovi was hired as the senior facilities manager and wore just about every hat in the early years. "I've worked in all areas relating to maintenance, grounds, and project management, security, transportation, housekeeping and more."

Ovi said that one of the things he likes most about his work is its unpredictability. "I'm not ever bored. It doesn't matter how much I arrange my schedule or prioritize projects; everything is always subject to change. What the residents need or want, always comes first," he said.

Don Robertson came to Sedgebrook after having worked in the hotel industry for more than 20 years. He was the community's first housekeeping manager and moved through the ranks to his current position as director of environmental services.

Don said that his staff is truly unique in their consistent, face-to-face interaction with the residents. "We try to make sure that the residents get the same housekeepers consistently, and consequently, the staff builds relationships with them. It makes their work more enjoyable, and really importantly, puts them in the position of being our eyes and ears. If a resident isn't looking well or isn't getting out of bed, the housekeeper will make sure that they're checked in on," he said.

Dr. Elliot Kroger, the medical director at Sedgebrook, came on board six months after the community opened its doors. "I came from a five-person practice in Oak Park because I was intrigued by the model of care here. I've always really enjoyed working with seniors, and this allowed me to spend more time with them. It's a great opportunity to practice the type of geriatric medicine people want to practice, with a lot of support and great resources," he said. "I've known a lot of the residents for a long time, and the longer you know them, the easier it is to take care of them. I like that you get to know about their lives and families."

Ovi, Don and Dr. Kroger all value the longevity of the staff, which is equal parts luck and design. "A lot of people we hire at more entry-level positions stay with us. I'm so proud of that. People work hard and develop and are important to our team," said Ovi. "I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next lucky 13 years bring!"

Sedgebrook is a Life Plan Community offering a diverse lifestyle, maintenance-free living, and outstanding amenities. Five-star rated Radford Green Health Care and Rehabilitation is located on the 72-acre Sedgebrook campus in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Sedgebrook is a Senior Care Development, LLC affiliated community and managed by Life Care Services LLCĀ®. For additional information visit www.WelcomeToSedgebrook.com or call 847-901-3319.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.