Family setting, relationships kindle employee's 20-year career at Village Green
Friday April 25, 2008 -- Natalie Miller
Jackie Maxwell says she could write a book about her “special moments” as an employee of Village Green for two decades.

One entry might include the following story. A few years ago, a resident of the Selby long-term care home, who was 101, announced she was going to die. While there were no underlying physical reasons, Maxwell told the family, “We have to take her seriously. At 101, she knows,” Maxwell said.

When the resident's daughter was visiting from out of town, Maxwell poked her head in the resident's room to check in on them. The elderly woman announced she wanted to sit at the side of her bed. Maxwell helped the woman into position and put her arm around the senior.

“She started sharing stories her daughter never knew,” Maxwell recalls. The woman talked about her first ride in an automobile to illnesses she had over the years. “I kept asking questions to keep the conversation going.”

As the woman continued, she said Maxwell probably had better things to do than listen “to the ramblings of an old lady. I told her there was nothing I would rather do.”

The residents and the people she works with keep Maxwell at Village Green. The director of care (DOC) celebrated her 20th anniversary at the home on April 18.

“They're really good people and they're really heartfelt people,” she says. “There's more of a family atmosphere here.” She likes the small size of the home because of the ability to get to know staff, residents and family members well. Maxwell joined Village Green initially as a nurse's aide, completed her registered nurse training, became the charge nurse and then was promoted to DOC.

“Florence Nightingale would be in awe of (Maxwell),” says Linda Pierce, administrator of Village Green.

“Jackie represents all that is true in being a great nurse. We are proud of her and wish her the very best as she celebrates 20 years with Village Green/OMNI.”

Pierce, who presented Maxwell with flowers and a 20-year-pin, says Maxwell is a reliable, devoted employee. While Maxwell's DOC role involves office time and paperwork, she spends a lot of time working on the floor. “She's always focused on the residents,” says Pierce.

Maxwell says she enjoys the people-part of her job more than the paperwork. And these are the rewarding moments, like the conversation she had with the 101-year-old woman. “If they feel comfortable enough sharing (their stories) with us, we've done our job properly.”

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