Today we had the opportunity to hear from Pamela McGrew who worked in long-term care facilities for over 20 years.
Mrs. McGrew is an ACU alumni who realized early on in her career that she had a passion for working with older adults especially those dealing with dementia. She spoke to us about her journey to becoming an administrator in a long-term nursing facility which began with a degree in social work.
When asked what she most appreciated about her job, she said that her favorite part was the relationships she built with the families she worked with.
Another student asked Mrs. McGrew what characteristics she looked for when hiring people to work at her facility. She responded that she looked for individuals who were following a true calling to work with adults at this stage in their lives. She knew that people who had the ability to compartmentalize their own circumstances and leave them at the door when they came into work would be more successful in this field as well.
Today, Mrs. McGrew is an Office Administrator at Hillcrest Church of Christ. She frequently calls upon her years of experience working in long-term care facilities to help answer questions and encourage church members. She explained that while the work could be hard at times – especially having to be on call 24/7 for a majority of her career – she was strengthened and encouraged knowing that this was important work and that God was equipping her to handle what needed to be done.
Thank you Mrs. McGrew for sharing your experience with our students!