The feeling of excitement and the thrill of starting a new journey can be hard to describe to others — unless you’re right there along with them. A place to start fresh and have your input valued is wonderful, and Marty Sawyer, Resident Care Director at The Ivy at Ellington is feeling just that. She’s excited to be a part of a new assisted living and memory care community from the very start.
Being There from the Start
Working in the senior living industry for more than 30 years, Marty has worked in a variety of roles and communities.
“In most of my previous roles, I worked with companies that were corporate-driven. The Arbors is family-driven. Having the chance to work at a community like this has been rewarding. It’s not an opportunity many people get,” says Marty.
And it’s not just the newness of the community that makes Marty excited to come into work every day. It’s the leadership team’s inspiration and vision.
“The leadership team takes everyone’s ideas and inputs and listens to what we have to say. They also do their research first and act on what they say they’re going to do. While still being a family owned company that sticks to their grass roots, we’re growing and keeping the theme of family,” says Marty.
It’s a part of who they are as a family-owned company. They welcome everyone into the family. It’s right in The Arbors company values: We are a locally family-owned business that takes pride in welcoming residents into our family.
Marty notes, “Whether you’re an associate, family member of a resident, or a resident — we’re one big family here. The atmosphere here just has a family feel to it.”
As They Ivy at Ellington continues to move in new residents, meet new family members, and train associates, one thing will always remain the same: enhancing the quality of life for the residents in a home-like environment. And it’s just getting started. Marty looks forward to not only providing the medical care to residents but also learning something new from them.
“Everyone here has something they can teach me. One resident in our Reflections Memory Care program shared a story of how her husband used to be in politics, but she stayed at home because during this time women didn’t get involved with their husband’s career. I never would’ve known that had I not had a conversation with her,” Marty says.