SISTER


CONNECTIONS S


The rewards of caring for others are compounded when they’re shared, whether that be with a resident, a co-worker, or in some truly special cases, a sister.


isters Olivia and Bella work together for Landis at Home. Olivia, who is 23, is studying cardiac rehab in graduate school, and has been a team member with Landis at Home for two years. Bella, who is a 20-year-old pre-occupational therapy student at Messiah University, came on board at the beginning of the summer.


Teir employment wasn’t the sisters’ first experience with Landis at Home however – their grandmother, who had dementia for 10 years, utilized Landis at Home for companionship and then for help as the disease progressed. Olivia and Bella got to see firsthand how Landis at Home cared for her and also enabled their grandmother to continue living with their grandfather at Landis Homes until she passed away. Te sisters credit their choice of healthcare careers to their grandmother’s influence, since she was a nurse. Te entire family was very involved in her care, which inspired Bella and Olivia to see the value of connecting with others as home care aides.


Tat connection is a significant part of what makes working for Landis at Home so meaningful. “I love connecting and talking with the clients,” Olivia said. “Even though a person might have memory loss, they remember the feeling you gave them when you were there, so they do remember a sense of you. It’s so special to have that connection with clients.”


During the holidays, Olivia was able to meet one of her client’s family members who lives across the country which was very rewarding.


“It’s so helpful for family to know that their loved one isn’t alone,” she said.


Not only do Olivia and Bella find meaningful connections with their clients and their families, but they also find it with their team. “Landis at Home is a collaborative work environment,” Olivia said. “We spend a lot of one-on-one time with our clients. Tis could create isolation from our coworkers, but here it’s different because we’re constantly communicating with each other. We’re alone with our clients but we’re figuring things out as a team.”


Te sisters have also found a special connection with each other; their unique gifts and personalities aid them in different ways in their work.


“Olivia has such a strong presence,” Bella said. “When she’s around, I know that everything is good. She’s great in crisis situations and good with decision making. She has a really confident personality.”


“Bella is the most patient and kind-hearted person I’ve ever met,” Olivia said. “She really listens to people and their concerns, and she has the ability to take it in and think about how to make things better.”


Working together at Landis at Home has provided Olivia and Bella with a sweet opportunity to build meaningful connections with their team and clients, but especially with each other.


12 • Landis.org | FLOURISH | Fall 2023


CULTIVATING WELLNESS


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