SPOTLIGHT: THE HEART OF SENIOR LIVING
Waltonwood Warms Hearts With Random Acts of Kindness
By Sara Wildberger
associates, and residents alike were invited to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, Feb. 17, throughout the month. In Rochester Hills, Mich., Waltonwood
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University executive director Jonathan Hills cleared snow from staff members’ cars before they left for home. At Walton- wood Cherry Hill, in Canton, Mich., team member Diana Woolum, 70, got a surprise birthday party, with cake and balloons, from her afternoon team colleagues. Residents babysat for friends’ pets, staff members made baked goods for essential service pro- viders, and hallways bloomed with sponta- neous decorations. The campaign exceeded the goal of 2,022 Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) for 2022, racking up 2,970 acts over the month of February. Waltonwood commu- nities, owned and operated by Singh, offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia. “Our communities really hit the ground
running with this initiative and met close to 500 acts of kindness documented by others in just the first week,” says Sara Bailey, senior regional director of sales for Waltonwood. Acts of kindness were docu- mented through a note sent to leadership at communities.
A healthy impact “The incredible results from this RAOK campaign are a testament to our family culture at Waltonwood. Our associates and residents have such generous and caring spirits. Residents, associates, and strangers alike had a little extra pep in their step and
n what was a chilly month for most communities, Waltonwood Senior Liv- ing set a goal to warm hearts: Leaders,
were even giddy when they were giving and receiving these heartfelt gestures,” says Lindsay Charlefour, director of life enrich- ment at Waltonwood. “Kindness comes in many forms, and
likewise can positively impact people in many measurable ways,” Charlefour adds. “Simple acts of random kindness can re- duce pain, anxiety, and stress, while increas- ing our energy, lifespan, and happiness.” Random acts of kindness can be as
simple as giving a sincere compliment or a validating note, according to the Ran- dom Acts of Kindness Foundation website (
randomactsofkindness.org), which has ideas, posters, and stories. An act of kind- ness can benefit the community, such as through a volunteer or fundraising cam- paign, or be an act kindness at work, such as answering calls or emails promptly. Kind- ness to the earth—using a re-usable water
MORE KIND IDEAS
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation offers more ideas and inspiration at
randomactsofkindness.org.
• Make an effort to learn something new about someone you see each day. • Try a “judgment-free day”—extend compassion instead, or let an irritation blow over.
• Compliment the driver or concierge for keeping the community safe. • Knit items or make blankets for those who need some extra warmth. • Reach out to a new resident. • Give “likes” to positive social media posts. • Send a good-morning or good-night text. • Praise a local business or service online. • Have a clothing or decoration exchange (instead of buying new). • Set a goal to write a thank-you note once a week. • Send someone a cute pet photo or video—or ask someone to share their pet photos with you.
• Thank the person who puts together the community calendar or newsletter. MAY/JUNE 2022
ARGENTUM.ORG 45
bottle or planting a tree—also counts, as does kindness to oneself—getting enough sleep or taking time for a stretch.
Wide participation “The best part about it was seeing involve- ment from everyone, including our resi- dents, staff, and senior leadership team,” says Bailey. “We’re really hoping that this month-long
recognition of kindness continues well into the future as another value of Waltonwood communities: Impactful habits of acting through kindness, and compassion around every corner that makes lives just that much better.”
In a message to the community teams,
leadership thanked them for their efforts to generate a colorful and creative environment filled with positivity: “Your leadership ef- forts, filled with kindness, are contagious.”
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