How a Good Reputation is Earned
Rita Askay pictured at Wesley Homes Health Center in Des Moines, WA
When I met Rita Askay, the Housekeeping Supervisor at Des Moines, she shared how good it makes her feel when a resident or their family members talk enthusiastically about how well they’re being treated by employees of Wesley Homes.
“I guess it was the last week in March I happened to walk into Little Pat’s Place, a restaurant in Burien when I heard my name called out,” said Askay. “Rita”, called out the widow of a former resident, “It’s so good to see you,” she said, “And then she turned to the other folks at the senior citizen luncheon and announced ‘this is Rita, she works at Wesley Homes in Des Moines, and that’s where Joe was (her husband). “I’ve got to tell you what Rita did.”
“She told them the whole story, said Askay” about how I had helped her out several times when her husband Joe was rushed to the hospital.”
“Her husband was a resident from the Des Moines community – not a Wesley Homes resident,” explained Rita. “Anytime someone checks out of Wesley Homes you have to take all your personal possessions with you. I knew he’d be back, but in the meantime it required a check out.”
“Well, I knew the resident’s wife wanted to meet the ambulance at the hospital, and that to do so meant she’d have to make a special trip back to pick up his belongings, so I told her that I would lock up his possessions myself and put them in a locked closet. I did this three or four times for her until the good Lord called him home,” said Askay.
The Widow told everyone, “I didn’t even have to worry about the possessions. His wallet was there and Rita made sure it was locked up. I just think Wesley Homes is fantastic! They go the extra mile. So if you need any help, you go to Wesley Homes because they’ve got employees there like Rita.”
“So many other employees do extra things for residents like this too,” said Rita. “And part of what makes us feel like we’re all family is that the people in charge aren’t too good to help out and they are always asking us for our opinion; they include us,” said Rita.
“Kevin (referring to CEO and President Kevin Anderson) is always telling us, ‘I’m no different than you. I put my pants on one leg at a time,’ said Rita, “and Christine Tremain (Vice President of Marketing) will tell you ‘I can vacuum, I can pick up’. How many company executives have that attitude?”
–ilene little for Wesley Homes
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Rita is a “keeper.” The older employees know us, and we like that.
April 29th, 2010 at 5:27 am
Everyone loves Rita. Good picture my friend.