Building a Legacy of Good Works at Wesley Homes
Lisa Meinecke joined Wesley Homes as the new Resident Services Director on May 18, 2010. She brings with her 18 years experience as a Director of Social Services in the continuing care retirement industry. Meinecke grew up in West Seattle and lives with her husband and two children in Fife Heights.
When she interviewed for the position she was truly amazed by the residents and the vibrant community. “When you walk through Wesley Homes and see them filming, or participating in social activities – and even the resident council – they’re alive and full of energy and that’s what I was looking for,” she said.
“I was also looking for an administration that would empower me to do my job, and I really felt that immediately from Mark Gustafson,” said Meinecke. Gustafson is Campus Administrator for Wesley Homes Des Moines.
Listen to: Live interview with Lisa Meinecke
What’s different about her new position with Wesley Homes
“Before, I worked in the health center setting where you work with people who are in skilled needs care,” said Meinecke, “Here it’s very different because I’m working with people who are more highly functioning. It’s very uplifting to be with people who are what I call “deliberating aging”.
What I mean by “deliberate aging” is that people are making deliberate choices about staying active,” she said, “For example they’re very involved socially. They’re very involved with their physical fitness. They’re very health conscious and concerned about their diet. They are saying, ‘I’m going to age well’”.
The Resident Council Interview
What really sold her on Wesley Homes was the interview with the residents. “One of the ladies said to me ‘Lisa, we want you to partner with us. We don’t want you to create things for us or make things for us. We want you to work side-by-side with us.’ And what they really wanted was someone who could link them to resources,” said Meinecke.
“If one of them is struggling, personally, they want to be able to come to me for resources so that I can connect them to a support group or to a physician or expert who can help them,” she explained. She also assists several support groups; like Parkinson’s or low vision groups.
According to Meinecke, if a resident has a problem they are struggling with, she is the “Go-To-Person”. “And that’s really what a social worker does,” she said, “They do counseling, and they link people to resources.”
“I have my tool belt I can pull out and say ‘have you considered this’, or ‘let me go research that and find that out for you’. It’s been very fulfilling for me to be able to go home at night and say I made a difference,” said Meinecke.
Leaving a Legacy
“I guess I’m huge on leaving a legacy behind,” she said, “And I’ve learned so much from the seniors I’ve interviewed about how important it is to do something that is meaningful. And so I really feel blessed to be able to do this and I go home at night happy.”
“I’ve probably done a hundred social histories with seniors who have reached the end of their lives and are looking back at what they have accomplished and what meaning their life has had. They might not know that they are imparting words of wisdom, but they are – they are sages,” says Meinecke.
My role as Transitional Counselor
“When people are changing often there will be a need to move to the next level of care,” said Meinecke, “I help assist moving from residential living to assisted as well as moving from the assisted to the health care setting.”
“Just recently I had an opportunity to be involved with a gentleman here who was beginning to have some cognitive loss”, said Meinecke, “His time clock was a little off and he was not quite keeping track of things.”
“This gentleman is quite aware that he’s changing,” she said, “He doesn’t want to distress the community or his family so he is actively taking a role in the transition. He and his brother approached me and said, ‘we think it’s time to make a move’.”
“This was my first opportunity to help someone move on this campus and it was delightful”, said Meinecke. “At the contract signing we were laughing and planning different apartment arrangements. So it was a very positive and uplifting experience. They both said ‘we’re really glad that you walked us through this. This has really been a positive experience for us’.”
“It doesn’t always happen that way,” admits Meinecke, “A person might be thinking they don’t want to make a move because it means they’re getting older. The message you’re getting when you’re moving is that you’re getting older and that things are changing. My job is to help them so that it’s not a scary move.
Lisa Meinecke was introduced to Wesley residents at several town meetings will be interviewed on Channel 28.
–ilene little for Wesley Homes
