“We communicate with each other, we lean on each other.” Those are the words shared by one of our Liberty team members and are at the core of our Liberty culture. Today I would like to introduce Andrea Carroll, a Medication Technician at The Hearth at Drexel. It’s no exaggeration to say that Andrea embodies the compassionate, people-centered approach at the very heart of our mission. Andrea has fifteen years of experience in senior care, including training under dementia expert Teepa Snow, and has been with The Hearth for five years. Let’s hear her story.

A typical day starts with getting a report from the nurse, speaking with the CNAs, just checking in about things that may be going on for the day. After that, I usually start passing out medications. I also pitch in where needed. I just try to be a Renaissance woman and help where I can. 

We’re responsible for passing medications—making sure they’re correct, going to the right resident, and that there aren’t any errors from the pharmacy. We monitor residents before and after giving meds to watch for any changes or possible side effects. We also take vitals and give PRN meds (medications provided as needed) if someone’s showing signs of anxiety or agitation, and we keep an eye on them throughout the day. I also train a lot of the med techs here, mainly because I’ve been doing this for a while. We have a four-check system we use before giving any medication. You’re constantly reviewing everything to make sure it lines up and that the orders are correct.

I also help out on the floor—feeding residents, watching them while they eat, and noticing changes. If someone isn’t eating or drinking like they used to, we’ll flag that. You’ve got to really observe everything going on. I always say, you have to keep your eye on the sparrow, because there’s a lot that can happen, and you’ve got to be ready for it.

I have 15 years of experience in dementia care. That’s where my heart is. I feel like they need me the most, the residents who can’t really say things for themselves or do things for themselves. I take the advocate role and jump in and let a person know what they need, even when they’re unable to say so.

When you see a person struggling and they might have a cognitive impairment, there’s still a huge part of them that’s there. And that’s the part that you need to reach. You strive to keep their dignity intact and play to their strengths. That’s a huge, huge part of my job. I believe it’s my calling. The residents are my priority, and I feel like they should get all of me.

I love my team. They are a blessing. The emotional intelligence and the critical thinking that they have that’s needed in memory care is inspiring. We tap in, we talk to each other, we communicate with each other, and we lean on each other.

There’s a real a family dynamic here. Our residents’ family members feel it. They come to us, they talk to us, they may cry, and it may not even necessarily be about the resident. We’re in tune with each other, and that makes a difference.

You really do have to have a heart to work at The Hearth.