My Summer with MRC

“It has been 1,335 days since my first day as a Certified Nurse's Aide, 1,335 days since I realized elder care is my passion, a career that means something. What makes MRC different, when we say life here means more…more of what? I would love to share with you through my eyes.

My journey began when I met a resident living with Parkinson’s disease. Before she moved into her assisted living apartment she was depressed, lonely, in pain, and her husband was her caretaker. It was not until her husband was diagnosed with cancer that she began to look into assisted living. Six months...only six months at an MRC community for this woman’s Parkinson’s score to drop from a three to a two. Six months at MRC for her depression to go away because of the relationships she was able to create. Six months for her husband to just be her husband again. I believe for residents like her, life here means more resilience, because you are so much more than your medical diagnosis.

Society has led us to believe that as we age, we fall into a cycle of disinterest, that we are supposed to sit there quietly and not take up any space. MRC has painted a different reality. A reality where you can enjoy yourself at the beach, regardless of your medical diagnoses, your ability to walk, or even the state of your memory. A reality where you can go enjoy a treat with your friends, regardless of your ability to drive there. To those that believe life stops at age 65, I would tell you that you have never stepped foot into an MRC community…because here, life means more experiences, because you are more than just your age.

I was introduced to an elder who is a former art teacher and lifelong artist. His first memory is picking up a paint brush. He shared that he did not want to move into assisted living. Why? Because he was terrified of falling into that cycle I just mentioned. Then, he came to MRC, where he found an amazing Marketing Director that sat there for 15 minutes, every day, for six months, allowing him to draw her. He was fascinated with the texture and curl of her hair, the type he had never sketched before. His passion was lifted, where he had the opportunity to grow. I believe for residents like him, life here means more of following your passions. Because you are so much more than the environment in which you currently find yourself.

Fifty three percent of seniors in the United States in 2023 reported feelings of loneliness or helplessness. Then, you come to an MRC community where programs Dress-A-Girl are vibrant and thriving. At The Crossings, a group of women meet for 5 hours every Thursday and make dresses for little girls in third world countries. The dining team makes them a nice lunch and maintenance brings all of their materials into the chapel. Ladies and gentlemen, that is the Eden Alternative’s principle four, the ability to give and receive-the antidote to helplessness. This is so much more than having an Eden Alternative certification plastered on a wall, this is living evidence of the culture deeply rooted within MRC. I believe for these women; life here means more giving. Because you are so much more than just that 53% statistic.

During my time here I had the opportunity to speak with many different employees, from leadership to hourly, and everything in between. When I asked them “when we say work here means more, what does that mean to you?” I had three common answers: joy, spirituality, and family. I credit these answers to the ICARE values, integrity, compassion, respect, accountability, and excellence. I believe it is these values that create a culture where employees feel they have more joy, more spirituality, and more family in the workplace. I also believe it is these values that attract a certain type of employee.

Allow me to introduce you to Chika, who has been a CNA at MRC for 7 years. If a resident comes into skilled nursing with only one shirt, she gets off of work and gets them more clothes. If it is her day off and the residents have an outing, she goes to be with them because she loves them. Why does she love them? Because she gets to know the whole person. That right there is the MRC difference.

Now, if you were to ask me how I feel about MRC I truly struggled to find the words to truly encapsulate my experience. However, when reflecting on my time here, only one word comes to mind: servant. MRC has made me realize that I want to be a servant to those who have come before me, those who have experienced a multitude of life experiences before I have, because these are the people we learn from. Outside of just being a servant, MRC has made me think about the type of servant I want to be. I often find myself struggling to see God’s bigger plan, getting caught up in small things. What matters is God’s bigger plan. Who am I to others? And MRC makes me want to wake up every day and be a better person than I was the day before, to speak kinder, judge less, and put out more love than I had in the previous day.

I did not view this internship as wake up, clock in then clock out. If that is what I was looking for, I would have stayed in North Carolina, however I was looking for more. The opportunity to explore myself professionally, but also think about what type of person I want to be, what type of Christian I want to be. Instead, MRC gave me the opportunity to wake up every morning and be fruitful from the soul in the workplace. To practice peace, gentleness, and joy every single day, because that is the opportunity MRC gives to its employees.

In exactly 236 days I will walk across the stage at Appalachian State University, and I shall do so with my head held high and with confidence. Because God willing, I will be going into a career where life truly means more, and for that MRC I thank you. Thank you for allowing me to experience more and now to believe in more.

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