The goal of John Lawrence’s job at Good Samaritan – St. Martin Village is simple.
“I bring the fun, and I bring smiles to residents’ faces,” said Lawrence.
But a lot of work goes into making these smiles happen. Lawrence is an activities assistant in Rapid City, South Dakota, and he has a crucial role. Through his work, the lives of residents are enriched, their well-being is improved and close bonds are formed.
It’s a rewarding career, and for Lawrence, there isn’t a job he’d rather have.
Embracing the role of an activities assistant
Many people assume activities assistants at nursing homes just come up with things for residents to do all day, but that’s only a small portion of what people like Lawrence do.
“This job is more than just saying, ‘Hey, let’s do something fun,’” said Lawrence. “It’s more about life enrichment. What are the residents’ interests, and what can I do to make their life better?
Most events and activities Lawrence plans resonate with a lot of the residents, but he’s not satisfied with making the majority happy – he wants to help everyone. And making an individual’s life better and more fulfilling can be a difficult task at times.
“Sometimes, when someone first comes here, I have to approach them and say, ‘I understand you want to be a homebody and not leave that room, but I’m going to be that gnat and I’m going to bug you to get you out of that room,’” said Lawrence. “Getting someone to join an activity and be social is the greatest reward ever.”
Lawrence often engages with residents by talking about something they enjoy, like baseball or sewing. He’s worked in senior care for 15 years, so he’s comfortable when he’s chatting with residents.
Other times, he offers to do something for them, like paint their nails.
“I never thought I’d say this, but painting nails has to be one of my favorite activities,” said Lawrence. “You get to listen to their stories, their life, their gossip. You hear so many interesting things.”
And when it comes to nails, there’s a color the residents typically go for.
“A lot of residents love to pick red,” said Lawrence. “But I usually try to get them to switch it up.”
Painting nails may seem like a small thing to do for a resident, but Lawrence has experienced firsthand the impact a gesture like that can have.
Building trust and making a breakthrough
Lawrence once had a resident who did not want to leave her room or do anything with the other residents. She was legally blind, and she was most comfortable spending time with her kids and her husband.
But Lawrence knew she liked having her nails painted.
“I asked if she wanted to join us to have her nails painted, but she said no,” said Lawrence. “I offered to bring the stuff to her room, and she said that it was too much work to do that, but eventually she let me. That built up trust between us, and later we were able to get her to leave her room.”
That resident eventually entered hospice care, and before she died, she asked Lawrence to touch up her nails. John agreed to do them the next day, but her health declined over the next 24 hours.
When she had become unresponsive, Lawrence went to her room and painted her nails, just like she wanted. She died soon after that, but John was glad he had the chance to do something for her in her final moments.
Letting go and celebrating the life of others
Working in long-term care comes with the tough reality of death, but Lawrence embraces it as an opportunity to comfort residents and their families.
“The hardest part of my job is letting go and saying goodbye. The residents become your family,” said Lawrence. “But then again, it’s one of my favorite parts. When you work with hospice patients, you’re making their lives better.”
In moments like these, Lawrence steps in to be a positive light in the darkness, and not just for the immediate family of the deceased. When a resident dies, Lawrence puts on a celebration of life for them at Good Samaritan – St. Martin Village.
“A lot of our residents are homebound and can’t make it to the funeral,” said Lawrence. “These celebrations give them an opportunity to celebrate the lives of these residents, their family. They get to grieve and then share the good times.”
Lawrence pays attention to the needs of each resident he takes care of, and he believes that’s not just a special trait of his – it’s a part of Good Samaritan’s culture.
“Sometimes people say, ‘They’re getting the John touch. It’s that special touch of care he provides.’ But that’s not it,” said Lawrence. “It’s the Good Samaritan touch. We provide quality care and we live by our mission to care, comfort and cure. I feel honored to work for our health system because they honestly care about people.”
Reflecting on a career in senior care
Lawrence loves his job as an activities assistant because he gets to help others rediscover and embrace the joys of life.
“My favorite thing about my job is knowing that I’m making a difference in the residents’ lives,” said Lawrence. “Some days you just show up and be the positive person in their life. Even though you don’t feel like you’re making a difference, you’re making a difference.”
His advice for anyone interested in working in senior care is to give it a shot and find an opportunity that speaks to them.
“Working in senior care is very rewarding, and there’s a plethora of avenues you can go down,” said Lawrence. “There are plenty of programs our organization will help pay for, like a CNA or nursing program.”
Lawrence has been working in senior care for a long time, and he has no plans to change careers anytime soon.
“It’s the most rewarding job,” said Lawrence. “I don’t see myself doing anything else.”
Careers at Good Samaritan have excellent pay, comprehensive benefits, and above all, empower you to serve others. If you’re looking for a rewarding career with plenty of room to grow, start exploring open positions today.
Learn more
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Posted In Black Hills, People & Culture, Sanford Stories, Senior Services
