We Plan, God Laughs
Left to Right: Tim Wagstrom, Sheila Dietrich, Bob Speelman
March 4, 2020
NOTE: This was taken from the blog of Foundations Health Solutions leader Bob Speelman. Each week Bob works at one of our Foundations Health facilities in different roles. Whether working in housekeeping or as a nursing assistant, he sees firsthand how we embody the vision of our founder and nursing home developer, Brian Colleran, to be "A Culture of Care."
Loveland, Ohio - Sheila Dietrich was born and raised in Iowa. She got into restaurant management and moved throughout the Midwest as her career grew. She was known to be the go-to person with her company when it came to opening a new store and getting it off to a great start. Sheila's career brought her to Cincinnati, where she and her husband started a family. Sheila wanted to stop moving around, settle down, and be there for her kids' sporting events and be a mom. She decided on managing a single restaurant for years and then got into property management.
One day when Sheila went into work, the property owner let her know it would be her last day. Sheila was being replaced by a much younger lady with much less experience. Sheila was devastated. Sheila was hard-working, loyal, and blindsided. As fate would have it, these set of circumstances brought Sheila to Venetian Gardens, to take an open position as a housekeeper in September of 2014.
Sheila worked as a housekeeper for six months and everyone was raving about her. Facility management approached her about becoming a Nursing Assistant. Sheila didn't hesitate and went to training to become an STNA.
The other day I had the privilege of working alongside Sheila and learning her story. I cannot begin to tell you how impressed I was with Sheila and her love and compassion for her residents. Sheila works in the rehabilitation unit at Venetian. She knows each and every one of her residents, why they are at the facility, and is passionate about helping them get better and get home.
Sheila told me that she not only loves getting to know her residents but getting to know the family members that come in to see them every day. The joy on their faces as they see their loved ones recover so quickly and get home is so special.
It was amazing to watch Sheila encourage her residents to do all they could for themselves because this is how they will get home quicker. She told me, "It's not what I say but how I say it, they know it comes from a place of love, I want to see them get better. I put myself in their shoes."
Sheila told me that one of her most satisfying times was when a state surveyor brought her mom to Venetian Gardens for rehabilitation. Sheila asked her why she chose Venetian Gardens and the state surveyor told her, "I wouldn't have brought her anywhere else." Sheila told me that reaffirmed to her that she was making a difference.
The entire day as Venetian Gardens was amazing. The team of nurses and STNA's on the rehabilitation unit were all passionate about helping their residents get home. They worked amazingly well as a team and had such respect for each other.
It's funny how life works out. There's a Woody Allen quote, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." Who would have ever thought a young restaurant manager turned property manager would end up as a nursing assistant? Not me, but I'm so glad she is!
Bob Speelman, STNA
Each week, Bob Speelman visits a Foundations Health Solutions nursing home. He works alongside a variety of departments to ensure Foundations Health is excelling in the vision of founder Brian Colleran's "Culture of Care." Foundations Health continues to practice the principles nursing home developer Brian Colleran instilled, such as resident and family satisfaction, positive employee culture, and investment in the community.
Bob's Blog