A man and his chair

Sometimes it’s the small things that remind us of what matters

     As we go about our lives, it’s easy to focus on what goes wrong in our week rather than appreciating the good things. But then something happens to remind us of what life is all about: making a positive difference in the lives of others.

     Recently, Facilities Director Dwayne Walker had an impactful experience that reminded him of this.

     He was working with Maintenance Technicians Kellen Cody and Ethan Bolick at Heather Glen. They had put together resident Legette Zorn’s new electric armchair. Zorn was standing by watching the progress on his chair, and once it was ready, he sat down.  

     “He carefully maneuvered into the chair, turned on the massager, and began adjusting the controls,” Dwayne said of Mr. Zorn. “You could immediately see the joy on his face. After a moment, he said, ‘I don’t know what to say. I can’t find the words for how much this means to me.’” It was clear that the electric armchair would help him a lot with his mobility.

     “That was the moment it really hit me,” Dwayne said. “This is what it’s all about here at Ardenwoods. The small things we do can make a huge difference in someone’s daily life and overall well-being.”

     This realization reminded him of why he loves the work he does at Ardenwoods. Dwayne went home that night and shared the story with his wife. She reminded him that everyone has the ability to make a difference in someone’s life.

     Kellen and Ethan made a real difference for Mr. Zorn with his chair, and they are consistently doing things like this to make a positive impact on others’ lives.

     “They are a tremendous asset to Ardenwoods,” Dwayne said. “They consistently go above and beyond without complaint. They are true teammates—and great guys.”