A Hospitality Lesson From Memory Care

Today was a day I have quietly dreaded as I have navigated in a lifetimes' worth of hard & consequential days in this month of August, alone:

I spoke out loud & answered questions to finalize the care plan for the current version of my mother, (who is living with rapidly advancing Alzheimer's) with the director of the memory care residence where my she moves next week. 

She then shared with me the specific & special welcome she & her team of caregivers have planned for next Thursday when Mom moves in…& I sat in her office & wept…but not for the reasons I thought.

HOW did she know what Mom would love as she & I had never spoken?!

…so I started connecting the dots.

Back in early June, when I toured the senior residence with a manager, I shared my mother is Sicilian-American.

That she was a great cook but didn't think she was because she is (and was), very insecure.

And that she was accustomed to doing for others, to being in charge & to being the one everyone in her circle turns to for caregiving or answers or advice. 

And the one celebrating others rather than doing for herself.

And that because of this…I was concerned how she would accept the news of her very necessary move and then the move, itself.

Noel Nocciolo on move-in day, they will have lasagna for lunch, an activity about Italy in the afternoon, and a variety of pastas with different sauces for dinner (along with protein & vegetables, too, of course!)…to welcome my mother. 

There was clearly a system in place in this organization to keep record of, then review, what is shared about prospective residents & used to create a thoughtful & memorable experience for all of us.

When I have the bandwidth this autumn, to return to work in our fitness space…much of what I will offer will be ways to deliver (or enhance!) impactful & exceptional experiences for your studio communities.

What can you do sometime before month's end, in your studio space to specifically celebrate a new or existing community member? (a dry-erase marker with their name on a locker is cute…but anyone can do it……what else?)

Have a great rest of your week!

Noël

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