Nest Easy Interview: Emily Hedrick
James A. (Jim) Beck
James Beck is a senior housing advisor and owner of
NestEasy senior advisory service in Richmond, Virginia.
804.241.9061 / nesteasy.org
Emily Hedrick, Our Lady of Hope
Director of Marketing and Sales
Our Lady of Hope Health Care, a nonprofit and nondenominational senior care center that has served Richmond seniors since 1996, is nearing completion of its spectacular Assisted Living and Comprehensive Rehabilitative Care expansion.
This storied community, sponsored by the Catholic Diocese and managed by Coordinated Services Management, is nestled in a park-like setting on North Gayton Road in the ever-expanding Short Pump neighborhood.
Our Lady of Hope’s expansion was planned to meet the super cycle demand of Richmond’s aging population now and in the years ahead.
Thanks to the efforts of Emily Hedrick and her team the assisted living apartments are pre-sold, and the healthcare community is eagerly awaiting the availability of the Medicare Rehab beds.
The 23,000 sq. ft. expansion will add 10 luxury assisted living apartments on the first floor and 20 Medicare-certified nursing and rehabilitation beds on the on the second floor. The new assisted living apartments and rehab rooms are contemporary in design with a premium on space, technology, leisure, and safety for residents and patients.
The social life outside the apartments is robust and inviting. The Short Pump Cafe, a relaxing venue to enjoy friends and family, offers delicious cuisine and tasty beverages. Additionally, there are new common areas for casual mingling and a fitness center for residents to stay strong, and limber and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The existential question that keeps most of us up at night is who we trust with the care of our loved ones. The placement of a family member to a caring community is a challenging experience under the best of circumstances. The decision is emotionally burdensome, weighted with responsibility, and laced with anxiety.
For some answers to questions let’s talk to Emily.
NestEasy:
A big congratulations to you Emily on your recent hire as marketing director. What attracted you to apply to Our Lady of Hope?
Emily:
My career objective is to work in a nonprofit environment assisting aging adults and their families. I wanted to grow with an organization noted for integrity and committed to excellence in caring for seniors. Our Lady of Hope exceeded my criteria.
NestEasy:
The Marketing Director job at Our Lady is one of the most coveted senior living positions in the Commonwealth. There must have been a deep pool of applicants. How did you win the job?
Emily:
The interview process went well professionally and culturally. I have a strong healthcare resume, a passion for aging adults, and the skill sets that the Catholic Diocese and Coordinated Management Services were looking for in a candidate.
NestEasy:
There were probably many extraordinary resumes from which to choose. Why did they select you?
Emily:
Management selected me because I convinced them that I had the capability to successfully lead a team that would complete/populate our expansion, provide the organizational readiness to meet the post-expansion challenges, and my commitment to maintaining Our Lady of Hope’s reputation and standards as a premier senior living community in Richmond and the Commonwealth.
NestEasy:
How did you feel when you heard the news that you were selected as the new Marketing Director at Our Lady of Hope?
Emily:
It was my dream come true. The opportunity to play a leadership role with an iconic Richmond organization that serves aging adults is the fulfillment of all my dreams.
NestEasy:
Who are your team members?
Emily:
I have an excellent team. Tina Fontineau is the Community Relations Coordinator and Jenna Swann is our Admissions Coordinator. They are true professionals and very good at their work. We are all crossed trained to support our department and we have been extremely successful together.
The team format allows us to alternate weekends so we always have coverage for families that need a Saturday visit. Or, if I need to visit a hospital or attend an event the team can support my absence.
NestEasy:
Tell us about your fabulous “Expansion”?
Emily:
We have ten new luxury assisted living apartments on the first floor and 20 rehabilitation rooms on the second floor. The apartments and rooms are designed to enhance resident care and independence. Both floors are inviting for family visits.
In assisted living, we offer one- and two-bedroom apartments at 679 and 1006 sq. ft. respectively. The apartments are spacious with nine-foot ceilings and large windows to flood the apartments with natural light. To meet resident technology demands there is internet connectivity with extra USB ports to accommodate multiple devices. Each apartment features a kitchenette with a mini-refrigerator and microwave. The accessible bathrooms have walk-in showers, safety bars, and handheld showerheads. They are beautiful and well-designed.
NestEasy:
What innovations did you create in Comprehensive Rehabilitative Care?
Emily:
We designed the rooms with the “residents” in mind. There are twenty private rooms that mirror the amenities in the assisted living apartment with some extra perks. Each room has a 43-inch television mounted on the wall and a mini-refrigerator. We provide a comfortable recliner in the room for relaxation. All rooms are interconnected to the Short Pump Café and common areas.
The care, food, and ambiance are excellent. Our rehab is the best design for patients in the Richmond metro. Please come for a visit!!!!!!
NestEasy:
The expansion looks fabulous in the renderings. How are the pre-sales?
Emily:
The community interest and demand have been extraordinary. We are sold out and have a waiting list for assisting living and memory care.
NestEasy:
How do I apply and when do can I move here to enjoy the lifestyle?
Emily:
We are ready when you want come Jim.
We encourage anyone or family who is interested in assisted living or memory care services to contact us and schedule a visit. A waitlist deposit is $500, and it will reserve an apartment in the date order it was received.
We are finishing a little last-minute polishing and expect to be open for New Years.
NestEasy:
Our Lady has a new respiratory therapy program. Can you explain what the new program means to the patients of your community?
Emily:
Our new ON-SITE RESPIRATORY THERAPY program, Inspire with Hope, is another milestone for us in specialized high-quality patient care. We have a dedicated respiratory therapist on staff for the treatment and monitoring of individuals with high intensity pulmonary issues. Additionally, the rehab team has received respiratory education and all staff has been trained in signs and symptoms of respiratory failure.
Inspire with Hope replaces the traditional respiratory model that requires a variety of different practitioners from the outside to treat patients. Our advanced model allows the respiratory therapist to create patient-specific treatment plan working directly with the resident’s physicians and Our Lady of Hope’s nurses. This consistency in care will help the resident meet his or her goals for therapy and lower the risk of future hospitalizations.
NestEasy:
Our Lady has a special financial assistance program for long-term residents. Something like a scholarship? Can you explain the program to our readers?
Emily:
Yes. The program addresses financial sustainability over life expectancy. The increase in life expectancy has outpaced affordability for many people who need care beyond the home. We offer a financial assistance program for residents that have lived at Our Lady of Hope for a minimum of four years.
We make the determination on a case by case basis. The program is part of our on-going commitment to the Richmond aging adult community. Please call us and we will discuss the program with you.
NestEasy:
The mission statement for Our Lady of Hope’s is “enhancing the quality of life” and “preserving the dignity of each patient”. How do you demonstrate that message to the residents?
Emily:
The desire for respect and dignity is one of the most basic of emotional needs. We demonstrate our commitment to our resident’s and patient’s each day by the words we use and the things we do.
Everyone wants to be heard and have their opinion acknowledged. We show admiration for our resident’s and patient’s by empathetically listening to their comments, questions, and requests. We address them appropriately and answer their questions respectfully. We understand they may need extra time or a different location to fully express themselves.
We are trained to understand the meaning of dignity in the application of care, respecting room and personal space, and dining room etiquette. Our residents and patients are our first line of responsibility and we provide them with the respect and decency that they deserve.
NestEasy:
What is a reoccurring positive experience in your work?
Emily:
I enjoy seeing the residents and their families find love and appreciation with one another each day. We have intergenerational activities that bring out the best in family relationships. Our Happy Hour is a fabulous time for families, friends, and residents to share their lives and time together.
NestEasy:
What do you want to the public to know about Our Lady of Hope?
Emily:
It is awesome!!! A very friendly place that residents and family can call home.
Nest Easy:
What do you want people to know about you?
Emily:
I am awesome!!! I am very passionate about my work. Please reach out if you have any questions about me or Our Lady of Hope. I am always available.
NestEasy:
What was the best present you ever received?
Emily:
My engagement ring (Emily’s hand is extended displaying gorgeous rings)! Michael (future significant other) and I were vacationing with his family at Destin, Florida during the Christmas Holiday.
We went to the beach to take pictures of the sunset. Michael reached into his pocket for his camera, but instead retrieved a small white box… I said yes, and we were married on April 14, 2018.
NestEasy:
How do you like to be known, what is your signature?
Emily:
I want residents and families to know that I am always there for them.
NestEasy:
What book would read if you were marooned on a deserted island?
Emily:
In that situation I would read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. “Everyone” should read this book! If the deserted island had a DISH, I would watch the series This Is Us.
NestEasy:
Do you celebrate Halloween?
Emily:
Yes. We have intergenerational Trick or Treating with residents. We sponsor a Trunk-or-Treat. Trick-or-treating is done from one parked car to another parked car in our parking lot. It is a great time for everyone.
NestEasy:
Do you have a favorite weather person?
Emily:
Yes. NBC 12, Eric Friedman.
NestEasy:
If you could spend the day with a person of note past or present who would choose?
Emily:
I have two. Opra Winfree and Stephen Hawking. They are both tops in their respective fields.
NestEasy:
Where did you attend college?
Emily:
Bridgewater College.
NestEasy:
You were obviously a good student. Were you involved in activities or sports?
Emily:
I was on the tennis team.
NestEasy:
That’s a modest answer.
We checked-up on your college stats. You and a team mate set a school record in 2009-10 for double wins posting a 17-4 record. Also, in 2009-10 you posted a perfect 8-0 in Spring dual match competition. You were star!!!
If you continue manage Our Lady of Hope the way you played tennis there is an enormous career ahead of you.
Thank you so much for your time.
Jim
