Deborah Grella, receptionist at Atria Glen Cove, has been named a 2022 Frontline Honors honoree by Senior Housing News.
To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of seniors and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for seniors, their industry, and their peers.
Senior Housing News caught up with Grella to discuss their time in the senior housing industry.
SHN: What drew you to the Senior Housing industry?
Grella: During my childhood, my uncle took care of my family, and as he aged, I took care of him. My uncle taught me to care for others.
What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?
I get satisfaction knowing that I am helping our residents and my coworkers. I want to bring a smile to someone’s face when they come through our doors. Most of all, I have learned to be patient and understanding of others.
What’s your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is hands down interacting with our residents and helping our staff work together as one team to best serve the residents.
What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?
Working in senior living is incredibly rewarding and challenging, because our 24/7 priority is to
ensure our residents are satisfied and safe.
What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?
My job is a constant balancing act. My residents often want my full attention, and I have to multitask. The pandemic was challenging. I learned a lot about myself, and all my coworkers learned a lot about each other. We learned even more how to be a strong team in the challenging moments.
To view the Frontline Honors Class of 2022, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com
