Final Thoughts from Rockwood at Hawthorne

Here is a great interview I had with Tina, the Marketing Director at Rockwood at Hawthorne. She shares with me the philosophy of the staff in her community. I believe this clearly reflects the warm and caring community that I was fortunate enough to be a part of for a week. I highly recommend this community as a place worth checking out.

Willie and the garden

Here is a video showing the wonderful garden/ grounds residents can enjoy at Rockwood at Hawthorne. During my stay I was able to see how carefully the grounds and the building are maintained by the staff. There are plenty of places both inside and out to stroll and enjoy the view. Great for both the mind and the body and spirit!

The wonderful staff!

A story about my stay at Rockwood at Hawthorne would not be complete with out a mention about the special staff the residents are able to enjoy. They are a true team put together by the excellent staff of Rockwood Retirement Communities. This mention does not only include the management who I believe to be some of the best Spokane has to offer, but all levels of skill. I was able to talk to and observe everyone from the maintenance...who kept the community shining, to the servers who kept the residents full and satisfied. Everyone from the front desk receptionist who was so welcoming, to the  patient transport in the dining room who conducted their job with true care and empathy.

All the servers at the many meals I enjoyed...and boy were they tasty... were so kind and caring. It seems they never tired of the constant running back and forth for another requested food item. They gently and patiently took care of the dining needs of the residents in their care. Of all the servers who I encountered I would be negligent if I were not to mention Elaine. What a woman! She is the lone server who  cares for all the needs of the residents at breakfast. And she does it with ease and grace. It is obvious to all that she loves what she does and she is loved in return. She watches over  all the diners and makes sure they have their needs met with a true smile and pat on the back. Each resident I spoke with shared with me how they love her and appreciate so much the care in which she handles her duties. We should all be so lucky to have her touch our days like she touches the community of Rockwood at Hawthorne. Elaine you make a difference!

One final thought I would like to share regarding making the choice of what community to live in regards the length of the staffs employment. Make sure to enquire how long management has been in the building. Very often the tenure of the staff reflects how the community is managed. If there is a high turn over it often reflects the way ownership handles the community. I can assure you the staffing at Rockwood at Hawthorne is stable, strong and consistently available!

Tuffy...What an inspiration!

During my stay at Rockwood Hawthorne I met many wonderful people, but no one stood out to me more than Tuffy. I spent a fair amount of time taking with this amazing man. He shared with me many of the adventures his life has taken him on. I was lucky enough to learn about his times as a saw mill consultant and how even now he is actively working/ consulting on the details of a project he is involved with in Brazil. He is so involved he will be traveling to Brazil with his associates to work on the details. Tuffy is a true inspiration to me because not only did he live an active life while he was younger...even fought with General Patton, but to this day he continues to share his wealth of knowledge with those around him. When asked how he likes living at Rockwood he responds with a resounding "Love the people. They take great care of all our needs" He retains his spirit, energy and outlook I believe by continuing to stay active and involved. Meeting him was a true highlight of my stay.