Spring is an unpredictable season. The other seasons seem to have identifiable hallmarks that recur over and over again. The temperatures heat up as summer approaches, we are all on watch for hurricane season, school is out, etc. In the fall, the temperatures start to cool a bit, leaves change color, school begins again and football is in full swing. As winter rolls in we can expect harsher weather, multiple holiday celebrations and extended time with family. We enter a New Year and reflect on the past one.

Spring though – it can rain a lot, be chilly – sometimes warm. Yes, flowers and trees start to bloom, but again – that’s dependent on the weather. Dressing for spring is hard – you can’t retire your heavy sweater just yet or bring out the lighter clothes – you have to wait and see.

Unpredictability can be unsettling. Working in health care – especially long term care – might seem predictable to those outside of our Focused Care communities, but we know it isn’t.  We care for residents at various stages of health recovery, cognitive decline, and in the throes of an advanced aging process. We are often in the position of replacing the role of loved ones no longer capable of safely caring for the person and we work with family members during that difficult transition and beyond.

Working in skilled nursing care requires that we prepare ourselves in a way that allows us to adapt to the challenge at hand. We don’t know what the weather will be like – it’s spring year round in our workplace. So we are prepared if it rains one day and is sunny the next. That’s the nature of skilled nursing care and of being here for our residents regardless of the unpredictability of life, recovery and aging.

Unpredictability keeps us on our toes, reminds us that while we don’t have control over everything, we can be prepared for anything.  Happy Spring to Focused Care Team Members who tend to see the colorful blooms – sometimes through the rain.

Mark McKenzie

Founder & CEO