Heather Dow | A Leader in Excellence in Sarasota, FL

Sarasota, FL (October 26, 2022) – Creating leaders in a company brings about longevity and loyalty, two characteristics that you will find in Spring Hills’ senior leadership team and among their top performers.  Today, Spring Hills announces another Leader in Excellence in Sarasota, FL, Heather Dow, Director of Resident Engagement.  Spring Hills’ Leaders in Excellence spotlight program is focused on the most valuable resource in their service commitment to their residents, their Associates. 

Courtney Lonseth, Executive Director at Spring Hills’ Memory Care Assisted Living, Poet’s Walk Sarasota in Sarasota, FL.  After being nominated as the first Leader in Excellence, she nominated three associates on her team who help her, and her community achieve success. Heather Dow, her Director of Resident Engagement. 

Courtney says, “Heather is known as the memory care “guru”.  Her approach and compassion are obvious and never waivers for each resident that graces her presence.  Heather wears her heart on her sleeve and will do anything she can to make each moment memorable.”

Heather has worked in healthcare and memory care for the last 29 years.  She has worked in just about every department and still enjoys being able to provide care for residents.  Caring for those with memory care won her heart at the young age 18 when she started her career in healthcare.

Heather says, “One of my biggest professional accomplishments is becoming an expert in Dementia and Alzheimer’s and having the ability to understand the resident’s needs, wants, fears as well as being able to understand and comfort them when they are unable to express this on their own.”  This is what helped Heather to earn her position at Poet’s Walk Sarasota as their Director of Resident Engagement.  She also feels accomplished being able to act as an advocate for residents and provide them with laughter and love for the remainder of their years.

When Heather is looking for inspiration, she doesn’t need to go any further than her manager Courtney.  She says, “Her passion and drive are something that I have not seen in many people. She motivates and mentors me to be better every day.”  Heather also finds inspiration from seeing her residents laugh every day, know she makes a difference in their life.  She says, “If they only knew how much they make my day!”

Spring Hills became Heather’s choice for employment when she moved back to Florida after being a caregiver to her father New Jersey, who unfortunately passed from bladder cancer.  Heather reached out to Courtney, who she worked with for years prior to Poet’s Walk.  She loved that Poet’s Walk Sarasota, A Spring Hills Memory Care Community was a stand-alone Memory Care Community.  Heather goes on to say, “Spring Hills has proven to me to be a caring and compassionate corporation who not only care for their residents, but their employees as well.”

Heather aspires to train associates on the importance of your approach when it comes to caring for those with memory impairment, which falls in line with Spring Hills’s Care Flower Program, designed to have a resident-focused, positive approach to working resident’s behaviors and abilities.

When Heather is not at work, you can find her taking day trips and exploring new places, going to the beach and spending time with her children and grandchildren, who she is most passionate about.

About Spring Hills:

Spring Hills operates post-acute care, assisted living, and memory care communities, and home care services that provide comprehensive support, including population health management, for seniors and those with chronic health needs. Spring Hills ensures the highest standards for proactive health care and quality of living at every stage and is committed to helping people live happy, healthy lives.

Led by Alexander Markowits, President/CEO, Spring Hills is committed to providing seamless care experiences that meet the unique needs and preferences of residents, patients, and their families. Spring Hills has 35 facilities across seven states: Post-Acute Care in NJ; Assisted

Living and Home Care in NJ, NY, VA, OH, FL and NV; and Memory Care in TX, VA, NV and FL. For more information, visit www.springhills.com           

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