The following content is part of the Perham Health Culture Series, a writing collection explaining how we live out our core values and what they mean to us. These posts from our team members highlight the culture at Perham Health and share what it’s like to work within our organization, focusing on our values of Excellence, Compassion, Integrity, and Respect.

Our core values give us direction, motivate, and guide us as we strive to be champions of health and wellness, making Perham Health who we are. They are values we demonstrate each day. “As the Adult Day Services program coordinator and resident assistant in the Northwinds Memory Care unit, respect is a highly important part of my day.” – Nayeli Limon-Ramirez, Adult Day Services Coordinator, shares a story of respect at Perham Health.

Respect for all

In both of my jobs at Perham Living, I take care of people who need to be looked after. Our Adult Day Services provide opportunities for caregivers from the community to bring their loved ones here for the day. We provide lots of stimulating activities, such as chair yoga, baking, crafts and puzzles, allowing participants the opportunity to be active and social. In the Northwinds Memory Care Unit, I provide similar activities and care to the residents who have memory problems, such as dementia.

While the residents have memory issues now, they come here having lived a full life, raising families, having a career and being members of the community. The participants in the day services have also lived a full life. We need to show all of them respect and preserve their dignity.

Without respect, I don’t think anyone could do this job well. Respect for the participants, residents and coworkers is necessary in order to make this a healthy and happy environment.

When a new participant starts joining us for the day or a new resident comes to live with us, I show them respect by spending time getting to know them. I find out what they did for their job, where they lived and ask questions about their family. Also, discovering their likes and dislikes helps me to make them feel welcomed.

The staff shows respect to the residents by letting them make their own choices whenever possible. We let them choose what they want to wear for the day, what meals they want and what activities they want to do.

An important part of our job is to provide opportunities for the residents and participants to be social and do activities. And while that is important, we are respectful of those that do not want to participate today or do not like doing the specific activity.

We will all grow old and need help someday. It’s important to treat people the way you want to be treated, especially when this becomes their home.

As a team, we show respect for each other. A perfect example of this was during COVID. We had several residents who got COVID in the memory care unit. We had to isolate them so they wouldn’t make the other residents sick. This was made even more difficult because they couldn’t remember why they were sick or why they had to be isolated. As a result, we were constantly repeating ourselves and at the same time remembering to be respectful.

The staff was all exhausted and yet we were respectful of each other. We listened to each other’s problems, and if someone was feeling overwhelmed at work and needed a five-minute break, we let them take it. It was truly amazing to see how we all worked together and nobody else got sick.

What I love about my job

I have been working at Perham Living for five years. It all started when my grandpa was in a car accident. I wanted to learn how to help my grandma take care of him. So I felt becoming a resident assistant would teach me the skills to help them.

I ended up enjoying the job so much I stayed. I love my coworkers and I love working with the participants and the residents. There is something new every day, and everyone says thank you in their own special way.

If you are considering a job at Perham Health or Perham Living, my advice to you is to go for it. The environment here is awesome.

Waking up every morning, I look forward to work knowing that I’m going to have fun with my coworkers, the participants, and the residents. I can’t think of a better job.

Nayeli Limon-Ramirez,
Adult Day Services Coordinator at the Perham Living Campus, Perham Health

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People join Perham Health for the opportunities and stay because of the culture. Kickstarting your career with us means you’re joining a team of healthcare professionals dedicated to your success.

If you’re searching for a lasting career where you can make a difference in the health and wellness of others, explore the opportunities with Perham Health.