Following in her grandmother’s footsteps, Kayla Malott has taken a position as residential living director at Heritage Pointe of Warren senior living community in Warren, Indiana.
While growing up, Malott was close to both of her grandmothers but was inspired by one of them to embrace a career caring for older adults.
Her grandmother was a certified nursing assistant who cared for seniors and treated them as if they were her own loved ones.
“She had a passion for it,” Malott says. “She taught me that they are someone’s family members and to never lose sight of that. And, as you care for them, they become your family.”
After Malott became a certified nursing assistant herself, she and her grandmother often talked about their shared passion for caring and interacting with seniors.
Malott went on to earn an associate’s degree in nursing. She worked as a director of nursing and then as an administrator at an area senior living community. Also, along the way, she furthered her training to become a licensed residential care administrator.
In her new role at Heritage Pointe of Warren, Malott will answer the needs of residents in both independent and assisted living, serving “as an extra set of eyes,” she says.
She will work closely with Terrence Jent, administrator, and Nicol Cardwell, director of nursing, to ensure that residents are receiving the best possible care and to help them transition to other levels of care as needed.
One of the benefits of Heritage Pointe of Warren is that residents never have to leave the campus as their health needs change. The Life Plan community provides a continuum of on-site care, including Independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and long-term health care.
Having a clinical background and training as a nurse will enable Malott to notice when residents may need to move to a higher level of care.
“I will be monitoring and watching to ensure they are in the proper level of care,” she says. “I can use my skills to see the changes in a resident.
She will also work to ensure that such transitions go smoothly and that all of a resident’s needs are met.
“It’s nice when you are able to help someone transition to their next phase –to make sure they feel special and to know that they are important,” she says.
Malott was drawn to take on her new role at Heritage Pointe of Warren for several reasons. First, it is well-known and respected in the community. She also likes that it is faith-based and that it is located in a rural community surrounded by lots of greenery and with a close-knit feeling.
Malott has been hosting meet-and-greets with residents and has an open-door policy for whenever a resident wants to stop by to introduce themselves or say ‘hello.’
Being able to take that time to spend with residents and to get to know them is one of the joys of her new job.
“I love interacting with older adults –the stories they tell and the wisdom they have to share,” she says.
Heritage Pointe of Warren
Heritage Pointe of Warren, which provides a vibrant lifestyle is located in the charming country setting of Warren, Indiana. The senior living community is situated on a 200+ acre rural campus featuring an on-site golf course, heated indoor pool, fitness area, woodshop, and more. Heritage Pointe of Warren offers independent living in villas, townhomes, or apartments. Assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, and long-term skilled care are provided on the same campus, thus offering a complete continuum of care, also known as Life Plan. Heritage Pointe of Warren is owned and operated by The United Methodist Memorial Home, an Indiana non-profit founded in 1907. To learn more about Heritage Pointe of Warren, visit HeritagePointeOfWarren.org
