Assisted living at one Dothan retirement community just received an enhancement to its care services. Meet Nancy Adams Thompson, RN, the new residential nurse of assisted living and memory care at Wesley Place on Honeysuckle in Dothan, AL. Though her role is new, Nancy is no stranger to Wesley Place. She has led its therapy and rehabilitation teams since 2011.
“I look forward to working each day with the active residents of assisted living, some of whom came through The Rehab Inn,” said Nancy. “The community outings the residents go on is part of their health and social well-being. I’m really excited about that.”
Nancy grew up in Ashford, Alabama, and received her degree at UAB in 1994. She worked for 15 years as a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), and then went back to school and got her nursing degree. She returned to Dothan to serve at Southeast Health in inpatient Geri-psych on the behavioral management unit before joining the contracted therapy team at Wesley Place on Honeysuckle.
Under Nancy’s leadership, therapy and rehabilitation services at Wesley Place experienced 100% associate retention for 10 years, a significant achievement. Her team-building expertise is another skill that will benefit assisted living, and one of the reasons that Vivian Readus, the Administrator overseeing assisted living and memory care (SCALF), said that she is glad to welcome Nancy as her nurse and clinical leader.
“Nancy is eager to learn. Though she has not been in this environment before, while working in rehab, she would evaluate suitability for ALF or SCALF after an injury or illness,” Vivian observed. “We would take them over after their recovery. She was very knowledgeable of their overall health situation.”
Another strength Nancy brings to the table is knowledge of the struggles that families face as they consider appropriate care for a loved one. Nancy is intimately familiar the process.
“I just went through, with my mother, a long illness and looking for placement, and her changing needs. I can show families how to navigate that,” Nancy shared. “I was the caregiver for my mom, who recently passed at Wesley Place. We went through all the steps from being at home, through rehab, and then to skilled nursing care. I understand how people feel when trying to navigate care for a loved one.”
We are proud to welcome Nancy to her new role and to the full time team of Wesley Place on Honeysuckle. If Nancy can help you decide if assisted living or memory care assisted living (SCALF) might be appropriate for your loved one, call her at 334-792-0921.
