Meet some of the members of our team here at Sunrise of Fair Oaks, Virginia.
Lyndee joined the Sunrise of Fair Oaks team as Executive Director in 2001. With 20 years of experience in elder care, as well as a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration and Human Resources, Lyndee has developed a true passion for working with seniors. According to Lyndee, her favorite Sunrise Principle is Nurturing the Spirit, saying “I enjoy offering a variety of personalized programming: indoor and outdoor activities, planned and spontaneous activities, and spiritual events - the special things that are different for everyone but bring happiness to our residents.”
Mary joined Sunrise of Fair Oaks in 2008 as a Care Manager. She has been promoted many times throughout her years here, completed her education to be a Licensed Vocational Nurse, and then earned her Master’s Degree in Health Administration as well as her Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Administrator’s (RCFE) License. In her current role of Health Care Manager, Mary takes joy in providing quality care to her residents with a smile and can-do attitude each day. Her favorite Sunrise Principle of Service is Preserving Dignity. “Preserving ones dignity is important because it allows individuals to feel respected, valued and connected with others around them, thus improving their quality of life,” she said.
After several years of working with seniors in a skilled nursing facility, Stacy found her passion for activities and went back to school to become a Certified Activities Professional. She knew that working with seniors in Assisted Living was her calling and found Sunrise to be the perfect place to follow her heart.
After many years working in sales and service, Patrick decided to rekindle his passion for cooking by furthering his culinary knowledge and skills. He has since earned two diplomas from the Art Institute of Sacramento in the art of Cooking, Baking and Pastry. His passion is in senior dining and he intends to continue using his knowledge and skills to provide a world-class experience to our residents here at Sunrise of Fair Oaks.
His favorite Sunrise Principle of Service is Enabling Freedom of Choice. “I truly enjoy not only offering our residents many choices at meal time, but also getting them involved,” he said. “I talk to our residents to find out what their favorite recipes are and to seek out suggestions on new cuisines to feature on our menu.”
Katie has more than 20 years of experience working with and caring for seniors. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant while still attending high school in Minnesota. Since joining our team at Sunrise of Fair Oaks, Katie has taken on many roles, including Care Manager, cook, bus driver and Medication Manager. Katie was promoted to her current position of Assisted Living Coordinator in 2014.
Her favorite Sunrise Principle of Service has always been Nurturing the Spirit. “Too often, we underestimate the power of a smile, a kind word, a listening ear or the smallest act of caring,” she said. “Each of these things can have a positive impact on one’s spirit. Sunrise is a second home to me, and my residents are like family.”
Samantha realized her love for seniors while caring for her grandmother in 2009. She began her career with Sunrise of Fair Oaks the next year as a Care Manager, then become a medication manager and is now serving the residents as the Reminiscence Coordinator. She specializes in Alzheimer’s and dementia care and helps others to better understand and learn how to provide meaningful care to those who need it.
Samantha’s favorite Sunrise Principle of Service is Involving Family and Friends. “Family and friends are very important to me,” she said. “They are the ones who can help heal and sooth our heart and souls, which is why I am thankful Sunrise is my home away from home.”
Erika joined Sunrise Senior Living for very personal reasons. When her grandfather’s dementia became too much for her grandmother to handle, he moved in to Sunrise of Petaluma, where Erika’s sister was the Sales and Marketing Director. Erika saw the love and care he received every day before passing away, and knew she had found her direction in life. After two years in the role of Sales and Marketing Director at Sunrise, she transitioned to Business Office Coordinator and has enjoyed that role ever since.
Erika’s favorite Sunrise principle of service is Celebrating Individuality. “Each of our residents has their own story to tell and I enjoy hearing each one,” she said. “When we truly get to know our residents, we are better able to serve them.”