Career Blog

During the month of November we celebrate National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.

A time to educate about the disease, celebrate the amazing caregivers and recognize the many struggles and success’s that come with both living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone who does.

Just recently in 2023, President Biden proclaimed that November would be Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s Disease is recognized in many ways and throughout many months. In June we celebrate The Longest Day honoring caregivers on the day with the most light. In September and October communities around the country participate in The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising both funds and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

At Northbridge, we are celebrating National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month but featuring a few of our compassionate, dedicated and incredible Avita Program Directors. Avita Program Directors oversee programming in our Avita Memory Care neighborhood. They are some of the most caring, passionate and creative people you will ever meet and we are lucky that they share their talents with Northbridge!

Avita Program Director: Tracey Meech
Community: Stone Hill at Andover

What first made you interested in working in Memory Care?
During a college break, in 1985 I started a job working as homemaker and was assigned to 2 sisters Marguerite and Henrietta. They were 92 and 96 years old and I adored them. I appreciated their longevity, humor, and resilience. I cooked for them and shopped for them Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Every visit they would want to hand me money to get milk and eggs, which they had plenty of. They never married and had lived in the same house together their entire life. I did that for the next few summers and knew working with seniors was my calling.

How long have you been working in Memory Care and what was your first job in this field?
38 years! My first job out of college was as an Activities Director in nursing homes. 12 years later I moved to Assisted Living where I’ve stayed in multiple capacities.

What is your favorite part about working with residents living with Alzheimer’s or dementia?
Every day is different, and I can change the trajectory of their days with a smile, a laugh or the simple act of taking a walk. I love seeing the smiles on the faces of our residents and the heartfelt gratitude shared from our families.

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia?
They are all unique. That folks living with Alzheimer’s are not giving us a hard time, they are having a hard time.

What is your favorite program to run with residents?
“This is your Life”  we gather photos and mementos from a resident and share it with an entire group. Residents beam recalling their favorite places and people. This usually starts the beginning of a reminiscing session for all in attendance.

What is a popular program among your residents?
Anything with music. We sing and dance every day. It’s almost impossible to not be happy when you dance.

What is one piece of advice you would share with someone starting out in a career working in memory care?
Be present and celebrate the moments. It’s a great and growing field where you will be paid to make a positive impact.

What keeps you invested in the field of memory care?
Knowledge that others I love may find themselves on the same journey, and I’d like to model the care and compassion I’d want for myself and expected for my own father, who had dementia.

What is your favorite part about your job?
There is one thing Alzheimer’s can’t take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory-it’s a feeling that resides in one’s heart and soul.

Northbridge residents enjoy engaging programs based on our three pillars of engagement – to move, to connect, to feel and to learn. All of our associates receive dedicated dementia training to provide the best and most compassionate care for our residents. Northbridge offers a variety of signature programs that provide our residents and families excellent engagement and learning opportunities as well as a sense of purpose. Be sure to learn more about our Northbridge Signature Programs, Senior Green, Artist in Residence, Cooking up Memories, Eat Fresh, Eat Local, Join My Journey.

Find a position at a Northbridge community near you!

Click here to view jobs.

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Working at a Northbridge senior living community

If you are considering a career in senior living, we hope you’ll consider one of our communities. Our team of associates makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents, every day. Because of that, we treat our team like family and we’re happy to offer:

• Competitive Pay
• Flexible Schedules
• Direct Deposit
• Vacation & Personal Days
• Paid Holidays & Sick Time
• Your Birthday Off
• Health Insurance to Qualified Associates
• 401k Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ongoing Education
• Associate Appreciation

View our careers website today to view open positions, what a day working at Northbridge is like, and why our associates love to work here.

As a New England senior living company, we pride ourselves in being the local choice for families in need of assisted living or memory care. We look to our teams of associates to truly make our communities home for our residents. Whether that’s a helping hand or a moment to listen to a story, our associates are dedicated and compassionate. With 19 communities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we hope you’ll find your home here too. If you already love what you do, and want to love where you work, apply now! We look forward to meeting you.