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Kathy White, an experienced caregiver in assisted living, recently returned to her former workplace at Royal Atrium Inn after a brief period at another facility. White had initially left seeking lighter duties due to physical pain but soon realized the new environment was not supportive.
“The support wasn’t there. The staff didn’t want to work. I realized quickly it wasn’t a good fit,” White said.
She contacted a former colleague at Royal Atrium Inn and asked if she could return. “I asked her, ‘Will you take me back?’ And she did. They welcomed me with open arms.”
White described her return as unexpectedly warm. “No one made me feel embarrassed for leaving. The residents were happy to see me. The team welcomed me. It just felt like home.”
Having worked in senior care for decades, White noted that Royal Atrium Inn stands out from other facilities she has experienced. “Some assisted living facilities feel like mini nursing homes. You’re rushed, overloaded, and don’t have time to connect,” she said. “Here, I can sit with residents. I can listen. I can build relationships with them and their families. And that makes all the difference.”
She emphasized the importance of leadership and culture at Royal Atrium Inn: “Our leadership listens. If I bring up a concern, it doesn’t disappear into a void. They try to help. You’re not just a number here. People know your name.”
White likened the atmosphere to that of a small town where many residents share longstanding connections: “It’s not your typical assisted living. It feels like a community. A real one.”
Reflecting on her career path, White said, “Not everyone gets to do the work they feel called to do... I’m lucky. This is what I believe I was meant to do.” She acknowledged the challenges of working in senior care but spoke about finding meaning even during difficult times: “You’re being let in behind the curtain at one of the most intimate, sacred times in someone’s life,” Kathy said. “Families trust us with that. That’s huge.”
White shared a story about reconnecting with a resident after her return; she had previously given this resident a handwritten note and Bible verse card before leaving, which the woman kept until her passing.
“She prayed that I’d succeed where I was, but if possible, I could come back,” Kathy said. “When I returned, she was so happy. And after she passed, her daughter gave that card back to me.”
Her personal experience caring for family members gives White additional perspective on her role as a caregiver; she and her husband cared for her parents at home for five years and later helped transition her father into memory care.
She also reflected on personal loss: Her brother died from brain cancer 18 years ago—a grief that shapes how she treats others in her care.
“That grief stays with you. But it also gives you perspective," White said." It reminds me to treat every resident the way I’d want my own family to be treated."
Now settled again at Royal Atrium Inn among colleagues and residents who value strong relationships and attentive care, White summed up her experience: "I’ve been in this field a long time. And I can tell you, this place is different,” Kathy said.
