In what was a chilly month for most communities, Waltonwood Senior Living set a goal to warm hearts: Leaders, associates, and residents alike were invited to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day, Feb. 17, throughout the month.
In Rochester Hills, Mich., Waltonwood University executive director Jonathan Hills cleared snow from staff members’ cars before they left for home. At Walton-wood Cherry Hill, in Canton, Mich., team member Diana Woolum, 70, got a surprise birthday party, with cake and balloons, from her afternoon team colleagues. Residents babysat for friends’ pets, staff members made baked goods for essential service providers, and hallways bloomed with spontaneous decorations.
The campaign exceeded the goal of 2,022 Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK) for 2022, racking up 2,970 acts over the month of February. Waltonwood communities, owned and operated by Singh, offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia.
“Our communities really hit the ground running with this initiative and met close to 500 acts of kindness documented by others in just the first week,” says Sara Bailey, senior regional director of sales for Waltonwood. Acts of kindness were documented through a note sent to leadership at communities.
A healthy impact
“The incredible results from this RAOK campaign are a testament to our family culture at Waltonwood. Our associates and residents have such generous and caring spirits. Residents, associates, and strangers alike had a little extra pep in their step and were even giddy when they were giving and receiving these heartfelt gestures,” says Lindsay Charlefour, director of life enrichment at Waltonwood.
“Kindness comes in many forms, and likewise can positively impact people in many measurable ways,” Charlefour adds. “Simple acts of random kindness can reduce pain, anxiety, and stress, while increasing our energy, lifespan, and happiness.”
Random acts of kindness can be as simple as giving a sincere compliment or a validating note, according to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website (randomactsofkindness.org), which has ideas, posters, and stories. An act of kindness can benefit the community, such as through a volunteer or fundraising campaign, or be an act kindness at work, such as answering calls or emails promptly. Kindness to the earth—using a re-usable water bottle or planting a tree—also counts, as does kindness to oneself—getting enough sleep or taking time for a stretch.
Wide participation
“The best part about it was seeing involvement from everyone, including our residents, staff, and senior leadership team,” says Bailey.
“We’re really hoping that this month-long recognition of kindness continues well into the future as another value of Waltonwood communities: Impactful habits of acting through kindness, and compassion around every corner that makes lives just that much better.”
In a message to the community teams, leadership thanked them for their efforts to generate a colorful and creative environment filled with positivity: “Your leadership efforts, filled with kindness, are contagious.”
