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NURSE RELISHES LIFELONG CAREER OF CARING
Marcia Kooiman Exudes Passion for People and Profession at The Terraces of Phoenix
PHOENIX, Ariz.: Marcia Kooiman remembers the first senior she ever cared for — her grandmother. Now, nearly five decades later, the local registered nurse gives that same compassion to a number of area seniors at The Terraces, a retirement community in Phoenix, without ever losing that warm spirit she first found years ago.
“Nursing has been a great career for me. I’ve loved every moment of it,” said Kooiman, Director of Nursing at The Terraces of Phoenix, who considers herself fortunate to have spent 37 years as a nurse.
“It’s about finding something that you truly love. For me, it all started when I was seven years old. I began visiting my grandma regularly at the boarding house in which she lived. As I got older, I would swing by every Saturday and style her hair, along with a couple of other ladies’ hair. I loved it, and they loved it. I knew right then that this was my cup of tea, that I had a passion for caring for people. When I came of age, I began working for a hospital, and I’ve never looked back.” Kooiman now manages a team of nearly 60 nurses at The Village, The Terraces’ skilled nursing suites, including CNAs, LPNs and RNs, who provide care for residents in the community’s 64 skilled nursing suites.
“If you’re the type of person who is caring and compassionate to others, now is a perfect time to get into the field,” suggests Kooiman.
According to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that projects employment trends through 2018, nursing ranked extremely high on the list of jobs with strong future growth. In fact, in the next decade, there will be an increase of nearly 300,000 new nursing jobs in the United States. As the population ages and more people move to senior communities like The Terraces of Phoenix, Kooiman and other nurses who care for seniors will be in a particularly high demand.
“Working with older adults is a perfect fit for me,” said Kooiman. “I enjoy providing care to people who have been long-time residents of The Terraces and now need rehabilitation or have moved from residential living to skilled nursing, as part of the community’s continuing care philosophy.”
Kooiman’s love for her profession is evident to the residents and staff alike. “Marcia is extremely faithful and passionate about providing the highest quality of care for our residents,” said Tom Dorough, executive director for The Terraces. “Whether she’s talking to doctors, making sure residents’ needs are being met, or meeting with family members, Marcia takes great pride in providing personalized care to all residents and enhancing their quality of life. That’s what it’s all about in the field of nursing.”
According to Kooiman, The Terraces has received “A” ratings the past two years by the Arizona Department of Health Services Long-Term Care Survey. Resident satisfaction and employee satisfaction surveys have revealed excellent results, as well. “Building relationships with the residents and their families, along with my staff, may be the best part of my job,” said Kooiman. “It’s quite rewarding to talk with family members who are tickled pink with the care their father or grandmother is receiving.”
As the growing need for nurses continues to rise, Kooiman plans to continue her lifelong calling doing exactly what she’s doing today. “I’m not going to give it up. It’s my gift!” said Kooiman.
For more information about skilled nursing at The Terraces, call (602) 906-4024 or visit www.TheTerracesPhoenix.com.
Conveniently located in the heart of Phoenix at 7550 N. 16th Street, The Terraces offers active older adults a maintenance-free lifestyle with a selection of 217 total residences. The apartment homes feature a variety of spacious one-bedroom, two-bedroom and two-bedroom with den floor plans, including well-designed layouts with ample storage space and the latest interior finish options. The Terraces’ lifestyle includes restaurant-quality dining options; weekly housekeeping; regularly scheduled transportation; 24-hour security; a health and fitness center; individualized personal training programs; a swimming pool; wellness programs; a state-of-the-art technology center that incorporates Posit Science™, a brain fitness program; a theater and auditorium; lounge; The Oasis Spa; a club and game room; library; Piccolo Bistro; beauty salon and barbershop; and cultural, social, educational and recreational activities.In addition to a fulfilling residential living lifestyle, this continuing care retirement community offers a full spectrum of care options, including 49 on-site assisted living apartments, 64 skilled nursing suites and 25 memory support suites.
The Terraces of Phoenix is managed by ABHOW, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. ABHOW is a nonsectarian corporation, serving seniors through quality retirement housing since 1949.
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