Alyce Kincanon

I am most proud of the fact that my biggest desire in life is to always be able to leave others better than when I first began my interaction with them, no matter how big or small. In January, I was laid off from Lumina because they eliminated my position, but I didn't realize what a big impact I had made on my senior living community and my fellow colleagues. Once people found out I was looking for a job, I didn't even have to apply - everyone would call me to interview, saying 'we have this opportunity for you, don't worry about it, we have you, you're amazing, we know you have a good heart.' It was validation that I am making an impact, that I really genuinely care and just want to see the best for everybody, to be that encourager and help them however I can. It was very unexpected but definitely very touching and meaningful.

One, take care of yourself, because you can't pour from an empty cup. These are people that need a lot of love - both the caregivers and the residents need a lot of love, because your job is hard. And two, if you see something, say something. We need more people to stand up and say something and advocate when they see that something is not right, because that's the only way we'll be able to effectively change senior living for the better. It's important to be firm but fair. We need good leaders with integrity and heart to come alongside those caregivers or whoever and coach them, and say something. And then if something doesn't change, then that person obviously isn't cut out for this field and they need to go. Please, if you see something, say something and do something about it.

I think the biggest challenge for me is the politics. I personally am what you see is what you get - I'm very direct, and if I say something, I mean it. It's hard for me to navigate the politics of senior living homes because not everybody's in it for the right reason. A lot of these companies are just in it to make a buck off of our seniors and not necessarily provide good care. I really struggle with that, and I also probably open my mouth and advocate for the residents or for what I believe is correct a little too much in some cases, because it doesn't always go over well. They don't always like me because it affects their bottom line, but essentially they're not meeting residents' needs. It's trying to find that balance between morality and being ethical and still serving everyone appropriately. I just don't like the politics. There's too many politics in this garbage corporation stuff that prevents people from being terminated when they should be.

I was raised in a home that was just very service-minded. We're supposed to love people the way Jesus loves people, and that's unconditionally, and to meet them where they're at. If you can help, you should. That's how I live my life, and I'm blessed that I can continue my career in that same mindset of helping others. My grandparents would tell me that Jesus calls us to love the forgotten, to love the unlovely, and to love the least of these. Jesus says, as you do unto the least of these, you do unto me. So you look at them like they're Jesus, and you just love them. That was the core of my childhood growing up. First of all, everyone deserves to be treated with love and dignity and respect. Nobody should be neglected or left to sit in their own waste or have food all down the front of them. Nobody should be in that position - that's evil. These families are trusting us with their most precious person, and we have to honor that trust.