Meet the Family: Gloria Bachorowski of Middlewoods of Farmington

What makes a house a home? It's not the fancy furniture or shiny chandeliers, but the family who gathers there. At UMH senior living communities, our staff members are one of the main reasons why our residents feel so at home! By fostering caring relationships, staff play an essential role in helping our residents navigate the journey of aging - from the very first visit, to the day they move into our community and every day after that! Read our "Meet the Family" spotlight below to see how Gloria Bachorowski makes our residents' home such a special place....

Meet Gloria Bachorowski!

Wait Staff - Kitchen, Middlewoods of Farmington

After completing college and getting married, I worked at a Montessori School for 8 years. During this time, I raised my son who is now 48 years old. I have one granddaughter who is 6 years old. I love to cook, needlepoint, go for walks, watch movies and read a good book. I love laughing and meeting new people.

I started working at the UMH independent and assisted living community, Middlewoods of Farmington, a year and a half ago, as part of the Wait Staff.

What inspired you to work with older adults?

I was inspired to work with older adults because although I have always worked with children, I wanted to experience the other end of the spectrum. That’s what attracted me to work at Middlewoods of Farmington senior living community.

What's your day-to-day interaction with the residents?

I mostly help the residents with breakfast and lunch: taking their orders, chatting, and getting to know them more (especially their likes and dislikes when it comes to food!). We, as wait staff, are also there to assist residents in any way we can, even if it is something as simple as holding a door open or noticing that someone hasn’t been eating much. In which case, we’d notify nursing to make sure everything is OK.

What do you think makes UMH different from other senior living communities?

I believe the entire staff is what makes UMH different from other senior communities. We all know each other and work as a team and a family. We have dedicated and hardworking people here.

What do you like most about working in a senior living community?

I love the friends I have made while working at Middlewoods of Farmington - staff and residents. I love to hear stories the residents tell us about their families and themselves, and they love to hear the staff's stories too. These stories make for good friendships.

From your experience, what advice would you give families and their loved ones who are thinking about making a move to senior living?

Advice I would give families who are thinking about making the move to senior living would be to not make a decision on the first place they look at. Explore your options. Talk to the staff and come for a visit. Decide what feels the most like home.

How do you help residents feel at home?

I always have a warm greeting for residents (especially in the morning). I make it a point to assist them if needed and I am always cheerful around them. We all have problems, but I leave my problems outside before I enter the building.

Is there anything else you would like to mention about UMH, our residents or our staff members?

I am so grateful I was hired by UMH and have enjoyed working at the Middlewoods of Farmington location. We have wonderful residents and staff at Middlewoods. I can truly say I enjoy going to work each morning.