Meet Jean Richert, One of Golden Living’s Longest Tenured Employees

Golden LivingCenters | posted June 11, 2014 |

In celebration of our 50 Years of Service, we acknowledge the dedication of the longest tenured employees beginning this week with Jean Richert, the interim executive director at Golden Living Center - Golden Age in Tomahawk, Wis.

Jean was hired at Golden Living on May 20, 1968 and began working at a facility in Tomahawk in March of 1969 as a nurses’ assistant. The facility only had five residents when it opened, and Jean was on the night shift. Her duties included laundry and mopping the facility. At the strong encouragement of her colleagues and the residents, Jean attended nursing school and graduated in 1978 and continued as a nurse working at the LivingCenter.

The biggest change Jean has observed through the years has been the acuity of the residents. In the 1970’s, residents came to an assisted living center to avoid being home alone. Jean recalls the residents being active, healthy and walking. Now the residents are taking a lot more medication and rarely mobile.

Technology also has shifted quite a bit, Jean notes. Handwritten physicians orders and individually wrapped pills have been replaced with computerized orders and AlixaRx systems.  

Jean has some special memories from her time with Golden Living.

“The opportunities with Golden Living are there for people if you have the determination and willingness to pursue them,” Jean says. “It’s the people – both my colleagues and the residents – who mentored and encouraged me. That’s what I want to be as my mentors and the residents have given me my job satisfaction all these years.”

Safety has been a core value for Jean. Her facilities have won multiple awards for safety, and she even was brought in to consult and troubleshoot sister facilities over the years. 

 “I’ve never lost my love for long term care.”

Join us as we celebrate Jean’s years of service as part of Golden Living’s 50 Years of Service commemoration.