Julie Wohlman, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Vista Prairie at Garnette Gardens in Redwood Falls, MN, will celebrate her 60th birthday in style this month. She’s on the air, talking about how much she loves her job in her first six months on Garnette’s staff. Julie says it all came about from a question.
“A resident asked me how I liked working here,” Julie recalls. “I said ‘I love it here.’ She says, ‘Do they treat you well?’ and I said, ‘Oh yes, they treat us very well here.’” One thing led to another and before she knew it, she was recording this spot for a KLGR radio ad.
A mother of four and stepmother for three more, Julie said she’d always been interested in health care. She served at an area nursing home but found the job too physically taxing. After working in retail for a couple years, her husband suggested she apply for an opening at Garnette Gardens, noting the differences between a nursing home and the responsibilities in assisted living and memory care. It was the right decision.
“The residents are just awesome,” Julie notes. “I love to listen to their stories. They talk about what it was like ‘back in the day,’ and we have a lot in common.”
While she grew up in the Twin Cities, Julie lives on a farm now and says she enjoys talking about farming with the residents. She says service for residents is what keeps her at Garnette Gardens. And the residents are clearly happy she’s part of the community. “We have one resident who just loves to tease me,” she says, “and you just have to give it back.”
The community offers 62 one and two-bedroom apartments for seniors who also value their independence but need options for personal care and supportive services. We also offer 16 memory care suites. Nine care suites round out the options, offering a higher level of assisted living care and supervision.