community Baird Nursing Home office manager celebrates 30 years

Kathi Hartgrove, office manager at The Baird Nursing Home, recently celebrated 30 years at the nursing home.

Hartgrove has seen many changes in the industry during her time with the company. When she first started working at Baird, she was responsible for billing, payroll, accounts receivable and payables and general office duties. She had time for spend with the residents and the families.

Due to changing government administrative requirements and regulations, her job duties became more involved, and she had less time to dedicate to residents and families. Many other positions have been added to attend to those needs of residents and families.

“I love the small atmosphere here,” Hartgrove said. “The staff really gets to know each other, and it makes for a home-like atmosphere, not just for residents but for the staff as well.”

Because of very little turnover at The Baird, residents and their families see the same faces. Almost 30 percent of employees have worked at the nursing home for 10 years or more.

High turnover rates among nursing home staff is well documented. According to the American Health Care Association, the median turnover rate for all employees in skilled nursing care centers was 43.9 percent.

“When there's less turnover, it's great for the employees and the residents,” Hartgrove said. “You can create those lasting relationships, and that puts residents at ease, knowing who they will see every day.”

Hartgrove also said that having a boss who understands family priorities and employee well-being has been part of the reason she has stayed for so long. Being a single mother of three, Hartgrove said it would have been nearly impossible to stay at home to care for her children when they were sick if Steve Heard, owner and administrator of Baird Nursing Home, had not been caring and understanding when a situation would arise.

“I appreciate her hard work and loyalty over the years,” Heard said. “It is very hard to find someone like this today.”

Adding to the home-like atmosphere, she has seen many different cats at the home, with three different cats living there during her tenure.

The current Baird cat is Mr. Steve, a 12-year-old gray tabby who visits residents during activities and throughout the day.

Hartgrove has the second-longest tenure at the nursing home.

“This is a great place to work,” Hartgrove said. “Everyone is easy going, helpful and flexible. We've all become like family here.”