by Kaylin McKee
Hi, I’m Kaylin! I’ve been with Homeplace of Henderson for three and a half years now – two years as a caregiver, one year as administrative assistant, and six months as the Director of Wellness!
Six months into my role as Director of Wellness at Homeplace of Henderson, I’ve had the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally while embracing the responsibilities of leadership and compassionate care. With my background in nursing and years of caregiver experience at Homeplace, I’ve been able to blend clinical knowledge with a strong focus on building meaningful relationships with residents, families, and staff. Over the past several months, I’ve worked to create an environment where residents feel safe, supported, and truly at home, while also empowering my team to deliver high-quality, person-centered care. I’ve been especially passionate about enhancing education around dementia care and promoting a culture rooted in patience, understanding, and respect. This experience has been both rewarding and inspiring, and I look forward to continuing to learn, lead, and make a positive impact each day.
Throughout the last six months, I have grown significantly in my ability to communicate professionally and effectively with both staff and families, while still maintaining the strong, personal connections that are so important to resident care. I’ve learned that clear, compassionate communication builds trust—not only in difficult conversations, but in everyday interactions—and helps create a more collaborative, supportive environment. At the same time, I’ve remained deeply rooted in my relationships with residents, making it a priority to stay present, approachable, and engaged in their daily lives. Alongside these improvements, we have also worked to incorporate new clinical advancements into our community, including new genetic testing, enhanced education for staff to better meet the evolving needs of our residents. These changes have allowed us to elevate the quality of care we provide while strengthening the sense of connection and confidence shared among residents, families, and our care team.
Our genetic testing, GeneSight, is something I am so excited about! It is a cheek swab test that includes information on individual medications and its direct relationship to the resident’s genetics! It is completely individualized and provides our healthcare partners with essential knowledge to better care and understand for our residents. This testing is of no cost with Medicare and Medicare Part B – typically $330 or less for any commercial or other insurance plans. This testing helps to cut down on the costs of trialing medications and prevents adverse effects from the medications that would not work for them!
As I reflect on this journey, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and to be part of such a meaningful and rewarding field. It is truly a privilege to care for and connect with each of our residents, to support and grow alongside my coworkers, and to build trusting relationships with the families who place their confidence in us every day. I genuinely love what I do, and the people I have the honor of working with and caring for make it all worthwhile. I look forward to continuing this journey with compassion, dedication, and a deep commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.