At Bishop Gadsden, community runs deep with generations of families connected through residency, career, and care. Many residents learned about this unique community through their loved ones who lived here before them - countless brothers, sisters, cousins, and parents who have walked these halls. These family connections bring warm comfort, continuity, and a sense of belonging, inviting people to follow those special ties to live or work here. Whether it is seeing the excellence in care provided to their parents or being a team member who serves as a giver of that care, each person is bound by the roots laid down by their family at Bishop Gadsden, creating a legacy of generations of care. 

When team members have relatives living on campus, it nurtures daily interactions, allowing them to maintain close ties with their family members. Susan Legare recalls many visits from her father during her time as CFO. “My dad would drop in all the time and start chatting, and I didn't have the heart to tell him I was working,” she joked. She was grateful she didn’t, as she now has fond memories of their conversations to reminisce about. Susan’s experience is common for team members with relatives living at Bishop Gadsden. Mary Dallas Moore, Head Concierge, receives visits from her father, Pete Carter, who currently resides in Myers Hall, but many times, she is the one doing the visiting. “It is easy for me to run by in the mornings before my workday starts. I can help him - grocery shop for him or do anything out of the ordinary.” That proximity allows her to see her father and assist him in small tasks, creating valuable moments between them that would not be possible should she live or work farther away. “I love getting up, coming to work, and I don’t worry when I leave, knowing he’s taken care of.” 

This closeness is beneficial in transitions to different levels of care and having the knowledge and resources a team member has. As Susan’s mother moved through the continuum of care from independent living through skilled nursing, she took on a new role - a family member - while the team members she worked with daily became a different resource. They became a support system and helpful guide as she navigated her mother’s move. “I thought I knew what moving to a new community within Bishop Gadsden looked like, but going through it as a family member completely changed my perception.” The hands-on approach from Bishop Gadsden and the informative and comforting help during this time gave her the support she needed to help her mother through a transformative time in her life. “I could not have done it without this community; I was so thankful to be working here during that time.” When recalling her father’s move from independent to assisted living, Mary Dallas expressed the same sentiment, “I know who and when to call or email. I can stay on top of it, which is great as a family member.”

When residents discover Bishop Gadsden through their parents moving in, it provides them with a greater understanding of the process of moving through the continuum, but it also gives them insight into the unique culture the community possesses. A new resident, Barbara Dotterer, is already well acquainted with Bishop Gadsden, its operations, and its residents, even though she has only been on campus for one month. Her mother and mother-in-law lived at Bishop Gadsden long before the thought of becoming a resident crossed her mind. “I had great faith in the way this place operated and the people they selected to represent them here. I know and love so many team members, as many of them are still here after twenty-five years, which says a lot.” In addition to forming connections with team members, she bonded with many residents. Through visiting their loved ones' homes and joining them for events and activities, she became familiar with their friends and lifestyle. “My mother-in-law, of course, was older than I, but her friends became my friends, and I used to come around very often just to spend time with them,” she said. These touchstones to current residents and team members eased her transition from family member to resident as she recognized many faces she passed in the hallway. “Bishop Gadsden has been like my second family.” 

Several residents and team members have family members who live or have lived here, creating unique and cherished generations of care. This intergenerational connection fosters a family-like atmosphere where community members know each other well before they walk through the door. It fosters a unique bond that brings comfort and security as one experiences retiring or assists their loved ones in life transitions. It also cultivates a sense of legacy—an enduring connection to Bishop Gadsden, with each generation passing down a shared history with deep roots.

*The photo above features Mary Dallas Moore, a team member, and her father, Pete Carter, a resident.