Maureen Gartland is vice president/administrator at St. Catherine Labouré Manor, a faith-based nursing home affiliated with St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
HOW LONG ON THE JOB?
Eight and a half years.
WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES?
“I am responsible for the overall operations and management of St. Catherine’s. I’m also in charge of the hospital-based skilled nursing unit at St. Vincent’s and Club 55 Plus, a social membership program for seniors that come to the hospital.”
THE FACTS ON LABOURÉ
“We have four units of 60 beds that stay pretty full, 97-98 percent occupied. One is a specialty unit that is secured. It is especially designed for Alzheimer’s patients and the cognitively impaired. The other three are for long-term care.”
WHERE DO YOUR SENIORS COME FROM?
“We draw from Georgia to the beaches and all areas of Jacksonville. The most typical is female, over the age of 80 who needs help with most activities of everyday living.”
WHAT DISTINGUISHES YOUR FACILITY?
“It’s a physically beautiful building and we have a wonderful garden on the river. We have innovative programs in our activities department for recreation events. The pastoral care department also makes us a little different. We offer Catholic mass five, six days a week but have services for all other denominations.”
WHAT IS PASTORAL CARE?
“They serve residents and staff by providing support and spiritual guidance. They help with adjustment issues and grief counseling.”
SOME BACKGROUND
“Prior to this experience I was in South Florida for 10 years and prior to that I was in Chicago. I did some consulting for nursing homes as well. All the other facilities [she worked for] were for profit.”
WHY GO INTO THIS FIELD?
“I walked into the wrong office [for a job interview]. I had an interest in emotionally disturbed children. It’s difficult work, but I thought I would investigate it. I walked into the employment section [by mistake] and they said I would fit in at a nursing home. After 30 days I was hooked.”
WHAT’S THE APPEAL FOR YOU?
“I love the residents and the patients. I love working with the elderly — from the feisty little old ladies who don’t want to give up their independence to those with Alzheimer’s who give you unconditional love. I look at what a person can do, not what they can’t do anymore. It teaches you to be positive.”
WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE?
“I work with residents, families, run the business in addition to being responsible for maintaining regulations, well management and the operations of the business. It gives you a day with a lot of variety.”
WHAT OBSTACLES DO YOU FACE?
“Over the years you learn to cope with the heartbreak. The most difficult aspects are the challenges in the profession today, which are the high cost of liability insurance, lack of good funding to pay for qualified care and a shortage of licensed nursing personnel.”
BORN
Marion, Ind.
ANALYZE THIS
She studied psychology and sociology at Barat College and DePaul University.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND
Bear, Gartland’s dog, routinely joins her at work and tags along when she makes rounds. “He knows what rooms will give him treats and makes the rounds based on that.”
AFFILIATIONS
Gartland serves on the Riverside Fine Arts Association, Body & Soul and is board president of Grove House. She is also a member of Rotary Club and Jacksonville Women’s Network.
WHAT IS BODY & SOUL?
“James Jenkins [a tubist with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra] developed the program. The theory is that music or the arts will enhance the well-being of the ill. St. Vincent’s gave seed money to try it at St. Catherine’s. It did boost their feelings about themselves. It provides for large group events and room-to-room visits. We found a partner in the Cummer [Museum of Arts & Gardens] and they combined art with it. The program is going to other facilities.”
BELLS WILL BE RINGING
An Avondale resident, Gartland is engaged to Robert Phillips, a teacher at Arlington Country Day School. The wedding will take place in October or November.
HOBBIES
Fly fishing, traveling to Chicago, music or reading a good book, especially mysteries, thrillers or romances. She rushes home to watch the television series “JAG” and raves about Seafood World in Pompano Beach.
WHO’S YOUR HERO?
“Abraham Lincoln. He overcame a lot of hurdles. He failed at lots of business ventures and lost a lot of elections but ended up being a favorite president, carrying us through a turbulent time in U.S. history with passion, dignity and common sense. He has a famous quote that I love about the elderly. Basically it says that you can tell the character of a nation by the way they treat their elders. It’s very easy for countries to care for children but those that care for the elderly know they’re caring for the treasures of society.”
— by Monica Chamness