A Safer Workplace for All
At ThriveMore, safety is a shared commitment, lived out every day by the people who care for our residents and look out for one another.
That commitment was recognized today with a dividend presentation from our insurance partner Propel Insurance. Team members gathered at Taylor Glen to celebrate a culture that continues to put people first.
Over the past several years, ThriveMore has made safety a strategic priority across its communities, said Jessica McCollum, Chief Operating Officer. We joined the UNITY Senior Care Group in 2021 with a focused effort to foster a stronger, more consistent culture of care.
“We took that opportunity to really focus on safety and make it a strategic focus,” Jessica said.
Working closely with Eastern Alliance and McGriff, we developed a formal safety program, implemented a vehicle safety initiative and established safety committees at every community that meet monthly to identify risks, address concerns and promote a culture of accountability. Brad Lindsey, Director of Risk Management from Eastern Alliance, began quarterly visits to help the teams learn from their experience and address potential safety risks.
Those efforts are making a difference. Across ThriveMore communities, fewer people are getting hurt on the job. Incidents declined significantly year over year at Taylor Glen, Brookridge and Ardenwoods, with Taylor House remaining consistently low.
As a result of these improvements, ThriveMore received a $32,000 check from Propel, with the funds being reinvested into our communities for training and tools to empower our team to continue working in safety.
But as President and CEO Reed VanderSlik reminded those gathered, the real measure of success goes beyond the numbers.
“Getting a check is wonderful, right? Because it's that affirmation of what we do,” he said. “But the reality is – it means we have less people hurt. That's the thing we are most proud of.”
Richard Todd, program director of the UNITY Group, affirmed the team for their hard work to increase team member safety.
That kind of progress doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through consistent effort, attention to detail and a willingness to take safety seriously even when the work happens behind the scenes.
“It’s not always a glamorous spot to be in,” Todd shared with team members from the Taylor Glen safety committee, recognizing the important role they play.
At ThriveMore, that work shows up every day in big and small ways. It’s in the moments when team members pause to double-check a process, speak up about a potential risk or support one another in doing things the right way. We’re especially thankful for those who have led out in this safety initative, including the safety committee serving at each of our campuses, Shannon Sears, Executive Vice President of Quality, Safety, Risk and Compliance, and especially Jessica for her leadership of the whole initiative.
As ThriveMore continues to grow, the organization remains committed to reinvesting in the resources that support this progress, including training, equipment and tools that help team members do their work safely and with confidence.
Because in the end, safety isn’t about recognition or results alone. It’s about making sure every team member can go home at the end of the day the same way they arrived. And that’s something worth celebrating.