Erica Hack was already in love with Wesley at Tehaleh when she learned of an open position in the community’s maintenance department. She knew exactly who to call: her husband. So in the summer of 2020, Konrad joined his wife and the Wesley team.
“We met in Tucson as employees at an L.A. Fitness,” says Erica. “I knew there’d be no problem working together here.”
But unlike in Tucson, the Hacks rarely see each other during their work day. Their offices are in different areas of the community. However, Konrad, now the Environmental Services manager, says they make a point to have lunch or take a break together.
Choosing Senior Living
In addition to their four dogs and a cat, Erica and Konrad share a love of working in senior living. As the community’s Environmental Services manager, Konrad is charged with ensuring the grounds and buildings are beautiful and functioning. As the director of Resident Engagement, Erica’s responsibilities include creating activities that engage residents mentally and physically.
“I like to focus on what residents do well already and continue to assist them in maintaining their independence while also doing something they love,” she says. “Running these activities keeps me happy and fulfilled.”
Konrad, who has worked in senior communities for nine years, believes certain types of people are intuitively drawn to engaging with older adults. He believes most new employees either discover their career path because they love seniors or decide they want something different.
“I was the youngest of five kids. When I was growing up, my parents were the age of many of my friend’s grandparents,” he says. “I was always very comfortable around older adults. I find aging very interesting and appreciate the sense of humor among our residents.”
Konrad also appreciates working at Wesley. He likes that Wesley at Tehaleh’s intimate size allows everyone who works and lives there to know each other and feel nurtured.
“At Wesley, I’ve never found that a project that needs to be done is dismissed or ignored,” he says. “It’s never about dollars and cents. It’s about how can this improve the service to our residents.”
Finding and Bringing Joy
Konrad and Erica agree that working in a senior community is not for everybody.
“You’re going to have your bad days in any job,” says Erica. “However, the fun days are really fun. For example, just this morning, I played chair volleyball with residents who are not very ambulatory. But there we were, cracking jokes and giggling. Something as simple as tossing around a volleyball brought so much joy. Working here is so important because of just that, seeing joy among residents. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Konrad also finds joy at Wesley, sometimes in unexpected places. When he began at Wesley, he was unclear about donating to the Wesley Community Foundation. He assumed he was contributing his hard-earned money back to his employer.
“I soon learned that Wesley and Wesley Community Foundation were separate nonprofits,” he says. “I became a strong advocate of the Foundation and their programs, and I regularly contribute to the Employee Assistance Fund that supports our work community. For example, if somebody has a car issue they can’t afford to fix, they can apply to the Foundation for funds to get things sorted. We had a resident named Fred who made an impact of a lot of us. Fred was one of the first residents to move to Wesley at Tehaleh and a proponent of the Circle of Concern fund. This fund helps support residents who face unexpected hardship and who might no longer be able to afford to live here. It’s an awesome program that allows people to keep living here.”
Blessings
Solving problems in his own work comes naturally to Konrad, who notes every maintenance person he’s ever met shares a passion for fixing things.
“People who work in maintenance departments all share a similar sense of humor,” he says. “We’re always fiddling with things to make them better. Though as the manager, I am stuck behind my desk more than I like to be, I appreciate that I still can get out and fix stuff and make it work.”
Like her husband, Erica appreciates the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the Wesley community.
“Working with seniors is a true blessing,” she says. “You have unlimited access to some of the most amazing life experiences and stories that you would never find in another job. I love communicating with residents and developing a very special bond with them. It’s unlike any other career; this one truly gives back.”
Sharing work that you love with your spouse is also a blessing. Erica and Konrad make separate contributions in their roles, but together, they bring joy and commitment to Wesley and each other.