Eastern Shore Native Tenille Taylor Brings Experience and Passion for Geriatric Care to Rural Nursing Facility
PARKSLEY, VA– For Tenille Taylor, the administrator of Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center, it’s “all about the residents.”
Located on Parksley Road in Accomack County, the Center offers 24-hour nursing care and short-term rehabilitation programs, with caregiving teams focused on helping residents achieve and maintain the highest possible level of independence.
“The leadership team here at Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center is amazing,” said Taylor, a lifelong Eastern Shore resident who started at the Center earlier this year. “They are a great group to work with, especially with the level of patient care they are committed to providing. I’m so glad to be a part of this team.”
Taylor has specialized in geriatric care for much of her professional life, most recently spending several years at another nursing facility where she served as assistant administrator and then administrator. Earlier, she worked in case management, serving in senior centers and handling a variety of tasks such as home delivered meals.
The Eastville, VA resident holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Health Services Administration, and she is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
“I’ve always enjoyed geriatric care,” Taylor said. “And for me, it’s all about the residents. I just love working with them and treating them like I would my own family.”
“They make your day, and it’s always something new,” Taylor said with a laugh.
Taylor’s goals for her first few months on the job include further improvements to the resident and guest experience, including renovations in the kitchen and lobby areas of the facility. She and her team are also focused on further enhancing operational efficiency and resident satisfaction at the Center, ensuring that the right mix of staff is on hand at all times to address resident needs – or even plan special events.
In April, the Center hosted a “Senior Prom” for all of it residents, with local stores and beauticians pitching in to make the evening a truly special event. In addition to having slate of finely dressed residents named to the “homecoming court,” a selfie booth was also on hand for guests to commemorate the evening.
“It was remarkable, and it made you want to go back to your high school days,” said Taylor. “The nurses – who helped the ladies put on makeup and the gentleman put on jackets – looked forward to the event as much as the residents.”
Taylor says that it is the sense of teamwork and collaboration that makes Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center special.
“During orientation, you learn that everybody there is genuinely interested in helping you and assisting you,” said Taylor. “Whoever you call, even if they can’t help you, they make sure they get you to the right person.”
Teamwork and dedication were critical components of the Center’s recent achievement of the
Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award from a national long-term care organization. The national award honors providers who have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities and is the first of three levels of distinction awarded by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.
When she’s not at the Center, Taylor spends time with her church family and her at-home family, which includes her husband, a middle school daughter, and two daughters in college. She also enjoys Zumba dance fitness and shopping.
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