Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Shields.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have worked in Skilled Nursing for 20 years. I started my career in Social Work and I feel that that helped and lead me to my career path in Administration. I have always loved working with this generation. Learning their stories, finding out who they were and how best to help them navigate the sometimes challenging world of healthcare. I worked as an Administrator in the for-profit sector up until about 4 years ago when I became the CEO of St. Dominic Village. The nonprofit world of Senior Living is so refreshing. We are a ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston/Houston and it is so wonderful to be able to work in a faith-based community. Working hand in hand with our Board of Directors, Donors and Volunteers truly make this job amazing! Caring for our Elders is a calling that I have had since a young age and I am so glad that I am able to bring the highest quality of care to the residents that we serve. As a busy working mom of three-year-old triplets, I could not do what I do without the love and support of my husband and family. I love that my children will grow up knowing how important it is to take care of and respect their elders.
Has it been a smooth road?
Senior Living can have its obstacles, just like any industry when you are taking care of people. Our residents come to us with challenges. Whether the challenges are physical, financial or emotional, we try to meet each resident and family where they are as individuals and help them navigate this phase of their life. No two seniors are the same and they come to us with challenges and it is up to us to make their quality of care and day to day living the best that it can be.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the St Dominic Village, A Senior Care Community story. Tell us more about the business.
A ministry of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, St. Dominic Village is the ONLY Senior Care Community that is part of the Texas Medical Center. We are also the only Catholic facility of its kind in Houston. We serve approximately 800 seniors annually, offering seamless elder care that is comprised of short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, assisted living, independent living, and Retired Priest’s Residences. Additional respite care services are provided through Angel House, a temporary home for individuals and their families who are in need of an affordable place to stay while receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.
St. Dominic Village is one of only five nonprofit senior care centers in Houston that accepts Medicaid. As such, we are grateful to the generous donors and foundations that allow us to provide the same high standard of care to all of our residents regardless of race, creed or economic status.
Founded in 1975, St. Dominic Village’s serene 27-acre campus has developed gradually over 35 years. With the primary mission of providing care, the Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (RNC) was the first facility to be built on the grounds in 1981. Two independent living centers, Dorothy Hall and Charlotte Hall, followed in 1992 and 1995, respectively. The popular Sterling Turner Wellness Center became functional in 2000. Expansions to the Angel House Suites and the RNC took place in 2012
and 2013. In 2015, the Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza Priest Retirement Residence was completed, with units to house up to 24 retired religious leaders. St. Dominic Village is a vital resource for Houston’s seniors. Our dedicated staff of 155 tends to daily needs such as room and board, meals, laundry, housekeeping and 24-hour nursing care, as well as opportunities for mental stimulation and socialization. Involvement by the greater Houston community is encouraged through individual and group volunteer opportunities, assisting residents with everything from walks around our lovely, pedestrian-friendly campus and driving to appointments, to art projects and entertainment.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see St. Dominic Village continuing to grow over the next 5-10 years. Strategically our Board of Director and myself are always looking for how to improve and grow our campus. This industry is only going to grow and get bigger with the baby boomers and the need for services will grow. It is also important to realize that the needs of this generation are always changing and evolving and it is so important to stay one step of head of our competitors.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2401 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, TX. 77021 - Website: stdominicvillage.org
- Phone: 713-741-8701
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