At Sonida Senior Living, CARES is more than a set of values. It is the way our team members communicate with honesty, stay accountable to their commitments, respond the moment a need appears, lead with empathy, and serve with heart. December of Caring celebrates team members whose everyday actions shape communities where people feel seen, valued, and at home. Their compassion transforms ordinary moments into meaningful connection.
These honorees show that compassion is not a task. It is a way of moving through the day with intention. Their patience when memories fade, their humor during hard moments, and their instinct to notice what others might miss all create spaces where residents feel safe and supported. Each was nominated as a December of Caring Star because their excellence, integrity, and everyday actions bring our CARES values to life. They reflect what it truly means to care with purpose and presence.
Brandy Svensson, Caregiver, serving The Ashton of Anderson residents for 4.5 years
Brandy’s connection to her community began long before she joined the staff. Her grandmother once lived at The Ashton of Anderson, so when Brandy later returned as a caregiver, she carried a clear understanding of what families hope for: that their loved ones will be seen, known, and cared for with dignity. Her experience supporting her father after a traumatic brain injury shaped the empathy she brings to residents living with memory loss.
Brandy shared that what brings her the most joy is seeing a rare, genuine smile from a resident in Magnolia Trails. She describes those moments as “a photo in my mind” that she carries with her, especially on the harder days. Her nomination reflected this same heart, teammates described her as someone who communicates with honesty, responds the moment a need appears, and creates a sense of home through steady presence and compassionate care.
She notices subtle shifts that others might miss. Whether she is offering calm reassurance during confusion or helping someone feel comfortable again after a difficult morning, she creates connection that feels grounding and human. She shared that she feels “part of their family,” and that being with residents fills her own cup. The trust she builds comes from heart, patience, and presence. Brandy shows that the most meaningful care often happens in the smallest moments.
Cheyanne Willis, Housekeeper, serving The Wellington at North Bend Crossing residents for 1 year
As a housekeeper, Cheyanne supports residents in ways that extend beyond her daily tasks, offering comfort and connection throughout the community. She trains new team members, supports other departments without hesitation, and stops whatever she is doing to help a resident or family member. She walks through the hall with a warm smile that people look for.
Cheyanne’s nomination highlighted her pride in her work, her dependable support of every department, and the way she leads through consistent service and presence. She shared that her joy comes from helping residents feel safe, especially in moments of confusion, and from being the steady person her teammates and residents can count on during emergencies or challenging days.
Cheyanne’s compassion shows up in the moments most people would walk past. She listens when someone is calling out, notices when a resident seems unsettled, and steps in with grounding calm. She shared, “Sometimes people just need to hear good morning or hey, how are you,” and she means it. When a new resident felt lost and afraid during her first days, Cheyanne knelt beside her, spoke softly, and helped her feel safe again. These are the moments that change the tone of an entire community. They remind residents that they are seen, families that they can trust us, and team members that how we show up matters. Cheyanne shows that care is not limited by a job title. It is the choice to notice, to respond, and to be someone others can rely on every day.
Riannah Hudson, Server, serving The Waterford at Wisconsin Rapids residents for 2 years
Riannah didn’t enter senior living for a job. She came because caring for people has always been part of who she is. As the oldest of four and after helping support her grandparents through illness, she learned early how powerful a steady, joyful presence can be. At The Waterford, she describes her role with a smile: “I feel like I have fifty grandparents.” That sense of family shapes every interaction.
Her team describes her as naturally gifted in serving others, bringing humor, empathy, and a truly resident-centered mindset to every shift. They see the same joy she describes, because for Riannah the residents are the best part of the work. She often hears, “You make my day,” or “Hi sunshine,” and says those moments remind her why she loves the work, even when the day starts off hard.
Her strength is the way she meets residents with calm, patience, and genuine connection. She loves seeing “their faces light back up” during a meal or conversation, and she is often the person they open up to when they feel unsure or emotional. Whether she is bringing someone a favorite comfort food, redirecting worry through gentle humor, or simply listening without rushing, Riannah puts empathy and service into practice in ways that feel natural and human.
For her, dining is less about the meal and more about the person. She notices the small shifts others may overlook and responds with care that restores dignity and confidence. These everyday moments are where the people behind CARES transform a community, and Riannah embodies that spirit with every resident she serves.
Felisha Sneed, Transportation Specialist serving The Remington at Valley Ranch residents for 2 years
Felisha describes her work in a way that captures exactly why it matters. She gives residents “the freedom to go anywhere,” whether that means a trip to the store, lunch with friends, or simply getting out into the world again. That freedom becomes connection. Her hugs, her laughter, and her calm presence turn everyday drives into moments where people feel valued and understood. “They’re my family,” she shared, and residents feel that every time they climb into her van.
Felisha’s nomination called her the heartbeat of the community, someone who “drives joy wherever she goes” and makes every interaction personal and warm. Her team sees the same care she describes, because Felisha’s joy comes from turning difficult moments into ones where residents feel safe again. She often thinks about how she would want her own parents treated, a perspective that keeps her grounded and compassionate, even on the hardest days.
There are days when a resident returns from a difficult medical appointment and Felisha is the first person they see. These rides home can be quiet or heavy, and she understands that the drive itself becomes part of their emotional processing. She listens without rushing, offers reassurance without pressure, and helps them feel grounded before they step back into the community. In those moments, empathy, communication, and service are not abstract values. They are the way she helps someone feel less alone during a vulnerable chapter.
Felisha embodies the heart of CARES by giving residents more than a ride. She gives them dignity, companionship, and comfort in the moments that matter most.
Charles Clark, Maintenance Director, serving Whitley Place residents for 1.5 years
Charles is known in his community for much more than maintenance. He likes “fixing things for other people,” but what residents feel most is his calm, steady presence. He shows up with a gentle humor that makes people feel at ease, whether he is repairing something or sitting down for a Friday game of dominoes with the residents. After losing his last grandparent, he shared that spending time with residents “helps fill that space,” a reflection of how deeply he values the relationships he has built.
His nomination highlighted his willingness to help any department, his calm responsiveness during emergencies, and his habit of putting others first. Charles says his joy comes from helping residents feel purposeful. One small example says everything about him. A resident living with memory loss enjoys feeling useful, so Charles brings him along on projects, giving him purpose and connection while they work side by side. It is a simple act, but it reflects how well he sees people, how naturally he meets them where they are, and how intentionally he helps them feel valued.
Charles is someone the whole community relies on. When a pipe bursts, when breakfast needs cooking, when a room needs to be quickly prepared for a move in, he is already on it, calm and unshaken. His consistency reflects every part of CARES, the responsiveness, accountability, service, and quiet empathy that make Whitley Place feel like home.
Glenna Coots, Dining Supervisor, serving Summit Place residents for 4 years
Glenna’s connection to Summit Place began years before she ever joined the team. Her daughter used to work at the community, and Glenna often visited her there. Over time she got to know several residents simply by spending time with them during those visits, long before she ever put on an apron. When she later joined the team, cooking became a natural way to care for people she already felt connected to.
Glenna’s nomination described her as someone who “cooks with love” and goes above and beyond to make dining fun, comforting, and personal for every resident. Her team sees the same joy she describes, because for Glenna the best part of her work is in the small moments, like a quiet compliment on a meal or the smile that appears when she surprises a resident with warm cookies or a favorite treat made just for them.
Food carries meaning, and Glenna understands that better than most. To her, a meal is not just nourishment. It is a way to connect people, honor their memories, and make them feel seen. She listens closely when residents share stories tied to certain flavors or routines, and she finds joy in recreating the small comforts that remind them of home. Whether she is adjusting a recipe so someone can enjoy it safely or offering a warm treat on a tough day, Glenna uses food as a form of care, dignity, and belonging that reaches far beyond the plate.
In a community where relationships run deep, Glenna is the steady presence who shows, day after day, how compassion can be shared through something as ordinary as a meal and still change everything.
These are the people who make Sonida a place where residents feel at home
These honorees show what CARES looks like when it is lived, not just learned. They communicate with honesty, stay accountable to their residents and teams, respond with calm intention, lead with empathy, and serve with kindness that transforms communities.
What they do may seem simple, but to the people who experience it, it is life changing. A resident feels understood instead of confused. A family breathes easier knowing their loved one is safe. A coworker finds strength on a difficult day. These moments build trust, dignity, and joy. They turn everyday routines into connection and turn a building into a place that feels like home.
We are proud to honor Brandy, Cheyanne, Riannah, Felisha, Charles, and Glenna. Their compassion does more than support our communities – it shapes them.
During December of Caring, we invite everyone to help spread the joy. Visit our Gratitude Wall to share your own note of appreciation for a team member or community team. Nominations are open all month long.