Anthony DeWitt, Enrichment Coordinator at Oakwood Assisted Living, is traveling overseas for service this month. His community extends wishes for his health and safety during his yearlong assignment. Service is not new to Ridgecrest Village. Ridgecrest held a special farewell program for him last month, featuring songs, prayers, and some emotional farewells. The event also included formal expressions of pride, wisdom, and encouragement from resident veterans. Anthony’s road to working with older adults happened by chance. When he joined Ridgecrest, little did he know then he would be informally adopted by a caring surrogate family of grandparents who value his youthful wit and energy.
Sergeant Anthony DeWitt is a second-generation military member, and this will be his second deployment since joining the National Guard nearly ten years ago. The Army National Guard can serve overseas, especially for individuals with specific skills or who are part of specialized units.
Anthony joined the Army National Guard to help finance his education. He is a graduate of Western Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Parks and Tours. His intention was to be a professional tour guide, but after graduation he realized the tour guide industry had changed with little job opportunity, especially in Iowa. His career trajectory shifted significantly when he accepted a position at Ridgecrest Village in response to his employment needs. In a recent interview he said, “I had never been to a retirement community or even a nursing home, but immediately, it was awesome…they [the residents] made it so easy right off the bat. I have always had a strong relationship with my own grandparents, so it is natural to talk to the older generation.” He went on to say that he’s realized his passion for the great outdoors can be his hobby, without being his career. He wanted to do something fun and meaningful with his life and he found both at Ridgecrest working with the special people who live here.
Enrichment services are essential in senior retirement living. Ridgecrest Village recognizes this and has invested dedicated team members to enhance the lives of residents. The term “serve” is an integral part of Ridgecrest across the board from personal, professional, and spiritual contexts for both residents and staff. Though Anthony didn’t initially aim to work with older adults, his service spirit and ability to connect across ages led him naturally to this profession.
On a personal note, it has tickled me to see Anthony how readily has taken to this industry and suspect there are good things ahead for him working in geriatrics for years to come. This is just the beginning.
As Anthony steps away temporarily to fulfill his duty with the National Guard, the Ridgecrest family eagerly awaits his return.
Julie Arndt is a licensed social worker and Director of Marketing at Ridgecrest Village with over 30 years’ experience working in the field of geriatrics and senior advocacy. She can be reached at jarndt@ridgecrestvillage.org.