Making a Bigger Difference Drives 2019 “Women of Distinction” Honoree

We featured Brenda Bacon in our most recent post on McKnight’s Women of Distinction, and her take on how the industry will change during the coming decade. Now, we’re continuing our series on the first Hall of Honor class with Kim Estes Elliott, MSN, BSN, RN, senior vice president of clinical services for Brookdale Senior Living. With some 844 communities in 45 states, Brookdale offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, hospice, and continuing care. Kim’s experience as a nurse and a director of nursing helped shape the path of her career in elder care – and enables her to maintain her passion for improving the lives of seniors.

One Negative Experience Led to a Decisive Moment

When Kim was in nursing school, she did a clinical rotation in a skilled nursing center, which she describes as “not a good one ‐ it had concrete block painted walls, lots of odor, and a high rate of staff turnover.”

Following that rotation, Kim’s instructor asked the students where they wanted to work when they completed school. The situation she saw, coupled with the answers of her classmates, weighed on her. “Most of them were saying they wanted to work in labor and delivery, the nursery, the OR or ER. After what I had experienced, I felt that someone had to make a difference in elder care. Walking away from something that needed people wasn’t the right thing to do. If I didn’t do it, who would?”

Influencing Change and Taking Risks Keep Her Passion Alive

Kim says it’s easy to remain passionate about your work when you’re doing it for the right reasons. “I’ve had opportunities to grow throughout my career, and when one comes my way, I always think this may be my chance to make a bigger difference in the lives of the residents we serve. That’s my mission, and it drives me.”

She admits that she hasn’t always felt prepared or qualified when a set of circumstances seemed just right to accomplish something ‐ but she didn’t let fear hold her back. “I just jump in and do the best I can. It’s an internal drive that moves me to act.”

PointClickCare Applauds and Supports the Contributions of Women

As the exclusive Platinum Sponsor for McKnight’s first Women of Distinction program, PointClickCare is eager to call attention to customers like Kim along with all of this year’s honorees. The Lifetime Achievement Winner, the Hall of Honor, and the Rising Stars are truly remarkable examples of leadership in our industry.

Take a look at this McKnight’s article and the video below to learn more about Kim Estes Elliott; you’ll see the profile of more 2019 Women of Distinction honourees on our blog soon. In the meantime, we’ll let Kim have the last word, “If you think about it, we’re all going to be there, as will our parents and grandparents. It’s nice to know that there are people dedicating their careers to making a difference in the lives of elders.”

PointClickCare is the Platinum Sponsor of the 2019 McKnight’s Women of Distinction program, which honors women in the senior living and post-acute care industries.