Meadow Ridge, a continuing care retirement community in Redding, welcomes Laura Barbieri, LCSW, back to the community to fill the role of Director of Resident and Family Services. Barbieri, who previously served as the social worker for Ridge Crest, the health center at Meadow Ridge, will act as the social worker for the community’s independent living, assisted living, and memory care neighborhoods.
“I was thrilled to come back. It really felt like coming home,” says Barbieri about assuming the role from long-time Meadow Ridge social worker Mary Doyle, who retired. Barbieri has 23 years’ experience in health care, much of which has been spent working with senior citizens.
As a social worker in a CCRC, Barbieri works with residents, their families, and the caregivers at Meadow Ridge to help guide residents through the continuum of care and ensure they are getting the right resources at the right time. She works on building a trusting relationship with residents, which proves invaluable when life-changing decisions need to be made. “I love that I have the ability to make connections with our residents every day. The residents at Meadow Ridge are what makes this role so special.”
Having a full-time, onsite social worker is just one way Meadow Ridge distinguishes itself as a CCRC. “The Meadow Ridge team has a high level of service and commitment to the residents and I am happy to be a part of this community again,” says Barbieri. “I would not want to work anywhere else.”