Angela Kaufmann has held numerous roles in health care, but she keeps coming back to seniors.

“I’ve always loved working with seniors,” says Kaufmann, who has worked in the medical field since her 20s. “I admire the wealth of experiences they’ve had.”

As one of Highgate at Flagstaff’s Community Relations Coordinators, Kaufmann gets to know each person’s life experiences as she helps them and their loved ones navigate senior living. “My job is to help them find the best home possible - a place they’ll truly love living at,” she says. 

Finding Home in Flagstaff

Kaufmann has been searching for the best home possible for her life, too. Originally from Pennsylvania, Kaufmann moved to Arizona with her husband; children; and toy poodle, Charlie. She’s worked as director of marketing and admissions for a skilled nursing facility, customer relationships manager for a home health and hospital system, and business developer for a rehabilitation hospital. 

She started at Highgate in spring 2021. “The small, well-connected size of the company and communities really appealed to me,” says Kaufmann, who also maintains a pharmacy technician license and works a few days a month in a hospital pharmacy in Flagstaff.

“We truly put our residents first. It’s a privilege to work in their home.”

Kaufmann feels privileged to live in Flagstaff, too, where the four seasons allow her and her family to participate in outdoor activities year-round. When she’s not at Highgate, she might be gardening, biking, skiing, hiking, camping, or walking Charlie. 

She might also be serving as secretary of the Northern Arizona Gerontology Association, a nonprofit that provides education and support to geriatric caregivers serving northern Arizona in many different capacities. As a volunteer, she shares resource information with older adults and those who care for and about them and provides an information-sharing network for gerontology professionals.

At Highgate, Kaufmann considers herself a resident advocate. “I get to spend my days educating the community and fulfilling the needs of others - our elders,” she says. “I like to see people happy. When you are in the later years of life, you’ve earned the right to have the best life ever!”

Expert Tips for Navigating the Search for Senior Living

Here are Kaufmann’s top three tips for finding the best senior living community for your loved one.

1. Research the Philosophy of Care

Every senior living community has a philosophy of care — but do they practice it? Kaufmann’s No. 1 tip is to identify if the community practices what it preaches. 

For example, Highgate practices a holistic Full Care for All philosophy, and when you come for a tour, you can see it in action. “Our holistic approach is not just a sales pitch,” Kaufmann says. 

If a resident is up wandering around at night, many assisted living or memory care facilities would give them medication to help them fall asleep. “Our residents don’t need a sleeping pill,” says Marcie Suppe, Director of Resident Services for Highgate Senior Living. “They need to wind down. So what we do is we tell the night-shift folks to sit with them and have a cup of tea or bring them into the common room and give them a snack and let them watch TV. It’s all about spending time with people and finding out what they want rather than medicating.” 

2. Observe the Employees

Another way to identify the best senior living communities is to observe the employees. “See if they are engaged and happy,” Kaufmann recommends. Do they make eye contact with you on a tour? Do they stop to introduce themselves? 

At Highgate, you might see team members laughing with the residents, listening to their stories, and providing a nonjudgmental ear and empathy to residents’ families. That’s because Highgate hires with heart. Read about why some Highgate at Flagstaff team members love their jobs.  

3. Eat at the Community 

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important for everyone, but seniors are at greater risk of failing to meet their nutritional needs and being misdiagnosed with various illnesses as a result. That’s why the quality and taste of the food are very important when selecting a senior living community. 

“Have a meal or two with the community and eat what the residents’ menu entails,” Kaufmann says.

4. Ask a Resident

But the person who will really tell you like it is? A resident. “Ask a resident or two if they are happy with their environment at that community,” Kaufmann says. 

If you’re curious about Highgate’s philosophy of care or dining program or if you want to meet the team, schedule a tour today!