Colleen Anderson (left), Director of Environmental Services, sets up a tent for an event with the help of volunteers.

By Mara Gawarecki

The Lyngblomsten Care Center’s Environmental Services Department has a simple mission: Keep life functioning as smoothly and comfortably as possible for all who live, work, volunteer, or visit campus.

With 202 resident rooms, plus employee offices and many meeting and gathering spaces to tend to, the department has its work cut out for it. But for the Environmental Services team, it’s a challenge they’re ready to tackle—and one that’s made easier thanks to the relationships with the people they’re serving.

“Being with the residents is my favorite part of the day,” said Colleen Anderson, Director of Environmental Services since 2008. “I only want to sit at my computer when I have to.”

She continued: “I tell my housekeepers when I hire them that the job is mostly customer service. They’re going to be one of the first people residents interact with. Because they’re in the room every day, they develop a really close relationship with residents.”

There are two primary roles in the department whose duties are fairly self-explanatory: Housekeeping (a team of 20—many part-time) led by Goma Gurung and Laundry (a team of 11—also many part-time) led by Chuck Hill. But Environmental Services covers so many more bases than that. Is there a spill that needs to be cleaned up? Will a campus-wide event require an array of tents assembled in the Nash Courtyard? The hard workers of Environmental Services will make sure it happens.

Environmental Services works closely with the Admissions team to handle resident moves, as well as cleaning and preparing rooms between resident stays, especially in the Transitional Care Unit. The goal is to make sure residents are comfortable in their spaces. Colleen’s team takes care of shifting all larger items, like furniture.

“It can feel like we’re a moving service sometimes!” she quipped. In the last 18 months, staff from the department have cleaned and cleared 579 rooms to prepare for new residents.

On a daily basis, eight housekeepers each clean 30–50 rooms. And every month, Laundry adds 5,600 new washcloths and 600 new hand towels to its stock—understandable given the 200+ residents who use those linens on a regular basis!

Beyond managing the day-to-day responsibilities, Colleen also oversees two different lending libraries at the Como Park campus. One is a collection of medical equipment which can be borrowed on a short-term basis. This includes everything from wheelchairs and walkers to shower benches and toilet seats. “It’s pretty much anything other than beds and cushions,” Colleen said.

Employees are also allowed to borrow folding chairs and tables for personal events, so during the busy season for grad parties and weddings, there’s a steady flow to and from campus. “Sometimes in May and June, I function as a rental service,” Colleen said.

   

Speaking of events, the Environmental Services team ensures setup and takedown for events on the Como Park campus happen smoothly—whether it’s regular resident activities like weekly Bingo in the Newman-Benson Chapel or special events that include the entire Lyngblomsten community like the annual Ice Cream Social.

No matter what the occasion, Colleen and her team keep busy bustling around campus. For residents making Lyngblomsten their home, as well as any others visiting the Como Park campus, Colleen and her team put out the welcome mat for all.