November 18, 2019
Kimber Kleven believes that having a true career means finding a place where you belong and using your experiences to teach others. As the administrator of Manly Specialty Care, Kimber feels fortunate to have a job that enriches the lives of people in her community, as well as her own life. Thank you, Kimber, for all you do!
How did you get started in the long-term care profession?
I got started in long-term care due to the encouragement from my social work field placement mentor during my senior year of college. There was an opening at a care center in town and she thought I would be a good fit. I wasn’t so sure, but I applied and got the job. I soon realized that this was my calling in life.
What do you like most about working in long-term care?
I enjoy the relationships. I like to think about my career in terms of life enrichment rather than job satisfaction. Every morning when I arrive at work, our residents are having their breakfast. Walking through the door and seeing their smiles, hearing them say good morning and knowing they are okay because of the work we do every day is beyond rewarding. And every evening when I reflect upon my day, I remind myself of how fortunate I am to have these relationships and to have a job that enriches the lives of people in our community, as well as enriches mine.
What would you tell others to encourage them to consider a career in long-term care?
There are all kinds of health care jobs out there. But having a true career means finding a place where you belong. You are constantly learning and are becoming an expert in that field and using your experiences to teach others. That is what working in long-term care offers. And all these things exist inside a very unique physical environment. We become their family and they become ours.
What lessons have you learned working in long-term care that also help you outside of work?
I’ve learned to never take my health or my relationships for granted. I’ve also learned that at some point in life we all must learn how to hand the reigns over to a younger generation. To me, growing old gracefully means that I share what I have learned, but also accepted that change is inevitable. We must trust that we have taught the new generation well, that they have learned from our mistakes and successes, and that everything will be okay.
When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
I am a musician. I play oboe and I perform with concert bands and orchestras. I also enjoy knitting, reading and attending concerts and hockey games.
What is your favorite quote and why?
My favorite quote is from Lewis Carroll: “One of the deep secrets of life is that all that is really worth doing is what we do for others.” It’s my favorite because it really gets to the heart of why we do what we do in long-term care.
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