Phinehas Treptow joined the team at Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford in April 2016. Phin came to Westford with more than 10 years’ experience as a certified nursing assistant and a passion for working with seniors. He said working in nursing homes, as well as in the intensive care unit of two large hospitals, are part of what led him to his position at Bridges® by EPOCH.
“When I was working in nursing homes, I was always interested in the activities or life enrichment department, and when I was working in hospitals, I always enjoyed working with patients who had dementia,” Phin said, “My current position combines those two elements, and it’s great.”
As Life Enrichment Assistant, Phin helps Westford’s Life Enrichment Director, Abbi Laushine, brainstorm, organize and execute a variety of resident activities and events. So far, he’s implemented two new programs: Reading Hour with Phin and Men’s Coffee Group, both of which have been a hit with the residents.
“My job is to help enrich our residents’ lives, and it’s important for me come up with ideas for activities with that in mind,” Phin said. “I do all the activities with them, from yoga to Zumba to making floral arrangements. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s a great way of getting to know them and finding out which activities are the most fun and engaging for them. It’s important for me to live in their world while I’m at work.”
Phin has also gone above and beyond his primary duties as Life Enrichment Assistant, taking the lead in managing a group of high school students who volunteer at the community. Recently, he helped them organize and execute a successful car wash on behalf of Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford to benefit the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
A Westford resident and proud father of three, Phin is a self-described “avid technology hobbyist” and enjoys figuring out how he can use technology to enhance various programs for our residents. Anyone who meets Phin can tell he is truly dedicated to forming close relationships with the residents and contributing to the Bridges® philosophy of providing meaningful activities and programs.
“I love working with the residents. I love getting to know them—there’s so much richness and depth in each of them, and I’ve actually found that I have a lot in common with some of the residents,” he said. “They’ve taught me a lot about communication—that there are many different ways to communicate and it’s important to be receptive to those different modes. It’s truly a pleasure to spend time with them.”