Jennifer Katz has been with Bridges® by EPOCH at Trumbull since we first opened in 2015. Jennifer is a lifelong Connecticut native and currently resides in Fairfield, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Science in health and wellness. Following graduation Jennifer began working in long-term care, where she found connecting with seniors deeply fulfilling.
“I enjoy being able to put a smile on residents’ faces and being able to learn about things they really enjoy, having them continue what they love doing,” she says. It didn’t take long for Jennifer to realize that this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
Working with people with dementia, Jennifer further discovered “a huge passion for working with memory care.” Her dedication shines through as she describes her relationship with those she serves, “Each and every resident I work with is smart and unique in their own way,” she said, “Although it may be a challenge to communicate, I still understand them because I try every possible way to find out what they are thinking and trying to share.”
Jennifer’s role at Bridges is perfectly matched for her many talents and interests. She coordinates the monthly calendar and daily activities, tailoring the schedule to the residents’ preferences and needs. “Each day,” she says, “I aim to make a resident’s day as bright and meaningful as possible while working diligently to stimulate their senses to slow down the process of the disease.”
She balances the activities calendar with a variety of physical, spiritual, social, recreational and cognitive programs. Typical offerings include exercise, religious services, social events, entertainment, word games and trivia. She also takes residents on weekly trips into the community to visit a museum or go out to lunch, a highlight for many.
Our residents have lived long, full and interesting lives and Jennifer enjoys “hearing their stories and being able to bring out the times in their lives that were special to them,” which is appreciated daily by our residents.
Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, family and friends. She is an active member of Habitat for Humanity and Adopt a Survivor. She’s also an avid dancer, with 15 years of dancing under her belt and she loves to participate in Zumba. When not dancing, she’s also a Giants fan, loves to travel, and participates in charity walks.
We’re glad to have her on our team, and so are our residents!