Flowers and Smiles
By Annette Pinder
You can’t help but stop to smell the roses upon entering McGuire Group’s Harris Hill Nursing Facility on Wehrle Drive in Williamsville. Thanks to 17-year employee Brent Shabacon with help from local vendors, Harris Hill is adorned with beautiful brightly colored, sweet smelling posies that are lifting residents’ spirits at a time they need it most.
Brent was a youngster when his passion for gardening was ignited by his beloved grandmother. A Buffalo in Bloom 20-year participant, Brent adopted a rose garden at Delaware Park, and brings bouquets to share with residents from his own garden. When he solicited donations from local nurseries and garden centers he says, “The results were wonderful.” He is particularly grateful to Home Depot, Agle’s Farm Market, Dash’s, and Trader Joe’s for their donations.
Bret says residents are even creating flower arrangements to keep in their rooms through various activity programs in which they are engaged. “Harris Hill is like my second home. I love the residents, and if the flowers bring them smiles and joy in the midst of a pandemic then it makes my day,” said Brent.
Brent has been bringing smiles to residents’ throughout his 17 years of employment which began as a trainee in the organization’s certified nursing assistant program. Currently a staffing coordinator in the memory care unit, Brent cares for people with the same tenderness he bestows on his beloved flowers. Danielle Reusch, RN, Harris Hill administrator, calls Brent a compassionate “Mission Maker.”
Harris Hill Nursing Facility is a five-star rated facility that provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, subacute rehabilitation, Journeys palliative care, and respite/short-term services. For more information, visit www.mcguiregroup.com or www.medicare.gov.
