50+ Lifestyles

Aging and You

Best Wishes to Sergeant DeWitt as He Serves Our Country

By Julie Arndt
Marketing Director at Ridgecrest Village

Sergeant DeWitt addressing residents at Ridgecrest Village.

Anthony DeWitt, Enrichment Coordinator at Oakwood Assisted Living, is traveling overseas this month for a year’s deployment. His community extends wishes for his health and safety during his assignment. Ridgecrest held a special farewell program for him last month, featuring songs, prayers, and some emotional farewells. Service is not new to Ridgecrest Village. The event also included formal expressions of pride, wisdom, and encouragement from resident veterans. Anthony’s road to working with older adults happened by chance. When he joined Ridgecrest, little did he know then he would be informally adopted by a caring surrogate family of grandparents who value his youthful wit and energy.

Sergeant Anthony DeWitt is a second-generation member of the military, and this will be his second deployment since joining the Army National Guard nearly ten years ago. Members of the National Guard can serve overseas, especially those individuals with specific skills or who are part of specialized units.

Anthony DeWitt organizing outdoor water play for residents at Oakwood.

Anthony joined the Guard to help finance his education. He is a graduate of Western Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tours. His intention was to be a professional tour guide, but after graduation he realized the tour industry had changed, with few job opportunities, especially in Iowa. His career trajectory shifted significantly when he accepted a position at Ridgecrest Village in response to his employment needs. In a recent interview he said, “I had never been to a retirement community or even a nursing home, but immediately, it was awesome…they [the residents] made it so easy right off the bat. I have always had a strong relationship with my own grandparents, so it is natural to talk to the older generation.” He went on to say that he’s realized his passion for the great outdoors can be his hobby, without being his career. He wanted to do something fun and meaningful with his life and he found both at Ridgecrest working with the special people who live here.

Enrichment services are essential in senior retirement living. Ridgecrest Village recognizes this and has invested dedicated team members to enhance the lives of residents. The term “serve” is an integral part of Ridgecrest across the board in personal, professional, and spiritual contexts for both residents and staff. Although Anthony didn’t initially aim to work with older adults, his service spirit and ability to connect across ages led him naturally to this profession.

On a personal note, it has tickled me to see how Anthony has readily taken to this industry, and I suspect there are good things ahead for him working in geriatrics for years to come. This is just the beginning.

As Anthony steps away temporarily to fulfill his duty with the National Guard, the Ridgecrest family eagerly awaits his return.

Julie Arndt, is a licensed social worker and Director of Marketing at Ridgecrest Village with over 35 years’ experience working in the field of geriatrics and senior advocacy. She can be reached at jarndt@ridgecrestvillage.org.