JENNIFER SULLIVAN was just 17 years old when her beloved aunt, Betty Gordon, invited her to work at Lincoln-Donalson Care Center, a nursing home facility in Fayetteville. What started as a part-time job turned into a lifelong calling as she worked alongside her aunt. Both women shared a natural gift for nurturing and caring for others. Sullivan enjoyed working with her mentor and aunt for 15 years before Gordon died.
“She was like a second mother to me. She was precious,” Sullivan said. “She taught me that you always treat the patients like you would treat your mother and father.”
Sullivan followed this advice and has dedicated her life to offering extra compassion, care, and respect to the residents of Donalson. Today, Sullivan is still brightening the same halls with her smile, caring for the elderly residents who hold a special place in her heart. She carries the lessons that her aunt and other coworkers taught her over the years. One co-worker, Faye Flynt, gave her a rule of thumb that has always stuck with her.
“Faye told me, ‘When you get to the door, look back,’” Sullivan said. “‘And if you like what you see — that their hair is neatly combed and their blankets are fixed — then you know you’ve done your job.’”
Flynt has since died, but in her final years, she became a resident of Donalson, and Sullivan had the privilege of caring for her there. She said she loves what she does and is grateful for her calling. Sullivan tries to be the bright spot in the residents’ days by visiting with them and making sure they each have what they need.
“A lot of times we’re the only ones they have,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes when a person puts their family member in here, they don’t come back, and we’re the only ones they have left, so they’re like our own grandmas and grandpas.”
The residents of Donalson have given Sullivan a special nickname: “the lotion lady.” She always carries a bottle of lotion in her pocket, ready to massage the hands and arms of residents who have dry skin or simply need that human touch.
“One resident always asks me, ‘Jennifer, have you got that lotion today? You’re the only one that does that for me. I just love it when I see you come through the door,’ and things like that keep me going,” Sullivan said.
Gloria Armstrong, Sullivan’s co-worker, said everyone knows Sullivan as the one who lotions the residents’ hands, feet,
or legs.
“It’s the little extra touches and effort that really help someone feel special,” Armstrong said. “She has a very giving heart for her patients.”
Sullivan also treasures listening to the beautiful stories her patients share with her about their lives.
“It’s just amazing what you hear,” Sullivan said. “They have stories about their life and their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. It’s just so sweet.”
Sullivan said anyone considering a career as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) needs to be sure they do not just have the academic ability, but the nurturing compassion that is necessary every single day.
“You’ve got to have a heart of gold,” Sullivan said. “You’ve got to treat them like your own mother or father, and you’ve got to have compassion. You have got to have it.”
CNAs provide constant care, and many patients need help with bathing, eating, and other basic needs. Sullivan said this job requires a lot of strength and patience, but she would not want to do anything else.
Once, she and Armstrong were visiting with a resident, and the woman thanked them for lifting her spirits. From the hallway, Sullivan heard the woman’s voice rise in prayer behind the door, saying, “Lord, touch these two beautiful souls for touching my spirit today and making me laugh.”
Sullivan and Armstrong stood at the doorway with tears in their eyes, realizing that she was praying for them because they had made her smile.
“This right here is what brings me here every day,” Sullivan said. “I love just to make somebody smile and laugh.”
Under the leadership of Administrator Brad Hinton, Donalson continues to prioritize hiring compassionate caregivers who share Sullivan’s philosophy. The care center offers activities like bingo and music programs, and welcomes visits from anyone interested in bringing joy to its residents.
“Little kids always put a big smile on their faces,” Sullivan said.
During the holidays, Donalson accepts donations of items that make daily care more comfortable, such as lotion (fragrance-free for sensitive skin), jogging suits, socks, Kleenex, gowns, and pajamas. Sullivan works to make sure all her residents have what they need and feel comfortable. She has lived in Fayetteville her entire life and is grateful to work with and care for the people in this town.
“The community is so perfect,” Sullivan said. “The people are so nice. If something happens, they’re always coming together.”
Sullivan lives in Fayetteville with her husband, Brad Sullivan, a captain at the Fayetteville Fire Department. Together, they’ve raised two children, Tyler and Ashley Sullivan, and they have four grandbabies. Sullivan has deep roots in Fayetteville, and she plans to continue serving the community she loves. GN
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