Many

companies frown on relatives working together. However,

at Ashley Glen, the numerous mother-daughter teams on

staff "complement the family atmosphere we

have," said Elaine Gaillard, marketing director for

the assisted-living and memory-impaired community in

Peachtree City.

Until recently, the

assisted-living and Alzheimer's center had five

mother-daughter teams. Currently, they "only"

have three mother-daughter teams. With a staff of 31, the

"teams" comprise close to 20 percent of the

staff.

Managing director Diane

Newton noted, "It's not so much that we encourage

them; we ask our employees to think who would be good to

work with them, who they would like to work with. The

mothers referred their daughters."

Caregiver Wanda Forts has

worked at Ashley Glen for five months. Her daughter,

Amanda Hendry, also a caregiver, joined her three months

ago.

Amanda, 16 and a student at

Newnan Christian School, works part-time at the center.

She and her mother often work the same shift and have the

same days off.

In talking about her work

at Ashley Glen, Wanda said, "I love it. It's therapy

for me."

Asked why she chose to work

with her mother, Amanda Hendry said, "I'd always

come visit my mom, bring her dinner. I thought it would

be neat to work here, to help the residents."

Not only do the two work

together, but they play together. "We do lots of

things together," noted Amanda. "We go

shopping, go out to eat. We're best friends."

Caregiver Aisha Rex has

worked with her mother at the Center for a little over

one year. Her mother, supervisor Gloria Rex, has been

with Ashley Glen "for over two years, since before

they opened," she said.

Gloria and Aisha enjoy each

other's company away from work also. "We go to

movies, school functions. We're very close," Gloria

said in discussing her relationship with her daughter.

"It's nice to be

working together," she continued. "It's good to

be helping her, teaching her at work. This is her first

job."

Aisha is a senior at

Starr's Mill High School. When asked why she chose to

work at Ashley Glen, she said, "I have always loved

working with people, helping people."

Ivory Fanning says,

"It's wonderful to work here. I love the

residents." She quipped, "I must enjoy working

here since I drive an hour in each direction every

day."

Ivory lives near Columbus,

Georgia and has two children: Kevonta, 4 months, and

Aquavious, 1 year.

She also enjoys working

with her mother, Sherry Fanning. "I like working

with my Mom. It's neat." Ivory submitted her mother

as an "Ashley Glen All-Star" for Mother's Day.

Her submission read, "There isn't a better mother I

could work with and love as I do my mother."

Ivory said she decided to

give working at Ashley Glen a try because, "My

mother has worked here for over a year. She was always

telling me how much she liked it, so I thought I'd give

it a try."

Ivory has been with Ashley

Glen for 3 months. She intends to go to college in the

fall to make her goal of becoming a delivery room nurse a

reality.

Ivory's mother, Sherry,

says, "Working with my daughter at Ashley Glen is

just like working together at home."

Like the other

mother-daughter teams, the pair also spend time together

away from work. "We go out, go to movies, arcades,

go swimming. We're real close."

Sherry encouraged her

daughter to try working at the Center. "I see her

being like I am. She likes people, she's happy all the

time. I thought she'd make a good nurse or

caregiver."

Asked why she chose to work

at Ashley Glen as a caregiver, Sherry replied, "I've

been seeing about older people all of my life. I like

helping and encouraging people."

Sherry and Ivory will be

going to dinner together on Mother's Day. They'll see a

play at the Fox Theater also.

Caregiver's assist

residents at Ashley Glen with bathing, grooming, dressing

and other daily chores. Per Newton, "A lot of

residents have physical challenges, the caregivers do as

much as possible to encourage independence." They

also work to instill a desire in residents to "do as

much as they possibly can" through kind works,

laughter and support.

Ashley Glen has 46 one- and

two-bedroom suites, 24-hour staffing, restaurant style

dining, a beauty and barber shop and housekeeping and

laundry services. Eighteen suites are exclusively

dedicated to Alzheimer's and memory-impaired residents.

For more information regarding Ashley Glen, contact

Elaine Gaillard at 770-631-0205.

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