Machelle Thompson

The Givers of the World

Machelle Thompson has worked with seniors for over 25 years as a physical therapist and a licensed nursing home administrator in the Long Beach and Los Angeles area, and has built a sterling reputation in her field. She is also a member of the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers.

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Machelle’s company, Keen Home Care, provides insight into the challenges that aging presents not only to the senior, but to the entire family. Her team, led by Geriatric Care Managers with over 50 years of combined experience, is superbly equipped to deal with any situation, whether it’s a chronic condition, assisting with physical therapy or problematic behavior related to Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Their diversity and experience give Keen Home Care the ability to tailor a comprehensive care plan that is right for each client’s needs and budget, allowing the senior and their family peace of mind to enjoy quality time.

“One of the reasons I loved visiting with my elderly loved one’s is because they always greeted me with love, adoration, patience, and excitement. While I thought in my 8-year old mind that these folks were older than the hills, the reality is that they were in the prime of their lives!”

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One day about 5 years ago I had an epiphany as to what drives me to do what I do and hold such honor and drive to serve aging adults. 

I realized that growing up I had the privilege of spending a tremendous amount of time with my grandparents, great-grandparents, great aunts & uncles, and all of their cronies.  I spent holidays and summers with them and learned many of life’s most important lessons, such how to sew, to bake, put a worm on a hook and more importantly how to take the fish off of the hook.  I visited the zoo, sea world, and learned how to play golf and drive a golf cart on the links at Lawrence Welk’s Country Club Village.  I don’t think I realized it at the time, but what I came to realize is that one of the reasons I loved visiting with my elderly loved one’s is because they always greeted me with love, adoration, patience, and excitement.  While I thought in my 8-year old mind that these folks were older than the hills, the reality is that they were in the prime of their lives!  They were accomplished parents, hard-working providers for their families, down-to-earth humans who had traveled the world, teachers of life lessons and veterans who all had amazing life stories to tell. These are the givers in the world. 

When I turned 16 I had the good fortune of getting a job as a server in an assisted living center.  While my peers might not have seen this as the sexiest job to have, I felt right at home.  I was surrounded by the people who had taught me the most, lifted me up at every challenge, and made me feel safe and loved.  Whether we were playing a game of cards, learning to sing Bing Crosby songs, playing bingo, or playing Marco Polo in the pool, these lovely people with their wrinkles, gray hair, and various hitches in their get-along, were my people.  They shared heart-felt and authentic stories about their careers, challenges with raising their children, missed opportunities and regrets, taught me how to make a gin fizz, as well as how to live through the grief of losing a loved one.  They were real and unfiltered. 

Fast-forwarding to today, having worked with aging adults for over 30 years, I realized that what drives me is the desire to help these accomplished, loving people continue living their best lives.  Just because they might need help to shower, or navigate in their home with their walker, or purchase holiday cards to send out to their families, doesn’t mean they aren’t still striving to be their best selves.  None of them ever want to be a burden to their families, and they don’t ever want to be seen as takers.  My mission is to promote the safety and well-being of these givers who continue to give to my team and me everyday.   They deserve the opportunity to keep living life on their terms and they are our guides on this journey of life.