Their Love for One Another is Truly Ageless
Four-generations of one family have found a home at Tallgrass Creek retirement community in Overland Park where Lynn Schaffer is its Finance Director. Her daughter, Lauren Schaffer, is a student worker in the Dining Services department and her mother, Karen Kelly, and her grammy, Ginny Caldwell, are residents.
“I have peace and comfort in knowing grammy and my mom receive excellent care and services, and in the experience my daughter has gained by working here,” said Lynn, who has been responsible for overseeing all financial operations of Tallgrass Creek for the past four years.
“I can honestly say that the work I do matters,” she said. “I see it each and every day, not only as an employee, but as a granddaughter, daughter and mother.”
Mom Karen, a former accountant, moved to Tallgrass Creek last month from the Kansas City metropolitan area. She is an avid bridge player and plans to venture into cribbage soon. She enjoys being able to see her mom, daughter and granddaughter almost daily at Tallgrass Creek and seeing and hearing about the impact they are making on other people’s lives.
“My daughter is always available to the residents and has a great disposition when talking with them or meeting them in the hall,” Karen said. “My mom has lived here for 8 years and has lots of friends. When walking through the dining room, she stops many times to say a few kind words. My granddaughter is liked by everyone and her managers say she does a phenomenal job.”
Grammy Ginny, who bakes cookies for Kansas City’s homeless, moved to Tallgrass Creek from Riderwood, a ‘sister’ retirement community in Maryland that is also managed by Erickson Living. She grew up on the East Coast, primarily in the Baltimore area, and she also lived in California, Colorado, and Connecticut.
Ginny is proud to live in a place where her daughter also lives and where her granddaughter and her great-granddaughter work. “It feels terrific,” she said “It’s like having our home people right here.”
Ginny is always busy, so much so it is hard for her family to keep up with her. “I love the special trips and the courtesy shuttles for shopping,” she said. “I love having the salon and fitness center here as well. We have movie nights weekly and the landscaping is beautiful.”
Lauren – who is daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter in this incredible family – will graduate from Blue Valley High School this month and plans to attend Pittsburg State University in the fall, majoring in Nursing. Her job as a member of the Tallgrass Creek student wait staff gives her unique perspective on her family.
“I know what my grammy orders and how she has to have her grilled cheese, and how she likes her drinks, and her little eating habits,” said Lauren. “If I don’t have her at my table, I always go out of my way to say ‘Hi’ to her and give her a hug. It’s something we both look forward to now.
“As far as my mom working here, I get to see how much of an impact she has on the residents,” she said. “I hear nothing but good things from the residents and they never fail to remind me that I have a great person as a mom. I’ve grown closer to my mom, my grammy, and now my nana because of it.”
The family love of Lynn, Lauren, Karen, and Ginny is truly ageless.
