Good News: Tulsa senior living community receives workplace award

TULSA, Okla. — A south Tulsa senior living community was named one of Fortune's “Best Workplaces in Aging Services."

Leaders at Senior Star's Burgundy Place say elder care is increasingly in the spotlight. The recognition shows what can be accomplished when a company puts people first.

When you walk in to the Senior Star, you're greeted with friendly faces and a lot of waves.

"Senior Star's been operating for over 50 years and Burgundy Place has been around since the late 80s,” said Chief Operations Officer, Shadoworee Betts.

It's a senior retirement community where people both working there and living there are put first.

“We’re serving the best generation. They have so much to teach us, they have so much to give,” said Betts.

For the sixth time in seven years, Senior Star is dubbed Fortune's "Best Workplaces in Aging Services." They got the honor after associates took a survey about the work environment.

"We don't know. These associates say whatever they want to say. We encourage them to be straight, be forward, be honest, that's it,” said Executive Director Nathan Wood.

One associate we talked to has been there 26 years. She says she's loved working here all those years.

"It's a great place. It's like living with a bunch of your grandparents and I hear thank you 100 times a day and that's why I really like it," said Ashlye Huerta.

Senior Star got the award for how they treat their associates. Notice how they're not called employees. They're constantly celebrated for their hard work. Work that's meaningful to them.

"The smiles. You can change someone's life and it makes you feel better at the same time. So, it's a win win,” said Huerta.

Work that also includes a little fun. Associates organized a fashion show. It’s one way they encourage people living there to get out and have some fun, but it’s also about fostering relationships and creating a lifestyle.

“It helps the resident feel like this is home, cause it is home,” said Wood.

It's that hard work with love poured in helping mark this achievement.

"It's not by coincidence that 99 percent of our associates participated in this survey. They lifted their voice, they felt empowered and really that's what helped us to achieve the recognition,” said Betts.

Senior living communities across the nation were considered for this award.