Katie McGriff is Mayflower’s Community Life and Wellness Coordinator. Having begun her work, mostly in the Health Center and Beebe Assisted Living last November, Katie met most of Mayflower’s independent living residents as she handled the intake for the coronavirus vaccination events in late February.
Katie is completing her Activity Professionals Certification through the Iowa Healthcare Association and will soon be doing credentialing work as a Certified Nurse Aide.
Mayflower’s Director of Community Life and Well-Being, Leslie Jaworski, says, “We are incredibly fortunate to have Katie on our wellness team. Her education, experience, creativity, enthusiasm, and high energy provide a skill set that will allow us to offer and expand wellness opportunities at Mayflower. She has been proactive, jumping into activities with residents at the Health Center and in Beebe Assisted Living and gearing up for classes for independent residents.”
Katie is a New Sharon native who received her B.S. in Kinesiology with a Concentration in Exercise Science from Iowa State University. Her ISU work included higher elective classes in Human Psychology. While an undergrad, Katie served as head supervisor and personal trainer and group fitness instructor for ISU’s Recreation Services. After graduation, Katie worked as study coordinator for the CardioRACE Research Study in the ISU Epidemiology Lab.
Katie is Red Cross certified in CPR and First Aid and maintains an Iowa sports coaching license. In addition, she is certified as a personal trainer and as a senior fitness specialist. Katie is in the process of becoming yoga and tai chi certified.
According to Katie,
“My experience working in the field of exercise and health over the past 6 years has prepared me for this exciting new career opportunity. Mayflower has a strong team with whom to work. I plan to bring new knowledge and skills to Mayflower as we move forward in cultivating an environment that sees holistic health as being one of the main components of how we treat those in healthcare.”
Prior to coming to Mayflower, Katie was the Life Enrichment Coordinator/Activities Director for Edencrest at Green Meadows Assisted Living and Memory Care, Johnston, Iowa. Included in that role was a monthly “Dare to Dream” event customized for each resident.
Katie has been an active volunteer in her local communities, including Meals from the Heartland, Operation Christmas Child, student life mission camp youth leader, and CROP Walk.
— Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Directo