Frontline Honors Award Winner: Vanessa Hunter-Valentine, Lead Medical Technician, American House Senior Living

Vanessa Hunter-Valentine, Lead Medical Technician at American House Grosse Pointe, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Senior Housing News.

To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be:

• A dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes
• A passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into practice for the good of their respective industry, the patients and residents they serve, and their families
• An advocate for their industry and their fellow colleagues

Senior Housing News recently caught up with Hunter-Valentine to discuss her time in the senior housing and senior living industry.

SHN: What drew you to this industry?
Hunter-Valentine: My paternal grandmother was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). I observed her taking care of the family. She worked in doctors’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes and on private duty cases. I knew she provided care to people who needed care. She made people happy and comfortable. I knew in my soul that’s what I wanted to do in life.

SHN: What’s a misconception you had about this work before you started and how has reality differed?
Hunter-Valentine: I really didn’t have a misconception. Observing my grandmother, I knew there would be long hours, working weekends and holidays; still, that did not deter my decision or desire to work within the health care industry.

SHN: Was there a moment in your career when you realized, “This work really matters”? What happened?
Hunter-Valentine: I’ve had the experience of working within the hospice and palliative care environments. I’ve also had the experience of engaging and interacting with the resident and the family.
When comfort meds were needed and administered, I would tell the resident and family what I was doing, prior to it being done and why I was doing it (i.e., providing care and comfort). From the family, there was a sense of relief. Afterwards, I would take off my gloves, wash my hands and with the permission of the resident/family, I would touch the resident’s hands. I believe there is nothing more healing and comforting than the “human touch.”

SHN: What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed on the front lines that people often overlook?
Hunter-Valentine: Patience, compassion, humility and empathy. I already possess these skills, so for me, these skills became more significant when I needed to utilize them during my career. In fact, more people acknowledge these skills more than overlook them.

SHN: What’s one decision leaders make that has a bigger impact on frontline workers than they might realize?
Hunter-Valentine: The decision to include comments, observations and opinions and strategies about frontline workers’ respective health care industries, and to be in constant engagement with those frontline workers as an acknowledgement.

SHN: What’s a simple change—policy, tool or mindset—that would make frontline work more effective?
Hunter-Valentine: For superiors, workers to make sure frontline workers have updated equipment and the supplies they need in order to do their jobs more effectively. Also, they need to make sure the supplies are readily available.

SHN: What gives you optimism about the future of this industry, despite its challenges?
Hunter-Valentine: I think there are more individuals entering and re-entering the health care industry. I don’t think non-human care (i.e., artificial intelligence, robots, etc.) could ever replace the divine intelligence and integrity of a human being.