FARMINGTON – Five women have shared life’s milestones for 20 years with the people they care for and the staff at a Route 133 health care center. They consider their work challenging and rewarding.

“It’s home, its family,” Central Supply Director Joy Welch of Wilton said of Sandy River Center for Health Care.

Diane Currier of Chesterville, Sandra Chadwick of Livermore Falls, Kathy Powers of Mercer and Lynn Lee of Weld, all agree.

Welch started as a laundry aide at 16 years old, while still in high school. At 21, a management position opened and she went for it. She’s held the position ever since.

Welch and Currier remembered Thursday, when the center was built in 1983.

Welch said they went through orientation when there were no ceilings in the building. By the time the nursing home opened, only the downstairs was ready.

Both women also remember the first resident and what room she was in.

Chadwick, Powers and Lee joined the staff soon after.

Powers started as dietary aide, then spent 13 years as head cook and is back working as a dietary aide.

Many changes have occurred through the years ranging from regulations to residents and staff, Powers said.

Residents have more choices now, she said.

They also have nicknames.

There are 90 residents and they’re all like family, the women said.

Chadwick started as a certified nursing assistant and medicine technician, and is now a records technician.

Paperwork has increased, Chadwick said. She and others had shredded 1,400 pounds of old medical charts Thursday.

“I do like my job,” Chadwick said. “It’s a challenge, I would say, to keep it all straightened out. It keeps me going.”

Welch agreed, as did the others, that the jobs they hold are challenging and keeps them interested.

“I think it’s the day-to-day challenges; every day is different,” Currier said. “No two days are the same.”

“We get to celebrate the milestones in people’s lives,” Welch said.

It’s not unusual for residents to go to staff members’ anniversary parties or weddings.

Currier started as a CNA and is now a medicine technician in the residential dementia care unit.

Lee is in charge of making residents’ hair look beautiful. She started as the center’s hairdresser when she was 21. There were 52 applicants who applied for the job, and she couldn’t believe it when she was chosen, Lee said.

“I just really love it,” Lee said. “I have to or I wouldn’t be able to do it. It’s challenging, at times.”

[email protected]