Staff Highlight: Darlene Duhon in Skilled Nursing

One of the first things you notice when you visit Magnolia Manor – on the phone or in person – is what a fantastic staff we have. Our senior living communities feel like home because you know you’re among family. But with nine campuses scattered throughout south Georgia, it’s not possible to meet everyone in person. So from time to time we like to introduce some of our great staff members.

Meet Darlene Duhon!

Darlene is the Administrative Assistant at our campus in Buena Vista, also known as Magnolia Manor of Marion County. As you might guess from her title, her job includes assisting our administrator. But that’s just the beginning.

“Anything that comes in or goes out pretty much goes through me,” she says. She manages the front office, so you’ll hear her cheerful voice when you call. She also ensures everyone who enters the building follows proper protocols at the COVID kiosk. That responsibility keeps her close to the front door, so she doesn’t get as much social time with the residents as she would like. That said, she does interact with residents on a regular basis.

“They call me the money lady.”

You might say Darlene is the resident banker, since she manages the resident trust account. She helps each new resident set up an account where family members can contribute funds for their loved one’s personal use. Residents spend their money to get their hair done (the beautician regularly comes to visit), to purchase snacks from the machines, or for in-town shopping provided by a social worker.

On the administrative side, Darlene manages the care operating account – processing payments and reporting back to the home office in Americus. She gets the mail and distributes it to staff and residents. And she uses her many years’ of experience in the insurance industry, too, dealing with insurance companies to confirm resident benefits and eligibility and track payments.

From Insurance to Skilled Nursing

The insurance company Darlene worked for transferred her to Buena Vista because they planned to open an office in Columbus. But they didn’t, so in 2010 Darlene found herself in Buena Vista with no job. She joined Magnolia Manor in Americus as an insurance coordinator and commuted for a year, then learned of an opening at the Buena Vista campus. Was she interested? Of course!

“I used to drive by and think how much I wanted to work there. It was so close to home. But it’s a nursing center, and I’m not a nurse.” The administrative assistant opening was fortuitous indeed. And so Darlene has been an integral part of our Buena Vista community since 2011.

“Working here is so rewarding!”

Darlene loves her job at Magnolia Manor. “It’s close to my house, there are great people – we won the Gold Award, you know!” In fact, Magnolia Manor of Marion County has won multiple awards for their outstanding senior care.

The best part of her job, however, is helping people. She says that when people come to Magnolia Manor, they are sometimes sad, they may be ill, and family members are feeling desperate with worry. Helping them is always rewarding, especially when they can get better and go home. “In my insurance job, I used to get threats,” she laughs. “Now I hear thanks – often – from residents and families!”

Carefree Living

At all nine of our Magnolia Manor communities in south Georgia, your loved one’s care is our utmost priority. Just like Darlene, our compassionate staff is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care in a loving, Christian environment. To learn more about our Marion County campus or one of our other senior living communities, contact us online or give us a call at 855-540-LIFE (5433).