Interview with Rachel Abshear, Owner of Ohio CEUs

This month, we had the pleasure of interviewing Rachel Abshear, the dynamic owner of Ohio CEUs. Rachel’s journey in the healthcare and education sectors is as inspiring as it is impactful, and her passion for improving the lives of others shines through in everything she does.

In this interview, Rachel shares her background, dedication to continuing education, and valuable insights into the industry. We love featuring interviews on our blog as a way to introduce our community to the incredible people behind the scenes who contribute to our mission.

We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Rachel’s story.

Can you share your background (where you grew up, education, and experience) with us?

I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and attended the University of Dayton (Go Flyers!). I studied English and Family Development and minored in Psychology and Social Work. I volunteered or worked at retirement communities and nursing homes throughout school, starting as an Activity Assistant. When I graduated from college, I worked as the Program Coordinator on an Alzheimer’s Unit, then as Director of Activities and Community Relations at a retirement community, and then as Director of Programming, Activities, and Community Relations at a large Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC).

I also served as Director of Community Operations for a senior services organization (overseeing programming, membership, marketing, and case management), as Director of Activities and Transportation at another large CCRC, and finally, returned to a former community as the Director of Independent Living.

I have had amazing experiences with compassionate care teams, innovative communities, and wonderful residents throughout my career. Over the years, I have also taught at a local community college (educating future Activity Directors) and wrote for and served on the advisory board of an international activity magazine. I have had many opportunities to create, educate, and learn, and I have loved every minute of building this resume.

A few years ago, I left the full-time workforce to spend more time with my two children and to focus on Ohio CEUs. My passion is offering quality and affordable educational opportunities to those working in healthcare (or other fields).

Talk about your interest in education and the healthcare industry and how you discovered your passion.

When I was 14 years old, I wanted to volunteer somewhere. What I really wanted to do was rock babies in a hospital’s NICU, but I was too young for the local programs. Since I couldn’t volunteer in a NICU, I started calling places to see if I could find a good fit that would accept someone my age.

I had always enjoyed talking with older people, so I called a nearby retirement community. Fortunately, the receptionist connected me with the Activity Director (a position I didn’t even know existed back then), who was eager to utilize a young volunteer as a visitor. I had the most beautiful opportunity to visit weekly with a lady who was nearly blind and deaf and rather isolated due to her limitations.

My “job” was to meet her neighbors (specifically recommended to me because they too were lonely) and then introduce her to them and leave them for a short visit. It was such an effective endeavor of connections and friendship. My new friend loved her visits, and by the time I graduated from high school, she had a “gentleman friend,” had been featured in a marketing brochure, hosted floor parties, and participated in a community fashion show.

I saw then the immense power of human connection and of reaching those who have withdrawn from others—for whatever reason—and I determined that would be a strong part of my future career upon graduation.

I also had many opportunities throughout my career to educate. I taught courses at our local community college to help prepare future Activity Directors. I led in-service days on HIPAA the year it rolled out. I coordinated and presented staff training on dementia, person-centered care, and laughter therapy. I presented at conferences, including teaching the activity portion of the administrator course in Columbus.

I found my voice in these two interconnected paths, and they guided me to where I am today—running a small but effective business offering continuing education and other educational opportunities to healthcare professionals.

What credentials are necessary to do what you do?

As an Activity Director, I am certified as an Activity Consultant through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. I am also a Certified Laughter Leader. As the President of Ohio CEUs, I focus on sharing my knowledge and, more importantly, bringing insights from other highly qualified professionals. One of my goals is to offer courses that highlight some of the “softer” skills that can benefit everyone at all levels while also providing necessary CEUs in more medical-type classes (such as ethics and bariatric care).

What settings have you served, and how are they different and similar?

Over the years, I have worked in retirement communities, nursing homes, dementia units, senior centers, and continuing care retirement communities. They are all similar in that they strive to fill a need and offer innovative, compassionate care to older adults. The primary difference is the size and the resources available to them (especially when I compare nonprofit communities to for-profit communities). I have been blessed with great communities in all settings and have learned so much from each.

What is the most important part of working with those you serve?

For me, this is a two-tiered question. When I look at my work with older adults, the most important part is showing compassion, creativity, innovation, and resources (in whatever way I can for each person) while always recognizing the vitality of the individual. When I consider my work at Ohio CEUs, the most important part is having a pulse on the needs of the professional community, i.e., what skills are useful and interesting in a continuing education course? What price point can benefit professionals at varying levels of their careers? Who can I bring in to offer unique courses to my clientele? There is a lot of overlap in both areas of my experience, but those are the things I would single out.

What advice would you give to new or aspiring activity directors?

• Pay attention to individual needs, group dynamics, and creative resources.
• Innovate at every opportunity.
• Value the power of connections and relationships (both personal and professional, for yourself and for those you serve).

What three qualities are most important for professionals seeking work in nursing homes or retirement communities?

Similar to the previous question, compassion, innovation, and relationship-building are three vital qualities.

From your perspective and experience in a variety of communities, what opportunities do you see for staff members to utilize activities?

Naturally, activities should be used traditionally to meet the residents’ needs and interests. However, activities can also educate other staff about the residents, engage administrative partners in the community’s day-to-day lives, and build relationships and opportunities within the greater community.

Rachel’s dedication to enhancing the lives of older adults and her commitment to providing top-notch educational opportunities for healthcare professionals are truly inspiring. Her journey from a young volunteer to a seasoned professional and business owner is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. We hope Rachel’s insights will inspire others in the field. Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn and stay tuned for more interviews and stories from the people who make our community thrive.