Nine years ago St. John’s Protective Services Officer Torrey Ragland applied to St. John’s at the suggestion of a friend of his wife, then St. John’s Vice President of Skilled Services Rebecca Priest. And, he is happy to have stayed all these years. “It’s the people and I enjoy the atmosphere,” says Ragland about why this is the place from which he hopes to retire.

Coming to St. John’s from the City of Rochester, where he had a role in the Parks and Recreation Department as a security officer, Ragland has been working in the security field for over 30 years. It was a path that he says “I stumbled into,” but one that has served him well–providing the stability and flexibilty he needed to balance the professional and personal sides of his life over the years. He says that it is a career that is fairly easy to get into. There are local college programs, but also on the job training available from employers, which is how he was able to advance his skills.

According to Ragland, one of the most important reasons he keeps coming to work each day is “knowing I have the ability to help others.” Ragland admits that he has seen many changes over the nine years, especially having worked at St. John’s during the pandemic, but that there are many good things that have not been impacted. “The core people are still here and it is still an entertaining place to work,” he says.

Working in Protective Services has taught Ragland a great deal about the medical field as well. With the officers’ role in participating officially in the very personal and emotional process of assisting family, staff, and outside providers with residents who have passed away, Ragland says he has seen the impact of family dynamics on skilled care. “I have learned a great deal about the nature of how families interact with each other and support their elder loved ones.” Having a very close relationship with his own parents, who live nearby and with whom he has the opportunity to spend a great deal of time, Ragland says it is especially eye-opening. When elders do not have loved ones who visit or who are particpants in their care process, “that is a sad realism,” he says.

Ragland does recommend St. John’s as a good place to work; although he says it is important to have the right mindset. “If you are going to come here to work, come here with love and understanding,” stresses Ragland.

“This is home for the people who are here every day. They should be provided for in a certain way. To come here and look at it as just a job–you are in the wrong place for that,” says Ragland.

And for those who like a challenge, Ragland says that “you are going to hit the ground running” when you come here.  “You are going to learn alot.”

While Ragland is busy at work, he is also “running fast” at home too. Ragland shares that he is a husband and father of four children–two boys and two girls–ranging in age from 30 to 16, but “I love it,” he says. Even though two of his children are adults and living outside of the house, he wishes time would go slower for his two that are still living with him and his wife while attending school.

One other fun fact about Ragland is how he spends his free time. He loves to go hiking. Ragland shares that he has explored many of the local trails including the Genesee Riverway Trail. “You see some really cool things along those trails.”