The Waterford Communities are locally owned and have three Assisted Living and Memory Care locations in Lincoln. The first facility opened on July 1, 2000.  The newest Waterford Community at Wilderness Hills, located at 27th and Yankee Hill, provides Memory Care in a home-like setting. The Waterford at College View on 4848 South 48th Street offers higher levels of Assisted Living care and The Waterford at Williamsburg, located on the corner of 40th and Pine Lake, provides Assisted Living care. Eric Haider is the CEO of Waterford Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Tell us a little about your business. – We offer an unconditional satisfaction guarantee to all of our residents and a broad range of resident services from total independence to two-person assist. Our staff members, many of which are nurses, are highly competent and we provide weekly visits by a nurse practitioner. We believe our services far exceed those of other assisted living facilities.

How did you get started in the business? – I was honored with an opportunity offered by one of my professors to join his company as an administrator. To this day, I am grateful for this opportunity.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I developed a strategy to improve the quality of life and care for residents in long-term care facilities.  My vision for this type of care was person-centered. My passion for providing the best care possible to all residents during my career has earned me several awards such as the Administrator of the Year Award, the Best Practice Award, and the Excellence in Service and Care Delivery Award. I became a nationally recognized speaker and have since been invited to speak at a variety of state, national and international conventions. My most recent award was receipt of the “Best Place to Work in Lincoln” 1st place award in the small business category.

Tell me a little about your family. – I have been married to my wonderful wife, Margie, for 31 years.  We are blessed with two great children.  Kristi is 29 and has a master’s degree in Business Administration and Zac is 19 and is a junior in college.  We also have a very high-energy three year old grandson.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Twenty five years ago, after working a few years as a nursing home administrator, I realized that something had to change in the manner in which we treated residents in long-term care facilities. I felt a strong need to advance my vision of giving more choice, more respect, and more person centered care to residents in long-term care.

What are you most proud of? – Changing the way we care for the elderly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. What I started years ago has allowed the elderly in long-term care facilities to be treated with dignity and respect and provided them the opportunity to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.  Some of the most important aspects of Person-Centered Care have actually become federally required.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – If you help others, God will help you!

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Caring.

What is your favorite team? – The Waterford Assisted Living and Memory Care team and the Cornhuskers.

What is your favorite book? – The Bible.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – At (402) 890-0972 or eric@thewaterford.net, or visit www.thewaterford.net.