Ayla Harwood, COO of Opal Senior Living, Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders of 2022 | IERA Women Leaders
Ayla Harwood, COO of Opal Senior Living, is a forward-thinking innovator in the senior living space. She works hard to stay educated and informed on market trends, industry standards, and the shifting population within senior housing. Ayla works to develop transformative programming to provide superior care and active engagement for each person within all Opal communities. Opal Senior Living’s programs are tailored to each individual to provide maximum engagement while being mindful of physical barriers and personal preferences. Ayla takes a great deal of time to meet with residents and associates to curate new ideas to keep senior living active and exciting.
Ayla proves that everything is possible when you put your mind to it. Starting her career in senior living in high school, she worked as a caregiver. Through time and schooling, Ayla became a nurse. In nursing, Ayla developed a passion for serving those enjoying life with supportive services. Working from the ground up, she has participated in every role in the senior living workforce. Ayla has spent time speaking to local students to empower students to work hard to follow the path meant for them. Ayla always seeks to be a mentor for rising leaders.
The pioneering leader believes that a great leader supports and encourages others to succeed and grow. Opal Senior Living works hard to encourage and promote leaders within the organization. Ayla is a servant leader who looks to impact others in growth and development. Ayla believes that the success of Opal Senior Living rests upon those we serve and our associates that make the ultimate impact. Collaborating with team members creates a culture that supports bottom-up growth and empowerment.
Ayla’s advice to everyone is never to give up. “As a child I always believed that I would become a doctor. I worked hard on my education to put myself in a position where this would be possible. I decided to go to school for nursing to be able to work through my schooling,” she says.
“I was fortunate to gain a position in home health that allowed me the time and flexibility to focus on continuing my education. In home health, I was given an assignment to see residents within an assisted living community, and fell in love with the industry. My life forever changed.” She was able to transition into a role as an executive director role and was able to learn so much more about the industry. Through listening to residents and team members, Ayla worked hard to empower all team members to create an atmosphere that mattered.
According to Ayla, senior living is at a pivotal point of change as the Baby Boomers enter senior living communities. It is critical for Opal Senior Living to be mindful of this shift and continue refining its approach in a way that speaks to a generation that is very different from those before. “We continue to evaluate our programming and services to best serve our population. We have implemented an increase in tech-based engagement and smart services,” explains Ayla. “Additionally, we see a large focus on niche-based communities. It is imperative for us to determine what we do best in each of our communities and cater to populations in new and exciting ways.” Opal Senior Living is dedicated to being the gold standard in senior living. Their revolutionary approach to memory care has set them apart in the industry. Reflections is Opal’s specialized program dedicated to serving those with cognitive impairment. Reflections uses evidence-based practices and cutting-edge technologies to elevate the lives of those struggling with diseases like Dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diseases with cognitive impairment.
“In senior living you are never done working towards goals. Our goals and initiatives are constantly evolving. Just as people age and each generation changes, we too must always be changing to engage and support our seniors,” elucidates Ayla. “The same goes for associate engagement. Our workforce is evolving and we are always implementing new ways to grow our great teams.”
Opal Senior Living aims to keep growing and provide services and programs to more seniors across the United States. “We live in a world where aging is thought to be boring. When you ask those of younger generations what they think about those in their 70s or life after retirement, there is an expectation of our aged population sitting home with their books, crocheting and sewing,” says Ayla. “While these are great hobbies that many enjoy, there is so much living to do and life to experience in the golden years. I aim to see our seniors live life to the fullest, create new interests, and enjoy every moment with the support and care they deserve.”