Jennifer McLeod is the Owner/President of Hartland Terrace Assisted Living, a senior facility located in Hartland. She serves as one of the primary providers for the 22 residents living at the facility. Jennifer also has her Family Nurse Practitioner license with a specialty in geriatric medicine, acute care trauma and ICU care.
She lives in Mukwonago with her husband, and served as a Firefighter/EMS Rescue, which prompted her love for emergency medicine. Her nursing career began in the hospital systems and she expected to stay in acute care. However, that all changed when she decided to open Hartland Terrace. She has since found joy and happiness in learning from the seniors in the community and helping them through their journey.
About Jennifer McLeod
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I am married to my husband, Michael. We have two adult children, Lauren and Jayson, and two awesome grandbabies. My mom lives at my facility with late stage Alzheimer’s and my father passed a few years ago with health issues. We love traveling, being outside, boating/sports or just cooking out. Family time is most important, we are a very close unit.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
I would say my life in health care started when I was 13 and my father became critically ill. My family had to navigate the health care systems for many years. When I was on the community fire department I discovered medicine and fell in love with EMS and acute care. I was able to bring many things that I learned home to help my father.
In 2008, I opened Hartland Terrace, with the thought that when needed we would have a place for my dad to go for care when we couldn’t do it any more. It became so much more. My mom started Alzheimer’s at 50, which was a huge surprise to us and thus pushed both my parents to reside at HT. I knew, being out in the surrounding communities, there really wasn’t a place that my parents could go and age in peace. Yes, there were many facilities or skilled facilities, but not one that could handle the heavy care load my dad needed AND help my mom go though her journey with her memory while keeping them together.
I knew I needed to provide them with what they needed, and in doing that I found that there are so many underserved frail elderly and families looking for the same thing. I really don’t know if I chose this path, I think it chose me. It was by chance I became a member of the fire department. Actually, it was a bet with my neighbors, that looking back on I think I won. I did not know it would lead me in the direction it has, but i am so blessed to have lived this journey and continue to live it. As a business owner in Hartland, and the love and care the community has shown us, I could never have imagined such a perfect place for my residents and parents to live.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
That’s a hard question as there are so many facets of my life I truly enjoy. Strangely, I feel it is actually the critical thinking and care we provide. I mean, I love talking to people, throwing parties and advocating for others. But my heart has always been in the actual medical aspect of what I do. Using root cause analysis to treat chronic issues. Many people do not understand that even though our frail elderly are moving towards end of life, we still treat them. Sometimes their chronic conditions are harder to treat than the acute issues that arise. Really, it is the investigation and hopefully finding a new treatment to help someone that always keeps my mind going.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
There are so many challenges in life, but I would have to say time is the most difficult thing I worry about. Time for my family and friends, but also for my residents and their families and all who I can help. Working full time jobs while going to school full time took much of my “off time” from my family. I could not be where I am without their support. I always need more time to work on paperwork, cuddle with my grandbabies or even cuddle with my residents. Over the past 15 years, life has shown me that I must allocate the time or I miss so much.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
It sounds like a Hallmark card but helping others find joy in their lives and with each other. Throughout my career I have met so many wonderful people and been to so many great places. Each time I meet someone new or can visit a new place it changes me for the better.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
My business partner and I just opened a second company, Avid At Home. It is a skilled home health company with skilled nursing, physical and occupational therapy, psychosocial care and home health aids. People speak to me about decisions to move out, not move, or getting better care within the community. There has been a real hole in what is offered. I wanted to open a business that can provide care for those within the area, but really be about what THEY need and what THEIR goals are.
Our society is so worried about compensation and not spending too much time with patients, as it lowers income. Avid At Home is about offering care by ensuring the patient is supported with the most up to date treatments or therapies. Looking at root cause of issues verses putting a band-aid on it. We will be a smaller company, but we will ensure we leave a mark on what real healthcare should be.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
My first thought is to say RUN! But really, you must first be happy and enjoy what you do. This type of work is not for the faint of heart. I teach my team about death and dying, we help our residents live and pass with dignity. That takes a lot of heart but also time. I have been on call every day and night for 15 years and I wouldn’t change a thing. If I’m lucky, I sleep 3-4 hours a night, but I love my life.
I guess my major advice is to go and talk to people who do the work, not the people that may pay bills or sit behind the desk but the people who run the business and the people who they care for. I own and operate, meaning I work the floor with my team, cook, clean, aid residents and much more. You have to understand and work the most basic position at your company to understand what your team and your residents need. It is only then that you are truly caring for them.
Jennifer McLeod & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
Hartland is fantastic! So many things make it that way; schools, restaurants, neighbors and more. I grew up in a very small town and Hartland reminds me of it. The people are invested with one another and in the community, making it the best place to be.
Q: Who is an interesting person you’ve met here in our community, and how have they inspired you?
It is so hard to pick just one, actually I am not sure I can, but isn’t that the joy of a community like Hartland? It is not “a single person”. But I have to talk about the Women’s Group at St. Charles Catholic Church. I have never met a more loving and truly awesome group of ladies that are willing to do anything to provide joy. They have made it their mission to ensure residents have communion weekly, made us blankets or donate prizes for our bingo games. During COVID they called and checked on us asking how they can help. They welcome every resident even if they have no religious background. They really are the epitome of what a small town can do for your soul.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
Well, I have to say I love Sendik’s and the Pink Mocha Cafe. Stopping for an after-work drink at The Phoenix is always fun. If I am eating out I would say I really love to grab a sandwich and fries from Cousins or a BLT from HB Cafe. But let us not forget the frozen custard from Sweet Dreams, my heavens I do love it more than I should.
Q: What 3 words would you use to describe our community?
Family, Home and Comfort.
For Fun
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I graduated from beauty school in Florida in the early 1990’s and used to work in the building business.
Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
Favorite book – who has time to read? TV Show – it changes a lot but right now it’s SWAT because I have always wanted to be on a SWAT team. Movie – well this will embarrass my family but Angry Birds or Tombstone – and lastly, my favorite song is anything on K-LOVE.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My family at home and at work. I made a promise to myself long ago, that every day I will show someone how much they matter to me and this world. Show them empathy and joy. If I can do that everyday, I am at peace.
Q: If you were a drink (can be a coffee drink, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc.), what would you be?
Kiddie Cocktail. Those are my favorite! It is a drink with sweetness with the cherry juice, the bubbly of the soda and the joy of eating the cherries at the end.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be with? Why?
Oh my, I would say my 15 year old self. I would demand better grades, less silliness and remind myself to find my joy. It took me awhile, but I finally did.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Work with earth moving equipment, cranes or backhoe are among my favorites.
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Family and being silly and making others smile.
Q: Any general life advice you would like to share?
Be happy, too much time is wasted on things that do not matter and everyone needs common sense.
Where to Find Jennifer McLeod
Email: hartlandterrace@yahoo.com
Phone: (262) 369-4391
