Monadnock Ledger-Transcript
Published: 7/25/2016 3:45:39 PM
When Scott-Farrar at Peterborough, an assisted living facility in Peterborough, re-opens in September, it will be under the leadership of Lara Shook.
Since June 2015 construction has been ongoing on Elm Street to rebuild a new Scott-Farrar at Peterborough senior living community with 63 apartments and suites for multiple levels of senior living.
Shook, of Peterborough, has been hired as the new CEO and Executive Director of the site. She’s no stranger to Scott-Farrar. When she was a teenager, one of her first jobs was washing dishes at the former facility, located on the same site. The interactions that she had there ignited a passion in her for elder care.
“That was my first introduction into that field, and I really enjoyed what I was doing,” said Shook in an interview Friday. “It’s very rewarding to be able to help people, and know your hard work is of service to others.”
Shook said she has a particular passion for working with people with dementia. “It’s a sad and awful disease, but in the day-to-day, you can connect with people and make sure that their time is meaningful,” she said.
Shook has a background in senior living management. Most recently she was the assistant executive director of Atria Senior Living in Falmouth, Massachusetts, where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of 99 assisted living and memory care apartments. Prior to Atria, Shook was the Memory Care Director of the Village Proprietor’s Green in Marshfield, Massachusetts.
Shook said that as she has sought new challenged in the field of elder care, she came to enjoy the broader impact she was able to have in the management side of the business.
“The day-to-day care is really fun, but I also like the planning and implementation of new things,” she said.
Shook said she’s excited to be at the ground level of the rebuilding of Scott-Farrar.
In her role as CEO, Shook will be responsible for oversite of pre-opening operations, including hiring and training staff and welcoming Scott-Farrar’s first residents as they move into the new community. Following the grand opening, Shook will oversee all operations of the community.
“It’s such a unique opportunity,” she said. “I get to put down the foundation that will hopefully support the community for many years to come. I want to create an environment of care and compassion that I want to be contagious.”
Shook said she believes strongly in a team approach.
“If we all have the same vision, we can make something wonderful,” she said.
Shook received a BA in Public Relations from the University of Rhode Island and a MS degree in Elder Care Administration from Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts.
Scott-Farrar is currently seeking employees to fill manager positions. On Aug. 11, Scott-Farrar will hold a job fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all positions. The facility is set to open in September.