RN Carol Trotter hums to a new song with retirement

Residents at King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge told RN Carol Trotter they always knew she was coming down the hallway without ever looking.

“They heard me hum old songs,” Trotter said of her happy habit. “Residents would tell me they like it and they hummed with me. You have to live with some joy in your life – and humming is something I like to do.”

Carol Trotter’s humming will now be missed since her retirement from KBH in July after 34 years as a skilled nursing night shift RN. Trotter has enjoyed her long, accomplished career and has always found the third shift to be both rewarding and challenging.

“People often think things are slower in the overnight hours because residents are sleeping,” she said. “That’s a big fallacy,” she said. “Residents in skilled nursing all have different needs and some do not always sleep at night. They have normal aches and pains, some have dementia, and they want to see a friendly face in the middle of the night and know that someone is there for them. That’s what makes my nursing role so important. Service and care are vital to those who need us.”

With fond memories, she recalls so many delightful conversations shared with residents over the years. “This has been a rewarding opportunity to talk to residents who were so engaging with their stories,” Trotter said. They led such interesting lives. I have had the privilege of getting to know them and making them feel welcome at KBH. This is their home and as staff members, we are part of their extended family.”

Trotter has seen extensive changes to KBH during her long tenure. Executive Director Carl Baker, now retired, was initially recruited to oversee a major renovation to the entire building that included private bathrooms, safety and mechanical upgrades. Skilled nursing was moved to the north side of the campus and a new memory care unit eventually was added. Third floor changes created new offices for an expanding management staff plus there were other major projects that included a new slate roof, kitchen and room expansions and extensive remodeling to add wellness, physical therapy and activity rooms and a new clinic. The Woods of King-Bruwaert House independent living cottage homes sold out quickly once built in 1994. Recent changes under current CEO, Terri Bowen, have included the construction of Carrington Hall assisted living suites, front entrance improvements, a new Bistro, technology and software changes and a campus-wide 35-acre reforestation effort. Sales are now underway for new independent living luxury apartment residences, The Gardens of King-Bruwaert House, tentatively scheduled for construction in 2022.

So many changes – and Trotter has been in a position to watch KBH grow and flourish. She has connected with so many residents and families over the years. Now she moves into a new phase of her life that includes more focus on personal health and quality time spent with her three adult children and two young grandchildren, a girl and boy, both under age two. She plans a busy lifestyle with church involvement, Bible study classes, warm water exercises classes and hopefully some travel with her husband to visit relatives in Florida and Colorado. She will also continue to teach a clinical class for Certified Nursing Assistants at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. She’s been teaching the class for years and believes it’s important to help lead the way for the next generation of nurses who are becoming part of a very important and rewarding profession that will continue to focus on personalized care.

Coworkers planned a farewell party for Trotter that included food, cake, gifts and balloons. During her last week at KBH, Trotter posted two letters on an in-house bulletin board to bid her own farewell to residents and staff. She felt this was the best way to speak from her heart and express gratitude for a memorable career surrounded by compassionate, caring colleagues and endearing residents.

“I have been blessed with wonderful people to work with and care for,” she said. “This is what I will miss the most.”