Courtney Hancock

Meet Your Vice President of Clinical Services

How did you get into senior living?

I got into healthcare, in general, with a strong desire to serve the underserved. I initially started in women’s and children’s health. In nursing school, senior living isn’t really discussed, so I never considered it early in my career. My exposure to senior living was almost nil as I only had one grandparent living past my teenage years, my Papa, who greatly impacted my life with his rich storytelling. Our nation's seniors are an often-overlooked vulnerable population; so, when I was asked to step into the world of Seniors, I decided to jump in feet first. It is so rewarding advocating, honoring, and serving those who have come before us.

Who truly inspires you?

I am an eternal optimist… I truly find inspiration everywhere. But if I have to pick, the two people who have inspired me most are my (late) father and my daughter Charley (whom I call Chuck). My dad always saw the good in everyone. He was the ultimate hype guy… he believed in people so much they couldn’t help but believe in themselves. Truly, to have known him is a gift. I still live my life trying to emulate him and make him proud. And Charley girl, she is my muse, my motivation and my daily reminder that life is good and the world and our community are filled with magic, you just need to open your eyes to see it.

A thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Baseball is my first love (Go Sox!)…. And I frequently use sports jargon and analogies in both personal and professional correspondence. I mean, Billy Beane said it best, “How can you not be romantic about baseball?”

Beatles or Elvis?

This is a tough one for me because I am obsessed with music. Elvis reminds me of my dad (he used to sing “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” to me). But the Beatles are the Beatles! Since I must pick, I am going with the Beatles… I do have a dog named Penny Lane, after all.

How did you wind up at Inspired Living?

Unexpectedly. I was happy in acute care but I have always had a strong desire to learn anything and everything. So, when I was approached by Validus leadership I was curious how I would fit in this new (to me) industry. I ended up falling in love with the culture they were creating. It is a breath of fresh air to be able to be authentically yourself and seen and accepted as such. There isn’t the corporate jargon and environment… just groups of real people having robust conversations about being better (1% at a time). It’s a family… the feedback is honest, the laughter is contagious, and although the work is sometimes exhausting or emotional, the love and support are endless. And seriously… have you met our residents?! What’s not to love?!

What do you want your legacy to be?

As generic and cliché as it sounds, I want my legacy to be that I left the world better than I found it. That I did the right thing, even when it was unpopular, or my voice was shaking with fear. But most importantly, I want my legacy to be love. I want to be remembered as someone who believed in people and never let setbacks or heartbreaks make me bitter. Because as the Beatles sang, “… all you need is love.” (See what I did there?!)