Frontline Honors Award Winner: Jessica Wolters, Concierge, Frontier Senior Living

Jessica Wolters, Concierge at Frontier Senior Living, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Senior Housing News.

To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be:

• A dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes
• A passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into for the good of their respective industry, the patients and residents they serve, and their families
• An advocate for their industry and their fellow colleagues

Senior Housing News recently caught up with Wolters to discuss her time in the senior housing & senior living industry.

SHN: What drew you to this industry?

Wolters: My heart for people. I have a servant’s heart, and this field, specifically my workplace, has provided me with the opportunity to serve the senior population and their families.

SHN: What’s a misconception you had about this work before you started – and how has reality differed?

Wolters: My workplace is a community for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. I have learned so much about the disease, but I did not have misconceptions or judgements when I started. I walked into the field with open arms and an excitement to learn and serve. 

SHN: Was there a moment in your career when you realized, “This work really matters”? What happened?

Wolters: It’s the small moments; being a listening ear, giving a hug, offering a smile, calling someone by their name, praying for someone, etc. The smallest act of kindness can make the biggest difference in the world. From my experience, I find a hug is the strongest act; whether it’s in celebration or in tragedy, a hug is a moment of stillness with someone saying, “I see you, I understand, and you are not alone.”

SHN: What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed on the front lines that people often overlook?

Wolters: A deeper level of love, understanding and compassion. It’s not a skill, but we are all humans trying to figure out life and are facing unseen challenges. Humanity needs more empathy.

SHN: What’s one decision leaders make that has a bigger impact on frontline workers than they might realize?

Wolters: Decisions will always have impact, but making decisions not based on greed or status, but with the idea of caring for fellow man and wanting to make a difference. Leaders should strive to make fine and equal decisions for all frontline workers to better equip us to help people. 

SHN: What’s a simple change – policy, tool, or mindset – that would make frontline work more effective?

Wolters: Compassion. Healthcare requires, in my opinion, a heart for helping people. It’s not just a job. We are dealing with the very fabric of people’s lives. Compassion and a caring nature is essential. 

SHN: What gives you optimism about the future of this industry, despite its challenges?

Wolters: First and foremost, it will always be needed. Secondly, the continued advancement of research and technology that will provide better treatment, cure diseases, further resources and overall, give healthcare workers better tools.

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