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This article was created by Rosa Ondo Polo, Site Manager
Sodexo Healthcare in Spain
Savoring life’s special moments
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Health & Care stories
In this series, our health and care team members share how they bring Sodexo’s core values to life every day. For Rosa Ondo Polo, it’s about helping care community residents enjoy the simple pleasures, whether it’s a delicious meal or a friendly companion.
Often, the most special moment in a resident’s day is their meal. They look forward to it, and it’s important to me that they enjoy it.
It’s a responsibility I take seriously as the site manager at three senior care communities in Barcelona, Spain – Residencia Cerdanyola del Vallès, Residencia Vallbona, and Residencia La Verneda. I love talking with the residents, who compliment and thank me, and also give me constructive feedback! I always remember that we are here to serve them. They are our elders, and they awaken a lot of tenderness in me.
Looking back, I was a natural fit for this line of work, because I feel this compassion and empathy for others. But it was more of a decision that I reached gradually.
I began my Sodexo career as a student during school breaks, working as a cleaning service assistant in a care community. It was actually this first job that led me to study dietetics and nutrition at university, because I met a Sodexo dietitian, and my eyes were opened to the career possibilities.
I had imagined that dieticians work in offices, consulting with clients and creating diets. But at this senior community, the dietician worked with residents, doctors, nurses, and the kitchen staff. This was very interesting to me.
Once I finished my studies and had my degree, I started as a dietician at the Guttmann Institute, a hospital specializing in surgical treatment and rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries, for which Sodexo provides food services.
Later, I got the opportunity to sub in for a site manager who was out on leave. This gave me a chance to discover even more about Sodexo. Before I was living in my “dietitian world.” Ultimately, this led to the position that I have today.While this position has more responsibility, it shares one commonality with my prior roles as dietitian and cleaning assistant: the role of caregiver. To me, that means showing your affection for others by practicing patience, extending your companionship, and going the extra mile. In this way, residents can enjoy the little things that make life so special.