Spend a day at Lucy Corr with Rodney D. Kibler, Ph.D., and it quickly becomes clear he is a familiar and trusted presence. 

During his visits to Lucy Corr, staff members flag down Kibler — whom they call Dr. Rodney — to ask for 15 minutes of his time, and he shuffles his schedule to fit them in. When he sat down for an interview on a recent visit, he set a hard stop: Someone on staff was waiting to see him.

That demand says a lot about the work Kibler does. A licensed school psychologist and licensed professional counselor, he has consulted in long-term care since 1991 and has visited Lucy Corr monthly for several years.

Unlike most health care providers, who step on campus to treat residents, Kibler’s focus is on the well-being of the staff — and that keeps him busy and fulfilled. “It’s always a good day, because I’m heavily utilized,” he said. “I want to be used.”

Support for the people who give it

Each visit starts at the daily morning meeting, where about 20 department managers gather. Kibler brings a short mental health topic. Last month, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, he co-presented on post-traumatic stress disorder with a former New York City first responder he met at Lucy Corr.

From there, Kibler follows up informally with key staff members and meets one-on-one with anyone who asks. Counting the group presentation, he sees about 30 staff members on a typical visit. Every conversation is confidential, and no topic is off the table. Work-life balance tops the list, followed by the things everyone carries at some point: grief, the death of a parent or child, illness, frustration.

“I think it’s increasingly difficult for staff to deal with the demands of this profession, especially long-term care,” he said. “I want to help them not burn out.”

Lucy Corr isn’t required to offer this kind of support, but the organization chooses to provide it as part of its commitment to staff well-being. Kibler’s visits aren’t billed to Medicare or Medicaid. The Lucy Corr Foundation funds them through a grant from the Richmond-based Regirer Foundation, which supports organizations serving aging Central Virginians.

“I’m on the Lucy Corr tab,” Kibler said. “They care about their people.”

“Working in health care can bring unique demands, and we believe in giving our team members resources they can use when they need them,” said Jenae Briggs, Health Care Center Administrator. “Bringing Dr. Rodney in is one way we support the people who care for others every day. When our staff feel supported, our residents feel it, too.” 

Back-office beginnings

Kibler’s career began in rural Greene County, north of Charlottesville, where his first job was as a school psychologist for the public schools. He earned his doctorate from the University of Virginia while working there.

When he opened a private practice in the mid-1980s, Dr. Kibler set up in the back of a small grocery store, so clients could come in without being seen walking into a therapist’s office. Stigma ran deep then, especially among men. Attitudes have changed since, he said, though some men remain reluctant to seek help.

His introduction to long-term care came in 1991 at a small facility in Madison, Virginia. Unsure where to start, he sat down at a piano and played old church hymns: “People that couldn’t speak could sing.”

Long-term care consulting became a standing part of Kibler’s work, running alongside a clinical practice that eventually moved to Charlottesville. He calls it his “traveling show,” and it has taken him to facilities across Virginia.

After serving on the board of another Virginia retirement community, Kibler had seen the full continuum of senior care up close and was looking forward to working professionally in a continuing care retirement community. Now, he counts Lucy Corr among his favorite places to visit, crediting a core of dedicated, longtime staff members who are loyal to its mission.

Residents know him, too. In Independent Living, he leads Let’s Talk, a monthly gathering where residents talk through whatever is on their minds, from widowhood to family relationships.

Leading with his own story

Kibler also brings something most counselors keep to themselves. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about a decade ago, and this spring he underwent deep brain stimulation surgery, with a device implanted in his chest. The condition makes it hard for him to laugh, so he tells people up front.

“Anytime I meet with anybody, I generally want them to know what they’re dealing with, and we’ve all got something,” he said. That openness, he has found, helps people open up in turn. “I get it back from them,” he said. “A lot of hugs here.”

Some of Kibler’s long-term care visits come by special request from residents with advanced Parkinson’s — many of whom can no longer speak or walk — so he can offer encouragement from someone who shares their diagnosis.

“That there’s somebody who really understands what they’re experiencing means a lot to them,” he said.

At 72, he hears one question often: Why does he keep doing this? “Because I can, and I want to,” he said.

For health care providers and other senior living staff,  Kibler’s advice is to set boundaries, make time for hobbies — whether golf, glee club or art — and to act early. “When do you know you need some help? Probably before you think you do,” he said. “Be proactive.”