At Barclay Friends, the people who work here shape daily life in ways that are often quiet, thoughtful, and deeply human. In this employee spotlight, Matt Rottman, Memory Care Coordinator for Bartram Way, reflects on one year of building connections through creativity, presence, and shared moments and offers a glimpse at how Barclay Friends supports older adults.
How long have you been at Barclay Friends?
I have been here one full year.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I create and run about 6 to 10 different activities daily. From “This Day in History” to baking, word scrambles, live entertainment, poetry reading, and writing.
What do you find most meaningful about working with older adults?
What I find most meaningful about working with older adults is the chance to truly see people beyond what they can do or remember and to honor who they are at their core. Even as memory or physical abilities change, their sense of self—their personhood—remains. Being fully present, offering patience, and helping residents feel safe, respected, and deeply valued, sometimes without needing to fix or change anything, feels profoundly important to me.
Can you tell me about how you went around as Santa this past Christmas?
Going around as Santa this past Christmas was one of the most magical experiences I’ve had here. Walking into each room, seeing residents’ eyes light up, hearing them call out “Santa,” and being welcomed with such joy was incredibly moving. Getting to genuinely connect with every single resident in the building—even briefly—felt like a profound gift and is something I will never forget.
What motivates you to continue growing in your role?
What motivates me to continue growing in my role is that the more I learn how to care for people, the more I realize how much there is to learn—and how much it matters. Each new understanding allows me to bring more depth to the support I offer residents and their families, often serving as a quiet bridge between them during difficult moments. This work continually teaches patience, adaptability, and empathy, and growing in this role doesn’t just make me better at my job, it changes me as a person and deepens the way I show up for the people I serve, work with, and share this life with.
What are you most excited about in your work right now?
Right now, I’m most excited about how some recent training I had from Forge Works has shifted the way I think about care and dignity, and how that training is starting to show up in real, everyday moments with the residents. It’s helped me slow down, be more intentional, and really think about how they experience the space and people around them. Watching as I put into action what I’ve learned and as it turns into small but meaningful changes in how I care for people, feels hopeful and deeply important to me.
Matt’s approach to daily life at Barclay Friends reflects a deep attentiveness to each person and a genuine commitment to creating moments of connection. Through music, humor, movement, and shared experiences — including cooking, baking and opportunities for reflection — Matt brings intention and warmth into each interaction. “Matt is deeply compassionate and truly connected to each resident, always recognizing the uniqueness of every individual,” said Patricia Knowles, Director of Recreation. “There is a clear passion for bringing joy into each day, and that enthusiasm shines through consistently. As an accomplished musician, Matt generously shares that gift with the community, adding another meaningful layer to daily life here at Barclay Friends.”