Among the long-timers at Oakdale’s Oak Meadows Senior Living are two sisters who didn’t live to see the Great Depression, the Vietnam War or even Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

At age 24, Tartan High School graduates Katie and Amy Ericson have spent more than a quarter of their lives working at the senior housing center located on Fourth Street west of Inwood Avenue.

“I find that the residents really make me enjoy my job more than anything,” Katie Ericson said. “It’s like having 80 to 90 grandmas and grandpas.”

The twin sisters—who work at the reception desk and in the dining room—both started working at Oak Meadows in high school.

Both sisters said the job helped them become more comfortable around people of all ages.

“When I started, I was so introverted I didn’t talk at all,” Amy Ericson said. “I was really nervous all the time—I was very shy—so working here kind of broke me out of my shell.”

The job worked well for them in high school, and later in college because it is flexible, with short shifts. Amy Ericson is still in school at the University of Minnesota working on a business degree, and Katie Ericson graduated from Century College with a teaching degree in 2009. Katie Ericson said she’s looking for a teaching job, but she wouldn’t leave her job at Oak Meadows for anything other than a job in her field.

Over the years, the Ericsons have bonded with many of the tenants at Oak Meadows, who they said haven't hesitated to ask them about dances, prom dresses, boyfriends, their dog and the other details of their lives.

“They get past just the generic ‘Hi how are you,’ … it’s more personal,” said Amy Ericson. “I think it makes the job more fun … you can communicate with them on a different level.”

Through interacting with the seniors at Oak Meadows, the Ericsons said they’ve gained confidence, communication skills, patience and compassion—attributes they said they’ll take with them into their future careers.

Tenants at Oak Meadows love the Ericson twins because of their positive attitude, said Oak Meadows Community Relations Director Kim Prayfrock.

“Katie and Amy are always smiling and positive and willing to help them out with anything,” Prayfrock said.

Oak Meadows has tenants in independent living, assisted living and memory care units.

Katie Ericson said she tries to treat everyone the way she would want her grandparents to be treated.

“I just respect that everyone here is in a different physical, mental and emotional state,” she said.

Oak Meadows Executive Director Connie Dow said the facility is “blessed” to have the twins on staff.

“Their genuine concern for our tenants and enthusiastic approach to their work is inspiring,” she said.   “They exemplify customer service in its truest sense and we all benefit through working with them."