A Caring Community Where People Come First

Tiffany Zapata’s favorite part of her role as Administrator is witnessing residents create new friendships and embracing life to the fullest.

As a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served as an Aerospace Control and Warning Systems Surveillance Technician, in addition to her 17 years of nursing experience, Tiffany’s impressive background contributes to her outstanding leadership skills.

In her role, Tiffany creates person-centered care plans that celebrate resident capabilities, while educating staff and initiating policies that provide high standards of quality care. When she’s not working one-on-one with residents and team members, Tiffany provides positive experiences to potential residents and their families exploring the community.

What Is Your Why: “Enriching the lives of residents by creating meaningful moments”

As Director of Nursing at Sedgebrook, Deborah “Debbie” Rodriguez brings nearly three decades of senior health care experience to the community she has served for over 10 years. Since 1996, she has excelled in multiple roles, including Clinical Manager, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Infection Preventionist.

Debbie’s leadership philosophy centers on delivering excellence in clinical care and customer service through active listening and thoughtful responses. A devoted grandmother to eight, she views both her personal family and work family as essential parts of her life, making her a cornerstone of the Sedgebrook community.

What Is Your Why: “Knowing that everyone at Sedgebrook is here for the same purpose: to provide excellent care and customer service. I am always at home wherever I am.”

As Director of Rehab Services at Sedgebrook, Bhairavi Kirti Thakkar, MS, brings extensive expertise in rehabilitation programming and a passion for transforming patient outcomes. Throughout her career, she has successfully guided numerous rehabilitation programs and professional therapy teams to achieve exceptional standards of care. 

Bhairavi’s approach focuses on fostering collaborative relationships with physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals while developing innovative programs that enhance patient outcomes. With her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA, she is dedicated to mentoring rehabilitation professionals and ensuring every resident receives comprehensive support.

What Is Your Why: “Empowering individuals to achieve their highest potential through innovative rehabilitation programs and exceptional team collaboration.”

With over 19 years of experience in social services within skilled nursing facilities, Rebekah is an expert in guiding residents and their families through transitions in care. As the Social Services Manager at Radford Green, she works closely with residents, families, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure smooth transitions to the next phase of care. This includes coordinating services with physicians, nursing staff, therapy teams, home health providers, hospice, and caregivers.

Rebekah’s people-centered approach defines her work. Her genuine passion for helping others is evident as she supports families in navigating their care options and identifying the best next steps for their loved ones. She finds immense fulfillment in building strong relationships and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.

Outside of her professional role, Rebekah is a devoted Star Wars enthusiast and a die-hard Chicago Bears fan.

What Is Your Why: “I love connecting with residents and their families, helping them navigate the next steps and address their needs. Being able to provide support during important times is what motivates me every day.”

Anna brings more than 15 years of healthcare experience to her role as Assisted Living Manager at Radford Green at Sedgebrook, with a background spanning assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

Anna holds a Master’s in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University, dual bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Eastern European History from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is both a Licensed Practical Nurse and Certified Dementia Practitioner.

As Assisted Living Manager, Anna oversees all aspects of resident care — from developing care standards and training staff in dementia care to coordinating with families and physicians — ensuring every resident feels respected, supported, and truly at home.

What Is Your Why: “Seeing a well-oiled team of care professionals working together to deliver the highest quality of service to our Assisted Living and Memory Care residents.”

Melissa brings a broad range of senior dining experience, starting as a server and quickly advancing to Dining Room Supervisor, and now to her current role as Dietary Kitchen Manager at Radford Green at Sedgebrook.

As Dietary Kitchen Manager, Melissa leads the dining team in delivering nutritious and flavorful meals each day, with a focus on food safety, consistency, and creating dining experiences that feel comforting and familiar.

Melissa holds multiple food service certifications, including Illinois Food Allergens, Illinois Food Service Sanitation, Food Handling, and Food Manager, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality in every meal served.

What Is Your Why: “Knowing my team plays a role in residents’ health and happiness is what gets me excited to come to work.”