Joy Peebles serves as the social services coordinator at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, where she is committed to supporting residents and their families at every step. Known for her bright smile and gentle, uplifting spirit, she approaches her role with heartfelt compassion and kindness, helping ensure each resident feels valued, comfortable and thoughtfully cared for.

Peebles coordinates safe discharges for short-term rehabilitation patients, facilitates care plan meetings and advocates for each resident’s unique needs and goals. She also guides families through the skilled nursing process and connects residents with community resources to promote confidence, safety and peace of mind.

Peebles is well respected by her peers and Oak Hammock administration. As VP for Community Life Enrichment and Health Services Sonja Donlin says, “Joy Peebles serves as a vital asset to the organization in her role as the social services coordinator. She brings a strong resident-centered focus, ensuring that each individual’s psychosocial needs, discharge planning and care transitions are handled with compassion and professionalism. Her work directly supports both the clinical outcomes and the organization’s mission of excellence in resident care.”

As part of an Air Force family, Peebles moved often around Florida when she was growing up, which helped shape her adaptability and appreciation for different communities. She was born in Tampa at MacDill Air Force Base and grew up in Fort Walton Beach and Port Richey.  She graduated high school in Orange Park and earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Florida State University in Tallahassee. She and her husband of 29 years, Travis Peebles, were married in Monticello and have lived in Dunnellon, Florida for the past 22 years.

The Peebles family has two children who are almost out of the home. Their daughter, Shelby, graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia with a degree in Agricultural Communication and now works in farm insurance. Their son, Jacob, is a senior in high school and plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.

Peebles’ husband, Travis, works for the railroad, driving trucks and spraying herbicide to keep the tracks clear. They met while working at Circuit City in Tallahassee when she was a freshman at FSU. Peebles said it was a whirlwind romance as they met in December and were married the following August.

Recently Peebles reflected on her role at Oak Hammock:

How Long Have You Worked at Oak Hammock?

This is my fourth year at Oak Hammock. After graduating from FSU, I began my career in long-term care within skilled nursing. Over the years, I also worked in workers’ compensation while living in Atlanta before returning to long-term care.

When we moved back to Florida, I continued working in skilled nursing and heard that Oak Hammock was a top-notch place to work. Assisted Living Administrator Brittany Matus-Ray, who I had known for years, told me about the opportunity here. We had coached cheerleading together years earlier and later reconnected at a conference and as neighbors. Her encouragement led me to apply, and I’m so grateful she did.

In my job I’ve learned a great deal about the resources available in Gainesville and work to ensure residents have access to everything they need for a smooth transition and continued success.

What Do You Like Most About Your Job?

I love interacting with residents and learning about their lives, what matters most to them, their stories and their priorities. We provide person-centered care, and that starts with truly understanding the individual.

Sometimes that means coordinating something as specific as arranging dog boarding at a local veterinary office while someone is receiving nursing care. Small details can make a big difference.

I also enjoy collaborating with our interdisciplinary team and welcoming community partners. There’s no way I could do this job without the incredible team at the Health Pavilion.

How Do You Apply the “WeCare” Service Vision?

The WeCare service vision for Oak Hammock is to be welcoming, exceptional, courteous, attentive, responsive and empathetic. While I strive to reach all those goals, empathy is at the heart of what I do. For most residents and their families, moving to a rehabilitation center is an unfamiliar and often overwhelming experience. They may feel confused or uncertain about what happens next.

I always remind myself: “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and try to provide guidance and clarity for both the families and their loved ones.

By answering simple questions and walking them through the process step-by-step, I can help calm fears and provide reassurance. Many residents have said, “You’ve made my day,” simply because I took the time to explain what to expect, as well as helped them with making their decisions.

I truly believe we are called to be here. Oak Hammock holds us to a higher standard of care, and this environment inspires us to be better every day.

How Do You Make a Difference?

If I can help someone navigate a difficult time and transform a stressful situation into a more peaceful one, then I’ve made a difference. By taking the time to understand their personal values and what is important to them, I can provide compassionate guidance.

I believe I’ve done a great job if I’ve made someone feel better.

One particularly meaningful experience involved coordinating a transfer for a resident nearing end of life who wished to relocate to another state for previously arranged medical care. The process required extensive coordination between medical air transport, healthcare teams, the receiving facility and the family.

In the end, everything came together successfully, and the resident was able to carry out their final wishes. Experiences like this reinforce how vital teamwork is and how meaningful this work can be.

What Might Surprise People About You?

My children are my life, and I am incredibly proud of them.

For the past 10 years, our family has been deeply involved in Future Farmers of America, or FFA, and the Southeastern Youth Fair in Marion County. We’ve raised and trained show swine in our backyard. This year will be our final season since my son is graduating. While I won’t miss having pigs in the backyard, I will deeply miss raising show animals alongside my children. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Raising show swine is truly a science, as you must carefully manage weight and back fat. People are always amazed to learn pigs are surprisingly intelligent and friendly animals.

Both of my children were also active in athletics. My daughter was a competitive cheerleader for 12 years and my son played tackle football for 12 years. I currently serve on the conference board as the compliance officer for Central Florida Pop Warner.

I also love archery. Our whole family owns personal compound bows and we enjoy shooting together whenever we can.

As an animal lover, our home currently includes three dogs, three cats, plenty of fish and one pig. Some of our pets are “grand-pets,” since our children couldn’t take them to college!

I’ve also served as a board member and volunteer for several community organizations.

Looking Ahead

As I prepare to become an empty nester, I’m thinking about what’s next. I’m interested in potentially returning to school to pursue a master’s degree in health. I hope to continue growing professionally while remaining part of the Oak Hammock community.

I am deeply grateful to Oak Hammock, as it has refreshed my passion for healthcare and reminded me how meaningful this work truly is.

“Joy is a great social worker who is an advocate, problem solver, and is always ready to step in to support both residents and staff when it matters most.” – Assisted Living Director Brittany Matus-Ray