By Alexander Germanis
We humans are an interesting species. We crave adventure and travel, yet we tend to return home, grateful the adventure is over. We seek to spend time out with friends only to be happy to go home and enjoy some alone time or be in the company of family only. No matter how far we may stray in life, the urge to simply be at home again is the one constant.
The rest of life continues in a similar vein. Adventures do not necessarily cease when one becomes a senior citizen. The urge to spend time with friends does not lessen with age. Likewise, the desire to have a place to call home never leaves.
At Snyder Village, adventure and socializing can both continue to be a part of life with the added bonus that home is not far away – it’s all around you.
Making the Home
No house can stand without someone first putting in the work of building it. In order to make Snyder Village the home it is for the many seniors living there, staff members like Mallory Stutzman and Deb Albertson put in a considerable amount of effort.
That isn’t to say it is not rewarding, however. In fact, the work is seen by many as a calling. “From the moment I enrolled in nursing school straight out of high school, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives,” shares Snyder Village Assisted Living Director
Mallory Stutzman. “During my first semester, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and began working at a local skilled nursing Community. It was there that I discovered a profound connection with the senior population – a connection that would shape the course of my career.”
For Home Care Director Deb Albertson, her desire was simply to provide service as a home health aide. Instead, Snyder Village then became a home of sorts for her as she was interviewed and hired on the spot.
Their passion for caregiving has never left Deb and Mallory. Even when questioning other potential career paths, the call to stay working with seniors has remained. For Mallory, while attending nursing school and gaining experience as a Patient Care Tech in pediatrics at OSF St. Francis, her “heart remained with the elderly,” she says.
“Returning to skilled nursing felt like coming home,” Mallory continues. “I later expanded my experience into assisted living and hospice care, further solidifying my calling to serve the senior community. After 16 years as a CNA, I was ready to grow even further – I returned to nursing school, completed my degree, and reentered the field with renewed purpose and expanded skills.”
Life Plan Community
Just as our needs change throughout our developing years, so do they shift in our senior years. Through temporary health struggles, lessening strength, or slowly declining abilities, Snyder Village can remain home through it all. As Deb states, Snyder Village is, “a whole service provider.”
On the 40-plus acre campus of Snyder Village, a life plan community is provided. From independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, therapy, and home care, residents can “transition between care levels as their needs evolve,” says Mallory, “without leaving the community they know and trust.” This multi-level care approach means residents can make seamless moves from assisted living to higher levels of care without ever needing to leave their home campus. This minimizes disruption in their lives and maintains a consistent care environment.
Of course, as the residents’ needs may evolve, the need for a staff well-trained in all aspects of these changes is great. Mallory asserts, “Snyder Village’s Assisted Living staff is proactively prepared to meet the growing demand for senior care through a combination of specialized training, strategic staffing, and a commitment to continuity of care. Staff members at Snyder Village receive comprehensive training tailored to the needs of seniors, particularly those with cognitive impairments.”
Rooted in Christian principles, Snyder Village also offers spiritual support through Bible studies held on campus, devotionals, hymn sings, and services for both Catholics and Protestants. Nevertheless, “the community welcomes residents of all backgrounds, emphasizing a loving and dignified atmosphere,” Mallory assures.
Aging With Grace
Everyone needs help now and then. That is a fact of life that never changes, regardless of age. While needing help may affect one’s pride, there is no need to feel somehow diminished by the need. At Snyder Village, a variety of programs are in place to provide whatever help might be needed while allowing each resident to maintain their dignity.
Home care is one such aspect of help which Snyder Village provides. “Home health is vital to seniors aging in place as it enables them to maintain independence, stay in their homes, and receive the support they need,” Deb explains. “This help allows them to retain some control over their daily lives and routines, giving a sense of well-being, and reducing loneliness and isolation.”
For residents in the assisted living community, extra help may be in order. For short-term rehabilitation following a health event or medical procedure, the Snyder Village Health Center will see them through. Fractures, recovery from joint replacement or other surgeries, illness, or hospitalization often result in decreased mobility and strength. Spending time at the Health Center can help a resident work back to their previous health level.
“In many cases, seniors may also require rehab to regain independence in daily activities after a fall, stroke, or prolonged illness,” adds Mallory. “Sometimes residents may exhibit a permanent decline and would benefit from a higher level of care, which is when a transition to the Health Center may become permanent.”
Snyder Village also provides various forms of health aid beyond the physical therapy provided at the Health Center. Along with physical therapy, “occupational and speech therapies are vital components of senior living,” Mallory says, “because they directly support older adults in maintaining independence, safety, and overall quality of life.”
Kindness Makes It a Home
As Mallory and Deb look over their careers, they take note of the most important aspect of those careers: service. “Since becoming a nurse, I’ve devoted my career to assisted living, where I’ve had the opportunity to rise through the ranks to Wellness Director and now Assisted Living Director,” Mallory says. “Every step of the way, my dedication to elder care has only deepened. I truly believe I’ve found my calling, and I can’t imagine a more meaningful or fulfilling path than continuing to serve the senior community I love so deeply.”
It is through service toward others – that selfless expression of love and kindness – that, ultimately, makes up the greatest facet of being home. As American writer Catherine Ryan Hyde once said: “It’s like coming home when you give kindness. Kindness changes us as human beings.”
At Snyder Village that change can be felt on a daily basis, and it is that kindness that makes Snyder Village a true home.
A Snyder Village is located at 1200 East Partridge Street in Metamora, Illinois. If you would like to tour the village, please call us at (309) 367-4300. If you would like to see more of what Snyder Village has to offer you or a loved one, please visit us on the web at www.snydervillage.com.
