By Alexander Germanis
As sad as it may seem, many of us feel barely noticed as we pass through life. Often, we feel as if we’re seen only as a number – our names meaningless, our faces forgettable, and our personalities inconsequential.
When someone enters their senior years, that feeling can often be compounded, as if the decades of experiences and garnered wisdom don’t have the same value as untested youth and wasted energy.
At Hopedale Commons Assisted Living not only do your name, experiences, and preferences matter, they are remembered, cherished, and even become a part of the lives of those who serve there. At Hopedale Commons, you are recognized.
A Rewarding Calling
There is a peace of mind that comes from feeling like one is in the right place. So it is with Lindsay Miles, Director of Long-term Care at Hopedale Commons Assisted Living. Lindsay worked in customer service and management her entire career, applying her skills at another senior living facility. For Lindsay, finding her right place came as the result of having lost her own grandmother to a negative experience in senior care.
“What happened to my grandmother led me down a career path that has been more of a calling than a chosen career path,” shares Lindsay.
Assistant Director Jessica Cassidy has been with the Hopedale Commons for more than five years. She felt a calling to the health care field early on. “I liked the environment, enjoyed helping the elderly, and it felt really rewarding for me.”
The most crucial element of care the two women learned from their various positions over the years, they have implemented here at Hopedale. “It’s all about resident service,” as Lindsay says. “People just want to be happy and to be heard. We have the opportunity to not only engage with our residents, but also their families – never forgetting that this is their home.”
For the Long Term
Despite their years of service, Jessica and Lindsay are far from the longest serving members of the Hopedale team. “We have three staff members who have been here for 25-plus years, along with two who have been here 15-plus years,” Lindsay says. “I’m only the third director here in 30 years and there are not a lot of places where they can say that.”
Yet, due largely to their rural location, Hopedale Commons is a well-kept secret – one that should be shared. “You’re not a number here,” Lindsay declares. “If your loved one is here, we’re going to know them by their first and last name, who their doctor is, their birthdate. We’ll know what medication they’re on. We want to know what their favorite activities are, what foods they enjoyed cooking at home, and where they would like to head on our next outing. It’s a whole different level of care.”
That level of care is supported by Hopedale Common’s proximity to Hopedale Medical Complex. Twenty-four-hour access to physicians and nursing in the event of an emergency is possible because the award winning 5-star hospital is about 100 feet from Hopedale Common’s side door.
“So, if your loved one was to have heart palpitations or something emergent, we’ll have them to the hospital quicker than calling 911,” Lindsay assures. “And we’re going to get that back-and-forth communication with the hospital and know everything that’s going on.”
Residents also get free, supervised exercise programs from the cardiac team at the Hopedale Wellness Center, access to physical therapy, massage therapy, and aquatic therapy. Primary care along with specialty physicians in urology, podiatry, orthopedics, cardiology, and neuro/spine are also a part of the Hopedale Medical Complex Campus.
Room to Live
Typically, moving into a senior living community means downsizing, both in possessions and in space. At Hopedale Commons, that transition is made a little easier thanks to a larger living space than what is available at most other places. “All of our apartments are 700 square feet, and they have giant utility closets that are about 10 by 10 feet, making the apartments feel like they have an extra room.” Lindsay says.
“The size of the space allows our residents to bring their favorite hobby or additional belongings with them,” Jessica adds. “Plus, we don’t require a security deposit to move in; and cable, WiFi, and utilities are included in our price.”
“We have respite stays as well,” Jessica continues. “So, somebody can come for a week or two, stay at the respite rate, and get all the amenities that are included in the regular stays. They can get their meds, meals, and laundry taken care of.”
“We have people that will come for the winter and then go home,” Lindsay says. “We have a gal that’s been doing that for several years. She comes for three months and gets the fourth month free. That’s a special we run for the winter. She doesn’t live very far from here. But it makes her feel a lot more comfortable rather than getting out in the ice and snow.”
The Big Things
“The biggest things about coming into assisted living or any type of long-term care are socialization, nutrition, and medication reminders,” Lindsay says.
The socialization is headed up by an activities coordinator who has been working at Hopedale for more than 28 years. Besides events like live music, caroling, dancing dogs, and outings, the residents turn out in droves to play bags or Cornhole. “I would bet on them playing against a lot of people I know in bags,” Lindsay insists. “They are pretty talented.”
When the weather is bad, the residents can also enjoy traveling the world without leaving the building in what they call “armchair traveling.”
“We’ll pick a place,” Lindsay explains, “and they make drinks, snacks, and different items from that specific location that they’re traveling to.”
“We’ll print off a stamp for their passport,” adds Jessica. “We will put together some real experiences even though they’re not really there. We talk about what’s there, where we would stay, what restaurants we’d eat at, and what would be on the menu.”
Not that the real-world menu is ever ignored. At Hopedale, three restaurant-style meals are served each day, with residents selecting their meals from different options provided daily. Dietitians and a trained chef make up the menus, accommodating any physician-ordered diet.
Residents are also provided medication reminders, mind-healthy activities, church services every Sunday, Bible study, and devotions throughout the week.
The Little Things
It seems the world attempts to train us to believe the years of our lives should be filled to the brim with unforgettable moments, impressive experiences, and extravagant possessions. But life, in reality, is a far humbler affair.
Of all the amenities Hopedale Commons supplies for its residents, the one that means the most might seem like the least grand. “A resident favorite is our housekeeping services,” Lindsay imparts. “From the fresh towels to beds made daily, this amenity is the one our residents wish they would have had their entire lives.”
It may seem funny, but these small amenities symbolize how important it is to not lose sight of the little things – those things that can easily get lost in the daily shuffle, should one lose focus. Every member of the Hopedale Commons team keeps those little things in mind with each resident.
“It’s very personalized,” Lindsay assures. “Everybody gets to know the residents. Whether they’re in housekeeping or maintenance, or actually in one-on-one caregiving, the residents are truly recognized.”
Recognized, remembered, and thought of on a regular basis. Lindsay admits to thinking of individual resident’s needs even in her personal hours. “I’ll find something while I’m out and about and think: I need to get that for Pat. She’ll love this book. You just start to think of them in all aspects of your life.”
Yes, a life peppered with grand moments may seem interesting on the surface, but it’s really the small things – the seemingly trivial – that truly make up a life. At Hopedale Commons, they prove that the little things, like a delicious meal, a new book, creative ways to experience the world, or the caring smile of a friend, can make daily life a joy to live.
Hopedale Commons Senior Living is located at 221 Southwest Railroad Street in Hopedale, Illinois.
Interested in following along with our daily resident experiences? Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hopedalecommons/. Or, if you have any questions or would like to take a tour, call us at 309-449-6790.
