By Rick Banas of Gardant Management Solutions
This past Friday, I had the honor of serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the 15th Anniversary celebration at Heritage Woods of Moline.
Gardant has managed the affordable assisted living community located in the Quad Cities since it opened in 2008. The community serves adults 65 and older of all incomes who need some assistance to maintain their independence.
I told a story about a couple I met while dining out at a restaurant not far from the community. I explained that I have worked in senior living and health care for more than 45 years and have spent a considerable amount of time on the road. Fortunately, most of my travel has been during the week so I was seldom away from home on weekends. This one weekend, however, I needed to be in the Quad Cities. After finishing up my work on Friday, I went back to the hotel, exercised for a bit, and then ventured out for dinner. It was 7:30 on a Friday night. The restaurant was crowded; a table was not available, so I gave me name to the hostess.
A little while later, a seat became available at the bar. I sat down and began talking with the couple on my right. They asked what I was doing in town, and I explained that I am with the company that manages Heritage Woods of Moline.
The woman responded that her mother had lived there. She had one regret. I prepared myself to listen to her concern.
Her mother, she explained, was terminally ill and had waited so long to move into Heritage Woods that she was only able to benefit from all the community had to offer for six months.
There were times at night when her Mom would get scared as she knew her situation. There was always a staff member available to help her cope.
She added that Mom loved Little Debbie cupcakes. As far as I could tell, she said, staff was not doing this on company time. They would run out on their own time to make sure she had an adequate supply available in her apartment.
I explained that our focus at all of the assisted living and memory care communities that Gardant manages is to enrich the lives of residents by providing them with the Love, Compassion, and Dignity they deserve in addition to the personal assistance, help with medications, and support services they need.
I talked about Heritage Woods of Moline being one of the more than 40 affordable assisted living communities that Gardant manages that operates through the Illinois Supportive Living program. The program is something Illinois has gotten right; it serves as a model for affordable assistance living.
Communities such as Heritage Woods of Moline provide individuals who need some help to maintain their independence with a wonderful alternative to a nursing home or to struggling alone at home. Residents are able to live in a private apartment which they can furnish and decorate to their taste. The apartments feature kitchenettes, spacious bathrooms, individually controlled heating and air conditioning; and an emergency alert system. Staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist residents with their scheduled and unscheduled needs. Support services such as three daily meals plus snacks; housekeeping; and laundry are included.
Plus residents can benefit from all of the opportunities that are available to socialize with family, friends, and neighbors and to participate in social, recreational, educational, and wellness activities and special events.
Families benefit from knowing that their loved one is getting the help and assistance they need to maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible.
The state and federal governments benefit as the cost for an individual on Medicaid in a community such as Heritage Woods of Moline is much less than the cost of nursing home care.
I was able to express on behalf of Gardant to the staff of Heritage Woods of Moline our gratitude for their dedication to our mission and to thank the residents and their family members for placing their trust in us. Over the past 15 years, Heritage Woods of Moline has had the opportunity to serve more than 750 residents.
Gardant manages communities in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and West Virginia. For a list of Gardant-managed senior living, assisted living, and memory care communities, click here!
