Touching Lives Each & Every Day

By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.

As I get ready to head to the annual meeting of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA.org) next week, I am reminded of a wonderful video that premiered last year.

Susan Vasquez, the Director of Marketing at the Heritage Woods of DeKalb affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in DeKalb, Illinois, was one of just 12 individuals who work in assisted living around the country selected to be part of the “Every Day We Make a Difference” video.

“It was enjoyable to put your mouth where your money comes from and sing a very meaningful song,” Susan said.

The music video was produced as part of ALFA’s celebration of its 20th Anniversary and the organization’s continuous focus on Choice, Independence, Dignity and Quality of Life.

Please take a moment to watch and listen to the video below.

In the communities that we manage, here are just some of the ways that we are Making A Difference and touching the lives of older adults and their families:



From Garbage Truck to Mercedes

As the man in his mid-sixties sat in one of our newly opened Heritage Woods of South Elgin affordable assisted living community, he asked his friend to describe his new home. Skin cancer had cost the man his eyesight, and he had been living in a nursing home for the past two years. His friend was there to help him complete the paperwork for his move into his apartment. “It’s like you fell out of a garbage truck,” his friend said, “and landed in a Mercedes.” While the man can not appreciate the look of the community, the way he is treated by the staff has certainly caught his attention. “Never have so many people been so nice to me,” he comments. “If I could cry, I would.”

Affordable Assisted Living a Gem for Pearl & Her Family

Pearl, Gayle and Bill were quickly running out of options.

Pearl, who is 89 years old, was living alone in an apartment in Naperville, Illinois. She had fallen a couple of times in the middle of the night, and her eyesight was failing. Due to her vision problems, Pearl was no longer able to drive and she was having difficulties seeing her medications.

The solution was to hire a live-in to be with Pearl 24 hours a day so that help would be available when she needed it.

The woman who was living with Mom was very good; she was like family, explained Gayle, Pearl’s daughter. The problem was that Mom’s finances were quickly being depleted. Just the cost of the live-in help alone was more than $1,000 a week. She would soon be at the point of not being able to afford the person who was helping here. Likewise, she was not going to be able to afford assisted living. She wanted her independence, and certainly didn’t want to go to a nursing home.

“We were at the point where we didn’t know what was going to happen.” says Gayle.

Thankfully, she adds, a direct mail piece with information about Supportive Living and our Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook affordable assisted living community caught her attention as she was sorting through her mail. “It addressed what was going through our mind” so Gayle and her husband, Bill, discussed it with Pearl and decided to take a look.

“This was new to us,” says Gayle, but the more we learned, the more we were convinced that Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook was, “where Mom was supposed to be.”

• The Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook affordable assisted living community is especially designed to benefit older adults, such as Pearl, who need some help to maintain their independence but do not have the financial resources to afford assisted living.

• The location is ideal, right down the street from where Gayle and Bill have lived since 1971.

• When they inquired to get more information after getting the direct mail piece and met with Leah Mayer, who is the Director of Marketing at Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook, Gayle pointed out that, “there was no pressure and she was so easy to talk to.”

• Pearl would be able to have her own apartment…plus she would get the assistance and help with her medications she needed. She would not have to move to a nursing home.

• Everyone involved with Heritage Woods is so loving and caring. They treat us like family

Pearl, however, was not too sure, says Gayle. She had lived in her apartment in Naperville, IL for more than 20 years and wanted to stay there for as long as possible. She was comfortable where she was and apprehensive about what she would be getting into. She knew where everything was at in her apartment in Naperville, IL which was important to her because of the problems she has with her eyesight.

It was not until after construction of Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook had been completed and Pearl had the opportunity to see what her apartment looked like that she fully agreed with the decision to move.

Pearl, Gayle and Bill have all benefitted from the decision for Pearl to move to affordable assisted living after she had lived alone for so long. Pearl enjoys “a good measure of the independence that she wanted and we know that she is well cared for,” says Bill.

Independence Days

The woman in her 80s walked up to us to express her thanks. “You have given me my independence back,” said the resident of Eagle Ridge of Decatur affordable assisted living community that we manage in Decatur, Illinois. She and her husband had immigrated to the United States from Austria when she was 36 years old. The only reason she was not sent to a concentration camp toward the end of World War II was the camps were filled. Her “crime” she told us was that she had commented to her landlord that she hoped the Allies would win so that they would no longer have to endure the horrors of the war. Prior to moving into Eagle Ridge, she had been living with her children. As much as she appreciated their love and attention, “they were smothering me,” she said.

We Can’t Say Thank You Enough

In a touching note sent to the Heritage Woods Aledo affordable assisted living community that we manage in Aledo, Illinois, the family of Clara McConnell expressed their “heartfelt thanks to all for the care that Clara received these past four years.”

“Her family was comforted knowing that she was tucked in safe and cozy, with Heritage Woods staff looking out for her.”

“As evidenced by all her plants and treasured personal items surrounding her, Clara made this her home.”

“We consider it a blessing that Heritage Woods came along just when we needed it.”

“As a ‘graduate’ from Mercer County Nursing Home in November 2006, following recovery from a stroke, Clara found independence in this assisted living setting but was secure in knowing that help was immediately available if needed.”

“Thank You… again and again. We can’t say it enough.”

Sanity Saved

Mary Klepitsch moved to the Heritage Wood of DeKalb affordable assisted living community with her husband, Fred, from Nevada. Due to medical issues, they needed to be closer to their son, who lives in the area. Mary feels blessed to be able to live in comfort and maintain her independence. “It saved my sanity. I didn’t have to worry about Fred when I was out, and I wasn’t alone in dealing with life.”


All affordable assisted living communities managed by BMA Management, Ltd. are certified and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. All assisted living communities are licensed and surveyed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“BMA Management, Ltd. is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois
and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”

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Gardant Management Solutions has 20+ years of industry-acclaimed operational history in developing, managing and consulting for senior living, assisted living and memory care communities.