The death of a spouse or a lifelong friend and the dispersal of children around the country can leave a person feeling isolated and disaffected. Seniors in these circumstances benefit greatly from the opportunity to mix with others. The answer may be to move to a senior living community.
A Principled Approach to Caregiving
Ideally, a senior living community is just that—a true community where people come to know and respect each other and where each resident is treated with dignity. And nothing is more important in creating this sort of nurturing community than the goals and aspirations of the organization that manages it.
At Sunrise, our mission is to champion the quality of life for all seniors. We have established a series of six principles of service that guide every member of our staff in their interactions with our residents.
Our purpose is not simply to provide a safe, secure environment or quality care—though we do all that. It is to recognize and respect the unique qualities of every person who joins us and to help our residents continue to lead full and rewarding lives. It is this higher purpose that is at the heart of the remarkable renaissance so many of our residents experience.
A New Lease On Life This rebirth is described in a letter we recently received from a family member whose mother recently moved to Sunrise of Lenexa, a suburb of Kansas City. The author, John Spector, was appreciative of the many thoughtful initiatives that the staff undertook to preserve his mother’s dignity.
For instance, at meals she is assisted from her wheelchair and seated in a dining room chair like other residents. The kitchen staff also makes a special effort to add variety to her meals even though she is on a restricted diet.
Mr. Spector writes: “Mom actually went ballroom dancing the other day, baked cookies, and is going to a movie theater later this week. The activities are numerous, diverse, and meaningful. Mom . . . is getting involved with the events and interacting with the personnel and residents. . . . She is thriving. . . . It’s the people and the philosophy I’ve seen firsthand at Sunrise that make the difference.”
