Friday, March 29, 2024
 
Click HERE to sign up to receive Eye On Sun Valley's Daily News Email
 
Silvercreek Living Offers ‘Enriched Senior Living’
Loading
   
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Reagan McLaughlin watched her grandfather lose his mobility and vitality because the staff in his assisted living facility in Las Vegas did not have time to give him the attention he needed.

She vowed that she would keep that from happening to others if she could.

That’s why she’s serving as executive director of the new Silvercreek Living residences across from Albertson’s in Hailey.

“If you care about your family, it starts you on that road,” said McLaughlin, who has worked in health care for more than 10 years.

“My grandfather fell and hurt his head. After surgery, he couldn’t communicate—he reverted to the French he had learned during World War II. And he lost the ability to bend his legs because the staff didn’t have time to work with him. Since, I’ve wanted to do everything I can to ensure that others don’t lose their quality of life like he did. And, now I’m blessed to have what I call ‘a little office in other people’s homes’ so that I can make sure the people in my care have the vibrancy I wanted for my grandfather.”

The assisted living residence that McLaughlin now oversees goes by the motto “enriched senior living.” The facility opened in mid-May and an adjacent facility for those with memory loss received its license last month.

The assisted living unit is meant to feel like family-style living with private suites and bedrooms built around a central kitchen, dining area and living room.

Residents are welcome to wander into the kitchen at 2 or 3 in the morning to help themselves to leftover chicken and dumplings, Cuban-style black bean soup, brown sugar meatloaf or cereal and toast under the watchful eye of a supervisor.

And they’re free to come and go with friends to The Senior Connection, Zenergy or the movies.

“This is their home—we’re just here helping out,” said Anita Northwood, who was part of a three-member team who built Silvercreek.

Silvercreek Living has been a dream of Anita Northwood’s since she found herself dealing with her own parents during their last stages of life six years ago.

She wanted to bring her mother and father—a nuclear physicist—to the Wood River Valley from San Francisco. But she couldn’t find suitable accommodations here so she had to make frequent treks to the Bay area and then worry about them when she was back in Sun Valley.

She, her son Justin and Mark Caplow built the 11,000-square foot facility after Caplow came up with the land at 31 E. McKercher Blvd.

“I probably could have retired but this is a dream of mine,” said Northwood, who has served as Chamber director in Salida, Colo., executive director of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and owner of High Country Resort Properties. “And I was able to hire staff that’s already well trained so that made it that much easier.”

Northwood is still outfitting the facility with little touches to make it comfy. She went through thousands of historic photographs of Sun Valley Resort at the Community Library’s Regional History Department, picking out photographs of dog skiing, canoeing on Redfish Lake and others that she thought would jog the memories of those viewing them in the hallway.

Every day, it seems, a new shipment of throw pillows and other “comforts of home” arrive for her to place around the facility.

The furniture is designed for assisted living, right down to being waterproofed. But it looks no different from regular furniture, save for the rollers on chair legs that help residents scoot around the dining room easier.

Residents can play bocce and croquet out back or just relax on a handful of different patio spaces. And Northwood plans to raise the garden beds and build a concrete path around them so that those in  wheelchairs can access them.

The Memory Care unit, also designed for 16 residents, has a similar floor plan. But some of the furniture is different—there are rocker chairs, for instance, instead of chairs with wheels. The fireplace is electric so residents can’t don’t risk being burned and residents are not permitted in the kitchen.

The water in showers must be turned on by caregivers. Sensors in the kitchen tell staff if someone falls in their room.

Colors are muted, according to what seems to work best for those with Alzheimer’s. And there are a few other touches, such as baby cradles with dolls that residents can hold since that’s been demonstrated to be something that those with memory loss enjoy.

Northwood also has plans for a van to take residents to the store, doctor’s appointments and special events.

Of course, the nicest furniture in the world and a spanking new van don’t matter if those who work in the home are aloof and uncaring. That doesn’t seem to be a problem.

Spend a day at the facility and it’s hard to miss caregiver Alma Hintz stopping to lay her hand on Delores Kopecky’s cheek, while asking how she’s doing.

Joyce James’ eyes sparkle as she bites into a lasagna prepared by  Maria Moya, a former chef at Knob Hill Inn and Big Wood Grill, who has also been known to cook a mean “Tropical Tilapia,” “Sweet Pear Pork Chop,” BBQ chicken, sweet potato fries, cheddar biscuits, banana sheet cake, peach crisp and coconut cream pie.

And Phil Schaefer, a retired car dealer from Tacoma, doesn’t have time to get bored, not with staff that’s eager to teach him how to play new games like Smart Ass and Wit’s End.

“Thanks for your smiles and for all you do,” a card on a large vase of sunflowers tells the story. “From the inmates of Building A.”

Rebish, who has dubbed himself the Commander-in-Chief of the building, was the first resident. A former contractor and school teacher in Montana and Tacoma, Wash., he and his wife retired to a beautiful home in Hailey’s Northridge neighborhood where they planned to live out their days skiing, taking motorcycle trips to Sturgis and traveling Europe.

But after Rebish was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, he had a couple bad falls that left his wife anxious about caring for him at home. Silvercreek seemed like a good alternative.

“I admit I don’t want to be here—I want to be out skiing and riding,” Ron said. “But it’s nice here. It’s easy to be here. They help me manage 30 pills a day. And they have lots of arts and crafts and stuff to keep me busy.  I had a birthday party with food and mimosas in the activity room. And I like the people.”

Kirsta Tierney moved to the home for two months while rehabilitating a severe ankle break.

“I get three meals a day, laundry facilities and even have my hair done in the salon,” she said. “And my parents live here so they come visit. The staff is consistently cheerful always—and very attentive. It’s amazing here and I’m very grateful.”

WANT TO SEE SILVERCREEK LIVING FOR YOURSELF?

Call 208-720-8195 to schedule a tour. You can even try a meal on for size if you ask for it in advance.

~  Today's Topics ~


Local Bands Offer New Perspective on Who's a Local

Can You Ski on Water? It’s Pond Skim Time

Jake Adicoff Wins Overall World Cup Championship while Other Skiers Do Well in SuperTour Finals
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Website problems? Contact:
Michael Hobbs
General Manager /Webmaster
Mike@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
Got a story? Contact:
Karen Bossick
Editor in Chief
(208) 578-2111
Karen@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
 
Advertising /Marketing /Public Relations
Leisa Hollister
Chief Marketing Officer
(208) 450-9993
leisahollister@gmail.com
 
Brandi Huizar
Account Executive
(208) 329-2050
brandi@eyeonsunvalley.com
 
 
ABOUT US
EyeOnSunValley.com is the largest online daily news media service in The Wood River Valley, publishing 7 days a week. Our website publication features current news articles, feature stories, local sports articles and video content articles. The Eye On Sun Valley Show is a weekly primetime television show focusing on highlighted news stories of the week airing Monday-Sunday, COX Channel 13. See our interactive Kiosks around town throughout the Wood River Valley!
 
info@eyeonsunvalley.com      Press Releases only
 
P: 208.720.8212
P.O. Box 1453 Ketchum, ID  83340
LOGIN

© Copyright 2023 Eye on Sun Valley