On this episode of the Post Podcast, Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger along with Brookdale Senior Living Sales Manager Brandon Taylor discuss the impact and availability of retirement communities.
Transcript:
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James Bell
Senior Living Centers can play an important part in the area economy. From the Hays Chamber president and CEO Sarah Wasinger along with Brandon Taylor from Brookdale Senior Living stopped by to talk to us about that on this episode of the Post Podcast.
Brandon Taylor
The common misconception I hear around town is that all this livings in Hays are full, which is not the case at Brookdale Hayes. We do have openings for apartments for seniors here in Hays and I wanted to come on the air today, and especially highlight that.
Sarah Wasinger
So talk a little bit maybe about the types of people that you serve. And maybe some of the services that are offered that maybe are kind of special for Brookdale.
Brandon Taylor
Absolutely. So we we care for a wide variety of residents at Brookdale either some that we provide very little cares for all the way up to some that that we provide a lot of cares for as well. And so whether that be maybe helping with bathing, dressing, and helping the restroom, and we also do housekeeping and laundry, as well, and also med management form, too.
Sarah Wasinger
So you guys have some, and I always get the terminology. Incorrect. So what medical staff do you have on hand to help your residents?
Brandon Taylor
Absolutely. So we have two full time nurses that are always on call at our community, as well as our certified nursing assistants and our certified med aides as well that are always on each shift.
James Bell
Very good, you know, what I like about places like this, it's the escalating, you know, services that are available, but also the camaraderie, you know, you go into a facility like this one. And then people, you know, they're separated from their families to some degree, but they kind of build their own family. And they, you know, they get to know each other. And it's such a kind of neat experience to see that interaction, I think,
Brandon Taylor
yeah, absolutely. I'd say we all are a family, I'd say we're small enough to we only have about 33 rooms in our community. So we all get to know the residents very well. And just again, like you said, that camaraderie that you know, what's going on in their life, and they know what's going on in my life, as well as other staff members lives. Like for instance, I just got married. So they all were really excited to see my ring when I came back after the honeymoon. So things like that, make it really make it special.
Sarah Wasinger
So speaking of honeymoons and weddings, you guys actually have a couple of married residents there. Is that right?
Brandon Taylor
Absolutely. We do have we're going to are we actually have a couple moving in this Friday, actually. So we'll have five couples living with us at our community.
James Bell
Wow, that's amazing. I imagine that's a probably a much preferred living situation for those seniors than having to do this one thing.
Brandon Taylor
Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, especially now we can help them cook, we can help them do those things, they can still maintain their level of independence. And you know, we are in assisted living and we know not as skilled nursing facilities. So many get us confused with that, or nursing home. But what's nice at Brookdale is that they can age in place there as well. And so they can have physical therapy come in hospice commands, you know, depending on that level of care that they need. Very cool.
Sarah Wasinger
So you guys have a so beautiful kitchen area. And in a nice dining room. You have a very wonderful chef on hand today. You want to talk a little bit maybe about the meals and the food services that you guys have her residence.
Yeah, absolutely. So we do provide three meals a day with snacks in between as well. And we have an awesome Cook, Pam Burghardt, who used to own the rose garden here in Hays, so she really spoils up with us with her good food. I know I had some of her cake yesterday, actually, that was really, really good. And, and if there's something that a resident doesn't like that's on the menu, we can be have a standard side menu as well that we can make them you know, for lunch or dinner. So whatever they want to eat. So
James Bell
very cool. You know, Brandon, I'm curious if someone out there is listening, and maybe they're on the, they've been kind of thinking about doing a facility like yours, what do they need to know to take that first step to kind of explore that option.
So I would say come for a tour like so they can come see our place, I can show them the different rooms, they can meet the staff at our community and see if it's a good fit for them. Except the best way to get a hold of us is either calling your main number at 785-628-1111 and asking for myself, Brandon, and I love to talk with them more about their situation, um, just kind of depends on their, their, their financial situation as well. We are capped on how many Medicaid beds we have as well. So I have to take that into consideration. But for the most part, we're all private pay, there are other benefits so they can tap into such as if they're a veteran, they have benefits they can use for that or if they have a long term care policy as well, they can definitely start looking into that as well. And that's what I love to do is help these families through that process, um, to get them to become residents at our community.
Sarah Wasinger
Now you have an activity person. Do you want to talk a bit on the activities that you offer? There?
Yeah. Absolutely. So Lisa Olson is our activities director and she does an amazing job with our residents. They do a wide variety of activities, such as bingo crafts, they have an exercise class. And they do it for an outings as well. So they go out and do coffee, they go out to eat. I know this month, they're going to Dairy Queen. So I might tag along with them on that as well. They go to different stores, they go to Hobby Lobby, in different area attractions as well. I know they went to Wilson Lake, they go to all the Go overdrive by all the historic Catholic churches here in Ellis County, too. So just a lot of fun activities. But if there's something that they enjoy doing or enjoy doing, they should always incorporate that into what they do as well. They're
James Bell
very cool. Yeah, no, and not to put it in kind of a bad way. But I would think that the size you guys be in a smaller finding kind of facility helps facilitate some of that personalized, you know, meal service and activities where if you were in a much larger facility, it kind of just be go with the flow and do it do what's going on?
Yeah, absolutely. There are lots larger book deals across the country, you know, some that have hundreds and hundreds of rooms. And that's what I think is the most unique about us here in Hayes's week. So we're small enough that we get to know everyone, and that's what I feel like, it's so special about it.
Sarah Wasinger
And the nice thing is, too, is you know, if you have a family that wants to take the resident out for an event, or just supper or something like that nature to they've got flexibility to do that. So there's still a nice balance of having care at the assisted living facility, but also still having that quality of life with your family, too.
Yeah, absolutely. We do have a son that comes in and eats with his mom every day, so And even after hours, too, we have Hill members come in. And we also have residents that still drive to like said you can park your car, you know, at our community as well. So we do have several residents that take advantage of that.
James Bell
I love that. And you know, I hear this quite a bit and especially with senior women, that, you know, they're in that family home, they're in that home, that's, you know, five bedroom, six bedroom, and you know, it's not the right size for that stage of life. And I love that places like this kind of provide an option where they can, they can remain independent, but I have the services thereof when they need it. But also help them right size that home, which is great, as Sarah is we know, great for Ellis County to help get some families into those homes that they are looking for, you know, that maybe are on the market otherwise,
Sarah Wasinger
absolutely. Sometimes it's just too much of a burden to take care of a house that big, especially if you're by yourself. So this is a wonderful option. And I can attest to the fact that every single person had a big smile on their face when we were there at our chamber chat. And so the environment is definitely family friendly. It's warming it. It feels I'm very inviting. And I think any family would be pleased to kind of learn about the experience that they could have there. But definitely reach out to Brandon and give them a shout and see if that could be a good fit for your family if you're looking for that care.
James Bell
Yeah, very good. We got to talk about the weekly events but Brandon, do you want to share the contact information one more time somebody's listening and wants to wants to give you a shout. Yeah, absolutely.
So they can get the community to direct call. The number is 785-628-1111 or they can call my business cell directly at 785-554-2849. Very cool.
James Bell
All right, Sarah, what do we got going on down the chamber? I know you got a lot going on. I don't have the list this week. But I'm sure there's a lot of stuff there always is.
Sarah Wasinger
Well, I didn't want to run out of ink. So ribbon cutting today at clink scales elder law practice pa they are celebrating their new location. So come join us at 1407 Main Street at 3pm are hazy and professionals will have their MDC meeting on August 24 at 4:30pm at defiance Brewing Company's downtown location. Our chamber chat this week will be at Hayes Public Library at 9am at 12 five main street, and we are excited to wrap up the week with our membership lunch. It will be sponsored by you guys actually Eagle radio. And the topic is going to be the United Way of Ellis County kickoff. We love that partnership and know how much that means to you guys. So Erica Burgess, the executive director will be talking about how folks can get involved in supporting that campaign for this year. And I know that we have weekly events usually but because we don't meet with you until next week, Tuesday, a couple of events early on next week that we want folks to have on their radars. Our child care taskforce of Ellis County will meet next week, Monday evening at 5:30pm at the Welcome Center. If folks have not been a part of that group, and they want to be a part of that group. We are an open door we want people to get involved in that project. So please feel free to call me at the Chamber office at 785-628-8201 If you want to get added to that contact list and be invited to attend meetings. And outside of that our 34th annual education appreciation is next week Tuesday. So we are turning in RSVPs today, if for any reason educators out there in Ellis County did not give their RSVP to their administrator for their school. Please reach out to us we can make sure we have enough one they're fulfilled to serve everything and that'll be at Roseburg catering
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