The latest news for you

June 2024

If you are having trouble viewing this email, click here.

News and information about award-winning Gardant-managed community employees and communities, the importance of exercise, celebrating years of service in a Gardant-managed community, navigating aging resources, and more!

Caregiver of the Year

Dawn Schulte, Resident Services Coordinator at Heritage Woods of Newburgh, a Gardant-managed affordable assisted living community in Indiana, has been selected as the 2024 Caregiver of the Year by the Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Center for Assisted Living. She will be honored with the award at the IHCA/INCAL annual convention in August in Indianapolis.

Quality Award Winners

18 Gardant-managed assisted living communities were named 2024 Bronze Quality Award winners.

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living quality awards program is designed to recognize assisted living communities for their commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care and is based on the Malcolm Baldrige Excellence Framework.

The 18 communities are . . .

Brookstone Estates of Effingham

Brookstone Estates of Fairfield

Brookstone Estates of Harrisburg

Brookstone Estates of Paris

Brookstone Estates of Robinson

Brookstone Estates of Tuscola

Brookstone Estates of Vandalia

Carriage Court of

Washington Court House

Evergreen Village of Ft. Wayne

Glasswater Creek of Plainfield

Grand Victorian of Rockford

Grand Victorian of Sycamore

Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook

Heritage Woods of Dwight

Heritage Woods of Mt. Vernon

Heritage Woods of South Elgin

Lacey Creek

Prairie Winds of Urbana

In the past few years, more than 60 Gardant-managed communities have been recognized as national Quality Award winners.

Celebrating Years of Service

Heritage Woods of South Elgin, a Gardant-managed affordable assisted living and memory care community, celebrated its 15^th Anniversary. Since opening in 2009. The community has served nearly 1,200 older adults of all incomes who have needed some assistance to maintain their independence.

Recognized during the celebration were residents Billie and Lari McNair, identical twins who have lived at the community since it opened. Staff members recognized for 15 years of service were David Yaeger, Director of Maintenance, and Felicia Patterson, Housekeeper.

Oasis at 56^th, A Gardant-managed affordable assisted living community in Indianapolis, celebrated its 5^th Anniversary. Since opening, the community has served more than 320 older adults.

Navigating Aging Resources

A recent University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging indicates that most older adults know little about the resources available to help them navigate aging and caregiving services. Less than 10% of respondents 50 years of age and older have either used or knew a lot about the service and support options available to them.

Favorite Retirement Community

Heritage Woods of Benton, a Gardant-managed affordable assisted living community in southern Illinois, was the recipient of the 2024 Readers’ Choice Award for Favorite Retirement Community by the Southern Illinoisan newspaper.

Exercise and Your Brain

Exercise can greatly benefit your brain, improve your cognition and your mood, and reduce your risk of neurodegenerative disease, notes a story posted on Medical News Today.

Another story posted on the Medical News Today website indicates that physical activity may be the best course of treatment for aging bodies and minds.

Advocating for Assisted Living

Members of Gardant participated in the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s 2024 Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. They joined delegations from Illinois and Indiana in meeting with members of Congress and their staffs to talk about issues impacting assisted living communities and nursing homes.

Why Older Adults Move Slower

New research suggests that older adults move slower as they age because they are trying to conserve energy.

National Association Executive Director Visits Gardant-Managed Community

The Illinois Health Care Association toured Eagle Ridge, a Gardant-managed affordable assisted living community in Decatur, Illinois, with Lashuan Bethea, Executive Director of the National Center for Assisted Living. The community is fully certified to operate through the Illinois Supportive Living program and serves older adults of all incomes

Click here and here to view more photos

Hearing Aids and the Risk of Death

A story posted on the CBS Chicago website contends that hearing aids can impact how long a person lives.

DELP Graduate

Stephen Woods, Regional Director of Operations with Gardant, graduated from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s DELP (Diversity Executive Leadership Program).

The Elephant in the Room

The Administration of Community Living notes that nearly 70%of those turning 65 will need some type of long-term care services and support in the future. Yet, certified financial planner Carol Brandt noted in a recent Elderwerks Table Talk presentation that many older adults fail to plan for potential long-term care needs. It is The Elephant in the Room. The reasons for avoidance are many, including denial; procrastination; confusion; the topic being too difficult to talk about; fear of the unknown; and mistakenly thinking that long-term care is covered by Medicare. Elderwerks in a not-for-profit organization that helps older adults navigate long-term options and support services.

Please share the e-newsletter with others and your comments with us. If you have not already done so, we invite you to subscribe to receive future Gardant e-Newsletters.

Gardant Management Solutions operates senior living, assisted living and memory care communities in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia. Our focus is on providing residents with the Love, Compassion and Dignity they deserve.

To find a community close to you, please click here.