Page 52 - BusinessWest December 22, 2021

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES
LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY COUNTY
COMMUNITY
NO. OF UNITS
LEVELS OF CARE
SERVICES
CHIEF ADMIN.
THE ARBORS AT AMHERST
130 University Dr., Amherst, MA 01002 78 (413) 548-6800; www.arborsassistedliving.com
Assisted Living; Memory-impaired Units
Assisted Living
Rest home; level IV residential care
Assisted Living and Memory- impaired Life Enrichment
Violette’s Crossing – Independent Living; Assisted Living; Gardens Neighborhood for Memory Support; Level IV Rest Home
Three meals daily; housekeeping; personal care; medication management; activities and recreational programs; 24/7 staffing
Spacious private apartments with bathrooms and kitchenettes; all-inclusive packages include three chef-prepared meals daily, up to 1.5 hours of personal care daily, medication reminders, full life-enrichment program, housekeeping and laundry services, staff available 24/7 for peace of mind
Nursing services available 24/7 to assist residents with medication management and triage medical needs; care options for all income levels; private bedroom; full dining services; activities; housekeeping; laundry; emergency- response system; continence management; personal-care assistance; special diets including modified texture; not-for-profit establishment
All-inclusive monthly service fee covers personal care, meals, medication management, bathing dressing, activities, and transportation; Life Enrichment Program based on habitation model of dementia care
Apartments, cottages, private suites, and a memory-support neighborhood available; full dining service; wellness center; housekeeping; linen service; transportation; full arts schedule; emergency-response system; continence management; personal-care assistance; not-for-profit community; housing at all income levels
Karen Walters- Zucco
Crystal Cote- Stosz
Tracy Carrol
Emily Uguccioni
Christine Rachmaciej
CHRISTOPHER HEIGHTS OF BELCHERTOWN
99 Front St., Belchertown, MA 01007 (413) 323-5500; christopherheights.com
83
Assisted Living
Spacious private apartments with bathrooms and kitchenettes; all-inclusive packages include three chef-prepared meals daily, up to 1.5 hours of personal care daily, medication reminders, full life-enrichment program, housekeeping and laundry services, staff available 24/7 for peace of mind
Amie Miarecki
CHRISTOPHER HEIGHTS OF NORTHAMPTON
50 Village Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 584-0701; christopherheights.com
LATHROP HOME
215 South St., Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 584-2865; www.lathrophome.net
LINDA MANOR ASSISTED LIVING
345 Haydenville Road, Leeds, MA 01053
(413) 387-3155; www.lindamanorassistedliving.org
ROCKRIDGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
25 and 37 Coles Meadow Road Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-2902; www.rockridgema.org
Home
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to have a dependable vehicle as a job requirement. That’s not an unreasonable demand because clients live in many different areas, most of which are not on a bus line.
Nicole Grimes, chief operating officer for HomeCare Hands, heard about caregivers who were willing to work but had no means to get to people’s homes. This challenge led to the company creating what she called a transportation division.
“When necessary, we will pick up our caregivers for their shift and bring them back home. If they are
“
our caregivers for their shift and
bring them back home. If they are
willing to work, we will make sure to
”
willing to work, we will make sure to support them,” she explained, adding that, while she will drive care- givers herself in a pinch, this service is offered only until the caregiver can get back on their feet and afford their own car.
Meanwhile, in-home work often requires some- one to cover limited hours for only a few days a week. That can be difficult for caregivers seeking a full-time paycheck. Grimes works with caregivers to sched- ule multiple shifts for those who want more hours. It’s all part of helping people succeed and become
independent.
“Caregivers know they can come to us, even for
personal matters such as finding an apartment or help with arranging childcare,” she said.
Making that extra effort is all part of the culture Holloman wants to build.
“We take time to get to know each caregiver who joins us,” she told BusinessWest. “When people come here, we want them to stay and be part of the team.”
To help clients and caregivers feel safe, Thornton said vaccinations are a must.
“Anyone new who joins us must be vaccinated,” she noted. “At this point, none of our clients wants someone in their home unless they are vaccinated.”
Because the need for services can often occur out- side of business hours, Holloman and her team rotate who is on call to provide 24/7 coverage.
“It could be a Saturday afternoon and someone calls us because they just visited their mom or dad and realize they need services, but don’t know what to do,” she said. “We are there so they don’t have to wait until Monday to get answers to their questions.”
Bottom Line
On Jan. 1, HomeCare Hands will celebrate its sev- enth anniversary. Holloman reflected on the chal- lenging, scary, and ultimately satisfying journey so far. “In 2015, I was asking, ‘how am I going to do this?’ and now, as we approach 2022, I’m asking, ‘OK, what are we doing next?’”
Needless to say, she will answer that question with creativity, enthusiasm, and, yes, a healthy amount of grit. u
LATHROP COMMUNITIES
100 Bassett Brook Dr., Easthampton, MA 01027 (413) 586-0006; www.lathrop.kendal.org
111
Independent Living
An affiliate of the Kendal Corp.; programs and activities; security; transportation; emergency response; the Inn at Easthampton provides two meals a day; weekly housekeeping; 24-hour security; wellness checks
Thom Wright
LATHROP RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
1 Shallow Brook Dr., Northampton, MA 01060 (413) 582-1825; www.lathrop.kendal.org
77
Independent Living
An affiliate of the Kendal Corp.; programs and activities; security; transportation; emergency response
Thom Wright
LOOMIS VILLAGE
20 Bayon Dr., South Hadley, MA 01075
(413) 532-5325; www.loomiscommunities.org
159
Independent and Assisted Living
A member of the Loomis Communities; continuing-care community; full dining service; on-site restaurant and café; wellness and fitness center; indoor saltwater pool; housekeeping; cultural and educational programs; transportation; emergency response; convenience store; 24-hour security; on-site wood shop, creative art studio; community garden; hiking trails
Maureen O’Toole
U.S. Cen- sus figures show nearly 10,000 Americans turning 65
every day, a trend expected to continue until 2030. On top of that growth, Holloman said more people
are looking for home-care services since the pan- demic. Meanwhile, concern for personal safety has reduced the number of available healthcare workers, as many will no longer work in medical facilities or in people’s homes.
All this has made the pandemic a time of both opportunity and challenge.
At the height of the pandemic, clients and fami- lies were cancelling in-home services, and caregivers were as hard to find as many of the supplies needed to keep them safe. Holloman worried about her agen- cy’s survival.
“When we didn’t have enough coverage, our whole management team got into scrubs and went to see clients,” she said. “We also made our own hand sani- tizer and other supplies when they were hard to get.”
As they worked through the many challenges of the pandemic, HomeCare Hands gradually placed caregivers, as well as certified nursing assistants and home health aides, for their clients. Recruitment is an ongoing process because the need for staffing never stops.
“We have become the go-to agency for those who are not able to find professionals to meet their needs,” Thornton said, adding that the phone keeps ringing because of solid word-of-mouth referrals.
One key to the company’s success is its willingness to work with caregivers to help them succeed in their jobs with matters such as transportation.
Agencies commonly require in-home workers
When necessary, we will pick up
support them.
52 DECEMBER 22, 2021
BUSINESS OF AGING
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