Shawn Nowlin shawn.nowlin@ourvalley.org
When people think about Brookdale Living in Salem, usually what comes to mind is a quality facility that offers individualized care for families and their loved ones. Ricky Baker’s mother is currently a resident there, and he says he couldn’t be happier with the care that she has received.
“The staff knows her by name and go out of their way to make sure she’s taken care of,” he said. “Brookdale is the perfect place for that step away from living alone to still living fairly independently or at whatever level of help you need. We really like the facility, the location and are totally impressed with the staff.”
Last Thursday, the independent senior living facility hosted a cookout to welcome back family members who weren’t able to see their loved ones for almost a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The pandemic was tough for everyone. Our community serves one of the most vulnerable populations that were impacted,” Allan Kirby, Brookdale Sales Manager of Admissions, said. “While there were some incredibly tough times, the pandemic brought our team together, and we grew closer to our residents. During a time when others were isolated, we still had a community of people who were connected. Our team works together to create a fantastic living experience that ranges from delicious food options, engaging events, social gatherings and so much more.”
Sandra Reeves’ mother, Virginia, is currently a Brookdale resident. She says that being quarantined to a room for months on end was the most difficult part of the pandemic.
“Initially, we were able to have outdoor visits. Once COVID took hold, those ceased and that’s when it got difficult for everyone – residents, families and staff. I know the challenge it was for them to keep my mother in her room and that’s just one resident that wasn’t capable of understanding,” she said.
Added Reeves, “Dementia is a horrible disease, but the one and only positive that came from having it is that my mother couldn’t remember from day to day and has no concept of time. To this day, she doesn’t have any memory of what all she went through. Brookdale always had activities and entertainment planned for the residents prior to COVID.”
As fans of bluegrass music, Baker and his wife, Jenny, loved the music set that Matt Spence and his band performed during the cookout. “We thoroughly enjoyed the musicians. As bluegrass fans and attendees of quite a few bluegrass concerts, we always enjoy a good bluegrass group. The fact they were willing to come and entertain the folks at Brookdale is not lost on us,” he said.
More information about Brookdale Living, including additional services offered, can be found at brookdale.com.