CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) — Moving into a senior living community can be a stressful experience for anyone, and oftentimes many older people can be very hesitant to make the move. But at facilities like The Blake at Charlottesville and with help from entities like BrightStar of Charlottesville, senior citizens can find a strong community that they made need in their later years.

“Needs change as you grow in life,” said Malina Rivers, Chief Operation Office for BrightStar. “Sometimes, it’s just that you want to be in a more tight-knit community. You want to find more likeminded people who are closer to you. Home is where the heart is and i think it’s really important to remember an assisted living community is where your heart can be.”

Rivers said Brightstar can offer help to patients whether they live on their own are a facility like The Blake, where staff work to keep seniors active and engaged.

“It’s all about putting living in senior living,” Heather Clark, Director of Sales for The Blake, said. “Our residents live life to the fullest.”

 

Breaking down stereotypes about senior facilities

Unfortunately, Clark said nobody wants to move into senior living at first, oftentimes because residents are moving in due to some sort of crisis that has happened. However, Clark said “99% of the people that move in” at The Blake quickly realize that not only do they get their own apartment and space, but they also get to be a part of a strong community, eat quality meal and have activities seven days a week, many of which are brought by BrightStar.

BrightStar also helps The Blake provide 1-on-1 care to its residents to help ease the transition from living at home to an assisted living facility, where nurse and other staff often are responsible for multiple residents instead of just one individual.

“We want to make that transition as easy as possible,” Clark said, “and sometimes it is relying on our community partners, like BrightStar, to create that 1-to-1 companionship.

 

Bringing the fun to The Blake

Outside of offering 1-on-1 care, BrightStar also brings the fun to The Blake with plenty of activities. Community Outreach Specialist Korey Hess described the environment during BrightStar’s activities as “lively.”

“They are having fun, they are hollering, and just enjoying life,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest thing and the biggest misconception is, you’re going to these living facilities and these communities and they think there’s barriers and it’s not fun. But this is truly home. This is a community. Everybody has camaraderie and it’s a blast.”

Fellow Community Outreach Specialist Geoff Foster said they also use their activities to provide education and make sure the residents’ voices are heard. He said some folks might not know they need something until they ask, so BrightStar making itself known is an important aspect of their outreach.

 

Staying in community late in life

While retirement communities often come with the stigma of being blocked off from the greater community, BrightStar is able to make sure residents of The Blake and other facilities are able to stay connected with their existing communities. Still, even for seniors who can still go out on their own, moving into communities like The Blake sooner rather than later can help make the transition easier.

Rivers shared the story of one resident of The Blake who still drives around and volunteers in Charlottesville. But when Rivers asked him one day why he moved into The Blake, his response was that he knew one day, he didn’t want to be alone.

“Isolation can cause you to live 10 years less,” she said. “So, finding your tribe is really important to do earlier rather than later.”