Hickory Valley: A Senior Living Community is in the business of knowing its residents and making sure there is plenty to keep them busy.
Veteran Arthur Provenzano and his wife, Anne, celebrate Veterans Day."We're one of the first independent living facilities to develop in the area, and we've been here for more than 20 years," said Mia Preston, sales director for the community. "We provide a very home-oriented environment and our services help keep the residents independent for as long as possible."
Hickory Valley has several longtime employees who have been on-site for 20 years or more, giving residents a feeling of security and family. The retirement community is comprised of 118 separate apartments and is designed for people who no longer want to take care of their own home but still want that feeling of independence.
The independent-living apartments on-site are equipped with full kitchens, but the community also has a full-service dining room that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also an on-site beauty salon that is open to the public, weekly housekeeping services, a nursing staff and full laundry services for residents.
Additionally, Hickory Valley has a full activity calendar that is catered to residents and voted on by them during weekly meetings. "We have a group of singers called Voices of Hickory Valley and they travel and perform at different communities," Preston said. "There's also a Wii bowling team.
"We make sure there's plenty going for our residents to get involved in." Hickory Valley battles against the stereotype of residents sitting around with nothing to do - in fact, its residents are regularly involved in the community right outside their doors as well as the community outside Hickory Valley's property line.
"Residents go on outings at least once a day and can do personal errands or take trips to restaurants," said Preston. "They don't stop living when they get here."
The community's "funny money" program is set up to reward residents for being active and participating in community events. "They come to a party we have or go on an outing and they earn 'funny money' that they can then use at a community auction for things like personal trips, manicures at the salon and more," Preston explained.
With residents ranging in age from 70-104, Hickory Valley is a truly unique community full of heritage and history.
"We have such a vast group of people," said Preston. "It's so unique to get to know them and hear their personal stories about where they've been and who they've met. Too often, younger generations view the elderly as just that, and we forget they have this whole former life and it's fascinating to hear about it."
Hickory Valley also has an assisted-living wing comprised of 15 different apartments where a higher level of care and more amenities are available to the residents. The facility is also home to an inventive and dedicated dietary director who cooks everything from chicken and fried okra to smoothies for residents who may not eat as much but need to keep their weight up, according to Preston.
MORE INFORMATION
Hickory Valley: A Senior Living Community is located at 6705 Ballard Drive. For more information on the community and its activities or to schedule a tour, visit hickoryvalleyretirement.com or call the office at 423-855-0508.