Just like a fresh snowfall, the new year is a clean slate, an invitation to make all things new. At Lutheran Hillside Village, the Long Term Care Center has been beautifully renovated for 2018 with handsome upgrades to all gathering spaces and fresh paint and carpet throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the care center dining rooms look out on the spacious courtyard. It’s no wonder Peoria has given LHV a bright, shiny seal of approval.
You might say Lutheran Hillside Village is a microcosm of Peoria itself, an active engaged city that is home to Caterpillar, Bradley University, and “the world’s most beautiful drive,” as President Teddy Roosevelt once described the scenic Illinois River Valley. This handsome backdrop is but one of the things that makes “the village” special.
“Lutheran Hillside Village is community at its very best,” says Denise Durst, Senior Living Counselor at LHV. “Everyone here is everyone else’s neighbor.” Indeed, as you stroll through the Community Center, you are likely to find friends playing chess or neighbors gathering in the sizeable library. The Wildflower Cafe draws residents for freshly prepared meals and snacks, while the attractive dining room across the way offers a more formal restaurant experience.
As for living options, Lutheran Hillside Village has them! Like all life plan communities — sometimes referred to as continuing care retirement communities or CCRCs — LHV offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and REACH Short-Stay rehabilitation. Within independent living, residents may choose from spacious apartments, patio homes, or villas. Apartments and gathering places in the assisted living and memory care neighborhoods are likewise nicely proportioned with lovely wide hallways and meticulous attention to detail. One look and you can tell that LHV residents are treated like valued family members.
The memory care neighborhood is no exception. Here you’ll find specially staged stations which harken back to simpler times. There’s a dress-up station inviting residents to try on scarves and a general store recalling trips to the grocer. There’s a screened-in porch with sun hats at the ready and an enclosed patio designed specifically for those with memory impairments.
SAIDO goes further to enhance the lives of Memory Care residents. An internationally recognized program, SAIDO has been shown to slow the progression of symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Independent living residents and staff members alike volunteer in the memory care neighborhood to help with the SAIDO program.
“Like I said, it’s a community,” Durst says. “While parts of our building are dedicated to various living options, they are nonetheless one.” A map of the community reinforces this. The bright hallways of the newly-refreshed care center radiate out from a central hub, extending to the rest of LHV’s neighborhoods. Everyone is connected. No one is more than a few doors away from someone who can help them.
“It’s those kinds of things that give families peace of mind when they’re ‘shopping’ for senior living for a parent or loved one,” says Durst.
She ought to know. Durst’s mother moved into independent living at Lutheran Hillside Village three years ago and sometimes pops by her office to check up on her. “I think Mom wants to make sure I’m doing my job right!” Durst laughs.
Deep down, Durst knows that every resident is someone’s beloved family member or friend, deserving of the very best senior housing and care that LHV can provide. As she unlocks the door of her office every morning, it’s a fresh start, another chance to “refresh” the senior living experience for her residents and to renew her commitment to those she serves.
Lutheran Hillside Village is a life plan community in Peoria, IL, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and REACH Short Stay Rehabilitation. As part of the Lutheran Senior Services family, Lutheran Hillside Village has a dedicated staff on hand to help with daily living and health monitoring. Call 309-692-4600 for more information and to set up a personal tour.