Pioneers in Oregon: Caring Places Management Edition
In response to new federal laws for senior living, in 1988 the State of Oregon launched a major new statewide initiative to support the development of assisted living. At that time, assisted living was defined as “a group residential setting not licensed as a nursing facility that provides or arranges personal care to meet functional requirements and routine nursing services.” This initiative allowed for the caring of seniors utilizing a less restrictive and more social model of care rather than the more traditional of the time, medical model of care. The Forest Grove Beehive, which opened in 1991, was one of the first facilities approved for this type of care and remains a staple within the company and the greater community of our Home Office location in Forest Grove, Oregon.
pi·o·neer (noun): a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area.
Our Vision for the Future
The Corona Virus pandemic of 2020 has taught us how technology can be used to improve healthcare delivery, even in a heavily “hands on” service industry like assisted living and memory care. Virtual tours, virtual interviews, virtual care conferencing, digital communications with physicians and pharmacies, and even our CPM music program use aspects of technology to facilitate our connections with our residents and their families. In order to be truly Caring Places, we will need to continue to innovate in our use of technology. Our proprietary resident information system will allow us to keep at the cutting edge of this innovation.
That said, being a Caring Place in a “hands on” industry still requires that loving, thoughtful communication and personal touch with our residents. It will always be in those private, intimate moments, when a loving caregiver is helping a resident, where true Caring occurs.
Caring Places is committed to realizing the full potential of its current communities while always looking for new opportunities to improve and move forward. Regulations, information, and times will continue to change, but the loving care that defines our mission will remain constant.
As pioneers in this industry, we are dedicated to taking what we’ve learned in the past 30 years and continue to forge ahead and blaze our trail.
Testimonials
Dear ladies and the rest of the Laurel Place staff that have cared with Mom,
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your entire team of caregivers and administrators. I won’t single out any individuals because every single person we worked with from the start was wonderful. From the careful attention to our wishes for the entire duration of Mom’s stay, to the patience with letting Mom ease into a comfortable place on her own timing when beginning to need help in memory care. To the incredible caregivers who were so gentle and loving with Mom. She always felt loved and safe while there. We are grateful for the care you all gave that takes a huge responsibility off of our shoulders. I have received nothing but loving support from your entire team. The compassionate care you provided for Mom was the best anyone could have asked for even when short of staff or navigating our way through a global pandemic. I didn’t even fully realize the impact you’ve all made until I sit in reflection. You all have become very special and we can’t thank you enough.
Forever grateful,
Laurie Howe
John Doe
“I love living at Hillside Place Assisted Living and Memory Care in Lincoln City for many reasons: with 33 rooms, it has all the amenities I need without me getting lost in a larger facility; wonderful, helpful, caring staff who work together to provide for my every need; beautiful location in the trees near the ocean; large rooms with lots of light; three chef-prepared meals in a spacious dining room or brought to my room; van and bus to take me to doctor’s appointments and fun outings; fun activities held every day; this is a quiet, clean, comfortable, safe place to live. I love it here. ❤️”
Jo
Resident
Our sweet mom Alma is a resident at South Beach Manor Memory Care. I’d like to share with you how happy Mom is and how engaged she is here. Your caring staff is wonderful and we’re so grateful. Cori is absolutely the machine that keeps everything running smoothly! Cori has many activities that Mom enjoys and it seems the other residents do too! We love seeing the fun pics on Facebook, especially for our family members who live out of the area. We love Cori and appreciate all the thoughtful, loving care she provides. She is a treasure and we are so blessed! Please share with the SBM staff how grateful our family is to have Mom in a wonderful Caring Place. (See what I did there?)
Karen A.
Daughter of Resident
Original Review – 2021
I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the management and staff at Artesian Place for their professionalism and compassion at this assisted living facility in Olympia. A special thank you to Valerie Macpherson (Administrator) and Angie Pitts (Resident Care Coordinator) for facilitating and expediting the placement of my neighbor after her discharge from multiple rehabilitation facilities. I’m especially grateful to a neighbor and former resident of Artesian Place who highly recommended the facility. It made my decision very easy.
Follow Up Review – October, 2022
Happy to report that my neighbor has successfully transitioned to independent living after her twelve-month residence at Artesian Place Assisted Living. I strongly believe it was the professional and compassionate care that she received which enabled her to transition to her new living situation. A special thanks from me to an incredible staff. As her caregiver I was able to work in tandem with Lori Luzander (Administrator), Angie Pitts (Resident Care Coordinator), Amber Hall (Office Manager), Pat White (Maintenance Supervisor), Adam “Matt” Gurley (Life Enrichment Coordinator -Musician/Entertainer), Taylor (Pharmacy Specialist), Mary (?) and many other wonderful staff whose names I’am unaware or don’t recall. God Bless.
Michael Ewing
Resident Friend
Jim and I are accordionists who have performed dozens of forgotten Oktoberfests over many years on many stages and venues. But our performance yesterday at South Beach Manor Memory Care Community, our first in a memory care center, will be the one we will always remember.
From the beginning to the end, Cori Magarian, was our guide to bolster our enthusiasm and desire to connect with the need of the residents. From the time we walked into a lovely, decorated dining room, to the last goodbyes, she kept the show going for both the residents and us. We observed that she was a whirlwind of constant energy. But most importantly, again and again, she noticed a resident’s attention to the beat of our music. There would be a change from a blank stare to tapping their feet or fingers. Cori would move to them helping them out of their chair and onto the floor to be involved. It worked every time. At one point, she had a dozen residents in a circle moving to our beat.
I would describe her leadership as strongly encouraging, and enthusiastic yet gentle and thoughtful, respecting the individualism of the resident she was working with. She never insisted on involvement or pushed for it, but she brought them into the moment with her personality.
We appreciated Cori’s leadership style in keeping us informed on what was happening throughout the 90 minutes of our musical performance. We will long remember our time there yesterday. It will always be one of our most memorable Oktoberfests. Cori is a gift to South Beach Manor Memory Care Community.
Shirley O'Brien
Performer
My mom spent the last year and a half of her life at Laurel Place. After just passing away recently, I’ve had time to reflect on her time there.
Laurel Place is a very special option for any of you looking for assisted-living or memory care. The staff is absolutely outstanding!! They go above and beyond in trying to meet the individual preferences and needs of every resident. My mom felt wrapped in care and was at home first in the assisted living apartment and then on the memory floor.
The staff is amazing at communicating with the family and her final days were peaceful, full of blessings and love gestures from the staff, and the care they took with us went way above and beyond!
We will always be indebted to them.
I appreciate the great care my mom has received at Hearthside she has been here more than 3 years. I know the staff truly cares I have witnessed them doing so many things to care for each resident from sitting and talking with them to brighten their day, making sure each person has their own present to unwrap at Christmas, to redirecting them to sit by their friend when they’ve lost their way. She has had medical episodes that have been handled so well. They are the best and I highly recommend them!!
Pam Martin
Family of Resident
“My mom moved in just after Thanksgiving after a recent health crisis. The staff and residents were so welcoming when we moved her in. Mom says she feels pampered they treat her so well! All the staff are obviously dedicated to their job and treat each resident like family. After Mom had a recent fall they called me to let me know what happened. Scott (one of the staff) called again later to update me on how she was doing, telling me he was so sad to hear she fell when he came on shift. Meanwhile, I was so relieved to have Mom in their care as I knew they were checking on her every two hours to be sure nothing developed. I can sleep better at night knowing Mom is in such amazing hands. My stress level has dropped significantly since she moved in. I have absolutely no hesitation recommending this clean, modern, caring facility.”
DeAnn Pype
Daughter of Resident
This is a very nice place. It’s well taken care of. The residents are well taken care of too! The staff members are all so kind and caring. They just do an all around amazing job. I’d live at Easthaven if I ever needed such a place.
Vicki Harris