Today is Wednesday
Jan 07, 2009
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Happy birthday |
| | Posted on Thursday, October 02, 2008 | | | By Jan Landon
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Just a year ago the buildings were beautiful but empty, the ideas were bright and starting to be realized, and Tallgrass Creek wasn’t yet a home.
Things have changed since the community’s grand opening on October 16, 2007. Now Tallgrass Creek is buzzing with activity. Bluebird Crossing, the community’s first residence building, is nearly full; Redtail View, the residence building that opened in March, is at 50% capacity.
But numbers can’t ever tell the entire story. They can’t express the joy of making a new friend; the fun of sharing a laugh, a card game, a swim, a movie, or a dance; or the discovery that someone has the same interest as you. They also don’t reflect the convenience of having a store, restaurants, beauty salon, bank, and postal center on-site. And numbers certainly can’t tell of the relief that comes with round-the-clock security staff and a medical center just down the hall.
“I’m most proud of the lives we’ve changed in the first year,” says John Harned, executive director of Tallgrass Creek.
Residents share that sentiment.
Having fun and making friends
“It’s just been a ball,” says Wanda Williams, who moved to Tallgrass Creek last year on October 22. “It’s relaxing, and I like not having any yard work to do. I like getting out and walking the dog, going to the fitness center, and going swimming.”
Williams tries to meet all of the new residents of Tallgrass Creek. “My family is growing and growing,” she says. Her family now includes more than 150 people.
Williams adds that she is much better off living at Tallgrass Creek than she would have been staying in her home. “I could not even imagine being in that big, lonely house after my husband died,” she says.
Many activities to choose from
Jim Bikson agrees that it has been a good year. He was among the first residents to move to Tallgrass Creek. “Everything here is great,” he says while working out in the fitness center. “Nothing is perfect, but I couldn’t ask for better than this.” | |
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He says he is “absolutely” happier at Tallgrass Creek than he was at his previous home. There are numerous clubs to join and activities to be involved in, Bikson says.
Resident Maggie Ryan reports being happy at the community as well. “I’m close to my relatives, and I’ve met many wonderful people,” she says.
Barbara Metcalf, who lives at Tallgrass Creek, is full of compliments for Austin Welsh, M.D., the Tallgrass Creek physician. “The medical doctor here is fantastic,” she says.
Satisfying work
Harned says that residents aren’t the only people positively impacted by Tallgrass Creek.
“This truly is an opportunity for employees to fulfill the lifelong missions that come with working with our residents,” Harned says. “Employees don’t have to spend time looking for what their lives are all about. They can find it here.”
Staff members agree.
“It has been a remarkable year of experiencing life transitions with people,” says Brent Hall, director of resident life at Tallgrass Creek.
Residents and staff eat meals together or play Wii together, says Gerard A. Watson, customer service and communications manager. “It’s not like a job when that happens,” Watson says. “There’s a feeling like we’re one big happy family.”
The faith community continues to grow at Tallgrass Creek, says Ralph Testerman, pastoral ministries coordinator. “It has been an incredible blessing over the past year to hear the amazing stories of our residents,” Testerman says. “It has been like a huge party every time I meet a new resident and open up the gift of their story. I consider it a sacred privilege to talk with them and hear the journey of their life.”
And Jane McIntire, retirement counselor, says it has been remarkable to be a part of the evolution of Tallgrass Creek.
“It is absolutely amazing how quickly this first year has gone,” she says. “We have an extraordinary group of pioneer residents who have settled into their new homes. Nearly every day I am stopped by one of these residents who is truly stunned at how quickly the past year has gone. Time does fly when you’re living and enjoying life.”
A year of success
It has been a year of accomplishments at Tallgrass Creek:
■ New homes welcomed the 175 people who moved in.
■ Redtail View, the residence building that opened in March, is halfway sold-out.
■ Vitamin D initiative raised the average D level on campus to 39 ng/mL from 22 ng/mL.
■ More than 90% of residents received pneumonia vaccinations.
■ Tallgrass Creek initiated relationships with five hospitals, two home health agencies, and dozens of specialists.
■ Nearly 30 resident-run clubs and committees are established.
■ Each resident visits the Tallgrass Creek fitness and aquatics center an average of 5.47 times a week.
■ An interfaith committee is born, providing the catalyst for monthly interfaith gatherings.
■ Four security staff members took classes to become emergency medical technicians.
■ Employees received more than 2,000 hours of training.
■ Bluebird Crossing, the first residence building at Tallgrass Creek, is close to sold-out.
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