Grant Funding and Expanded Services Bring More Opportunities to the Villages

One month after assisted living services were added to the Villages, a growing sense of community is bringing independent and assisted living residents together in Freeman.

"It's beautiful to watch the community being fostered," said Amanda Mettler, assistant administrator for senior living. "I see the dietary team staff visiting with independent residents and nurses sitting on couches to chat and get to know new faces."

With sunshine streaming in the new nurses station window, senior living lead nurse Carmen Heckenlaible, senior living advocate Janet Varges, and certified nursing assistant Wendy Luke describe the evolving atmosphere as warm, homey, friendly and fun. Together, the trio brought decades of experience and familiar faces from the Salem Mennonite Home to the Villages.

"The fact that we are this settled a month after moving is great. That's a sign it went well." Heckenlaible said.

To celebrate the successful addition of new assisted living services, Freeman Regional Health Services is hosting a ribbon cutting and open house from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, with refreshments and an opportunity for community members to walk through the building.

"We have a lot to celebrate: a new assisted living option in a beautiful facility and two grant awards that helped make it happen," said CEO Courtney Unruh. "The desires of current residents to age-in-place and not move again helped inspire adapting the Villages for assisted living; it's a model we saw during our tours of newer senior living facilities in other communities."

Updates to the Villages allow residents to receive assisted living services in their familiar apartment setting. These improvements include a call light system throughout all 20 apartments, an expanded sprinkler system, and secure entry access. A $10,930 grant from the Freeman Community Foundation funded new dining equipment, while an additional $22,575 grant through the South Dakota Rural Health Transformation Program funded digital infrastructure upgrades to support the call light system.

With the expansion of dining services, the two dozen residents come early and stay late after their new daily lunches, and while they enjoy the food - and frequently give compliments - the meals are about more than what is on the plate.

"They appreciate having meals made for them. They are so grateful," said Martha Cortes, Senior Living Nutrition Services Director. "Also, the socialization is amazing."

Residents also gather in the evenings to watch sports events on TV in the common area. "There's often a good group out here watching. They really get into it - cheering, too," Heckenlaible added.

The assisted living team is getting to know 20 new faces among the independent living residents, who have been very welcoming.

"We provide daily activities here now and the independent residents can join in. Quite a few come," Luke said. "We are all pitching in with that - both nursing and dietary. We take turns helping so we can get to know everyone."

As senior living team member Deb Gering prepared for afternoon bingo, residents filled a large dining room table. "There's always room for one more," someone said as chairs scooted over and another player ambled into the room. Residents meeting for the first time introduced themselves and passed bingo cards.

"Everything is going well," resident Betty Stahl remarked. "I like the meals."

Everyone sees the details coming together - the care team settling in, new resident friendships forming, cheers going up for local sports teams, and residents enjoying the expanded meal service.

And sometimes, it's the simplest moments that capture the feeling best. "At this morning's activity time, Deb served long johns with filling and nuts on top," Darlene Bauer said. "All the good things in life."

Note: This press release is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program, a financial assistance award totaling $22,575, with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the South Dakota DOH and DSS and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Photo: Betty Stahl and Mary Kaufman enjoy a game of bingo at the Villages, where new assisted living services, including expanded dining and daily activities, are creating more opportunities for residents to connect, build friendships, and feel at home.