The community at Symphony at Olmsted Falls is stronger than ever
By Patricia Nugent
There’s no place like home for the holidays. Thanks to the efforts of the management team and staff at Symphony at Olmsted Falls, this Yuletide season will be merry and bright.
“We’ve gone the extra mile this year in decorations and festive holiday meal planning,” says Executive Director Chrissy Grude. “We do our best to spread joy with traditional and special touches. Our residents are now allowed to enjoy socially distanced communal dining and limited 30-minute visits with their family in the multipurpose room, which is wonderful. Our van is taking folks out for rides in the community to pick up pizza or ice cream. The holidays can be a nostalgic time, and we appreciate that we still have the ability to make memories.”
Residents have been able to re-engage in small group exercise programs and a few of their favorite activities like trivia.
“We’ve even planned a few socially distanced social get-togethers to get people in the right spirit,” says Chrissy.
Cheers to the Nursing Staff
“Our first priority is to keep residents safe, but thanks to our amazing staff, we also aim to keep them happy,” says Chrissy. “And connecting with families is an essential opportunity our heroic nursing staff goes out of their way to make happen, whether through window visits, in-person visits, or FaceTime visits. I’m proud of the great job they have done and continue to do to make our community strong.”
Check out their Facebook page to see the adorable entries in the Family Photo Contest.
The Next Best Thing to Being There
Despite the pandemic, the need for people to go into an assisted living or memory care community often happens quickly and unexpectedly.
Chrissy says the marketing staff at Symphony has become experts at offering virtual tours and getting acquainted with future residents and families via Zoom meetings. Over the past year, they have had several new residents join them.
“Especially around the holidays, with families gathering and maybe noticing their parents may have slipped since they last saw them, we see an uptick in activity,” she continues. “For families researching potential places for mom or dad, if anyone has any questions or needs advice, I hope they know they can give us a call to discuss. We understand what a difficult process this can be and do our best to make it smoother. Hopefully, families will see us as a resource and support system.”
One of the many things that makes Symphony stand out from others is the Life 2.0 memory program, in which staff nurtures residents by treating them as individuals with a unique history, likes and dislikes.
A Calm Oasis
Unlike larger, more institutional senior care facilities, Symphony at Olmsted is quietly tucked back into a wooded area on Elm Street in Olmsted Falls. The cheerful building features a charming wraparound porch and rocking chairs. And the inside is home-like, too, with 44 spacious studios and welcoming common areas for dining or recreational activities.
A comprehensive host of services, from physical therapy to physicians, beauticians, rehab services, therapy dogs, cooking demonstrations and hospice are all available.
Symphony at Olmsted Falls is located at 25880 Elm Street in Olmsted Falls. The host of safety protocols includes screening of employees twice per shift, wearing PPE equipment and sanitizing frequently. As soon as the pandemic ends, adult day care programs will be available again. Respite stays are available. For more information, call 440-235-2750 or visit SymphonyAtOlmstedFalls.com.