University Place

Overview of Professional Staff and Training

All our associates have ongoing training required by senior living community employees and depending upon their area of expertise, continuing education credits. On our nursing/care team we have RNs, LPNs, QMAs, and CNAs—this area makes up the largest number of our overall team. They are required to have continuing education credits as are our Executive Director and Administrator as well as our social services director. We employ concierges to operate our front desk. Environmental services (housekeeping) professionals, plan operations (maintenance and facility) professionals, an administration team of our Executive Director, Administrator and two business office managers. Our dining team is the second largest area of staffing—Dining Director, Executive Chef, Sous Chefs, dietician, servers, cooks, dishwashers. We also have a director of pastoral care, HR manager and Life Enrichment team who plan/execute activities for the entire community and a transportation driver. Additionally, we have a full therapy center providing physical and occupational therapy, as well as speech and respiratory therapy.

Safety and Well-being of Residents

We utilize the R-Care emergency response system and provide residents with emergency pendants and pull cords in bathrooms that when activated call for assistance from our care team. We also provide grab bars in bathrooms and use a motion sensor in Independent Living which we respond to if there is no movement between the hours of 4am and 9am. Motion sensors are not required in higher levels of care as our care team members are routinely in and checking on residents in those areas. All exterior doors save the main/front entrance and west entrance are locked 24-hrs a day and only accessible by an ID fob. The main and west entrances are only open from 8am to 8pm and remain locked otherwise. In Memory Support residents also wear a wander guard to prevent exit from the secured community. In our health center we also have a keypad code to prevent residents who may wander or are actively exit seeking from exiting without a team member or trusted loved one. We provide a robust activity calendar as well as support spiritual life opportunities as well as other social engagement experiences. In addition, there are small group experiences in which residents may choose to participate—card clubs, sewing, spiritual life, woodworkers, Pink Shirts Fraternity, Blue Belles Luncheon gathering, book club, a grief sharing/healing group and more.

Support Services for Transition

For independent living residents, we help offset the cost of their initial move by up to $1500. We work with a company called SOS which specializes in senior moves/rightsizing. For residents moving into higher levels of care, we don’t financially support their move but do recommend SOS to support them and their family in making the transition into the community. Independent Living residents also receive a New Resident Orientation conducted by one of our long-time Independent Living residents. For residents in higher levels of care, our Resident Manager of Assisted Living and Memory Support, who is also a nurse, welcomes the resident and their family, helps with orientation and introduction to other care team members to help them acclimate. Our care team members will also recommend and pair an incoming resident with other current residents at meals to help them get to know their new friends and neighbors.

Transportation Services

Yes, we offer medical transportation on Tues, Weds, and Thurs for residents. On Mondays we go to the grocery. And typically weekends and some weeknights, if the resident has their own ticket and we have at least five signed up, we’ll provide transportation to local arts experiences such as Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Civic Theater, Purdue Convos and such.

Dining Experience

We offer restaurant style dining in which the resident can order from either daily featured items or choose from an A la Carte/Always Available menu. Our servers bring meals as ordered to each resident and we bus/clean up afterward.

Resident Complaints and Issues

We do have a grievance process but typically it would start with the Resident Manager in ALMS and if needed, escalate to our executive director. For serious concerns those can be filed with the state. I’ve attached our Assisted Living Resident Information Guide which you may find helpful in answering this and many other questions.

Communication with Resident's Families

For community wide communications that come from our executive director, those generally are distributed via email. For individual/family communications, those will be initiated or responded to by our Resident Manager. Families are always welcome to visit and to call for updates. And, of course, if there is an emergency or need, our Resident Manager will reach out.

Short-term or Respite Stays

Because we are full, we are not offering short-term or respite stays in Assisted Living.

Pet-friendly Policy

Assisted Living residents are welcome to have a dog up to 40 lbs or up to 2 cats, however, they do need to be able to care for their own animal. Walk, feed, clean up after, etc.

Covid and Flu Vaccinations

Yes. We schedule those vaccinations as soon as they are available and let residents know in advance so they can take advantage of the on-site opportunity.

Aging in Place

We have all levels of care from Independent Living through Skilled Nursing, so yes, a resident can age within the community and progress to higher levels of care within our building as their health and medical needs change.