Canoe Brook Staff Truly Cares

Families can rest assured that their loved ones will be cared for – and cared about – at Catoosa-based Assisted Living.

Canoe Brook staff members (L to R): Glenda Aery, Vonni Falkner, Cindy Baer, Crystal Guest, ­Jennifer Meeks, Anthony Fleming, Jim Colbert and Michelle Sitsler.

“You can feel the difference when you walk in,” says Jim Colbert, executive director, Canoe Brook Assisted Living Community. The feeling is what it’s all about. There is joy among the residents and staff members, expressed through their smiles and warm greetings to those known and unknown. The spirit beyond the doors says, “Welcome” to everyone.

    “Our residents are number one,” says Jim, “always.” But it’s the unique and dedicated Canoe Brook staff that makes the residents their top priority – something that is obvious even on a first impression. These people have answered a calling, Jim explains. They work from their hearts. They honor and respect senior citizens and love working with them. So much so, that quite often Jim hears comments like, “I love what I do, and I even get paid for it. I am blessed!”

    While food is the often biggest complaint within most assisted living centers, Canoe Brook offers meals that some families claim are better than 5-star restaurants. Dietary Manager, Glenda Aery, plans three meals a day to meet both nutritional needs and personal tastes. Glenda makes 99 percent of her meals from scratch, including desserts. Her famous homemade pies have earned her the title, “the pie doctor.” Last summer, ­residents in the 38 assisted living apartments and 34 memory care apartments grew ­tomatoes and green peppers that were included in special ­salads.  

    Life Enrichment Coordinator, Crystal Guest, comes up with ideas to keep the residents as active as they want to be. Sometimes entertainment comes to Canoe Brook. Sometimes the residents entertain, with sing-alongs and piano numbers. There are Bingo nights, arts and crafts activities, and weekly outings for lunch or shopping. Seven common areas provide social opportunities in relaxed and comfortable home-like settings so residents can have something to do day or night.

    Speaking of the recent holidays brought a smile to everyone’s face as they recalled Santa’s surprise visit for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. The inner child of each resident was at the party with all the excitement and expectations of Christmases gone by.

    The serious side of Canoe Brook, which opened in 2009, includes the direct care staff that treats each resident as their own family member. A registered nurse is on staff and an LPN is available on every shift. State-of-the art equipment keeps memory-impaired residents safe and secure. A keypad entry and exit system is used for both the electronic gates that surround the building and the interior common areas. In addition, each resident wears a Wonder Guard monitoring bracelet to prevent wandering for even the shortest time.  

    Marketing Director, Anthony Fleming, says there is always someone to lend an ear, no matter when it is needed. That may be just a kind word spoken at the right moment or a special prayer for a special need. The Canoe Brook staff is there to serve because helping senior citizens is what they really want to do.  

    Anthony would be happy to schedule a tour for anyone who has a loved one who can no longer live independently at home, but does not need 24-hour complex medical supervision. Assisted living apartments with a private key entry are available in three sizes. Each apartment includes numerous amenities that are considered upgrades at most other facilities. 

For more information, contact

Canoe Brook Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s Care Community

www.canoebrookassistedliving.com

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.