Atlanta Jewish Times featured Isakson Living’s Peachtree Hills Place and Park Springs life plan communities, where the household model of care puts the emphasis on a sense of community, embracing many of the comforts of home in combination with a level of long-term care consistent with personal needs. This innovative approach to senior living is a more personal experience in senior living that avoids many of the stereotypes associated with the image of a more institutionalized setting.
“It’s all about relationships with the members and the staff. And there are some very strong relationships,” Isakson Living Founder and Managing Partner Andy Isakson says. “I mean, some care partners really are considered by our members as part of their own family.”
That personal touch also extends to medical care. Isakson Living’s two communities are among the few in this part of the country that maintain on-site medical clinics staffed by a primary care physician trained in gerontology. Each clinic has a full-time medical director, as well, that can be a part of a more comprehensive health care plan.
According to those who have long-term experience in working with the household model, a more personalized standard of care model can often lead to better health. In a personalized setting, care can be more attentive, reducing the risk of common medical issues that are often more prevalent in larger facilities. But maintaining this great attention to detail requires more attention to the training and retention of staff. In an industry that often sees a 50 percent turnover rate in staff and administration year-to-year, this can be a challenge.
“It’s a family-like environment, and there’s consistency. The same group of people work together every day in the same household,” Isakson points out. “So, everyone who works there knows everyone else. The staff gets to know the residents and their likes and dislikes. You know they don’t have to ask you how you like your eggs for breakfast, they know how you like your eggs.”
To access the online story, visit the Atlanta Jewish Times website here.
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