Autumn has arrived in Northwest Ohio, and the growing season is winding down for the raised flower beds that line the grassy courtyard at Sunset Village. Accordingly, the hard-working curators of this unique garden are busily preparing the beds for cooler temperatures.

In the early 1990s, Bill and Julie Thomas began developing a new approach to elder care. Their cutting-edge method, now known as The Eden Alternative, gave nursing home residents greater privacy, independence, and control over their lives. With the goal to improve the wellbeing of older adults, The Eden Alternative aims to eliminate what Bill Thomas calls the “three plagues” commonly found in senior living facilities: loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.

Family members often express concern to us about the safety of their elderly loved ones who live alone at home. With aging comes higher risks for serious injuries resulting from accidents, so making sure a home is a safe living space is essential. Here are some around-the-house tips for making any home safer.

In September 2017, Sunset Village began offering an innovative art program for memory care residents. Now through its first full year, the Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) program is adding a creative element to Sunset’s resident care.

We like to say that Sunset Communities is more than a great place to live—it’s also a wonderful place to work. Our Employee Wellness Program is just one reason why.

As college students get ready to begin classes over the coming weeks, Kallie Inman is gearing up for year two of an innovative Sunset resident engagement program. Kallie, Life Enrichment Assistant at Sunset Village, developed the program in 2017 as a way to connect veterans living at Sunset with ROTC students in universities around the country. The program proved highly popular among residents and students, alike. So Kallie is expanding this year to involve more schools and additional residents.

Outside the main dining room at Sunset Village, you’ll find a beautiful raised flower bed filled with flourishing Zinnias, Columbines, and Cosmos. The garden, along with several smaller ones located throughout the Sunset Village campus, are lovingly maintained on a voluntary basis by some of our residents and staff.

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” —Eighteenth-century poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Rose Atkins has always found von Goethe’s famous quote inspiring. The message—more recently attributed to film actor Bruce Lee—motivates Rose to go above and beyond in serving Sunset Village’s residents and their families. Her much-more-than-enough efforts have earned Rose the Sunset Village 2018 Nurse of the Year award.

Whenever her life gets challenging, Janet Sulewski takes a deep breath and tells herself, “It’s all good!” The pop-culture phrase reminds Janet of her overall good fortune and empowers her to move past any current problems.

Rachael Operacz’s official title at Sunset Village is Admissions Counselor. But for new and potential Sunset residents, her role is that of an educator, a sounding board, and a move-in coordinator.

“When people visit Sunset Village, we’re often their first stop as they begin to learn about living options,” explains Rachael. “Listening to their struggles and offering empathy tends to help lessen their anxiety.”