Leslee Shaffer

December 6, 2011

Many people don't understand "assisted living," Leslee Shaffer told Putnam Rotarians today. "Our assisted living communities have been thoroughly designed to provide our residents with a nurturing, comfortable and home-like environment," she said.

The local community, "looks like a big home -- or a little resort.

"Assisted living is for older adults who no longer can be independent in their homes, but they don't need the twenty-four hour care of a nursing home.

"They come to our facility, get their own apartment. But they need help with activities of daily living -- it's bathing, it's dressing, it's medication management, food preparation.

"Our goal is to provide assistance and services in a way that avoids the institutional hospital setting. Our residents have their independence: They have their own room. They can entertain visitors. They can come and go. They can get their mail there.

"We strive to see that they have their independence. They can do things on their own. But we do have nurses who are there twenty-four hours a day. We also have aides if residents need help with the shower, getting dressed, combing their hair. If they can still do those things, let them do it, but when they need assistance, we provide it for them.

"We want to make sure that when people come to visit their loved ones, that they can come to visit. They don't have to worry about fixing their food, setting up their medication, giving them a bath. When they come there, it's coming to visit their loved ones."

Shaffer is community relations director of Broadmore Senior Living in Teays Valley, one of nineteen assisted living communities in nine states and headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.

"We provide a full range of social activities," said Shaffer.

"A lot of our people have been living at home -- alone -- and when they come through our doors, they start meeting people. We have a lot of churches that come in and have services. Schools come in to visit. We have carollers coming tonight. We love visitors.

"Putnam County is a huge support for our residents. They start flourishing again, because they're getting that socialization back. They are not 'patients,' she said, "they're people."