Diane S. & Eileen C.

We would like to thank Pathway Senior Living for recently sending a lovely floral piece in memory of our late Mother, Mildred.

Mom became a member of the Alexian Village community on January 21, 2006. She had lived alone in her Schaumburg condo for several years after dad passed away in 2001. She fell and broke her pelvis in 2002 and we wanted her to movie in with one of us, but she refused. We got her a Life Alert but we still feared for her well-being.

Finally, after several months of talking to her, we convinced her to at least look at Alexian Village and see what they had to offer. She finally seemed to accept the fact that it wasn’t safe for her to live alone. Mom was a sensational cook and baker but had resorted to opening a can of beans or soup for dinner in the days before moving. We’d try to bring her meals from time to time but she would convince us she was eating well.

Once moved into Alexian Village, we heard her chatting with other residents telling them she had been getting scared to live alone. She seemed to thrive in your community. Never really a bingo player, she found she enjoyed the games and socializing. Mom went from someone who had very little to chat about in our daily phone calls to someone who would talk non-stop about the going-ons in her community – that is, when you could catch her in her room.

She made wonderful new friends there too. We would use her as an example to our kids that you are never too old to make a new friend. Mom enjoyed the activities such as the musical groups who would come and play the ‘oldies’ for them, or the spiritual gatherings, or speakers who came to inform the residents on various topics.

Most of all, she enjoyed the care she received and having her own apartment where she could have her own things. She loved the brightness of the room and the fact that someone cleaned for her, did her laundry, and made sure when her medication needed to be taken. These were all things she did up until she moved in – and we could tell it was getting to be a drag for her yet she’s never let us help. It was a challenge to convince her that she didn’t have to dust, vacuum, or wash her own clothes. We were thrilled to see someone would monitor her meds to make sure there were no mistakes.

The staff was wonderful – in fact she would complain to us when Greg or Linda, heaven forbid, took a day off or went on vacation. We heard of Bonnie, the ‘other Greg’, Mary Ann, Kathy, Polly, Lisa, and so on. We heard of the people doing her cleaning, the chefs and wait-staff – and what a relief it was to us to not have to take her for doctor or hairdresser appointments. She’d get a big thrill when her peers would compliment her on her beautiful silver hair or her clothes. It gave her a purpose to get up each morning.

When she got ill, she begged us to take her “back home” to Alexian Village – that made us feel good and knew we had made the right choice for her. She has been in a perfect place for the last 9 months of her life before being hospitalized.

We equated her experience at Alexian Village as dormitory living for seniors – without the studying. There is evidence of a well-run facility the moment you step through the door. The layout and décor are warm and cozy yet classy. Color choices are stylish and inviting. The lobby is laid out perfectly with the fireplace and seating area, as well as the sunroom. Her apartment was bright and airy as well as safe for her. When she fell one night and couldn’t get up while she prepared for bed, she called my sister instead of pulling one of the emergency cords. My sister phoned the front desk and they were up there in a flash, checking her out, getting her ready for bed and making sure she was okay during the night. What a peace of mind it gave us for her to be there!

Although her time at Alexian Village was shorter than we had hoped, we know it was a pleasure for her and a relief for us. Thank you to the wonderful staff and to Pathway for creating a perfect environment. We give you credit for hiring great people to work there – the most important commodity your communities have.

Diane S. & Eileen C.
Family Members
Alexian Village of Elk Grove