Cindy Serrano, Director of Community Relations at Chateau Valley Center, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about community in senior living and being the ambassador for the center when people tour the community. This week's show was recorded at Chateau Valley Center in Renton, Washington.

Cindy says, "When I first meet with a family, I first want to get to know what's important to them — not what they're looking for in the living situation, or a senior living community, but what is important to them right now in their life, what they would like in their future. And it starts off asking questions like you're on a first date. What do you like to do? How do you spend your weekends? What do you enjoy cooking late at night? So it really is a matter of getting to know the person on personal level."

After seniors move in, Cindy adds, "As the community relations director, I have resources available in the broader community — say, if they're having just trouble moving into their home, say within the first week, maybe we can get an OT test, test the apartment, and put in adaptive appointment that can make their days easier. So there's definitely ways that I continue to listen to little challenges — I may not even see as a challenge — to make it easier for them."

Cindy adds, "A lot of times I've noticed that they may need more help. It's hard to let go of that autonomy sometimes, because it's more of a mental challenge. I mean, 'I am independent,' and it's kind of fearful for them to lose that. This is a big transition to move in to a community and we want to remove the stigma of it being something that you lose independence. You'll still have your independence, but we'll be able to make your days easier so you can do more of what you want to do."

Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online or call 800.960.1944.

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Mentioned in this episode:

Chateau Retirement

Chateau Retirement