When Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel first opened in January 2020, Senior Care Counselor Amanda Donato was there to witness the hard work she and the staff had been putting in since May 2019 come to fruition. The community, now thriving with happy residents and staff alike, first started out as a trailer signing pre-leasing agreements with residents who would move in months later.
A nurse who somewhat stumbled into senior living, Amanda is now a passionate part of the team at Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel, where she prioritizes engagement and making the moving process as comfortable and personal as possible for residents and their families alike. To get a sense of the development and environment of the community, we spoke with Amanda about her role, how she addresses concerns, and why life at the community is a positive and happy experience for its residents.
Building a welcoming community
Amanda, who has worked in senior living for eight years, first began meeting with families of residents remotely as the community took shape. In this regard, she was able to get to know them prior to move-in, and it allowed her to build relationships early.
“I got to watch everything grow,” she said.
For Amanda, one of the most fulfilling aspects of her role is the foundation of trust she builds with residents and their loved ones.
“I’m the first person they meet and tell their story to,” she said. “I love being there for the entire process and watching them grow and thrive in the community.”
Because meetings were taking place before the community officially opened, Amanda said she already had good relationships with residents before they even moved in. She also said she loves that she got to help build the community team, which includes people she’s worked with in the past.
Amanda said that since the community had freshly opened when the COVID-19 pandemic started, there were some challenges. However, the team has remained resilient and found creative ways to engage residents.
“There have been a lot of obstacles, but we know why we came here,” she said.
One thing that keeps her motivated is continuing to watch the community grow since it began with just one resident. She also loves to introduce residents to each other and watch them become friends.
Tackling misconceptions and questions
As residents and their loved ones explore the possibility of a senior living community, they often come with some preconceived notions or misconceptions. Amanda said the biggest misconception is that a senior living community is a dark and dreary place where residents are unoccupied or disengaged.
“It’s not dark or dreary,” she said. “Our residents are lively, and dance and sing and have fun. They enjoy parties and even plan events.”
Amanda said the most frequent question she’s asked by families is, “What if my mom and dad hate it here?”
"That is the question I get all the time,” she said. “It’s like doing anything new or getting adjusted to a new aspect of life, whether it’s a medication or diet. Give it some time."
When you move into an Arbor Company senior living community, you can rest assured that you’ve made a good choice. Our guarantee is based on our belief that you’ve chosen the right place, and we want you to be satisfied with your decision. If you’re not, we’ll make it right, and if you decide that we haven’t met your expectations in the first 60 days, we’ll refund your monthly fees and assist in finding an alternate solution for you. However, in her time at Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel, Amanda said not one resident has left or not done well in the community.
In the initial stages, when residents get acclimated, meet each other and get to know the staff, Amanda said they really start to feel at home. Many times, the adjustment is more about family stress, as they worry about if the resident will have a difficult time.
It’s all about engagement and reassurance
What sets Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel apart from other communities is the priority and passion for engagement. Amanda said the community, and The Arbor Company as a whole, invests a lot of resources into engagement and strives to be a hospitable, welcoming environment.
“When you move in, you’re gaining a family,” she said.
Although the initial steps can seem daunting, Amanda said it all stems back to the families’ first impressions of her when they meet her, along with the other team members. In many instances, Amanda will read their body language when reviewing over paperwork to get a sense of what support she needs to give. Sometimes it’s logistical things, and other times it’s emotional support.
Finding the right community
For families who are visiting communities for their loved ones to potentially move into, Amanda said it’s critical to do your homework. Speak with the staff, ask questions and talk with residents. She said it’s almost like visiting colleges.
“It’s a feeling you have when you walk in the right community.”
Moving in and getting adjusted
Move-in day is one of the biggest steps for a resident and their loved ones, so the staff at Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel makes sure it’s a day of welcoming and comfort. Amanda said they have everything they need before the move-in, and the room is set up 24 hours before the resident arrives.
Once the resident gets there, the team conducts a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the door and has welcome baskets ready. Amanda said they’ll often stock the apartment with personalized goodies for the resident. For example, she recalls one instance where a Filipino couple was moving in, so she visited a local Filipino store and stocked the cabinets with delicacies for them to enjoy.
For her, the main goal is to instill a sense of calmness and relief that they’re making the right decision and will be happy in the community.
“Our residents are happy,” she said. “They’re happy people.”
One particular piece of resident feedback has always stood out to Amanda.
“A resident once told me that I was supposed to meet her daughter because God wanted her to come to Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel.”
Selecting the right senior living community for you or your loved one is a very important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive guide to help navigate through the process and help you make the best possible choice.
To learn more about finding a safe and comfortable living community, please download the e-book below.
