Essie Noble

Essie Noble Joins Solstice Senior Living as Regional Vice President of the Southern Region

In college, Essie Noble set out to become a Doctor, as the desire to help people had always been at the forefront of her mind, however she quickly realized she was called to help seniors in a different way. She fell into an operations position for a home health company where she worked with seniors and she immediately knew this was her passion. Noble held a sales role for a time, but she missed that resident connection that inspired her to get into senior living in the first place, she knew she was meant to be on the operations side of things, making a difference and engaging with the residents. Noble has now been at Solstice for a month and it feels like a natural fit for her, she is also thrilled to be working with Steven Flynt, COO at Solstice, and the rest of their dedicated leaders.

With more than 12 years’ experience, Noble has led sales and operations efforts in a variety of industries, including non-medical home care, home health and senior living. She comes to Solstice from Brookdale Senior Living, where she supported upward of 15 communities with sales and marketing initiatives.

While Noble’s new responsibilities are vast, she says ultimately it boils down to, “making sure the residents have an amazing experience at Solstice.” Noble enjoys visiting communities, engaging with residents, and supporting staff members however they may need. Noble has been fortunate to have inspirational mentors along her career path in senior living, and she wants to follow in their footsteps, training and mentoring teams and taking care of the people that take care of the residents’ day in and day out. Noble will serve as the head of operations for Solstice communities in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas.

Noble joined the Solstice team at a unique time in the industry that has helped her set her first goal, returning to a sense of normalcy within their communities. She and her teams are eager to reinstate resident life and the residents are thrilled to be together again and participating in some of their favorite outings and activities. Noble also has goals to empower and educate her staff, aiding in their success and career growth is something that is extremely important to her. “I love to educate, I love giving people the tools they need to execute their goals,” says Noble. She believes that outside the box thinking is important, and now is an incredible opportunity to take a new spin on the way things have always been done.

“We are thrilled to welcome Essie Noble to our growing leadership team,” said Collette Gray, president and chief executive officer of Integral Senior Living and Solstice Senior Living. “I’m confident that Essie’s experience and unique approach will be valuable assets for our teams in the South region. Her impressive experience in health care and senior living will be a great asset to our communities, and I’m excited to see how her leadership will benefit our Solstice team.”

Noble is most excited to make an impact with Solstice’s independent living residents, as she previously spent time in other areas of senior living. She is eager to learn, dive in, and provide residents with positive and meaningful experiences. Her new role allows her to cultivate relationships with residents, families, and staff, something for which she is extremely grateful and excited about.

Samantha Lawrence

Sitting Down with Samantha Lawrence, Regional Director of Operations at Brightview Senior Living

Samantha Lawrence, like many in the industry, was inspired to get into senior living from a personal experience. Lawrence’s great grandfather had Alzheimer’s and when she would visit him it was a very stereotypical nursing home. One time while Lawrence was visiting, a resident asked her for a laxative, so she passed along the message to the nearest nurse. However, the nurse told Lawrence to ignore the residents request, which did not sit right with her, even as a kid. With no hesitation, Lawrence went back up to the resident and started talking to her, and her family could not get her out of there. This one interaction sparked Lawrence to begin volunteering at a local nursing home and when she was 16, she was able to get her first real job there. From the beginning, Lawrence had a distinct passion for engaging with the residents, and when an activities position opened, she was quick to find a replacement for her front desk role so she could become more involved in the day to day. Lawrence believes that “the most ethical way we treat people comes from knowing their story,” and this belief has fueled her drive throughout her career in senior living.

In her role at Brightview, she oversees eight communities in New Jersey and has another one opening at the end of the month. All the Executive Directors, Associate Executive Directors, and sales teams, report to Lawrence. She enjoys collaborating with the rest of the regional team to support and guide every community. Aside from day-to-day operations, a large part of Lawrence’s passion and role involves mentoring and being a cheerleader for others at Brightview, in hopes to help them grow and accomplish their career goals. Lawrence originally came to Brightview in April 2015, and then took on her new role in October 2019, so it has been quite a time of learning and adjusting in the wake of COVID-19 as Regional Director of Operations.

For 2021, Brightview has a business plan centered around three pillars: continuing to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, supporting, and advocating for the vaccine, regaining occupancy, and rebuilding vibrancy within their communities. She is extremely proud of the creativity she witnessed at Brightview and they are expecting net gains with occupancy as they return to normalcy as safely and swiftly as possible. Lawrence remarks, “our teams were so resilient, they have incredible hearts, drive, and dedication, over the last year we all learned the true value and importance of teamwork.” As they move forward, Lawrence is looking for ways to highlight how their communities came together and leveraging that to become stronger instead of reverting to old ways.

Lawrence was inspired from a young age to shift the narrative around senior care and strives to do so every day at Brightview. She has come a long way from witnessing what was wrong in the industry firsthand, to being a changemaker in the lives of seniors in her communities. “It always comes back to people,” she says, “Brightview has a great product because we have great people.”

Dr. Michael Dambeck

Crest Pointe Introduces Physiatry Services, Earns 5-Star CMS Ratings

POINT PLEASANT, N.J.,  – Crest Pointe Rehabilitation & Healthcare Centerthis winter has enhanced its specialized rehabilitation focus with the introduction of Physiatry Services under the direction of Michael Dambeck, DO. The Point Pleasant skilled nursing facility also recently earned 5-star overall quality and 5-star quality measures ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – a testament to its next-level services and patient care.

Physiatry services – also known as physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) services – blend pain treatments and physical therapy with the goal to help patients avoid surgery. This physician-led, “whole body” approach at Crest Pointe centers on designing, coordinating and overseeing customized rehabilitation therapies for patients while managing their medical conditions, including co-morbidities. The program is tailored for individuals with a range of diagnoses and rehab needs.

Board certified in PM&R, Dr. Dambeck earned his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship in internal medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. In addition, Dr. Dambeck completed his residency training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where he was the chief resident.

Crest Pointe developed its Physiatry Services offering with Marquis Health Consulting Services, which supports the facility. “Crest Pointe’s Physiatry programming will maximize its rehab services and support the aim to ensure the best possible outcome for each patient,” said Marquis’ Pam Montemurno, regional director of market development. “Dr. Dambeck is known for his expertise in physiatry and will work closely with Crest Pointe’s dedicated on-site clinicians; the team is lucky to have him.”

Montemurno credits the quality of care and customer service at Crest Pointe as key factors for the facility’s 5-star overall quality and 5-star quality measures ratings. The overall quality rating is based on ratings for health inspections, staffing and quality measures. The quality measures component examines data on 15 different physical and clinical measures, including long- and short-term stays, for residents.

“Crest Pointe has partnered with the region’s top healthcare providers in developing its specialty programming, assembling a medical oversight team of the best of the best; all are highly-regarded for their medical expertise and caring manners,” added Montemurno. In addition to Physiatry Services, recent introductions include Cardiac Care and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management offerings, with others in development.
Crest Pointe also is in the midst of a 3,000-square-foot building expansion to house a new therapy gym, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, including a smart car to help patients simulate actual daily living skills during the rehabilitation process. Construction, which began in fall 2020, is well underway.

Located at 1515 Hulse Road, the 118-bed Crest Pointe provides post-hospital care, short-term rehab and long-term residential care. Blending top-quality care with small town charm and warmth, the facility offers patients a scenic place to rehab and recover, as many patient rooms feature views of the scenic Point Pleasant Canal.

Crest Pointe is committed to serving as a healthcare resource for the community. Together with Marquis, it has established a resource library of physician-curated content, addressing many topics – including physiatry – of interest for families of patients and the larger community.

Based in Brick, N.J., Marquis Health Consulting Services is a highly skilled and vision-driven nursing home consulting company currently supporting Mid-Atlantic and New England facilities totaling nearly 4,500 skilled nursing and assisted living beds.

Ricardo Romero

Kisco Senior Living Hires Ricardo Romero as Executive Director at Drake Terrace

San Rafael, Calif., – Drake Terrace, a Kisco Senior Living community, is pleased to announce Ricardo Romero as its new executive director. Romero brings more than 13 years of senior living experience to his new role. Romero has held multiple positions at senior living communities across the Bay Area, including business office manager, concierge manager and activities director. He previously served as the resident relations director at Byron Park, a sister community to Drake Terrace.

“I started working part-time as a server at a senior living community while I was in school,” said Romero. “I wasn’t sure what career path I was going to take, but I didn’t think it would be within the senior living industry. That quickly changed for me. I realized I felt a special connection to the residents and knew this was not only the job for me, but it was a calling. Since then, I’ve worked in various departments within senior living communities, which has helped me understand how everything works together. My end goal was to always be an executive director, and it is rewarding to know I have accomplished that.”

Romero joined Kisco Senior Living in 2019. As executive director at Drake Terrace, he oversees the daily operations of the community and provides support to each department. His goal is to meet and exceed company expectations and ensure the needs of each resident and individual in the community are met by providing exemplary service in a warm and welcoming environment.

“Kisco is a fantastic company that stays true to its principles, values and beliefs,” said Romero. “I am grateful to work for this company, and that they trusted me to lead the way at Drake Terrace. In my new role, I want to continue to learn and provide the place best for residents, their family members and associates. The associates have been warm and welcoming, and I know when I walk into the community, I am walking into a family not a job. These are challenging times, but Kisco Senior Living has handled the pandemic remarkably well, and everything they have done has been for the health and safety of residents and associates.”

“We’re excited to welcome Ricardo to the Drake Terrace family,” said Leandra Negrete, vice president of operations at Kisco Senior Living. “We couldn’t ask for a better leader to help us continue to provide outstanding service and quality of care to seniors. He has a wonderful understanding of Kisco’s values since he previously served seniors at Byron Park. He has unmatched senior living industry experience, and we look forward to seeing what he is going to accomplish at Drake Terrace.”

Kisco Senior Living owns and operates 21 communities located in California, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Utah and Hawaii.

ABOUT DRAKE TERRACE

Drake Terrace, a Kisco senior living community, offers a continuum of care with luxurious independent and assisted living as well as memory care apartments tucked in the hills of San Rafael, California. Providing a variety of amenities, residents enjoy chef-prepared meals, concierge services, state-of-the-art wellness programs, transportation services, and intellectually stimulating events and activities. The community boasts a vibrant and active lifestyle, which allows residents to continue learning and growing in an enriching environment with easy access to entertainment and medical services in San Francisco; the wine country and fine food of Sonoma; and the beauty of Santa Rosa.

Drake Terrace embraces Kisco Confidence, our unique approach and philosophy centered on giving residents and associates peace of mind knowing that our communities deliver on safety and security, trust and transparency, health and wellbeing and a 5-star lifestyle experience. For more information, please call (628) 888-0806 or go to http://www.kiscoseniorliving.com/senior-living/ca/san-rafael/drake-terrace/

Bebe Reed, RN, Director of Healthcare

Griffin Living Welcomes Bebe Reed, RN as Director of Healthcare Operations

CONEJO VALLEY, Calif. and SIMI VALLEY, Calif. and SANTA CLARITA, Calif. and TEMECULA, Calif. and LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., — Senior Developer Griffin Living welcomes the newest member of the executive team, Bebe Reed, reflecting an increased focus in the senior living industry toward healthcare. As a Registered Nurse, Bebe brings 25 years of management and operational experience in senior living, healthcare management, program development, and staff education.

“The most fundamental aspect of our business is ensuring the welfare of our residents,” says CEO Paul E. Griffin III, “We are delighted to have Bebe Reed at Griffin Living to help us further understand and prioritize healthcare in our communities.”

Bebe has overseen 20 different senior living communities in nine states, where she has trained Executive Directors in all areas of regulatory compliance. Additionally, she has developed policy manuals for memory care, as well as state-specific policies as new communities opened.

Prior to working at Griffin Living, Bebe was Vice President of Wellness and Risk Management at Thrive Senior Living. Before joining Thrive, she was Director of Nursing Services at Saluda, an upscale transitional care and rehabilitation facility, and formerly, Director of Health Services at Pruitt Health. Bebe is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

“When it comes to care of their residents, Griffin Living goes above and beyond industry standards at every turn. I am honored to join them and help shape the future of senior care,” says Bebe.

Bebe holds a B.S. in Healthcare Administration and B.S. in Nursing from East Tennessee University, and a M.A. in Workforce Development and Training from the University of Georgia.

ABOUT GRIFFIN LIVING

Griffin Living is an award-winning, privately-owned real estate development firm headquartered in Calabasas, CA. The firm was founded in 2016 by Paul Griffin III, a fifth-generation home builder with thirty years of expertise in real estate development.

Griffin Living develops and maintains properties across the United States. They are committed to crafting innovative communities in partnership with community stakeholders, and apply their value-driven development philosophy to ensure that these properties represent strong investments for capital partners.

Jill Vitale-Aussem, President & CEO of Christian Living Communities

Jill Vitale-Aussem, President & CEO of Christian Living Communities Shares Their Mission For 2021

Jill Vitale-Aussem had a unique introduction to senior living when she was a high school student. She was working as a dietary aid in a nursing home and couldn’t help but notice how institutional it felt, but that experience drove her to want to create a better quality of life and experience for residents in senior living communities. After grad school she wanted to get a true sense of what the resident’s day to day lives were like, so she had the staff at the community she was working at admit her as a resident. Vitale-Aussem spent time truly acclimating herself to resident life and had the staff care for her as they would for any resident. This was a life-changing experience for her, and one of the best things she has done in her career because it truly highlighted for her the work she wanted to do to better the industry as a whole.

Now, in her role as President at Christian Living Communities, she has 22 communities that fall under her umbrella and her goal is to spread and live their mission statement every day. Their mission statement is: “Christian Living Communities enriches the quality and dignity of life for older adults through services and care that reflect Christian love, respect, and compassion toward each individual.”

Vitale-Aussem says, “our mission statement guides us in our work and sets forth the principal that every person that lives and works in our communities feels love, respect, and compassion.” Her favorite part of her job is being in the communities and empowering the staff and residents to watch them reach their full potential. As President, “it is incredible seeing the magic that happens when you work together with people for a vision of a new future.”

Christian Living Communities is fueled by their vision of “creating communities where aging is honored and celebrated.” Vitale-Aussem is extremely passionate about pushing back against the status quo and tackling ageism within the industry. Part of her work as a leader in her communities and the industry is encouraging people to think differently about aging and older adults. “What we believe about aging impacts how we age,” says Vitale-Aussem, she believes that creating an age positive environment is key for residents to thrive.

2021 is going to be a year of exciting growth for CLC. Before the pandemic swept across senior living, 2021 was already going to be a year of reflection for Christian Living Communities because they turn 50 in 2022. With this incredible milestone approaching, it is crucial to Vitale-Aussem and her team that they take this year to reflect on what they have learned and brainstorm how they can grow moving forward. For their communities, 2021 is all about possibilities and potential. Increasing occupancy in all of their communities is also a main priority, as Vitale-Aussem believes that “a community that isn’t full is a lost opportunity to have an impact on peoples’ lives.”

“How do we serve the people out there who need us? How can we assure them this is a safe place to be?” These are the questions that Vitale-Aussem and her team at Christian Living Communities will be collaborating to answer in this year of reflection and growth ahead. They are focused on creating cultures where the people that live in their communities have real purpose in their lives and can continue to grow and learn, while also continuing to push back against ageist beliefs that limit older adults. Vitale-Aussem is looking forward to embracing all the possibilities that lie ahead and creating communities where residents feel like citizens instead of customers. “It is exciting to see where we can grow by digging into our mission statement and allowing it to guide us in our work,” she says.

Waltonwood Cary Parkway Announces New Move-In Coordinator and Life Enrichment Manager

CARY, N.C., – Waltonwood Cary Parkway, a family-owned senior living community offering independent living, assisted living and memory care, is pleased to announce Sintayehu Lenahan as the new independent living life enrichment manager and Matthew Delgado as its new move-in coordinator. Lenahan brings more than two years of experience to her new role. She most recently worked in the assisted living and memory care neighborhoods at Waltonwood Cary Parkway. Lenahan sees this new position as a great opportunity to grow as a person and find creative ways to keep residents active and engaged.

“When I was in school, I had to do a project with a senior living company, and I fell in love with the industry,” said Lenahan. “I never expected a project to turn into my career, but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love to interact with the residents and associates and learn about them and what they’ve done in their lives. I feel very lucky that I have been able to work in all three neighborhoods at Waltonwood Cary Parkway. Life enrichment is such an important job. We have to continue to find creative ways to engage residents, especially now with an adjustment due to the pandemic. Our team has been instrumental in finding new ways to bring joy to residents. Whether it’s in-room activities, balcony sing-a-longs or socially distant happy hours, the change has been worth it. I look forward to growing in this new role and seeing what I will be able to accomplish in my new position.”

Helping seniors transition to their new homes is Matthew Delgado as the move-in coordinator at Waltonwood Cary Parkway. With a background in the moving industry, Delgado will provide residents and their families with all the essentials to ensure a smooth transition into the community. In his previous role, he worked with seniors and enjoyed hearing their stories and helping them through the moving process. Delgado says he had a fantastic relationship with his grandparents and knows working in senior living is his calling.

“I am excited to help seniors in the Triangle-area move into their forever home,” said Delgado. “I love that Waltonwood is a family-owned company. You can feel it in the atmosphere when you’re in the community. Each resident will remember your name and check in on you, and it warms your heart. This position has brought out the best in me, and I look forward to learning more about the industry and sharing my knowledge with others.”

“We’re thrilled to add two passionate associates to our team,” said Brian O’Hara, executive director. “Sinta and Matthew are energetic and enjoy coming to work each day. They have a fantastic understanding of our core values and know that at the end of the day our hearts are with helping residents and redefining what senior living offers. It has been a challenging year for us all, but I am proud of what our team has been able to accomplish, and I look forward to seeing what Sinta and Matthew can achieve.”

ABOUT WALTONWOOD CARY PARKWAY

Waltonwood Cary Parkway offers seniors a dignified, individualized community where residents can thrive. The community offers independent living cottages, and independent, assisted living and memory care apartments in studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans, creating a continuum of care where residents can enjoy an active lifestyle and receive care if they need it. The community offers many engaging amenities, including a theater, therapy pool, putting green, garden view lounge and private courtyards throughout its acreage. Residents receive the most up-to-date advances in senior living, including the specially designed Forever Fit program and life enrichment programing.

Singh is a family-owned company and for more than 45 years they have remained multifaceted in real estate development, with a strong foundation in luxury apartments, commercial properties, land development, high-end single-family homes and, for 30 years, senior living communities which have been branded “Waltonwood.” The vertical integration of the company, which provides for development, construction, finance and management under one umbrella, allows Singh to be poised for new opportunities in expanding markets. All projects are wholly owned by Singh and continue to be owned and managed by Singh.

The company is headquartered in West Bloomfield, MI and has regional offices in Cary, NC. Learn more about Singh and its Waltonwood communities at www.singhweb.com. If you are interested in learning more about Waltonwood Cary Parkway, please visit www.waltonwood.com or call 919-275-0983.

Alfonso Montiel

Acquisition of Comfort Care Hospice Leads to Name Change, Appointment of new CEO

DALLAS, TX – Comfort Care Hospice, a leading hospice care provider serving the Dallas-Fort Worth market, has been acquired and rebranded as SilverStone Hospice. The rebranding signals the acquiring group’s expansion plans and enhanced purpose, which will soon include upcoming home health care and palliative care service lines. Additionally, Alfonso Montiel has been named as SilverStone Hospice’s chief executive officer.

“Our goal is to grow a Texas-focused business through aggregating a series of acquisitions. We are benefiting from a highly fragmented market serving a rising demand and gaps in levels of care.” said Montiel, CEO at SilverStone Hospice. “Our mission is to empower families to provide the best care and experience for their loved ones.”

Fifty years ago, the first U.S. hospice resulted from one person, the dean of the Yale School of Nursing, becoming a volunteer caring for the dying during her year-long sabbatical at hospice in London. Fifty years later, Montiel began his journey in end-of-life care as a vigil volunteer. Inspired by the passing of a close relative, he began caring for patients alongside a hospice care team during a patient’s last hours of life. Through this experience, Montiel gained an awareness for how end of life healthcare businesses can bring connection, purpose and meaning. Convinced of the benefits of home care over hospital settings for terminally ill patients, a year later, he acquired Comfort Care Hospice.

Montiel’s professional profile includes founding a $150 million private equity hedge fund, strategy development for Fortune 500 companies, and serving as CEO for The Lemon Tree Trust, a charitable initiative that supports gardening in refugee camps. He also is a law graduate and earned his Master of Business Administration degree at Columbia University.

Montiel is committed to changing the conversation about hospice. He believes too often that patients are kept in the acute care system for longer than they should be due to various factors, including late physician referrals, lack of family understanding about hospice and cultural barriers.

“I like to say that we work with the living, not the dying,” said Montiel. “Hospice has been proven to prolong life for patients who receive these services early enough in their diagnosis, as they tend to receive better care. At SilverStone, we see plenty of these cases.”

He is joined by industry veterans with track records spanning 30 years in hospice with one goal in mind – to make SilverStone Hospice the pioneering organization in end-of-life-care and to build better opportunities for patients and families to have a voice in their desired end of life care plan.

According to Montiel, SilverStone Hospice offers beyond what’s expected by regulation; filling the gap where other hospice companies fail with its No One Dies Alone program.

“Our clinical team is truly exceptional. The levels of care and support that we provide is an extension of our team’s deep dedication to honoring each patient’s voice and advocating for their needs and wants at the end of life, as we would our own family,” said Montiel.

Oakmont Senior Living promotes Maclaine to Regional VP of Operations and Names Singler Regional VP of Sales and Marketing

Windsor, California- Oakmont Senior Living has promoted Mark Maclaine to regional vice president of operations and added Allison Singler to its management team as regional vice president of sales and marketing.

Both Maclaine and Singler will be responsible for the Central California region of Oakmont’s portfolio of senior living communities.

Singler has more than 20 years of experience in the senior living industry with a strong background in sales and marketing. She is also experienced with developing sales strategies for pre-lease communities and established communities, and creating sales training and development programs.

“I am thrilled to be joining Oakmont Senior Living in this pivotal time in the company’s future and look forward to being part of the management team leading sales and marketing efforts,” Singler said. “Oakmont is a first-class company and I am looking forward to getting started.”

Maclaine has been with Oakmont since the beginning of 2019 and has served as executive director of Oakmont of Montecito. Before Oakmont he was a general contractor in construction for a decade. He started in the senior living industry with Belmont Village in 2015 as a development manager.

“I am honored to be promoted at Oakmont and my experience at Montecito as executive director will serve me well in my role as regional vice president of operations for the Central region,” Maclaine said.

Singler received her Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations and minor in speech communications from the University of Alabama in 1993. Maclaine studied business management at Texas State University in San Marcos and finished his education there in 2004.

About Oakmont Senior Living
Oakmont Senior Living is a recognized leader in the senior living industry, currently serving over 3,000 seniors across 34 communities in California and Nevada. Residents receive customized care services delivered in luxurious, resort-style settings. With an impressive array of five-star amenities and compassionate team members, residents at Oakmont Senior Living benefit from the finest senior living experience in the industry. For more information about Oakmont Senior Living, visit www.oakmontseniorliving.com.

Amber Potter

Claiborne Senior Living Adds to Management Team

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, October 12, 2020— Claiborne Senior Living is pleased to announce the addition of Amber Potter to its growing corporate management team/

An accomplished leader in sales strategy and team development, Amber Potter joins Claiborne as regional director of sales. She held a series of increasingly responsible sales management positions at Enlivant Senior Living, most recently as national director of sales. She now oversees sales operations at communities in Mississippi and Louisiana.

“Amber brings a depth of experience that will serve us well as we continue to grow and expand into new markets,” said Tim Dunne, Claiborne’s president and chief operating officer. “We’re fortunate to be in a position to bring such a talented individual on board.”
Headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Claiborne Senior Living serves hundreds of older adults with senior living communities in Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Each community offers a broad continuum of care designed to provide a safe, enriching environment in which seniors can stay healthy and engaged.