At Pines of Sarasota Rehabilitation & Senior Care Community located in Sarasota, Florida, our vision is to continue to be the preeminent provider in the fields of rehabilitation, geriatric care, education and support. So it has been since we opened our doors on November 16, 1948, thanks to the recognition by The Kiwanis Club of Sarasota of the need to open a nursing home for Sarasota's elderly in poor health and with limited incomes. They raised funds to purchase property and opened two residence halls and a dining room.
After our home opened, The Kiwanis Club turned over operations to the Sarasota Welfare Home, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation. The Board of Directors included representatives from a variety of community organizations in order to provide a breadth of support for an institution that had, and still, depends on private donations and grants to supplement fees paid by the residents.
The growing need for the services of the Welfare Home was reflected in a quickly expanding waiting list for admission. Only three years after opening, eight rooms were added to the initial 24, and a 26-bed infirmary followed the next year. Other additions have included a 72-resident assisted living facility, an Alzheimer's/dementia care unit, and a new rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility.
Pines of Sarasota Assisted Living is a residential community designed to offer residents exceptional value and homelike comfort. With more than 70 years of experience in senior care services, we have learned how important it is to respect individual independence while standing by with a helping hand or a friendly escort wherever you're going. Our caring team provides the right level of assistance so you can experience the most each day.
At Pines of Sarasota we understand the unique challenges that come from caring for a loved with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Our skilled nursing environment and programming are designed to engage residents and honor and encourage their abilities. They are immersed in an active, engaging and enriching supportive environment facilitated by a staff specially-trained in memory issues.
Through the years we also found a way to combine child care and senior care with the addition of the Evalyn Sadlier Jones Child Care and Learning Center. The center opened to provide activities in which children join with Pines' residents, such as calisthenics, arts and crafts, holiday events and carnivals and has since earned awards for intergenerational programs from the state Council on Aging.
Community organizations have supported work at Pines of Sarasota since our beginning. The founding Kiwanis Club of Sarasota has maintained strong involvement with Pines and 16 of the 21 chairmen of Pines' Board of Directors have been former Kiwanis presidents. The Founders Circle of the Sarasota Garden Club created, and has continued to maintain, a shade garden with trees, a fish pond and patio area. Laughter Unlimited, clowns and musicians from Circus Sarasota, come to Pines as often as four times a week to crack jokes, cut up and prove that laughter really is the best medicine. Sarasota Orchestra, The Key Chorale, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the list goes on proving there is no shortage of people and organizations in our community who love Pines just as much as we do.
Our residents are encouraged to engage in daily activities that have meaning, stimulate their senses, and help maintain their physical and cognitive acuity, as well as connect them with others. Spiritual activities are also available for their participation.
Our residents’ lives are also touched and enriched by our community of volunteers who share music, art, horticulture and entertainment experiences; and, of course, there are visits from family, friends and even pets.
It is important to note that residents actively participate in choosing their leisure and group activities, because our program model is based on meeting their interests, needs and care plan goals.
