Smith Village

Title: Learn about life at Smith Village
Time: 6 min 5 sec

Description:

Residents and staff at Smith Village share a strong sense of community—like they’re part of one big family. Watch them talk about the life they love living at Smith Village.

Transcript:

when I first invited my family over some of my grandnieces had aunt sandy how do you have to be to move into Smith they're interested in moving and pepper culture at Smith village is just simply fantastic it's almost hard to put into words love at first sight it's always something to do here it's always something to do you know we tried to reach the purses mind body and spirit when they're at Smith village they're going out on trips they're participating in plays their pursuit in both clubs living in Smith village is never boring they have spanish lessons they have our classes they have arts and crafts no matter what you want to do whether you want to go out play a game of minigolf enjoy chicago in the environment go see a play or even visit local breweries we have something that you can do here we have a bus here we sign up and we get delivered and picked up it's absolutely wonderful we do monthly fishing trips to a local reservoir I do volunteer work so I probably do just more of what I used to do now wonderful accolades from the residents here about the Wellness Program the results that they've seen by incorporating compass on Phil's suggestions into their daily lives and also our fitness program you've got fitness you've got balance classes not only do want people to be happy we want them to be healthy enough to enjoy all the great things that Smith village provides whether that's working with dining to make sure we provide nutritious meals working with the life enrichment to make sure we have the type of activities people want to do or even just coming to my own health lectures there is always something we are doing to make sure that wellness and health is on the forefront of our mission people may not know this but we do have a wonderful chef here he's very classically trained he's a five-star chef he loves to hear feedback um with the residents he incorporates any ideas or recipes that they might have into the menus that he plans they have the marketplace so it serves good food the breakfast is nice Bob likes a breakfast don't you have menus where they travel around the world surf and turf dinner for the birthday people I think what i like about the dinner it becomes a social activity I sit with anybody who's there and it gives you an opportunity to meet different people and i think that's that's good if you're getting older you need that relationship with people that's very important i think because of the attitude to the people in the friendliness of the people it made the adjustment quite easy i would describe the relationship between the residents and the staff to be a real strong sense of community from the first person you meet they call you by name and they know you on a personal level they're friendly or anything I think it's kind of catered to to individual needs I had a dog and I was able to bring my dog with me if you suggest things that you enjoy they will listen to it and oftentimes act on it they really make should make you feel comfortable here residents are our number one priority everybody everybody is always happy to see us and they are eager to please us I feel pampered and I like that I love the hospitality aspect of my job just making people feel warm and comfortable I think when people come to a Smith community they get to embrace the idea of being part of community and interacting with people each and every day it was a little bit hard for me as a single person taking care of a house by myself the maintenance is nil because you own a home you have to maintain the home yourself provides me with the light housekeeping every two weeks which is probably a lot more often than I did it myself now I don't have to do some of the things like cuddle on call up someone to repair a furnace cleaner fridge or shovel the snow those are the things you don't have to worry about anymore because there's nothing to worry about we have a parking garage underneath the building yeah which is really nice because we used to have to go to the LA to get in the car no is always cold this is what it's always warm when you get in or it's cool in the summer so it's really nice having that underground parking I feel evil I'm on a vacation we truly care for people we develop relationships we don't take those lightly once you become part of the Smith family we consider you part of our family my mother was here in my aunt was here and i always said this is where i wanted to go so we didn't look anything selves we've been serving the community for over 90 years I've had multiple multiple generations of residents and their family members come through the community if you move it to Smith village we promise you that we'll take care of you threw out the different levels of care it's a continuum of care that we offer I've been here roughly 16 years and we have some staff members that have been here over 40 years once again it becomes a part of you and something we're very proud of I haven't heard of anybody who really hasn't enjoyed the experience of living here Smith people social needs are met here spiritual needs are met here wellness needs nutrition needs so we have the whole gamut I'd like to place just a place for me like I mentioned the stuff you used to worry about before when you were living your own home you don't have to worry about it anymore very nice very very good in fact they're not nice tour excellent it's just a lot of fun