Spring Arbor Offers Individualized Care

Hidden in the trees alongside Ritchie Highway, Spring Arbor Senior Living has offered round-the-clock care and nurtured independence for all residents for six years in Severna Park. Marketing Director Jennie Banner, who started at Spring Arbor two months ago, has worked with seniors for over 36 years and knows that Spring Arbor offers something special. She credits the staff’s qualification and dedication to making the community a success.

Recently, Lynette Pettiford McKenzie, a nurse at Spring Arbor, was named Employee of the Year throughout all 23 Spring Arbor locations owned by HHHunt.

“We had a big celebration and the residents were part of the nomination, so it was nice,” said Banner. “She's a wonderful person.”

At Spring Arbor, there is a wide variety of activities for all residents.

“Residents have the ability to do activities all day long, everything from church services to happy hour,” said Banner.

Spring Arbor has a fitness center, library, a front porch complete with rocking chairs, beauty and barber salons, scheduled bus outings and even a sunroom. There is also plenty of space for families to gather when it is safe to do so again, including a private dining room for family gatherings and parties. The staff offers full-service nursing and BAYADA on-site for therapy, and will also drive residents to doctor appointments.

Spring Arbor is especially proud of the Memory Care Cottage, located on the first floor of the community. This floor is designed entirely with memory care residents in mind. The walls are bright with three-dimensional objects for the residents to admire. There is a wedding section with photos of the residents in their dresses, a beauty station and a wall with locks, chains and other objects for the residents to fidget with for tactile stimulation. The entire floor is designed in a circle, which is ideal for residents who tend to wander.

“The circle is like a track where they can walk continuously and not get lost,” explained Banner. “In the center of the circle is the central dining room and activities area. It's wide open and then the nurse's station. It works really well.”

All rooms are equipped with smart technology to turn on lights with voice activation or when residents get out of bed to reduce fall risk. Spring Arbor also keeps heat lamps in bathrooms to prevent residents from getting cold.

A variety of floor plans are available on all three floors of Spring Arbor. Studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments are fully customizable and complete with private bathrooms and spacious closets. The hallways in Spring Arbor are decorated in family photos, door wreaths and other items that are special to residents.

“We have some really beautiful features here, and the residents love it,” said Banner. “The dining room is centralized, so people can come from one end of the hall to the center and be in their dining room.”

The dining room is the heart of Spring Arbor because of the seasonal menu designed by a dietician.

“I think the food here is fantastic and I eat it almost every day,” said Banner. “We have a large selection and a lot of options.”

Residents also have access to a patio, where dinner is occasionally served barbecue-style.

“We also have a grill,” said Banner. “They can smell the food and eat the food fresh off the grill, which really makes a difference in their appetite.”

Currently, Spring Arbor is allowing visitors by appointment, but they are looking forward to inviting families back soon.

Banner encourages families that are unsure about senior living to book a tour sooner rather than later.

“The most difficult thing for families is that most parents want to stay home,” said Banner. “The problem is many people stay home too long. My suggestion is to have them come in and get familiar and recognize it when they still have the ability to.”

Although it is a hard decision to make, Banner and the Spring Arbor team are proud of the care offered in their community and will make sure that every resident is treated as an individual.

Spring Arbor is located at 345 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park. To learn more, visit www.springarborliving.com or call 833-737-0436.