We are proud to announce that after months of searching, Oakmont Sterling and Oakmont Parkway each have a new puppy neighbor! Thanks to the hard work and diligent efforts of our Activity Director at Oakmont Sterling, Jodi, we’ve been able to adopt these two fantastic pups and provide them with loving homes right in our communities! Read more about each pup below!
Oakmont Sterling Enhanced: Meet Your New Puppy Neighbor!
Energetic, loving, playful, and loyal, Oakmont Sterling’s new pup brings his charming personality and limitless love and affection to the community. He’s curious, outgoing, and active – just like his wonderful new neighbors. He’s sure to quickly capture the hearts of all who he encounters and will have many warms laps to sit on in the coming years. Welcome to Sterling!
Oakmont Parkway Enhanced: Meet Your New Puppy Neighbor!
Exceptionally cuddly and sweet-as-pie, Oakmont Parkway’s new furry friend brings all of the love and affection one could ask for to Parkway’s awesome community of residents. Calm, collected, and most comfortable in the arms or on the lap of people, he doesn’t shy away from a loving embrace of any kind – perfect for Parkway’s awesome community of residents. His soft fur, reassuring personality, and friendly disposition are sure to make him a big hit with our seniors.
Both of these pups come to Oakmont courtesy of the great work of Furget Us Not Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Hazel Park. This volunteer-based rescue operates from a series of area foster homes, ensuring all cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies in their care receive proper love and attention as they wait for the “furever” home. To find out more information and learn how you can support their work, visit their website.
Want to know what our puppy pals are up to? Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and cutest pictures!
Starting back in early November, Jodi, the Activity Director at Oakmont Sterling Enhanced, has been searching for just the right furry friends to join our Sterling and Parkway communities. It hasn’t been an easy road trying to find the right fit, but it appears that the search may be over.
Thanks to the awesome team at Furget Us Not Rescue, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Hazel Park, residents and staff at our Sterling community had the pleasure of welcoming these two spectacular pups for a ‘pet and greet.’ Based on the big smiles and non-stop wagging tails, everyone had a great time.
We’re hoping to have an official annoucement regarding these pups next week, so stay tuned!
Three Easy Ways Seniors Can Work to Stay Safe on the Roads
With several more months of winter weather ahead of us, there’s no telling what kind of driving conditions await Michigan drivers this year. And with more than 40 million licensed drivers in the United States over the age of 65, seniors make up one of the largest contingents of drivers on the roads today.
As with drivers of any age, seniors who hit the road should always put safety at the forefront of every decision they make behind the wheel. But knowing how to prepare for the unique challenges presented by winter weather isn’t always easy. Here’s a list of three great tips to help you stay safe on the roads during this snowy season!
1. Take It Slow
When the roads are icy or visibility is limited, keeping your speed low is a great way to ensure you can operate your vehicle as safely as possible. Even when roads look clear and driving conditions seem normal, black ice and slippery spots can come out of nowhere – virtually invisible to the naked eye. A slower speed in these conditions can not only help protect you by giving you much more time to stop, but it will also help to keep others on the road safe, too! So don’t be afraid to take it slow when the weather is bad; it’s one of the best ways to help protect you and your car.
2. Drive a Well-Stocked Vehicle
It’s a fact: Michigan has some of the nation’s most unpredictable weather. That means unexpected storms, freezes, and other weather phenomena can appear in the blink of an eye. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association recommends stocking your car with the following essentials in case of an emergency:
1. Snow shovel, broom, and ice scraper.
ii. Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow.
iii. Jumper cables, flashlight, and warning devices such as flares and emergency markers.
iv. Blankets for protection from the cold.
v. A cell phone with charger, water, food, and any necessary medicine (for longer trips or when driving in lightly populated areas).
Keeping a well-stocked car is a surefire way to help keep you prepared for any emergency – so don’t skimp on the supplies!
3. Utilize Alternative Transportation Options
When winter weather strikes, sometimes it is best to leave the driving to the professionals. That’s why it is a good idea to explore alternative transportation options during less-than-ideal conditions to help keep you safe. Residents at each Oakmont community enjoy the opportunity to utilize several transportation options – whether that means group trips to the grocery store and restaurants, or private transportation to doctor appointments.
The weather outside may occasionally be frightful this winter, but as long as you keep these three safe winter driving tips in mind, you can ensure that you’re doing your best to stay safe every time you hit the road. Looking for some more great winter driving tips? Check out the NHSTA’s guidelines and suggestions for staying prepared and vigilant during the winter months. Safe travels!
A Desert Storm Army veteran is paired with his service dog, Whiskey, thanks to the generosity of area Oakmont Senior Living residents, their families, and the local American Legion veteran’s group.
On Nov. 9, Steve, a Bay City veteran whose physical condition and last name are being withheld at his request, was honored at a Veteran’s Day celebration at Oakmont Rochester Independent. There, Steve thanked the many seniors who donated to the Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs Inc., a Florida-based nonprofit that pairs canines with veterans and a limited number of first responders.
It cost $22,000 to train Whiskey, a German Shepard mix who will live with and assist Steve for the rest of his life. Guardian Angels Service Dogs typically assist those suffering from mobility issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, brain injuries, balance challenges, and more.
“For a veteran who has PTSD, the dog is taught to mitigate the system. If they’re in a crowded room, our dog will shield or block depending on where the veteran is. If the recipient has mobility issues, the dog will pick up things that are dropped. The dog helps with balance,” said Jolanthe Bassett, Michigan Regional Coordinator of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs.
Veterans who receive dogs typically have low suicide and divorce rates in comparison with those who don’t have service animals, Bassett added.
In February, Oakmont seniors began gathering funds to donate to Guardian Angles Services Dogs. With the help of the American Legion Post 253 in Royal Oak and American Legion District 18, the seniors had raised the full amount by June.
“They felt a kinship with the veterans in our communities and were very excited to help fellow veterans,” said Martha Teller, Director of Sales and Marketing at Oakmont. “We’d like to institute this as a permanent fundraising effort in support of the veterans.”
More than 150 Oakmont seniors from the organization’s 10 properties throughout southeast Michigan attended the event. Some veterans, including those in their 90s who served during World War II, wore their respective uniforms. Original poems and special tributes thanking them for their service were read by Oakmont residents and staff.
There’s nothing quite like visiting an Oakmont Community during the holiday season. Whether it’s spending time with Santa, enjoying engaging family parties, or an evening of yuletide entertainment, each Community finds their own special way of making the holidays truly the most wonderful time of the year.
But before the festivities can officially begin, each Oakmont Community is transformed from its normal comfortable elegance to a wonderland full of holiday cheer and stunning decorations. And though it may look like the work of Christmas magic, it all starts with a talented designer, Susanne Lawrence, who works year-round to create a one-of-a-kind holiday atmosphere at every Oakmont.
From X-Rays to Art Shows
Born and raised in the City of Detroit, Susanne always had a creative side. After graduating from high school, she envisioned a career in the medical field and started 24 months of training to become a registered radiographic technologist. Those 24 months of training turned into 24 years of working for the same radiologist at St. John’s Hospital and the Grosse Pointe Physicians X-Ray Center. But, despite her love for her newfound career, Susanne never gave up on her interest in the arts; continuing to develop her skills in the evening while developing X-rays during the day.
“While I was taking X-rays, I was always developing my art,” she said. “I was taking classes in design, scale, balance, and color. Drawing classes, and then oil painting classes, and then finally watercolor classes which really became my forte.”
A passionate and talented painter, Susanne realized that 24 years in the medical field was enough and that it was time to turn her artistic hobby into a full-time occupation.
“I’ve always had that artsy side of me,” she said. “So, I started working at an art gallery and framery while training with different teachers. It was when I was working there that I began branching out and doing art shows.” Susanne took her art on the road all around Metro Detroit, with successful shows in Rochester, Plymouth, Troy, Grosse Pointe, and Detroit’s Greektown Neighborhood before finally getting in what she calls “the biggie”: The Ann Arbor Art Fair.
After being juried into the Ann Arbor Art Fair, Susanne’s career in the creative arts continued to blossom, as she was approached to begin work as an interior designer in a Bloomfield Hills showroom. Despite her obvious talents and experience, her concern over a lack of formal education almost held her back. But thanks to the wise words from a mentor, she realized the quality of her work and her passion for excellence spoke for themselves.
“When I was thinking about going full time with art, I was nervous that I didn’t have a degree in the field,” Susanne said. “But my art teacher once told me, ‘it’s not about what your background is, it’s about what you’re producing now.’ And I adopted that same mindset with interior design. I may not have a degree in design, but I have the background in art, scale, balance, color, and everything, so I went forward with that.”
She soon left the job in the showroom at the end of 2004, and ventured into the world of self-employment, working with many diverse clients on different interior design projects. It was during this period that she first began lending her considerable talents to Oakmont Senior Communities, helping to develop the signature look that all Oakmont Communities now feature. From wallpaper and window treatments, to custom curated art and specially woven carpet, each Oakmont Community is unique, beautiful, and designed, with Susanne’s help, for excellence in every aspect.
This dedication doesn’t begin and end in the initial design phase of each property, either. Susanne and the Oakmont ownership see each property as a living entity – with near constant updates and improvements happening across the spectrum. In that same spirit, Susanne now works full time in the communities – visiting each Oakmont Community every month, clipboard in hand, to ensure everything meets her strict standards.
Bringing Scale, Balance, and Color to Christmas
Though decorating for Christmas officially begins for many on the day after Thanksgiving, for Susanne, holiday planning starts just after the New Year. That’s because, instead of one house to decorate, Susanne has ten – each with their own unique color schemes and design needs. That adds up to more than 40 trees, dozens of wreaths, plenty of mantels, and a variety of other unique and eye-catching decorations that need to be ordered early and planned-out well in advance.
“It’s quite an undertaking to bring so many trees to life, and it’s really hard to pick a favorite,” she said, admiring Oakmont’s largest tree in the Diamond Room of Oakmont Manor. “Every time I come back across one I haven’t seen in a while, I think ‘oh, that’s my favorite,’ but it really changes all of the time. Each one has something about it to love.”
Though at first glance each of these trees may simply look like a beautiful arraignment of ornaments and decorations, their story goes much deeper. Each of the forty-plus trees is completely customized by taking into account a variety of things that may impact the way it looks. This includes planning for things like window position, ceiling height, natural versus artificial light, and walking patterns of the people who live there – factors many people would never consider. And just as each Oakmont building has its own color scheme that impacts everything from the carpet to the wallpaper, so too does every tree – ensuring that the decorations perfectly compliment the surrounding atmosphere.
These factors create not only a creative challenge, in finding the right decorations and locations for the trees, but also a practical one, especially in some of Oakmont’s higher acuity communities like Assisted Living and Memory Care. The perfect example of this marriage of substance and style are the trees at Oakmont Rochester Assisted’s Memory Care apartments. Though beautifully decorated, each ornament on each tree is wired in place as a safety precaution, ensuring that residents don’t just have something beautiful to look at, but also something safe to interact with. It’s this kind of consideration that makes Oakmont’s holiday decorations truly unique.
The results of Susanne’s hard work speak for themselves. Christmastime at Oakmont has become a tradition of elegance and timeless style, of community and togetherness. The buildings transform themselves into festive spaces where families can gather to enjoy a warm conversation, eat a delicious meal, and make new holiday memories. It’s a feeling best summed up in the words of our residents:
“When you walk in the front door, it’s welcome home,” said Gloria, a resident of six years at Oakmont Parkway. “It’s just a wonderful, soft feeling of friendship and love. The trees are remarkable; like you’re in a fantasy world. They have a story to tell in a different way and they all bring happiness to you. Everything is happiness. If you’re sad, you see something like that, you smile.”
View Susanne’s gorgeous work in our Parade of Trees gallery:
This dedication doesn’t begin and end in the initial design phase of each property, either. Susanne and the Oakmont ownership see each property as a living entity – with near constant updates and improvements happening across the spectrum. In that same spirit, Susanne now works full time in the communities – visiting each Oakmont Community every month, clipboard in hand, to ensure everything meets her strict standards.