Supported, engaged and connected
As one of the few nonprofits in our area to provide high-quality senior living care, The Village of St. Edward keeps the focus on connection.
At The Village of St. Edward, keeping residents supported, engaged and connected are just some of the focus items team members strive toward every day.
Social connection is a key component to healthy aging and longevity, fostering mental, emotional and physical well-being.
At The Village of St. Edward, providing a vibrant slate of social and spiritual pursuits is an important part of the mission. The resident life team at these faith-based campuses in Fairlawn, Wadsworth and Green plans robust daily activities like bingo, Bible study and happy hours, as well as annual events like VillageFest in June, a corn roast in September, car shows, and holiday happenings for residents and their families. Great food and music are always on the docket.
“At The Village of St. Edward, our non-profit mission allows us to focus on people, not profits,” says Chief Marketing Officer Megan Bright. “Events, celebrations and programs are designed to enrich our residents’ lives, not drive a bottom line. That’s the non-profit difference—the freedom to go above and beyond with creativity, care and community-building, ensuring our residents feel valued, celebrated and truly at home.”
She points out that many of the residents are foodies, and they plan events to cater to them. Last month they hosted a food and wine pairing event that took residents’ tastebuds around the world with wines from Italy, Spain, New Zealand and Germany.
“They sampled wines and small dishes celebrating culture, community and good company with every bite and sip,” says Megan. “Our residents always look forward to trick-or-treating on Halloween, too, with the staff and their families joining in on the fun.”
It Begins with Discovery
Mindy Keller, Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wadsworth campus, says when she gives tours and welcomes new residents, the first thing she does is find out about them.
“We discover what they did for a living, what their childhood was like…things that make them happy. We also ask if there’s anything on their bucket list they’d like to do,” she says. “Last year we had a resident who always wanted to go up in a hot-air balloon, so we made that happen. Recently a resident was unable to attend her son’s wedding, so they chose to have the wedding here. All our teams—activities, clinical, dietary and clergy—are interconnected in welcoming people here and making them feel at home.”
She says the goal of the programming is to give back to residents and their families while enhancing their lives.
“Anyone who has preconceptions about what senior care is all about should come for a tour,” says Mindy. “People enjoy independent and super- social lives here, where their interests are encouraged and developed, from the time they wake up until they go to bed each night.”
Celebrating Faith
Spirituality is another differentiator for VSE. It offers Catholic mass in the chapels several times each week along with a host of non-denominational services.
As a nonprofit, faith-based organization, The Village of St. Edward is uniquely positioned to provide a wide variety of spiritual programming, ensuring that residents’ spiritual needs are cared for just as thoughtfully as their physical and emotional ones,” Megan says.
The Village of St. Edward is a non-profit with three locations: Wadsworth, 880 Main Street, 234-217-8735; Green, 3813 Fortuna Drive, 234-294-0010; and Fairlawn, 3125 Smith Road, 330-668-2828. Look for a new location to open in Brimfield Township in 2027. In memory care, each location offers 28 beautifully appointed studio and one-bedroom apartments. Through the Benevolence Program, residents will never be asked to leave if they run out of funds. For more information, or to take a virtual visit, go to VSECommunities.org.
When Is It Time?
With the holidays around the corner and families gathering more, it might be a time to evaluate how your senior parent is doing if he or she lives alone.
“Often the signs that it may be time to consider a senior living community show up quietly,” says Megan Bright, Chief Marketing Officer at The Village of St. Edward. “Things to watch for include, are they having a harder time keeping up with meals, managing medications, or staying on top of household chores? Maybe there are more safety worries, or days that feel a little too quiet and lonely.”
She says families can start to feel the weight of caregiving becoming overwhelming.
“The most important step families can take is to be proactive about senior care,” Megan says. “Life can change quickly with a sudden illness or injury, but having already chosen a community that feels like home for your loved one can ease the burden during an otherwise stressful time.”
She invites families to come take a tour of any of The VSEs to discover how extra support, community and peace of mind might help everyone feel more secure and connected.
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