In 1972, singer Bill Withers released his classic song “Lean on Me.” He recognized that one of the hardest things anyone can do is ask for help. Our pride often gets in the way or there is a fear of appearing weak or out of control. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more likely our pride or fear will prevent us from making that call for assistance.
But there was a simple truth Withers wanted to state in his song—a truth meant to remove the age-old stigma of asking for help: Everyone needs help at some point. Everyone. There are no exceptions. The degree and type of help just varies from person to person and from time to time.
Snyder Village, in beautiful, rural Metamora, extends that helping hand and offers a shoulder to lean on. Whether its residents need just a little aid or regular help, Snyder Village offers it, providing care along an entire spectrum of assistance.
A Life Plan Community
An expert on the ‘spectrum of assistance,’ Snyder Village Assisted Living Director Angie Watkins elaborates on the spectrum that the Snyder Village campus covers. “We offer a Retirement Community, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and a Health Center, which offers Long Term Care, Skilled Care, and therapy. We also have Home Care services that can come into your home.”
Angie and her team look after the residents in Assisted Living on four primary levels, looking after their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This assistance can take many forms. “Staff will check in on residents to reassure them and to assist with daily needs, such as dressing or bathing,” Angie says. “We offer three home cooked meals a day, housekeeping, and laundry services.”
Whatever level of help a resident may need—whether a little emotional pick-me-up or aid with an activity of daily living—the help is available to them from an around-the-clock staff.
Currently, Snyder Village Assisted Living has apartments available in Memory Care or in traditional studio, one-, or two-bedroom options.
Consistent Help for Consistent Tasks
Although retirement offers many benefits to living, certain realities never go away. Keeping track of finances and daily health are two such essential and consistent tasks. Fortunately, the Snyder Assisted Living staff is there to assist with those tasks as well.
“Our eyesight deteriorates as we get older and it is harder for many residents to read the prescription bottles,” Angie explains. “Residents will often forget to take their medications at all or then take a double dose when they do remember. Usually someone with dementia is in denial of having memory problems, which then results in forgetting to take medications, not following the direction on prescriptions, forgetting to eat meals, or forgetting to take showers. Our staff is always available to help with these essential tasks.”
Taking care of much of the financial headache of life is handled automatically by moving into Assisted Living in the first place. Many expenses, such as those associated with upkeep and maintenance of one’s domicile, are included in the cost of Assisted Living. Cable television, Internet, water, electricity, and taxes are also all included in the cost.
Of course, protecting one’s finances is just as important as handling them. Snyder Assisted Living provides help with that as well. “We provide educational seminars for our residents to attend to warn them about scams and to remind them not to give anyone their personal information,” Angie points out. “Some families live out of town and it is a reassurance to our residents that there is someone available 24 hours a day to help them.”
Essential Help for Essential Needs
Not all of life’s tasks are quite as unpleasant as paying taxes or taking medication, but again, Snyder Assisted Living is there to help. “It is reassuring to our residents knowing that they do not have to shovel snow or mow their yards; someone is here to do that for them,” Angie says. “We also offer assistance in running errands and getting necessary personal items. We provide door-to-door transportation service within Metamora.” Should a resident need to travel outside of Metamora for a doctor’s appointment, for a minimal fee Home Care services will take them there and back again.
While eating is about as essential a need as there is, it can be a comforting, enjoyable need nonetheless. Snyder Assisted Living provides three nutritious meals every day plus snacks.
But not all the fun of food comes from merely eating it, as Angie indicates. “We often have food-related activities and our activity staff also does one-on-one cooking classes with our residents and their favorite dish. Our meal times are a great social time for the residents to enjoy the company of others. Many times they share stories of how they used to cook or of their family dinners.”
Never Lonely
A fear of loneliness often goes hand-in-hand with getting older. As friends pass away or children move away, seniors can often find their daily hub of social activity shrinking in size.
Along with helping with meals, transportation, medication, finances, and so on, Snyder Assisted Living is a hub of social activity all its own. “Our residents don’t have to worry about being lonely because there is always someone here,” Angie says. “Assisted Living provides many different activities from cards to games, crafts, exercise, devotions, trips, speakers, and entertainers. We have beautiful courtyards where you can either help plant flowers or just enjoy the scenery. You make new friends and are instantly a part of a great community. Our resident dog, Snyder, loves to keep the residents company and loves to give and receive affection.”
Lean on Snyder Village
As Bill Withers sang all those years ago, there is no shame in asking for help when you need it. The residents of Snyder Village Assisted Living have not only found that out for themselves, they have discovered life can be made a lot less stressful and far more enjoyable as long as you have a friendly shoulder to lean on.
To learn more about apartment availability and the current move-in special at Snyder Village Assisted Living and Memory Care, call (309) 367-2500. Snyder Village in Metamora, IL, is a full Life Plan Community offering independent living in its retirement community, an assisted living, memory care programs, a skilled nursing center, and in-patient and out-patient therapy. Its home care supports residents in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and Marshall counties. Learn more about Snyder Village at www.snydervillage.com.
