By Alexander Germanis
When major appliances seem to fail at an increased rate, 2,000-dollar televisions are given a mere 10-year life expectancy, and clothing seems to develop holes in a matter of weeks instead of years, it’s not too surprising to hear the phrase: They sure don’t make things like they used to.
Consequently, more and more people are looking back with a fond sense of nostalgia for the days when things seemed to last longer, people took more pride in their work, and neighborhoods were friendlier.
At Proctor Place in Peoria, both the residents and the staff endeavor to hold on to those values that seem to be slipping away and keep all the good in their community from simply becoming a memory. But they also see how keeping a place like it used to be doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t still be made a little better.
The Most Important Move
A major part of what makes a place worth living or working in is the quality of the people who live or work there. For Proctor Place Life Care Director Amber Baum, the move she made to start working at Proctor Place was definitely about the people. And Amber was no stranger to working with people.
Working in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years, Amber wanted something new. So, she took her passion for caring for people in her previous career and transitioned it to senior living. Applying at Proctor Place, she immediately fell in love. “I enjoy going to work,” she shares. “I wish I would have come here a long time ago.”
After making her professional move to Proctor Place, Amber now makes a difference by helping others make their life move there. “We are a life care home, so that means most folks move in here for the rest of their life,” she says. “By getting to know the families, their dynamics, and their backgrounds, I’ve made some good friendships and it’s like I’m working in their home.”
Helping new residents select Proctor Place as their home may be the main part of what Amber does, but simply showing them the advantages of Proctor Place is not what makes it important. “I love getting to know people when leading them on a tour. I enjoy the freedom of knowing that since we are a small private home, I can work with each individual who comes in to create the best option for them without worrying about a larger removed corporate office forcing changes,” she explains. “I work closely with President and CEO, Donna Malone, to ensure we are creating options that are best for the future of our residents. Our goal is for them to be independent for as long as they can.”
By Popular Demand
Amber’s position at Proctor Place allows her to hear not only the wish list of existing residents but also the desires of prospective move-ins. In order to make Proctor Place just a little bit better than before, both sets of seniors have been asking for a swimming pool.
“We’re seeing both the younger and older seniors wanting to be a lot more active and trying to keep doing those things they’ve always done,” Amber says. “One of those things is swimming. For those who have been living here for the last five or 10 years, they probably haven’t been to a pool in a while. So, we’re just trying to stay relevant for the needs of everyone.”
With all the permits, designs, and aesthetics for the pool taken care of, all that remains is for the construction to be completed, hopefully later in the year.
Despite retirement being perceived as a time of leisure, Amber believes the pool will be more than just a place to lounge around. Several of the residents are already looking forward to making the pool their go-to place for exercise, classes are being discussed, and the pool will also be an ideal place for therapy. “But I foresee people just hanging out and having some fun, too,” Amber posits. “And we plan to have a pool party once in a while, too.”
If It Isn’t Broken…
Although the pool is not the only alteration being made to Proctor Place’s interior, the changes are all being implemented with an eye on simply upgrading the existing environment. No one wants to render Proctor Place unrecognizable to the men and women who call it home; they just want it to be even better.
Small adjustments like moving the library to a larger home on the main floor are signs of improvement. Where the old library once sat is now the nearly completed movie theater.
The library houses Proctor Place’s own collection of great books and magazines, but the Peoria Public Library also rotates books through it as well. “The residents can request what they want the Peoria Library to bring and then they check those books out just like at a regular library,” Amber explains.
The renovated fitness center is also nearing completion. “Half the room will be equipment and the other half will be for classes, like yoga twice a week,” Amber outlines. “We do a weight class twice a week and exercise three times a day. We plan to continue to add new classes to make exercise fun and easy for everyone.”
To replenish their energy, residents can also stop in at the newly completed coffee bar that boasts both self-serve cappuccino and smoothie machines.
As socialization plays a major factor in mental and emotional health, a new game room and a new dog park have been added to Proctor Place. “We’ve got a few dogs that live here and some grand-dogs that visit often,” says Amber. “And for the residents who can’t have a dog or can no longer care for one, the park is a great spot for them to watch the little guys run around.”
More Interaction
Canine pals are not the only way residents can enjoy socialization at Proctor Place thanks to the renovations. Two new guest rooms have been added, in which visiting friends or family members can stay in order to be closer to their loved ones for longer periods.
Like small apartments, each guest room is equipped with a hotel room-like kitchen, living room, full bath, pullout sofa, and a queen bed in the bedroom. For less than the cost of a hotel room, friends and family members can enjoy being closer to their Proctor Place loved ones while visiting.
The game room is now also home to the new Proctor Place Poker Pals Club. “Players have even made matching visors they wear when they’re playing. They play poker for pennies a few times a week,” Amber delightedly shares. “We’re super happy they’re enjoying the game room.”
Only Good Change Is Good
When change upsets your life and home, the blanket statement change is good is clearly an incorrect one. At Proctor Place, such troublesome changes are not an issue. “Because we are a private home you never have to worry about a different management company coming in and changing everything,” Amber assures. “That’s been happening a lot more in other places. There are a lot of what-ifs with those places and that really does worry people.”
Proctor Place residents – both current and future – need not worry. “We have been here for 117 years; Proctor Place was the first life care senior home in Peoria that’s still going strong today. We are a private home, not a corporate chain that might be forced to make changes that aren’t good for our residents,” Amber adds. “As with our renovations, whatever changes we make are always changes our residents want and they are always for the better.”
“I would encourage anyone reading this article to join us for our upcoming Fall Festival to see what life at Proctor Place is all about. Our festival will be held Wednesday, October 9th and will include great music and delicious food. We hope to see you there!” Please call 309-566-4205 to make reservations.
Proctor Place is located at 2724 West Reservoir Boulevard in Peoria, Illinois. If you
would like to take a tour of your new home, stay for a visit, or if you have any questions, please call us at (309) 685-6580. Or visit us on the web at www.proctorplace.org.
