CARING STARS WINNER
935 Union Lake Road, White Lake, MI 48386
4.7
(54 reviews)
"My dear parents moved to Independence Village of White Lake from their lakefront home in 2020. Throughout the five (5) years they lived there, I found Independence Village to be exemplary. I got to know a lot of the staff during this time. Beginning with the Exec. Director, who spends a lot of time with the residents, as well as late evenings/weekends on the computer. Sometimes things come up that are unexpected, such as Covid. But each and every time I found the Executive Director to be 100% honest, which was invaluable to me. There are a lot of "moving parts" in a retirement community such as this. The Executive Director handled it all seamlessly. She implemented a monthly newsletter (which I found to be very useful) featuring an entry from each Department Head (events staff, housekeeping, food/meals, etc) with current events and updates. The residents were encouraged to comment and make their wishes known! Steps were routinely taken to accommodate residents needs and requests. The meals were always spectacular! My mom especially loved her food. It gave her something to look forward to. IV allows the residents to choose their meals (the week prior) which ensures that it's always something each resident likes! Everything was fresh and tastey, with a variety of choices. The Executive Chef has been with IV White Lake for over 10 years. He often walks through the dining room at Meal Time to ask the residents if everything is okay and/or if they need anything! Special Events showplaced at IV White Lake included beautifully displayed food, from fresh fruit to roast beef. My parents really liked Chef! I was alone (and a little bit scared) when my parents first moved in and I needed help. Chef actually helped me with an unexpected issue regarding the toliet seat in my parents' apartment! I mention this to illustrate, shown by his actions, that he truly cares about the residents. The Events Staff is excellent! They go above and beyond to provide high quality events, that are well liked across the board so that everyone can participate. The Life Enrichment Director is often seen talking, laughing, and smiling with the residents. She and her staff frequently dress in costume for an activity and always have several props/giveaways to pass out to the residents. Again, she always makes sure that everyone is included. The Housekeeping Staff, headed up by the Housekeeping Lead, exceeded my expectations. She and her staff helped me a couple times when my mom was sick. On one occasion, I was signing out at the Reception Desk, holding a bag of sheets to take home and wash. Out of the blue, a Housekeeping staff member happened to be walking by. She kindly approached me and asked if she could wash the sheets for us. I was shocked and so grateful. My parents were in Independent Living but the Medical component of the Assisted Living wing is headed up by outstanding Registered Nurse, Sr. Wellness Director, who gets personally involved with day to day operations, caring and monitoring of the residents. And to ensure the family that their loved one's comfort and safety is being taken care of. And finally I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Reception Desk staff. I was always shown nothing but kindness and respect each and every time I saw them, which was almost every day. Their professionalism, warmth, and efficiency directly impact how a person feels the moment they walk in the door."
$4,800