Agape Senior York's hardworking women!

Regional President of the Piedmont/Upstate Region, DeeDee Henderson and Agape Senior York's Senior Solutions Advisor, Lindsay Davis help support the Habitat for Humanity of York County during the 2013 Women’s Build.

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/05/08/4845488/habitat-women-build-workday.html

Participating in the Women's Build was a very meaningful day for us as we got to know the other women helping with the build, including the future homeowner! We look forward to helping out with Habitat for Humanity in the future!

Agape Senior Assisted Living of York provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, and Lake Wyle – Call us (803) 684-0183 or (800) 411-2427

New Independent Style Apartments Coming to York County

New Independent Style Apartments Coming to York County
Agape Senior, one of the largest senior healthcare providers in South Carolina, plans to build 31 Villa  independent style apartments to the already existing Agape Senior Assisted Living in York.

The Villas at Agapé Senior - York brings together the privacy and independence of apartment style living with the full complement of Agapé Senior’s services. Agape is investing more than $7 million in the York project.

The Villas at Agapé Senior - York provide a beautiful, comfortable, and dignified environment for residents as they transition from one level of care to another. Residents enjoy an independent lifestyle and personal attention in safe, secure surroundings. Our spacious one-bedroom apartments are equipped with kitchens, appliances, full-size private bathrooms, and large walk-in closets. Three meals are provided daily in The Villas’ dining room, and a full schedule of life enrichment activities are available for all residents to enjoy.

Residents can also expect to have a full range of Agape services including expert dementia care, customized services to satisfy each resident’s unique needs, our highly trained professional staff, a full range of activities and social events, and access to the other Agapé Senior family of services.

Scott Middleton, Agape Senior’s founder and CEO, expects the Villas to open at the beginning of 2014. “As the second most populated county in the Charlotte metropolitan area, we believed there was a need for our services in especially the underserved western part of York County. This county is fast growing and becoming a retirement destination for seniors. York County and greater Charlotte are areas that will benefit from Agapé Senior’s brand of senior healthcare,” stated Scott Middleton, CEO of Agapé Senior. 

The addition of the Villas is expected to employ 15 – 20 nurses, caregivers and medical technicians. Stop by Agape Senior Assisted Living in York to see the updates on construction.
Contact Lindsay Davis at LDavis@AgapeSenior.com or by phone at (803) 684-0183 to schedule a tour today!

Agape Senior Assisted Living of York provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, and Lake Wyle – Call us (803) 684-0183 or (800) 411-2427

Rock Hill Assisted living Residents Visit the Past

Last week Agape Senior Assisted Living in Rock Hill hosted a car show in partnership with The Master's Car Club. The Master's Car Club is an outreach of Calvary Baptist church that allows them to reach souls for Christ in a "different way." Residents, family members and visitors all enjoyed the fellowship, fun and food--- because when does Agape Senior do anything without food involved?

More to the point when our residents see what we call "old cars" they see their past, they see themselves driving these same cars just "yesterday." It was great to see many of our residents checking out the cars and reminiscing about the past.

It was fun to be able to listen to the stories from the residents about having this car or that car and all of the adventures they had experienced while driving and coming of age. It was amazing to see how a car can bring back memories and revive old stories. I love the seniors at Agape Senior like they are my own grandparents and I love to take the time and listen to the stories of "old" to them and "new" to me.

Agape Senior Assisted Living Rock Hill
Travise Smith (SSA) Senior Solution Advisor

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity.  Rock Hill, Charlotte, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay,  Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

Ask Agape for senior solutions

South Carolina Senior Care Company is on a Mission

The mission of Agapé Senior is simple; improve the lives of senior adults in a faith based atmosphere. People that understand senior care know the level of dedication and resolve it takes to provide quality care 24 hours per day 365 days per year. Agapé Senior has been doing that successfully for over 13 years and has improved the lives of over 40,000 senior adults in the process.

Every day at Agape Senior people’s lives are touched. Caregivers assisting residents with daily activities of living while preserving their dignity and independence. Residents that may once have been isolated at home now dine and share nutritious meals with their community neighbors. Life enrichment directors lead activities, celebrate birthdays, celebrate resident achievements and military heritage. Chaplains minister to spiritual needs through bible studies and church services. Administrators and staff take time out of busy schedules to get to know their residents. Dementia patients working with innovative programs produce beautiful artwork which adorns the comfortable lobbies where family and friends can visit with loved ones.

So If you have never had the opportunity to see a hospice worker gently stroke the face of a patient, or have never seen the sense of relief from a family caregiver when one of our senior solution advisors tells him/her that we can solve their care issue or have never seen the smile of a resident that is being honored you may want to visit one of our communities. You will see the AgapéSenior mission is alive and well.

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 Agape Senior West Columbia recently hosted an elegant luncheon for the Miss Teen South Carolina contestants along with their Grandmothers. When the girls arrived they were seated in the Villas resident dining room where the tables had been prepared with white table cloths, cloth napkins and beautiful glass bowls filled with white, blue and purple hydrangeas.

 The light summer meal prepared by Agape Senior Catering and Culinary was as colorful as it was delicious and consisted of fresh fruit, tuna salad on a bed of lettuce, multi-color pasta salad and lemon poppy seed muffin. A creamy dessert with raspberry drizzle completed the meal.

 Barry James, administrator, along with Lauren Tolcher, Senior Solution Advisor, for the community were both on-hand to welcome the guests and explain a little bit about the history of Agape and about some of the innovative programs that have been implemented to enhance quality of life for their residents.

 After lunch the contestants were given an opportunity to visit with the senior residents. Everyone seemed to love the extra attention from the young women and many residents collected multiple autographed pictures.

 Agape Senior was a 2012 sponsor of the Miss Teen South Carolina pageant and believes that it is important to be involved in the communities in which it serves. "We love any activity that enhances the quality of our resident’s lives and enjoyed having the beautiful and talented Miss Teen contestants during their visit. It was heart-warming watching the young women sharing laughter and stories with our senior residents" stated Barry James.

  West Columbia South Carolina Assisted Living Assisted Living of West Columbia provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. West Columbia, Cayce, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Springdale SC. – Call Agape Senior Assisted Living West Columbia at (803) 939-3000 or (800) 411-2427

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Rock Hill Assisted Living has Resident Gardner

It’s that time of year again! Agape Senior of Rock Hill has one of the best gardeners around. One of our Independent Residents, Carroll Wilkie, is the proud Gardener of our Agape Garden. Each year our residents help care, grow and protect the garden which consists of cabbage, beans, cantaloupe, cucumbers & tomatoes. This year we are already in full swing! Our residents look forward to sweet summer time all year long in hopes they can get a taste of these delicious summer treats! Pictures are of a few veggies in the garden and our Life Enrichment Coordinator and Carroll Wilkie giving tour of his garden.

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

Ask Agape for senior solutions

Agape Senior Piedmont Assisted Living and Hospice Work Together to Find Solution

The Agape 411 number rang on Saturday evening around 8 p.m. Dougal Kear, with Agape Management forwarded  the call to Laney Whittle, Rock Hill Assisted Living Senior Solutions Advisor, because the woman calling said she needed help with her husband to be placed in Assisted Living. Laney called her back around 8:15 and spoke with her for about 45 minutes. Once Laney talked with her she realized the womans husband would probably be appropriate for Hospice rather than Assisted Living.

During the time they were on the phone the woman shared with Laney that she felt like a “prisoner” in her own home, her husband had very advanced Dementia and she didn’t know what else she could do. She kept saying she was scared and wished she just had her “old husband back”. Well the of “S” personality in Laney came out and her heart broke. The woman started weeping on the phone with Laney and said she just needed help….Laney assured her Agape would do everything they could to get her some assistance.

After jumping through a few hoops, contacting hospice,getting the physician order, a time was set where Laney could go to the home and speak in person with the woman and her husband.

Monday morning Laney set out to find the home and a short time later pulled up at a small trailer where the couple was sitting outside on the porch. The woman met Laney at the car and as soon as she got out, she gave Laney the biggest hug and started crying saying you pulling up in this drive way is the most hope I’ve felt in a long time. They sat on the porch, drank sweet tea and  talked for a short time before the woman started telling old stories of  their life together, she smiled just a few times and started laughing with her husband at some jokes they use to tell.

Agape Hospice pulled up a little while later and Susan and Gwyen, Hospice nurses, were able to admit him and give her the hope she was looking for.

Laney got up to leave the home visit  and she came up and said, your constant calling to check up on me and positive attitude throughout this whole situation has blessed me more than you will ever know.

The Piedmont Team got to Share Agape today in a way I’ve never personally seen before.

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

Ask Agape for senior solutions

Best Hospice and Assisted Living in Grand Strand

Agapé Senior and Agapé Hospice of the Grand Strand were selected "Best Of" in an annual poll of area businesses.

In the Myrtle Beach Herald’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards, two Agapé services were selected "Best Of" in their respective categories. Agapé Senior took home top honors for “Best Assisted Living” and Agapé Hospice was chosen “Best Hospice,” besting several other competing hospices for top honors.

Readers of the Myrtle Beach Herald voted in the weeks leading up to the poll results, which were released in early April.

Agape Assisted Living and Post-Acute Care Center of the Grand Strand provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity.

Agape is a faith based organization and a recognized leader in patient centered hospice care, offering extensive services throughout the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. We are respected for our professional and compassionate care allowing our patients to experience a peaceful death and their families receive the support services they need so they have a special sense of spiritual and emotional peace. Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, Conway, Garden City, Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawley Island, Socastee, Bucksport, Florence, Camden, Hartsville, Cheraw, Bennettsville, SC. Call us at 800-411-2427

Agape Senior Assisted Living Rock Hill presents VA information

Agapé Senior Assisted Living and Agapé Hospice of Western York  County hosted a VA Seminar onThursday, March 29th. John D. Griggs, Agapé Senior's VA Specialist shared quality information regarding the Aide & Attendance Benefit that is offered to senior Veterans and their Spouses.

The Seminar was hosted at Oakdale Presbyterian Church in Clover, SC. We had a group of 15 people who were very excited about the information Mr. Griggs shared. Agapé Senior was able to "Share Agapé with bottled water, resources for families and other goodies to everyone who came.

We are excited about being the expert in senior care in Clover, SC!

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill,York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

Ask Agape for senior solutions

Lexington Assisted Living Resident Celebrates Full Life

http://www.lexingtonlife.com/LexLeaders.htm

Assisted Living of Lexington provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Lexington, Gilbert, Batesburg, Red Bank, Gaston, Pelion SC – Call Agape Senior Lexington Assisted Living at (803) 520-5850 or(800) 411-2427

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Rock Hill Assisted Living; Lessons Learned From my Grandmother

This year’s Christmas has had a different spin on it than any other year for me.
 
I’ve learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. I’ve learned that it’s not about the perfect gift or the extravagant decorations or how many holiday celebrations you can squeeze into a limited amount of time.

  Less is more. That’s what I enjoyed this year.
 
This brings me to the next big lesson I learned. My grandmother—I call her Nanny—has dementia. Each day is a new lesson to be learned from Nanny. You just never know what she is going to point out, what she notices or even what she will remember. So I’ve made a list of lessons that Nanny has taught me this Christmas.

Remember, if your loved one is in a certain stage of dementia, that doesn’t change just because you have put up a Christmas tree or have explained that it’s Christmas. She is still going to get upset over going out to eat in a bustling restaurant just as easily now as she did a month ago. Now is the time to keep things peaceful and at ease for her. Order take-out from her favorite restaurant and share it with her at home.

If the children and grandchildren have been “stuck” at a certain age in her mind, chances are she still thinks they are that age now. So enjoy the spirit of Christmas on the level where she is now. Whether she loves the singing snowman or a photo frame with Bugs Bunny on it, give it to her. She isn’t going to remember the gifts tomorrow anyway. So share that moment of pure laughter and joy with her. My nanny loves the singing figures. This year she got a singing sock monkey, and she laughed with pure joy and happiness for that brief time. Sure, she’ll have a warm nightgown, new slippers and socks, but, ultimately, I want to see that light in her eye.

  We are a society of blended families and fragmented schedules. The most important thing you can do as a family is come together and be united in time with your loved one. Let me tell you a story: One part of my family went to the assisted living facility to visit with Nanny on the morning of Christmas Eve. That same afternoon the rest of the family showed up to spend Christmas with Nanny. The problem was that Nanny opened presents that morning and thought Christmas was already over. So she had already taken down her tree and begun to unpack her kitchen dishes and to stack them on the counter as if she was cleaning up following the big meal she had hosted for the last 40 years at her house.

  My mom became distraught and didn’t understand when she walked in to see a bare tree and a confused mother who wasn’t ready to open presents. Sometimes you have to put away the family dynamics which come into play the rest of the year; sometimes you have to do the right thing for your loved one.
 
When you plan a visit, remember you are on your loved one’s schedule and are operating under her rules of reality. One of the most difficult times for a loved one with dementia is when family members leave all at once after a joyful visit. Now she has old memories running around in her mind, strange decorations surrounding her, and she doesn’t understand why she’s not at home with her husband from 20 years ago.

Don’t leave her in a sudden shocking manner. I always encourage my mom to visit Nanny one hour before lunch or supper. This way, she can help Nanny prepare for the meal, can walk with her to the dining room, and can leave her surrounded by her table mates and the workers who are familiar to her. By the time she finishes her meal, she has forgotten that she had a visitor and she is settled happily back into the routine.
 
Jennifer Peay
Regional Marketing Director Agape Senior Piedmont

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

Columbia Assisted Living Christmas Card Featuring Dementia Resident Artwork

The winter scene in our Holiday card above was painted by an Agapé Senior resident at our Lexington community.

Art is an expression of us; it can depict our moods: our joy, our sadness, our excitement, our love. The Art without Boundaries program offered at Agapé Senior communities brings the restorative powers of art to our dementia residents, allowing them to communicate in ways that have been lost in their words, reasoning, and logic. The creation of anything beautiful has universal appeal, and for those with dementia, helps to bridge the gap between their world and ours.

For more information about Art without Boundaries and other Agapé Senior programs and services, please call 1-800-411-AGAPÉ (2427) or visit

AgapeSenior.com

Ask Agape for senior solutions

Columbia Assisted Living Trains Chefs to Enhance Resident Dining Experience

Seasoned pork tenderloin sizzles in an ironskillet; large pots over low flames emit exotic spice aromas as sauces simmer within, plus the sound of chopping vegetables and fruit all added to the rhythm of the preparation.

This was the scene recently at Agapé Senior—Kathwood as Michael Fusco, executive chef for Agapé Senior, hosted the first in a series of culinary trainings for Agapé sous-chefs from across the state. These chefs-in-training not only received valuable instruction from an experienced chef, but also actually assisted in preparing many Holiday favorites for a party being catered later that evening for over 250 guests.

Chef Michael’s goal that day was to provide the culinary staff with new menu options along with helping them improve their food presentation skills. All to reach the ultimate goal of enhancing the dining experience for the residents of all the Agapé communities.

It may not look like it, but there is precision and order amongst the chaos of a busy commercial kitchen. The crisp lines of the chefs’ uniforms, the shiny stainless steel appliances and prep tables, along with neatly stacked inventories of food are all a part of the atmosphere. Each sous-chef was concentrating on a different task as Chef Michael supervised and helped coordinate the timing, decoration, and completion of the party trays, which included stuffed mushrooms, hummus, pork tenderloin, and several Holiday sauces along with an array of delicious dessert selections. Each dish must meet Chef Michael’s high standards before it’s considered “ready.”

The chefs and culinary staff of Agapé Senior want every meal enjoyed by residents, friends, and family to be a memorable dining experience. “We want each meal to be healthy and nutritious,but also pleasurable where taste, smell, and presentation all play a part. With these trainings, we all can make that happen every day,” remarked Chef Michael.

The seven-month series will continue on January 3, 2012 and will feature how to prepare homemade soups, stews, and chili for the winter season. If you would like more information, you can e-mail Agapé Catering and Culinary at ACC@AgapeSenior.com.
Agape Senior
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Rock Hill Assisted Living Resident is Featured Speaker at Alzheimer Walk

The Face of Alzheimer’s Vera Holder, a resident of Agape Senior assisted living in Rock Hill was the featured speaker at the Walk to End Alzheimer's held recently at the Winthrop Coliseum. Vera was chosen because she has Alzheimer's and knows what it is like to live with the disease on a daily basis. During a pause in Vera's speech several Agape staff that was participating in the event shouted "WE LOVE YOU VERA." Vera's daughter who also attended the event stated that "I am proud to have a mother who doesn’t mind talking about living with Alzheimer's. She has come to understand she did nothing to cause the disease and there is nothing she can currently do to stop it"

Vera Holder is the face of Alzheimer's. It is estimated that 5.4 million people in America are living with the disease. The Alzheimer's association wants people to be aware of this epidemic and has produced a short video that shows the impact of the disease on the caregivers and health care system.

Agape Senior is one of the leading providers of memory care in the state of South Carolina and has recently completed a basic training for every employee about the disease. Adelle Stanley, formerly with the Alzheimer Association, is now the Director of Dementia Programs. Adelle conducted the state wide employee training for Agape Senior as her first assignment after joining Agape.

Rock Hill South Carolina Assisted Living – Agape Senior Rock Hill Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

West Columbia Assisted Living Hosts Photography and Art Show

Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve. Call us at 800-411- 2427. Columbia, Forest Acres, Lexington, Irmo, Rock Hill, Laurens, Conway, Garden City, West Columbia.