Jeremy Lewis has long known Cherry Village Benevolence offers the whole gamut of services – from checking in on assisted-living residents to round-the-clock nursing care. And everything in between.
Now, everyone else can be assured Cherry Village, 1401 Cherry Lane, is committed to all levels of care, said Lewis, chief financial officer.
The locally owned, non-profit facility was recently certified as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). The Kansas Insurance Commissioner awarded the certification.
“This recognition lets our residents and the community know that we are dedicated to providing excellent care during all stages of life,” Lewis said. “It signifies we have the resources to care for residents who want to live in one place indefinitely – whether they need assisted living, or long-term or dementia care.
“These levels of service are nothing new at Cherry Village,” he added. “But our new state certification lets the community know we are committed to this model of care.”
In addition to medical care, a CCRC offers meals, housekeeping, maintenance, transportation, social activities and/or security. An individual’s services depend on the level of care needed.
“Our commitment to residents and families will not change; we have been offering the full line of services for at least 15 years,” Lewis noted. “But we are happy for the certification because it lets people know what we are all about. You could say it further legitimizes our role in the community.
“We can talk about this type of care all we want,” he added. “But this new designation underscores the fact that we are the real deal.”
A main CCRC goal is providing a continuum of care with the same health-care providers and friends in a familiar environment over a period of time.
“This is very important because it offers peace of mind and stability,” Lewis explained. “It also gives people control over their own lives, which ensures their dignity.”
Medical care is critical in a long-term setting but research shows that social interaction is just as important, Lewis noted.
“We definitely agree with this,” he said “It just makes sense. Social interaction with friends and having a purpose in life gives us a reason to get up in the morning.
“State-of-the-art medical care must be combined with tending to people’s emotional concerns,” Lewis continued. “All of us need a reason to live and a sense of self-worth. Cherry Village has the expertise to provide both medical care and social interaction.”
The CCRC designation opens up new opportunities at Cherry Village, including expansion of the campus and innovative care techniques.
“From the outside,” Lewis said, “it may appear that long-term care never changes. That is not the case. Change is constant and incredibly positive. There are a lot of exciting things coming up and home-based care is on our bucket list.
“I, along with other staff members and our board of directors are working very hard on plans for where we will go and what we will do next,” he said.
Cherry Village, which opened in 1978, is owned and operated by a Great Bend family.
