“…for me to remain silent on this issue is a dereliction of my duty as a leader.  It is my desire that SilverPoint Senior Living be known as a company that values people.  I want our residents and family members to know that we will lovingly care for every resident, regardless of their background or the color or their skin.  I want our team members to know that they are loved and valued and that they will all have equal opportunity for advancement within our company.  I want SilverPoint to be a company that raises people up rather than pushing them down.”

Leading virtual teams may be our new normal for a while as our communities are still restricting visitors for the foreseeable future. I have learned through this experience that leading virtually takes an immense amount of trust, clarity, and empowerment. The SilverPoint Team has exhibited all of these traits with incredible grace and have ensured that our teams feel supported, encouraged, and well equipped to face each day with confidence.

In my work with the Texas Assisted Living Association, we have determined that at this time, the Governor’s push for increased testing does not apply to assisted living communities and it applies to only skilled nursing facilities at this time. On a call with the Texas Health and Human Services this week, Jennifer Morrison further clarified that the Governor’s statements do not apply to assisted living.

Offering dignity is simply at the heart of what we do at SilverPoint. We constantly remind our team members that our residents each have an individual story to tell, which in turn, directs the way we engage and care for them. There is not a “one size fits all” approach to life in our communities. We are required to do our due diligence and find out who each resident is as a person. We need to discover what are their likes, dislikes, history, family, career, preferences, what makes them happy, anxious, or sad. Treating people with dignity begins with a relationship. In turn, these things will direct how we interact with each resident on an individual level when it comes to activities, dining, and especially providing care.

The Coronavirus has seemingly reached into every area of our lives over the past couple of months. It has been incredibly heartwarming to see the response of our country in praising the work of real-life superheroes that are working on the front lines of battling this virus. Although our team members may not be in the heat of the battle like doctors and nurses serving in hospitals, I still think that they are superheroes by the way they have diligently protected all the residents in our communities.

Our core value of Engagement-- We help residents and associates achieve their greatest potential by encouraging them to live with purpose. Purpose is an interesting thing in senior living. Purpose is what helps a person get up in the morning. It is a reason for being. Sadly, I think many senior living communities miss this key component in a resident’s life. At SilverPoint, we not only want to provide ample entertainment for our residents, but we also want focus on assisting our residents to engage in ways that impact the lives of other people. Part of an Engaged Life is making a difference in the life of someone else. So, whether it is loading up the bus to work in a local food pantry, or connecting with the local elementary school to assist with projects and tutoring, we want to help our residents find a way to make a meaningful impact on the life of someone else. SilverPoint believes that every resident needs to have a sense of purpose in life that will help them live a more abundant and fulfilled life and give a reason to get up every morning and make a difference.