By Greg Deris, Owner
A Sense of Community is Inevitable
My good friends Merriam and Webster, define a community as an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location. Albeit the truth, the “sense of community” at St. Francis Villa travels well beyond that generic definition, and in my humble opinion, arises from experiencing four significant vectors in defining a sense of community: responsibility, commitment, friendships and belonging. It is the direction and magnitude of each vector that defines and magnifies this sense of community”.
I have experienced that the happiest residents are those who exercise their independence regarding a choice of responsibility to follow the Golden Rule, aspire to good health and a good attitude, to live life to its fullness by participating and promoting activities and developing an extended family with residents and staff.
I have experienced that the happiest residents are those who exercise their independence regarding a choice of commitment to be emotionally driven and have a sense of obligation by promoting good will, giving of themselves and becoming a participant and not an occasional spectator.
I have experienced that the happiest residents are those who exercise their independence regarding a choice of developing friendships, which involves focusing on others, sharing themselves, taking time to give to others or being concerned for others.
I have experienced that the happiest residents are those who exercise their independence regarding a choice of belonging to be suitable, appropriate or advantageous, or to be in a proper fitting place or situation by allowing themselves to be attached, to feel loved by staff and residents, and to give back to others.
So you see, when a resident exercises happiness as a choice, independence as their vehicle, then dignity is an eventuality and a sense of community is inevitable.
I have often been told that we have a strong sense of community at St. Francis Villa. In all candor there is not a higher paid compliment that can be given to us. This is the essence of a successful community that invokes feelings of home, family and purpose.
We have put real names and faces to room numbers. Beautiful people, who bring real warmth and a sense of belonging and community to St. Francis that makes it come alive! It is about our “philosophy of caring” and our values that establish our mission, “our calling” at St. Francis.
St. Francis is not just a tastefully decorated building with beautiful landscaping. It is an adaptive environment that makes living just a little more comfortable and functional.
It is about a dedicated staff that knows when to assist and when to encourage. Barbara and I are proud of our staff. We know many of their personal challenges and yet their commitment for care for the people at St. Francis is steadfast. They are an ordinary group of people doing extraordinary things.
God has blessed us with this uniqueness at St. Francis Villa and I am not sure why. Perhaps, I am not supposed to know why, but that only, I am to accept His gift humbly and be appreciative of His greatness and love.
We don’t provide real estate, we provide relationships.
We don’t piece together services, we provide whole-life solutions.
