In preparation for writing this post, I’ve been thinking a lot about why we celebrate Assisted Living (AL) week. After all, in my experience working with seniors for the past 11 years, they often aren’t particularly enthusiastic about needing assisted living.
Established by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), it’s celebrated every year to honor the individual lives of the residents and caregivers, educate the public, fight stigma, and connect communities. Let’s delve a little deeper into those four points, plus one more reason why we are especially excited to celebrate AL Week here at Paradise Creek of Olympus.
Celebrating Individuals
Did you know that AL Week kicks off every year on Grandparents Day? What better way to recognize the invaluable contributions seniors have made to our society than by celebrating our own grandparents? Here at Paradise Creek, we’ve been so blessed to have spent decades caring for people who have taught entire generations of children, conceived and implemented innovations, saved lives as former doctors, nurses, and firefighters, were responsible for significant advances in a variety of scientific disciplines, fought on foreign soil and for the rights of people here in the United States, and have impacted our local area in profound ways. They’ve experienced immense joy as well as devastating heartbreak and have witnessed some of the most significant events of the past century. These are just a few examples of the individuals we honor during AL Week—those who came before us and paved the way for the freedoms and successes we enjoy today. And let’s not forget our incredible staff, who have their own stories of achievements, challenges, and triumphs. Why wouldn’t we celebrate all of them?!
Educating the public
A big part of my daily job is educating people about what it means and doesn’t mean to be in assisted living. Of course, every assisted living community is slightly different and offers a range of care levels, including memory care. For most general assisted living communities, like Paradise Creek of Olympus, we aim to promote independence while ensuring our staff is available to assist as needed. In other words, if you’re still able to drive yourself to the store, volunteer in the community, and manage some of your own activities of daily living, then we say go for it! Our intention is not to diminish your independence or dictate how you spend your time; rather, our goal is to help you reclaim some of your time and energy by helping you with daily tasks like housekeeping, laundry, meals, medications, showers, and other activities that become more challenging as we age, so you can focus on the things and people that bring you joy.
Combating Stigma
Hand in hand with education, I also spend a lot of time challenging the entrenched stigmas surrounding assisted living. First, let me tell you what assisted living is not: it is not an “old folks’ home” from the past, which many seniors have perceived as a ‘place your family sticks you to die’. Yes, I’ve actually heard that sentiment echoed many times over the years, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, our residents enjoy a diverse array of activities, outings, friendships, and sometimes even find new love late in life. They lead vibrant, joyful, and fulfilling lives in an inviting environment that isn't overwhelming. I can confidently affirm that AL is not a place to go to die; it is a place to LIVE!
A sense of community & connection
Our staff members cherish our residents like their own grandparents. They value and honor the wisdom and humor offered up on a regular basis while also enjoying the opportunity to connect with their families and the people who love them. We mourn their loss while also acknowledging the incredible privilege of caring for them in their final years. When you add the genuine love between staff and residents to the affection and friendship among the residents themselves, you can begin to grasp the sense of ‘community’ that flourishes in assisted living. When our residents are asked why they enjoy living at Paradise Creek, the recurring theme is that they feel like ‘one big family’. They look out for each other, celebrate new grandchildren together, and sometimes even disagree, but always with respect and love.
Why do we celebrate?
I’ve outlined the reasons for celebrating and what that means to us here at Paradise Creek of Olympus. Still, I want to end by sharing why this year is especially meaningful for us and why we’ve built a whole week of activities to celebrate.
Earlier this year, we were honored to be voted the Best Assisted Living on the Palouse—an award that didn’t surprise me in the least, even knowing the high caliber of our competitors in the area. After all, I am very familiar with and proud of the quality of the people who live and work here, but having the people of the Palouse validate our awesomeness has been truly special!
We also received the 2026 Silver Achievement in Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). This recognition is a testament to our entire team's unwavering dedication to delivering the highest quality of care to our residents. It reflects our collective efforts and commitment to enhancing the lives of those entrusted to our care. Next, we're going for the Gold, and I have every confidence we’ll be sharing that good news in due time.
You’re invited…
I hope as you’ve read this blog post, you’ve gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for why we celebrate Assisted Living Week. I invite you to join us for some of our special activities including our fashion show and Star Awards ceremony next Friday at 12:15** where every resident and staff member will be recognized and honored for their own unique contribution to our extraordinary community!
For more information about AL Week activities and housing at Paradise Creek of Olympus, contact Tammie at 208-882-6560 x5231 or tpoe@olumpusrl.com.
**This event requires an RSVP and space is limited. Please call us at 208-882-6560 to RSVP