Sheila received her Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois in 1988 where she double majored in Community Health Administration and Health Education. During her career, she has worked in a variety of roles throughout the healthcare spectrum including managing group homes for the disabled, coordinating social services for hospital transitional care units and skilled nursing facilities as well as a strong focus on operations and sales for assisted living communities. As past chapter president of the Florida Assisted Living Affiliation, she advocated for elder care and legislative changes while supporting professionals who worked in the assisted living industry. She brings her passion for helping seniors and her many years of healthcare experience to her role of Assisted Living Administrator for the Highland Lakes community. Her focus is on providing seniors with superior care and service that will give their loved ones peace of mind.
WHY AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IS A GREAT OPTION WHEN CHALLENGES ARISE.
By Sheila Kynion
Since 2014 I have had the honor of being the Administrator of the Highland Lakes Assisted Living campus. My role, first and foremost, is to focus on our Residents quality of life. We strive to make every day special by providing excellent healthcare while offering activities that provide meaningful engagement, creating a healthy balance. As they provide around the clock assistance, our compassionate dedicated Team Members embrace the importance of caring for the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.
We understand that the decision to seek Assisted Living might be stressful. However, it is a great option when you or a loved one are faced with the challenges that oftentimes occur as part of the aging process. Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) typically offer more support than Independent Living Facilities but less than Nursing Homes. Always ask about policies, amenities, and services as they vary from ALF to ALF. Highland Lakes Assisted Living is a warm welcoming community where Residents live in private apartments appointed with favorite furnishings from their prior residence. Our Team includes Licensed Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants on duty 24/7. They can, for example, provide gentle reminders about daily activities, cueing or assistance with personal care, and help with medication. Our Residents, their families, and loved ones feel secure with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that we are there if health needs change.
There is always a transition period that occurs after a move. At Highland Lakes Assisted Living, we believe that in time new Residents will experience a sense of belonging, and develop meaningful relationships and new friendships. Life enriching activities are as important to well-being as addressing a Resident’s physical needs. Each day there are many opportunities for socialization – exercise classes, music programs, field trips, and educational and spiritual groups. These interactions give our Residents an opportunity to connect with others as does dining together each day. In fact, many medical studies conclude that this kind of community-based socialization not only provides joy but also has been shown to add many years to one’s life expectancy.
Well, all this sounds really good so far, but how do you know if the ALF you are considering has a high rating for quality? ALFs are inspected every 2 years by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA). The purpose of these inspections is to ensure that ALFs are providing care and services that meet state regulations. We are proud to announce that after a thorough inspection our Highland Lakes Assisted Living was recognized by AHCA as being “deficiency-free.” This status rating is the best that ALFs and healthcare providers can accomplish in the industry and we are certainly very pleased with the results.
You can have confidence knowing that we are here to offer a helping hand and a listening ear for you and your loved one when you are ready to explore Assisted Living. We invite you to come see and feel the special environment at Highland Lakes Assisted Living. We are open to the public each day, so come and join us for a complimentary dining experience and learn about what we offer during an informative tour of our community. We are ready and waiting with a smile and look forward to meeting you soon!
For more information, call 727-785- 2580 ext. 3002 or go to www.StMarkVillage.org/Highlands-Assisted-Living/
