TUESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2010 - Further Visits around Portland

The happy band of IAHSA Tourers set off early this morning in overcast weather for another fascinating day of visits. The air was cool and the skies cloudy but the landscape looks wonderful in its autumn colours. This is a very attractive hilly and forested area with beautiful views across majestic rivers. The opportunity as we travel to get a good feel for the countryside and the communities of this part of Oregon is an interesting and enjoyable aspect of the tour.

Visit 1. Cedar Sinai Park Retirement Community. Set in an attractive, leafy suburban area about an hour and a half's drive South West of Portland city centre, this 27 acre site is set on the edge of the built area backing on to woods and forest.


The community has been in being for 90 years and has grown significantly over recent years with a main campus and an additional affordable housing site closer to the city centre. It offers a full range of services for seniors of the Jewish faith. We were welcomed by the senior staff team led by CEO David Fuks and Administrator/Director of Clinical Programs Kimberly Fuson.


We were given a comprehensive briefing on the community, its cultural tradition, and its strategic business model. Services and accommodation offered on and from the campus cover the ageing services continuum and include independent living, assisted living, long term care, memory care, adult day care, special needs housing, hospice and home care. The community places great emphasis on its training and learning approach which is designed to embrace both residents and staff in a holistic way that is respectful of all faiths. While the basis of the community is strongly Jewish in character there are 27 other cultures represented amongst the staff team. See: http://cedarsinaipark.org


Visit 2. Elite Care at Fanno Creek, Tingard, Oregon. The contrast in building styles and operating methods at our second visit location was striking.


Elite Care is a family owned business with two communities, each comprising a number of 12 person households. Here we were briefed by the Founder and joint owner of the business, Lydia Lundberg, who explained the strong supportive and enabling approach of the organisation and its distinctive model that weaves together environment, culture and technology. This is a great example of person and relationship centred care where sustainable building design, technology and service culture create powerful synergy and high quality outcomes that not only benefit residents, but is also demonstrably more cost effective in terms of demand on the Medicaid system and the taxpayer.


Lydia was joined by Community Manager Steven Esser and after an excellent lunch prepared and served by two delightful chefs Whitney and Kate we were taken on a tour of this unusual and most attractive site.


Thanks for a great lunch ladies!
See: http://www.elitecare.com/fanno_creek


Visit 3. Willamette View, Portland, Oregon


Rather overcast when we visited so I cheated and borrowed this image from the website.

We were welcomed like royalty to our last visit of the day by the senior management team and by representatives of the Resident Council at Willamette View. This is a magnificent large 27 acre campus perched on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River. It is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit continuous care retirement community that has been developed on the site since it opened its doors in 1955. There are a full range of accommodation options for older people ranging from duplex-style homes to high standard long term and memory care. The campus includes everything that the retired person could reasonably ask for in terms of activities and facilities contained in a series of well designed complimentary buildings, all linked together by underground walkways and sky bridges. The connection to the surrounding landscape is achieved by stunning views of the river and gardens from all parts of the complex. It was a real pleasure to have the company of residents as we toured the campus and they spoke glowingly about the quality of the lives they are able to lead at Willamete View. We much appreciated the hospitality of our hosts at a cheese and wine reception at the end of the campus tour.


Our hosts were led by President/CEO Craig Van Valkenburg (left) and Chair of the Resident Council Frances Shaw.
See: www.willametteview.org

To conclude another great day on the IAHSA Tour we enjoyed an excellent dinner and wine tasting at the Vino Paradiso Restaurant in Portland's lively Pearl District.

Location:Portland, Oregon, USA