Assisted Living

By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.

Everyday something that happens in one of our affordable assisted living communities that really makes me proud that we are in the business that we are in. As with all assisted living communities, we are in the business of changing lives for the better, but occasionally, something happens that even surprises us. I’d like to tell you a story.

We had a gentleman by the name of Mike, who moved into our community in
South Elgin, IL. Mike had cancer of the face and through that gruesome disease, lost both eyes and his nose. Obviously this left his face extremely deformed and he wears netting over his head to partially hide his face.

He lived in a nursing home for three years prior to joining us but was shunned by the residents and staff at that home. He was treated so poorly by the staff and residents that he became very reclusive and hid in his room. The people of that community would say mean things about his appearance and treat him as less than human. He joined our community a few weeks ago and life has changed drastically for Mike. The community staff and our amazing residents took time to look past his appearance and really get to know him as a person. All members of our affordable assisted living community have been inclusive and welcoming with him and he is now very involved in activities in and out of the community. Mike tells us that he will never be able to thank us for all we have given back to him to feel alive and accepted again. Mike is truly an inspiration to our community and to the residents who live there.

As Congress and our states look at ways to save money they are cutting affordable housing right and left because poor people don’t vote and are not active in politics. It is up to us to be their voice and make sure that these seniors are protected.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.