Clintonville building features newer style
By Bert Lehman
Care Partners has more than 40 assisted living locations throughout Wisconsin, with the location in Clintonville one of its newest locations.
“We’re really happy to be here. I’ve been driving through this community for probably 20 years and I think it’s a great community. It fits our profile,” Jason Lindemann, owner of Care Partners, said at the ribbon cutting ceremony in the spring.
He added, “We did a demographics study and it showed that there is a need in the surrounding area and the community,” Lindemann said. “We specialize in building in rural communities.”
Tracy Sirna, director of Care Partners in Clintonville, said the Clintonville building has 16 rooms, but it can house up to 18 residents because two of the rooms are for dual occupancy. Each room has its own bathroom with a shower. The floors are also heated.
Residents can bring their own items for their room, such as a couch and TV.
“We provide assisted living on a higher level than a retirement community, but we’re not quite nursing home level,” Sirna said.
The building is only one floor.
“Which means it’s easier for us to keep track of our residents, to do check-ins on our residents,” Sirna said. “It’s easier for them to come down for meals and activities.”
In addition to individual rooms for residents, the building is also equipped with a kitchen and dining area, as well as an activities area.
“Our caregivers will be preparing the meals for the residents and doing activities along with cares,” Sirna said.
The facility is staffed with program assistants, who are the caregivers, Sirna said. A nurse is also on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Laundry and housekeeping is also done for residents.
“This is their home so they are able to have their own vehicle if they want to come and go,” Sirna said.
Care Partners also manages medications for residents as well as helps schedule doctor appointments and arrange transportation for them.
Prior to being named the director at Care Partners, Sirna worked with admissions and marketing at the St. Joseph Residence facility in New London.
“I really connect with seniors,” Sirna said. “I love sharing their experiences.”
She said she knows when she works with a family or senior, that they have to trust her, and it is an emotional decision.
“I have such a bond with those seniors and their families that I want to make sure they’re offered the quality of care [they need],” she said.
She added, “What ends up happening too is the relationship between seniors and their parents sometimes becomes strained, or with their spouse because they’re not really enjoying being family anymore. They’re working off a ‘To do list.’ And when you get to this point in your life you really want to make sure those years are a quality relationship, not just a ‘To do list.’”
Sirna said it is important for seniors to be taken care of properly.
“These are the people who built this community,” she said. “It’s now time to make sure that they’re taken care of, and understand that they have a lot left to contribute.”
She added that she plans to bring school groups and other community groups to Care Partners to interact with the residents.
“Our goal is to keep you as independent as you can be. We are here to support you to be independent,” Sirna said.
Lindemann said the future plan is to develop a 20-bed dementia care facility on the other end of the Clintonville property.