Tucked away, just a few streets behind Banner Churchill Community Hospital lies one of the area’s best-kept secrets – Highland Estates. While part of Highland Village, the Estates is not an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. Instead, it is an all-inclusive community retirement complex with spacious apartments that offer tenants freedom, comfort, and affordable housing, a virtual impossibility in the current housing market.
A beautifully landscaped courtyard and gazebo await the tenants who live there. Inside, residents 55 and older occupy studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments. While this may not sound like anything out of the ordinary, you just might be surprised. Unlike Highland Manor, the skilled nursing facility, and Highland Inn, the assisted living facility, the Estates are not federally or state-regulated. Essentially, the Estates offer independent living, but with more perks.
Simple, modern apartment living is a growing option for older individuals that are ready to enjoy their senior years in comfort. Tenants enjoy a dining room, a full-service salon, housekeeping, laundry facilities, an onsite gym, regular fitness classes, a library, and a media center. Additionally, the Estates offers transportation services and all utilities, wi-fi, TV, private parking, and on-premises mailboxes. There is even a robust calendar of events and activities. Celebrity bingo is a fan favorite, especially when Sheriff Hickox drops in to host.
Even in this time of COVID, residents say they feel safe to come and go – or stay on site until they think it’s safe to go back into the community. One resident, sad to forgo his regular outings to Courtyard Cafe, his favorite restaurant, said, “This is the safest place we can be now.” All residents are vaccinated, and staff is either vaccinated or undergoing constant testing.
One thing that sets this hidden gem apart from other senior apartment complexes is onsite support. Estate Manager Carol Lane-Jabines said, “If Sally misses dinner, one of us will go check on her.” Tenants sign in and out and may leave for a weekend or more. If they aren’t back when we expect them, we contact family. Fully staffed five days a week and lightly staffed on weekends, help is always nearby if needed.
The support offered to tenants of Highland Estates is top-notch. Carol has spent her career helping others. Recently celebrating her first anniversary at Highland Estates, she came to the Village after her time as the Resource Liaison Supervisor for the Churchill Community Coalition before it moved under the umbrella of Churchill County Social Services. There, she and her team worked closely with at-risk seniors in the community to ensure they had the proper health, home, nutritional, and medical care they needed. Before her work with the Coalition, she dedicated herself to a career in social work in northern California, specializing in foster care and youth adoption.
Mark McBride, who works closely with Carol at the Estates, serves as the Campus Administrator for all of Highland Village. He has been working with skilled nursing facilities in northern and southern Nevada since 2012, after working in pharmaceutical sales for a decade where he focused on CNS, Dementia, cardiovascular, and diabetes medications. Fluent in Spanish, McBride also holds a B.A. in Spanish Linguistics and an MHA Masters in Health Administration. Also, part of the administrative team at Highland Village is Heather Deitrick, the administrator for Highland Inn, the Assisted Living part of the Village trio. As part of the Highland Village Campus for 14-years, she began her career in the field as a CNA, a certified nursing assistant. She learned early on that she had a true passion for working with seniors and soon found her niche. Deitrick found herself growing with the Highland family and became the memory care program coordinator and manager of the Highland Inn. Driven by her love for her residents and their families, along with a strong desire to make their lives better, she returned to school to earn a state license for Residential Facility Administration.
Deitrick, McBride, and Lane-Jabines strive to ensure all residents and tenants at the Village have a safe and fun environment to call home. Realizing the community is somewhat familiar with their skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, they hope that locals also know an independent but supported living option is available to themselves or their parents.
Caption: On May 25th Bill & June Jamerson celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary at the Highland Estates Retirement Apartments – Photo courtesy of Carol Lane-Jabines.
Fall wreaths made from clothespins, crafted by residents – photo by Leanna Lehman
– photo courtesy of Highland Estates
Comment
Comments