The Willows of Easley is a Grace Management Community that aims to help seniors age and live gracefully. Combining a beautiful setting, extensive amenities and a dedicated and enthusiastic team of caregivers, The Willows of Easley creates an environment that doesn’t just feel like home; it is home.
Enriching the lives of the residents at The Willows of Easley is a top priority. Life Enrichment Director Tamra Imundo has been brightening seniors’ days for more than a decade. Before coming to The Willows of Easley, Imundo worked in a similar role in a skilled nursing facility. She couples her extensive experience with an unwavering commitment to planning activities and creating experiences that keep residents active, engaged and enjoying life to the fullest.
Similarly, after eight years in a skilled setting, Niki Holliday coordinates outings, events and activities for residents in The Willows’ independent living facility. Holliday works tirelessly to strike the perfect balance between keeping residents entertained and involved and allowing them plenty of independence to manage their affairs, routines and schedules.
In roles resembling those of cruise directors, Imundo and Holliday stay up on senior living trends and maintain what they refer to as a “fluid” calendar of events, planning activities appropriate for participants and garnering positive feedback. Incorporating cultural and generational likes and dislikes, The Willows’ life enrichment team tailors activities that keep residents feeling young and autonomous. From an annual Fall Festival attended by local law enforcement and city officials to regular spiritual, sensory and cognitive activities, residents are offered plenty of ways to enjoy their days.
Residents in independent living regularly run errands as a group. They go grocery shopping and visit local shopping areas together, eliminating the need for vehicles and allowing residents to take ownership of their diet, health and overall needs. Visits to an apple orchard, the theater and picnics on the picturesque Doodle Trail allow residents to remain social. The bus ride is often the highlight of the experience for those in independent living, Holliday said, with residents enjoying lively conversations and often singing on the drive to and from their outings. Independent living residents even enjoy happy hour on Friday nights, an event that is consistently well-attended.
Imundo and Holliday get to know each resident’s preferences, physical limitations and needs. Their bond with those they serve allows them to customize their activities, participate alongside residents that need additional help completing tasks and connect with each of them.
Fun is a priority at The Willows of Easley because seniors deserve to live their retirement days surrounded by similarly-minded people while in dedicated, caring hands. For Imundo and Holliday, the goal is to maintain residents’ sense of purpose and make a difference in their lives. They help residents create their own life in which they feel at ease and complete. They also strive to give residents’ families peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are receiving the best possible care, many times remaining in their beloved community of Easley, surrounded by love, busy making memories and looking forward to what fun and enriching activities lie ahead.
For more information, visit thewillowsofeasley.com.
By Isabel Alvarez Arata