On Wednesday, May 25, Rittenhouse Village at Portage invited medical service providers who are community leaders in elderly care to its Brewin’ and Cuein’ networking event. Attendees met to discuss what each can provide to seniors and how they can work together to create a higher standard of care.
“This is a professional networking event for our partners; they are everyone in the community that refers to Rittenhouse Village. It’s just to get to know each other better, kind of relax, have a brew, have some barbeque, and enjoy each other,” said Danielle Walker-Balek, senior lifestyle counselor for Rittenhouse Village at Portage.
Guests had classic barbecue food and sat around checked tables, emulating a classic cook-out environment. Each health care provider discussed the newest updates within their company.
“So we all know that our businesses are about connection and who we can help and how we can serve each other,” Walker-Balek said. “I’m looking to connect people as well as connect with some new people I don’t know.”
One such group that Rittenhouse at Portage works with is Dunes Hospice.
“We partner with Rittenhouse to educate the community on our services. We work together, just getting our name out there to help people try to get what they need,” Cathy Ellis, marketing liaison for Dunes Hospice, said.
"Partnering with other providers in the community yields the best care options for seniors which can be individualized to fit every person.
“We are helping seniors connect to all of their resources,” said Walker-Balek. “As a senior lifestyle counselor here at Rittenhouse, I not only look to help residents move into my community but also to connect them with all the resources they need. There are always new faces and names who have something important to offer.”
“There are so many business leaders in the community that everybody has to work together to help the seniors by ensuring that they are safe and have what they need. Hospice working with assisted living, skilled nursing, and home health—it’s continuity of care,” Ellis concluded.
Communal efforts lead to amazing results and Rittenhouse is a prime example.
“Rittenhouse Village at Portage was just recognized as one of the top 25 senior living communities for all three aspects of senior life. We are the only senior living in Northwest Indiana identified within all three categories, and we are very excited about that," Walker-Balek said.
Rittenhouse employees also work with Porter County Triad, an organization that attempts to keep seniors safe, and makes sure that they belong. Healthcare workers from Rittenhouse and Dunes Hospice educate seniors on programs such as Project Life Saver. Project Life Saver is a GPS that allows the Sheriff's office to find seniors who have strayed from home.
Without events like Brewin’ and Cuein’ cooperation between service providers would be far weaker. This would not only limit possibilities for community efforts such as Project Life Saver but degrade the quality of care in the Region overall. Rittenhouse Village at Portage can succeed because of its effort in discovering the best care options for seniors.