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Nice combination: Seniors, such as Mildred Meyer, living at Sheffield Manor in Dyer receive nursing care, including from care coordinator Ruby Waterstraad, while still being able to maintain their independence. | Supplied photo

Wellness, independence and quality of life are at the heart of Sheffield Manor’s assisted living community in Dyer.

‘Cute and quaint’

“Our assisted living is small, so you get to know the residents. You get to know their routine. It’s very, very personalized,” said Kelly Petty, director of marketing and admissions for Sheffield Manor and Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation, two senior facilities that handle different levels of care.

Residents of Sheffield Manor’s 50-unit assisted living facility in Dyer can follow the brick pathway inside the building to a variety of amenities including a movie theater, ice cream parlor, game room, chapel, general store and beauty salon/barber shop that help to create a sense of community residents may take advantage of without leaving the building.

“It’s definitely very home-like over there, cute and quaint,” Petty said.

Petty said it is important to provide amenities residents can use and enjoy to socialize, stay active and maintain their independence in an environment that helps them stay safe and close to care. There is something for everyone at Sheffield Manor from the happy hour in the game room for residents who may drink alcohol to the greenhouse and garden club for resident green-thumbs.

“People want to feel independent as long as possible,” Petty said.

By offering the amount of assistance each individual resident needs, that goal can be achieved.

Residents, Petty said, never have to leave unless they want. When that time comes, Sheffield also offers transportation services to places like the grocery store and doctors’ appointments or outings to ball games, restaurants and other activities. And when needs increase unexpectedly or substantially, residents can transition from Sheffield Manor to Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation.

“The whole perception of assisted living has changed. You don’t have to be (completely) independent,” Petty said.

As a state licensed facility, Sheffield manor staff can take patients who need a little more help with their daily living, such as showering, bathing, dressing and toileting, and place them in an environment where they are able to retain a significant amount of independence with some help.

One- and two-bedroom apartments are 560 to 820 square feet and come with a kitchenette, easily accessible baths and showers, and lots and lots of storage space, perfect for residents downsizing from a home they have lived in for decades to a smaller apartment.

While the apartments all feature kitchenettes where residents can prepare their own meals, they may also enjoy three restaurant-style meals a day in the communal dining area.

For added safety and peace of mind, each apartment also is equipped with emergency call buttons for quick response in the event of a problem.

Smooth transition

Sheffield Manor and Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation offers what Petty describes as a full continuum of care.

“We can do more than just pass meds,” she said.

Residents may enter the facility as part of the assisted living community. They can transition to rehabilitation if their needs shift after a medical incident, returning to their apartments once their rehabilitation is complete. And, when the time comes, residents can transition into one of the 150 skilled nursing beds in the long-term care facility.

“We provide different levels of care based on individual needs,” Petty said.

Not everybody needs the same level of care. While some residents may thrive in an assisted living center with minimal interaction from staff, others may need some assistance with anything from medication reminders and personal care to physical, speech or occupational therapy.

Upon admission, residents are evaluated to determine where they best fit in. Then, as needs increase, so do the services.

“People are living longer. Now people are living into their late 90s and they need more personal medical attention. People are living so much longer, these places are going to be important,” Petty said.

More information about Sheffield Manor and Dyer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is at (219) 322-2273.