The Wildwood Senior Living Shares a Note of Gratitude

Over the past year, we have welcomed many new residents and staff to The Wildwood Senior Living family. We have promoted staff from within the organization and began offering in-house therapy, diagnostics, and nurse practitioner services through EmpowerME. We received national recognition as a Top 25 Senior Living Community by US New & World Report. Nationally we were certified as a “Great Place to Live” and a “Great Place to Work.” Locally, we received community votes to achieve top recognition in the Joplin Globe, Favorite of the Four States program. With seemingly endless parties and events, our culinary and resident services departments have been successfully productive, to say the least.

We had some excitement when we learned several residents were published in an episode of the “Old & The Beautiful,” (a novel written by Arrow community residents.) We brought back popular events such as Wildwood’s Kentucky Derby, Women’s High Tea, and the ever-exciting Mardi Gras and 4th of July parades.

We love seeing employees grow within the company. Employees have furthered their education to become nurses and with our tuition assistance program, growth opportunities await those desiring further education. Under the leadership and encouragement of Lucretia Chapman, Director of Wellness, many Care Partners have earned their Level One Medication Certification to become Medication Partners. She leads by example and encourages others to continuously improve.

Ally Arguello, Memory Care Director, is a prime example of growth from within. She started as a Care Partner, became a Medication Partner, and is now leading the Memory Care Team. She and her team continuously receive positive feedback from residents and family members. Trisha Ton, Director of Culinary, and her dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure residents have a positive experience while offering over 50 menu items daily. In these difficult times to hire employees, Jennifer Richardson, Business Office Director, has worked hard to hire the best and to keep our turnover rates lower than previous years. Abby Smallwood, Resident Services Director, has been dedicated to not only keeping the event calendar full, but spearheading intergenerational programming. She plans to introduce more intergenerational events in 2023. As Senior Living Director, Bethany Baugh has led the sales team to nearly filling the community! She and her team strive to have every move-in experience be a positive one. If you hear singing or whistling, you know Mike Crafton, Director of Plant Operations is nearby. He is not only talented in maintenance, repairs, and being a good steward of our building and grounds, he has a special gift of singing and leading occasional church services on the weekends. Operations Coordinator, Glenda Braun is special to each of us. She leads our information hub and is quick to help those needing assistance or finding someone to help. 

I can’t say enough about our Wildwood team. It is a blessing and privilege to work alongside such dedicated and outstanding individuals. I am so very thankful for each member of the Wildwood Team. We are blessed to have great residents, families, and employees. I am grateful for each of you.

EmpowerMe joined us this year by offering in-house therapy, diagnostic services, and regular nurse practitioner hours. We are very fortunate to partner with them and thankful to have them at The Wildwood.

Our plans for 2023 include expansion of reception hours to further assist residents. The presence of an evening employee will provide added evening security and serve as a resource for the growing resident population. We will also be adding a dedicated part time driver to provide more flexible transportation options, as well as supporting the maintenance efforts. To build on the quality improvement process, we will be rolling out the Joint Commission Accreditation process in Assisted Living and Memory Care.