Meaningful life can happen after moving into assisted living, especially if you choose Bishop Hills Elder Care Community in Rockford Michigan.  While ‘care needs’ brings families and potential residents to our door, Bishop Hills has shown great creativity in developing daily life at Bishop Hills.

Usually an elder’s independence is challenged by things like increasing medical issues, loss of hearing, eyesight, special diets and medication management.  A single confusion in taking medication can cause a cascade of problems.  The care at Bishop Hills is done with the Michigan license of Home for Aged since January 1996.  The quality of care can be judged by the perfect State of Michigan Survey Inspections 2006-2009.  This has been achieved by a quality staff supervised by Julie Shupe, RN, that demonstrates its commitment to Bishop Hills through longevity of tenure.   Many of our staff having been there over 10 years, most over 2 years.

When an elder and their family tour Bishop Hills, there is the unspoken concern about ‘who will I live with’ and ‘what will I do’.  Susan Bodenner, MSW, Administrator and owner, starts the tour at the front door where numerous letters and plaques thanking the residents for the support to over 80 US Navy ships in a variety of ways.  The story is shared how this started with Sept 11 and continues to this day with over 23,000 treat bags sent with the help of local elementary students, over 100 baby blankets for deployed dads from the Kims Knitters Club and over 9000 cookies made by the loving hands of the residents.  The numbers are big but the reward is priceless.

On display is a concrete BioSand water filter and a plastic HydrAid BioSand filter and the story is told how the residents raised $400 through their oil painting and ceramic classes funded 10 concrete filters in the Dominican Republic.  Listeners are amazed to hear how this “seed” has now grown to over 40,000 filters in several countries through the efforts of Rockford and other area Rotary Clubs working with Dominican Rotarians.  The residents have met the Canadian inventor, world renowned scientists, World Health Organization representatives and even Miss Ghana came to thank them for the difference the filter was making eliminating water borne diseases.

The residents are involved with helping local children improve their reading while learning to use Speed Stacking Cups. The residents sponsored the first Rockford stacking club at Meadow Ridge Elementary.  The combination of activities has grown many other projects with these students and gives the residents a wonderful mentoring opportunity that makes a lasting memory on a young mind.  Katie Stegenga, BSW, Life Enrichment Coordinator, shares how the residents have had new doors opened while learning sign language, using SKYPE and the internet in a variety of their classes right down the hall from their room.

At Bishop Hills, age is only a number. It’s a place where loving care is given to its residents and where residents have the opportunity to give their love—and make a difference in Rockford and the world.