Cherry Heights Offers Independent Living that Feels Like Home
55 and older residents enjoy independence, community, and care at Cherry Heights Living.
by Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., December 19, 2023 – Cherry Heights Living, an independent living 55+ community located in downtown The Dalles, Oregon is looking for residents who want to join their community of retired residents and supportive staff.
“There’s currently 37 residents and we have capacity for 56 residents, so we’re looking to invite more people into this community,” said Rose Pashek, Marketing and Activities Coordinator at Cherry Heights.
Units start at $2,195 a month, and includes three meals a day, housekeeping, emergency call system, a full social activities calendar, maintenance, utilities, cable, television, transportation to medical care, and 24/7 on-site management and security. Add on’s include laundry for an additional $30 a week, a one time pet fee of $250, and personal care services including: showering, nail care, and medication administration.
Cherry Heights offers discounts for Veterans but does not have contract with medicaid.
“We’re open for tours all the time, just walk in and we will show you around,” says Rose. “We look forward to welcoming you into our community!”
Rose says residents enjoy getting to live independently within a community of their peers.
“Residents have a lot of freedom. They come and go as they please. Take their own vacations, go visit family. And they also have family and friends come visit. We have two guest apartments that can be rented out by families,” says Rose.
And if they don’t feel like going anywhere that day?
Rose ensures that the event calendar is always full.
From bingo to happy hour, arts and crafts, games, Sit & Be Fit exercises, live music at lunch time, group movie watching with popcorn, Wii bowling, holiday parties, bible study, day trips, museum visits, and overnight beach trips. (Click the link for upcoming events!)
“We try to help our residents to participate in the community by taking them to local events, like Indian Autumn, and we also try to bring the community to them with special events and community bingo,” she says.
“Recently we took our residents to the coast for three days and it was amazing. It was pouring down rain the whole time. But we didn’t mind at all. We watched the ocean, we went shopping, we went to dinner and I took some of our group to Ripley’s Believe it or Not. It was so much fun for all of us,” says Rose
Rose loves her job as activities coordinator.
“There’s times I don’t even want to leave work because we’re all having such a good time together. I could stay there all day! It’s so beautiful to see the residents building such good friendships with each other,” says Rose.
Residents coloring mandalas together.
In the summer she organizes barbecues on the outdoor patio where residents can relax, enjoy a happy hour, and listen to the sounds of Mill Creek. And residents have space to garden outside if they like.
And when summer fades, Cherry Heights goes all out to make the holiday season special for their residents.
“We decorate everything! And yesterday we made gingerbread houses and next we’re going to make snow globes. This week we’re going to watch Christmas movies and have popcorn,” Rose tells me.
“As we age we often lose people that are close to us, that’s why having social activities for our residents to enjoy is so important. Having strong social connections keeps you sharper longer and has a positive impact on life expectancy. It’s important to be surrounded by people who care about you and to have some fun! No matter what age you are,” says Rose.
Residents seem to agree.
Why residents love Cherry Heights Living
Meet Donna Hall, age 75, before coming to Cherry Heights she felt isolated, but now-she feels connected, happier and healthier.
Donna Hall receives some love from a fellow resident.
“I’m very grateful to be here. I resisted longterm care for a long time, longer than I should. But everyone is welcoming, accepting; we’re family. And we’re just family, we look out for one another, and besides the food is great,” laughs Donna.
“(Before) I was alone in my home and that’s not a good space to be in. Here I feel needed and wanted. I don’t know if I feel needed but I certainly feel wanted. It makes a difference in your head and your heart and your health,” says Donna.
The other reason she loves Cherry Heights is because they’re pet friendly.
“They allowed my dog to come. She's a little Maltese in her later years, no teeth. And I’m so appreciative because she was the last thing I got from my husband who passed,” says Donna.
It’s home.
Carol Olson at home in her apartment at Cherry Heights Living.
“I just love living here because it’s like home,” says Carol Olson, age 85, “We’re like family, that’s the most beautiful part about it…Also there's people who make things here!”
Carol deeply enjoys the maker community at Cherry Heights. Throughout her life, her artist’s heart has driven her to pursue acting, wood art, hat making, and even poetry.
Carol shows off her latest creation.
But Cherry Heights brought something even more precious than new crafting opportunities into Carol’s life…because it was here that she found another chance at love, and the second love of her life.
“I’ve lived here for about six years. I got married here. I met the second man of my life here. The first one was 62 years together, this one was 6 years. Wonderful man. I don’t know how I could have found him anywhere else,” she says with a twinkle in her eye, “He was a man of God. They both were.”
Aging can be fraught with grief and loss for many senior citizens but at Cherry Heights residents don’t have to go through that pain alone.
“We are a very strong community, if one of our residents are hurting we’re hurting. We can feel their pain. Aging can be a beautiful and also grief filled process. So we try our best to provide a lot of emotional support to one another,” says Rose.
Cherry Heights staff work hard to support their residents both in the daily mundane chores of life, and in the event of an emergency, so that residents can enjoy a sense of security and a more hassle free lifestyle.
Getting some breaded chicken in the oven for residents.
“We also can provide a safety net for our residents by contacting EMS in the event of medical emergencies or contacing families and hospice when we see a downturn in someone’s well being. Residents can even choose to share their will with us so we can help arrange funeral services or celebrations of life if necessary,” says Rose.
Manager Nelda Smith and Assistant Manager Mark Doty are proud to serve their residents with love and care and it shows in the faces and in the words of those that surround them.
“I so admire our manager Nelda. She’s been here for so long, doing this work. She’s the mom of this place– to everybody. She’s the backbone of this facility. She’s the best boss I’ve ever had and she takes care of us all, staff and residents alike. She keeps us all going and hopeful even through the hard times. I feel honored to have her as a mentor,” says Rose.
For many residents at Cherry Heights it is the conviviality of the community that acts as their medicine.
Steve Cochenour, retired veteran, age 74 has lived at Cherry Heights for 15 years.
He says the community at Cherry Heights is “medicine” for his PTSD related dementia.
“There’s a good atmosphere here. You can talk face to face. You don’t have to be looking behind you or worried about people judging you. That’s part of the healing. That’s what helps me, that’s my medicine,” says Steve.
Many seniors experience increasing loneliness and isolation as they age.
That’s why Cherry Heights works to curate a space where seniors feel connected and cared for.
“At Cherry Heights we are able to have that personal bond with our residents then you might see at other facilities. It’s a whole different vibe when you walk into Cherry Heights. You walk in and the residents here are happy and there’s smiles on their face, they come up and hug you and ask you how your day is. It’s something I’ve never seen in my life. It’s a warm homey feeling. It’s home to our residents and it’s a home away from home for our staff,” says Rose.
One big happy family. Staff gather for a Christmas photo in the dining hall at Cherry Heights Living.
Interested in joining the Cherry Heights Living Community?
Units start at $2,195 a month, and includes three meals a day, housekeeping, emergency call system, a full social activities calendar, maintenance, utilities, cable, television, transportaion to medical care, and 24/7 on-site management and security. Add on’s include laundry for an additional $30 a week, a one time pet fee of $250, and personal care services including: showering, nail care, and medication administration.
For more information call (541) 296-6880 or visit https://cherryheightsliving.com/.
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