When I assumed the role of CEO for Valley View in early 2019, I distinctly recall a conversation with a leader from another retirement community who shared he was envious and wished he could bottle up what I had at Valley View and to bring it to his community.

Being newer to Big Valley and eager to learn and embrace all it had to offer, I quickly asked him what he was referring to with his comments. He shared that as a visitor the warmth was palpable —from the minute someone comes in the front entrance, they feel welcome. Anyone can teach a skill, he told me, but it was innate at Valley View. The residents and team members made it feel warm and familiar. Ultimately, those were the exact same reasons that I chose Valley View.

This past year was celebratory as we found ways to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of those who served and lived on our campus over the course of 55 years, making Valley View what it is today. One such person is Dave Metzler, one of our first administrators and continual supporter of Valley View. We were so honored to welcome him and his wife to the Village this summer. You can find more of his story below.

Our path in 2024 includes the redesign of existing spaces to create a Personal Care Memory Care neighborhood and the privatization of nursing care rooms. Our residents have a direct hand in these plans, and it will be wonderful for them to see and benefit from their expressed preferences coming to life in the upcoming renovations. Over the past year, we have been intentional to really lean in to learn the preferences and desires of our current residents, while also seeking input from and being mindful of those whom we will serve in the future.

Because of those efforts, I feel that we have a solid path — one that meets today’s expectations and positions us well into the future. This path will allow residents to truly define his or her own space, create it, and call it home.

After the hardships of the last few years, it is exhilarating to be forward-thinking about how we can care for the needs in the greater community, especially those related to dementia care. Over the past year, we have received so many calls from people inquiring about an imminent future need or a current reality that they face, and it will be so good to be able to say that we have space for their loved ones and that we can help.

As we begin this next phase in Valley View’s legacy, I am truly honored to be here every day, working beside other team members, serving together. There is tremendous heart, commitment, and passion and I consider myself tremendously blessed to share in the lives of older adults who have chosen Valley View and those who will share in its story in the future.

This article is from the Fall 2023 View from the Valley Newsletter. You can see the full issue here:

Fall 2023