Silverado Senior Living

What makes Silverado so different in the field of caring for people with memory-impairing diseases? Silverado Co-Founder, President and CEO Loren Shook says, "Silverado associates and affiliated healthcare professionals across California, Texas, Utah and Arizona in all of our locations are consistently touching the human spirit in our residents, patients and clients in a way that motivates them to move to a new level of comfort and confidence.

We have studied how that result evolves and discovered one universal reason which we refer to as the 'Silverado Magic.' It happens because of the love our staff gives to the people they serve, be it someone in our direct care, a family member or to each other within our organization. This love that is expressed throughout Silverado is the core reason we touch the human spirit in those who walk through our doors.

"We wanted to create a home that we'd want for our own parents ... or ourselves." This was the motivating concept behind Silverado Senior Living - to create an assisted living community that would go beyond caring for needs, and bring quality of life back to those affected by memory impairing diseases. "I looked around and was saddened by what I saw. I wanted to build a place to live," said Loren Shook, CEO and co-founder.

Mr. Shook had extensive practice. His aunt and uncle ran a psychiatric hospital in Washington that was among the first to introduce such things as pet therapy, children on the grounds and providing residents the freedom to live and thrive in a supportive environment. He witnessed first-hand the benefit of love and innovation, during the time when mental disorders still equaled a lost life. Loren took this brilliant outlook with him when he was President and Chief Operating Officer at CPC, an international psychiatric hospital company that also built innovative practices and programs into their treatment plans.

In 1996 the business plan for Silverado Senior Living was adopted by its three co-founders, Loren Shook, James P. Smith, and Steve Winner. They each brought their own optimism and expertise, and between them began their mission of changing the way the world views and treats Alzheimer's and other memory impairing diseases. In 1997 the doors first opened at the Silverado assisted living community in Escondido, CA and that is where the dream hit the pavement! This same community was featured in the 2006 AARP article, Assisted Living: 10 Great Ideas.

Silverado Senior Living Founders

Co-founder Steve Winner spoke, "When we first opened, we thought, 'What can we do to make this more like a home, more like a place we could actually live in?' We all are animal lovers and couldn't imagine our homes without our pets. So naturally we brought pets into all our assisted living communities."

At a time when animals in assisted living communities were considered dangerous and unclean, Silverado broke ground and declared the benefits outweighed the risks. "We have seen time and time again how animals bring life to our residents. They are truly a wonder." And, in fact, pets are now included in all of our service lines."

Through the many successes of this venture, the leaders of Silverado were able to complete the continuum by adding the Home Care & Geriatric Care Management and Hospice Care service branches to the established assisted living company. "This is vital to our families," stated Anne Ellet, VP of Health Services, "because of the continuity of care. Change is difficult for all of us, especially so for those with dementia. Silverado can bring seamless care to the family, regardless of where their loved one resides. Another major benefit is the ability to age in place; meaning, being allowed to live life out through the end of one's days in familiar surroundings - rather than going to a skilled nursing facility or hospital. And, in most cases, through Silverado Hospice, that is exactly what happens."

When asked what is on the horizon for Silverado, Mr. Shook responded, "We now have two Skilled Nursing neighborhoods that focus on skilled services specifically for the memory impaired such as physical rehabilitation for injury or fractures, strokes, etc... Now, that is innovation!"

"Of the many new ideas brimming forth, one standard remains, 'We bring LIFE to those we serve.'" LIFE - Love Innovation Family Engagement.
The Edith Story

A sociologist and photographer, Kathy Stein-Greenblat studied at Silverado - Escondido for a three-month period. This culminated in the incredible work, Alive With Alzheimer's. Edith's story is only one of many documented in this enlightening book.

Assisted Living Dementia Care at Silverado Senior Living - Edith

Edith came to Silverado - Escondido in 2001 with a life expectancy of mere days. She had been grossly overmedicated and depressed. She was frail, couldn't speak, and certainly had no interest in the world around her.

Edith's caregivers learned that she loved cats. And so, they brought Cricket in to visit. Being a sensitive animal, he stayed with Edith, basking in her company. You can see here that Edith's hands are wrapped around the cat, one on his haunch and one touching the tip of his tail.

The power of love is an incredible thing ... This is a photo of Edith taken six weeks later, with her daughter at the Del Mar racetrack! Alert, alive, and enjoying life, Edith still lives at the Escondido assisted living community in 2007.
LOVE > fear

This may seem an unusual mantra for a corporation, but not so to Loren Shook. It was, in fact, the focus of his corporate retreat in the spring of 2007. Love is greater than fear. What does that mean?

On a personal level, it could be as simple as resisting the temptation to make yourself feel better at somebody else's expense. We have all done it, yet the effect is only harmful. Any benefit that comes is superficial and temporary. Denying our terror of inferiority, and instead embracing the concept that everybody has something to give, we aim toward a higher purpose.

At the corporate level it might be consciously acknowledging the needs of all, associates and company alike, so that the Give is equal to the Get, on both sides. It is a conscious decision to be mindful. It is the courageous and optimistic choice to Assume Good Intent.

And to a worldwide degree? That would be the recognition that there is abundance; that we don't need to grab in order to have. This actually creates a sustainable atmosphere, certainly a healthier lifestyle. By coming from love we realize a deeper, lasting benefit to all.

Mr. Shook recounted the story of Silverado and Hurricane Rita. "We had to consider what was best to do: a Category Four Hurricane was on its way to Houston, and we had frail elders who probably couldn't survive a prolonged move. In order to sustain everyone, we would need additional staff to stay for the duration.

"I have to be honest, one of my first thoughts was 'How can we afford to pay so many people overtime?' It would be a great expense, quite possibly a serious one to the company. But then it occurred to me that I was coming from fear. I turned it around and thought what kind of pressure it would be to keep so many people calm and healthy throughout the night and in the eye of the storm. That deserved overtime! Once I could look at it from that angle, there was only one solution: we brought in the additional care staff, battened down the hatches, and rode out the storm. And not one of our residents came to harm."

As Silverado moves forward we build on our history. We will continue to seek out innovations in the care and treatment for those with memory impairment and stay true to our vision and mission to change the world related to the care of those with Alzheimer's and other memory impairing diseases. We offer this success as a model for other elder care companies. We bring LIFE to those we serve. And are proud to do so.

You can read about how authors Loren Shook and Steve Winner are changing the way America is coping with the soaring numbers of people with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other memory-impairing diseases. Learn about the proven successes of Silverado with purpose-driven living, pet therapy, the powerful healing of children, and what's behind the message that "love is greater than fear."

Vision:
To give life to those affected by Alzheimer's and other memory impairing diseases.

Mission:
Silverado provides the highest quality of care and support to those with Alzheimer's disease or any other memory impairment, and their families, with dignity, respect, empathy and compassion.

To maximize the quality of life for our residents, clients and their families.

People with Alzheimer's disease can still have a substantial quality to their life. This is best achieved by optimizing our residents physical and emotional health and by providing an environment which is aesthetically pleasing and accommodating. This is further supported by having staff who are caring, trained, and empathetic to residents needs, concerns and fears, by giving residents opportunities for appropriate natural social interaction with family, peers, children and pets. We believe that having some control and decision making as well as responsibilities, provides a "life purpose" for residents, keeps them interested and involved, relieves boredom and increases the opportunity for them to have happier more fulfilled lives.

Core Values:
To recognize value and build the human spirit in all we do.

Getting Alzheimer's disease and other chronic disease doesn't have to be the end of living.

Retain and build family unity through understanding and positive action.

To provide all residents at each community with the level of care, I want my mother and yours to have (we would choose to place our own mothers at the community).

To continuously innovate and improve the level of our services, setting the industry standard of care, doing the impossible. Economic rewards follow from quality service.

To operate in a fiscally and socially responsible manner exceeding expectation for all constituencies/stakeholders, today and 20 years from today.

Increasing the quality of care for all people with dementia throughout the world.

Envisioned Future:
Providing a guest relations program exceeding that of Disneyland's customer service program exceeding that of Nordstrom's.

Develop innovative/research based solutions to the problems encountered by residents and their families.

To become the global leader in providing care for chronic disease victims by the year 2020.

When you need help assisting your patients' or residents' families with complex choices associated with care, you can depend on the expertise of Silverado and our full range of services for peace of mind and quality every step of the way!

At Home
Your needs will be met with the team effort of geriatric professionals and highly trained home care companions. Regular interaction, oversight, and discussion take place to assure your loved one receives consistent, quality in home care.

You can have greater peace of mind knowing you can reach a Geriatric Care Manager any time, day or night, any day of the year. They are there for you to use as an expert resource, as a mediator, and as a guide through the difficult-to-navigate waters of finance, healthcare and medical needs.

Senior Living
Silverado's Assisted Living communities specialize in caring for those with memory impairments, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy-Body, or other related dementias. We provide expert clinical care led by a Physician Medical Director, full-time registered nurse as our Director of Health Services and licensed nurses on-site around the clock. Services are provided in a warm, comfortable and home-like environment including pets, and children. Delicious meals, stimulating, adult oriented activities and life enriching outings round out the living experience at Silverado Senior Living.

Hospice
Silverado Hospice exists in the hope and belief that through effective, compassionate care, patients can approach the end of their lives with dignity and comfort in the midst of a caring environment sensitive to their needs. We do this by helping our patients achieve physical and emotional comfort so they can concentrate on living life as fully as possible.

Silverado Hospice is dedicated to the belief that no one who has a life-limiting illness should die alone, afraid or in pain. Hospice provides peace, comfort and caring to terminally ill people and their families. Hospice treats the person, not the disease. Hospice is a philosophy of care that assists patients, families, and friends during the final stages of a terminal illness. We focus on the quality of LIFE because, at Silverado, Hospice is about living.

Your needs will be met with the team effort of geriatric professionals and highly trained home care companions for seniors. Regular interaction, oversight, and discussion take place to assure your loved one receives consistent, quality at home care.

You can have greater peace of mind knowing you can reach a Life Care Manager any time, day or night, any day of the year. They are there for you to use as an expert resource, as a mediator, and as a guide through the difficult-to-navigate waters of finance, healthcare and medical needs.

Silverado's Assisted Living communities specialize in caring for those with memory impairments, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Lewy-Body, or other related dementias. We provide expert clinical care led by a Physician Medical Director, full-time registered nurse as our Director of Health Services and licensed nurses on-site around the clock. Services are provided in a warm, comfortable and home-like environment including pets, and children. Delicious meals, stimulating, adult oriented activities and life enriching outings round out the living experience at Silverado Senior Living.

Silverado Hospice exists in the hope and belief that through effective, compassionate care, patients can approach the end of their lives with dignity and comfort in the midst of a caring environment sensitive to their needs. We do this by helping our patients achieve physical and emotional comfort so they can concentrate on living life as fully as possible.

Silverado Hospice is dedicated to the belief that no one who has a life-limiting illness should die alone, afraid or in pain. Hospice provides peace, comfort and caring to terminally ill people and their families. Hospice treats the person, not the disease. Hospice is a philosophy of care that assists patients, families, and friends during the final stages of life's journey. We focus on the quality of LIFE because, at Silverado, Hospice is about living.

Some words from our residents' family members

"I am not an employee... my mom is lucky enough to be living in the new Redondo Beach community. We love what it has done for her. The staff there is so welcoming and we couldn't be more grateful for the loving support they have given our family." - Ellen Strom Narita

"From the minute she arrived at Silverado Newport-Mesa, I could sense that my mother felt safe and loved there. It was so clear that the staff knew exactly what to do and that they really cared about her. For my mother, it was as though she could finally relax and say to herself, 'I'm in the right place.' As many know when dealing with memory loss, you use it or lose it. That is the greatest thing about Silverado - the mental and physical stimulation." - Dr. Janie Williams

"I attribute my husband's improvement to the wonderful care he receives at Silverado. The nurses and staff are totally engaged with each of the residents, knowing what they need and caring for them. They treat the residents with respect and love. With Cecil, they have encouraged him to build his strength through assistance and praise. They clap and cheer for him when he makes progress and are genuine in their happiness. It takes very special and loving people to work in these situations. Silverado has assembled a staff that is truly special. They care for each individual as if they are family, not a patient. They engage not only the residents, but the families as well, allowing everyone to participate in the care. I highly recommend Silverado-Valley Ranch to everyone." - Marylyn Love

"Thank you for all the thoughtful ways you give from the heart. Bob's spirit joins me in love to all of you." - Manette Thomas

"I really must take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the expert handling of the situation with my mother, Diane Kobzi. You really are champions...The three years that my mom has been at Silverado helped our family heal from the loss of my dad and our sad situation with my mother. Your team is perfect above and beyond the call of duty. Silverado runs like a well-oiled machine and we are so lucky to have my mother there with you. I know she is in good hands and I am able to carry on with my own life...I wish I knew how to thank all of you, I also wish you really knew how grateful we are...Every family is lucky to have you." - Elizabeth Mack

"Our entire family can't thank you enough for caring for our very special family member. You filled the hole in our hearts." - The Guadagninos Family
Some words from our Professional Referral Sources:

"I worked for the original Silverado for ten years, best job I ever had. I felt such a connection with the residents and their families. My own father became a resident at the Escondido facility before he passed and I wouldn't have wanted him to be anywhere else. I continue to recommend Silverado to people I meet who are struggling to care for their family members. I would highly recommend Silverado as both a former employee and a caring family member!" - Kim Rodgers Wise

"We have been using Silverado At Home for almost five years now and our experience with Silverado has been excellent. I would easily recommend them anyone who needs at home care. The difference with Silverado is the personal attention and deep-seeded care and concern for you and your loved ones. They are special for their personal touch." - Christina Kirkpatrick

The angels of Silverado Hospice cared for my stepdad, Jack Garner, for a year before he passed away. They came in and cared for our entire family in a way that made his transition easier to bear. My dad and our immediate family worked in tandem with the Hospice team to make difficult decisions that would have been very hard to do were it not for Silverado's generous, life-giving support. My mom is also under the care of Silverado Hospice and we are so grateful to her amazing volunteer, Patty, who visits her every week and makes her smile. As my sister, Meg, said recently, "We are in awe of Silverado Hospice." Thank you. - Shannon Ingram

Silverado Senior Living's communities hold a unique place in the assisted living industry. Only six percent of assisted livings are licensed as freestanding dementia care communities. Currently Silverado Senior Living has 20 dementia-specific assisted living communities caring for over 1,200 residents.

Generally, Silverado cares for a very frail and elderly population. The average age of residents living at Silverado is 83 years old and less than four percent of Silverado residents are independent in their care needs. Providing care for those with dementia is a specialty, requiring a multidisciplinary team trained and focused together to offer the social stimulation and clinical assessment that supports our residents to be as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Silverado's Clinical Presence

Silverado's model of care is to give LIFE to our residents. As part of insuring that residents receive quality care, Silverado has a full complement of clinicians, including a physician as Medical Director, an R.N. as the Director of Health Services and licensed nurses on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most assisted livings have little if any clinical involvement. In addition, Silverado is affiliated with many outstanding universities and teaching programs, such as: University of California San Diego (UCSD) and Los Angeles (UCLA), University of Southern California (USC), and Baylor University College of Medicine in Texas.

Silverado's dementia-specific communities have a Registered Nurse as full-time director and licensed nurses on-site on all shifts every day. Unlike most other assisted living communities, the clinical team is involved with every resident throughout each day for assessing their health needs and communicating with physicians, therapists and family members.

When the time comes to place your loved one in a long-term care facility, the decision can be difficult and often overwhelming. Whether you are looking for hospice care for yourself or a loved one, it is important to find out about what services each hospice in your area offers. We can help. Give us a call.

6400 Oak Canyon, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618

Phone: 949-240-7200 or 888-328-5400
Fax:(949) 240-7270

Website URL: www.silveradosenior.com

See website for individual location information.

The California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) is the leading statewide home care association in the nation and the voice of home care for the western United States. The CAHSAH Certification process guarantees that certified home care providers - like Silverado At Home - abide by a strict code of ethics, mandate comprehensive background checks for employee, and ensure that company caregivers adhere to a pledge of honesty.

Silverado Senior Living has been reconized by media icons and won many awards including Entreprenuer of the Year, Best Company to Work for in Texas, Tala Hero of the Year, USLBA 2008 Houston Award in Home Health and many more.