BUSINESS PROFILE: Valley View Estates, Long Prairie
Assisted living community provides home-like setting in Long Prairie
By Scott Thoma
Valley View Estates, an assisted living community established in 1999, and nestled in a quiet area on the northeast edge of Long Prairie, has reopened following a brief hiatus and many of the residents that resided there before couldn’t be happier to return.
Because of the quality care previous family members were given by the Valley View staff, some second-generation family members are now residing at the assisted living facility.
“We try to make it feel as much like their home as we can,” said Kelsey Franzen, Chief Operations Officer of Premier Choice Senior Management. “Our residents all grew up in the Midwest and were brought up a certain way with Midwest values. We are on the edge of town so it feels like they are in town, but we also have a cornfield and rolling hills nearby so our residents can continue to feel surrounded by the up-north Midwest scenery.”
Valley View offers 22 assisted living units, and is in the process of including memory care units at a later date.
Since it first began operations, Valley View has continued a reputation for providing quality care for elderly members in and around the Long Prairie area for those who no longer can manage living at home alone but still want to live in a home-like setting.
Residents can choose from private, single-room studios or one-bedroom apartments. Each unit has a private bathroom that includes a sit-down shower for more comfort and convenience.
Depending on the level of care needed, residents have a variety of services available to them. Staff members are trained in all areas of client-specific care, such as supervision, partial care, or total care.
To help make their stay a little easier, Valley View offers weekly light housekeeping, laundry and linen service, daily exercise, activities, in-house call system, 24-hour awake staff, 24/7 “on call” registered nurse, and in-town transportation for medical or social service appointments.
The apartments do not include kitchenettes. Instead, three nutritious meals are served daily in the community dining room, which is welcoming to residents and their guests. The dining room also comes complete with a beverage/snack bar that is available at any time.
“We have excellent cooks here that make healthy meals on the spot,” said Franzen. “They follow all the nutritional guidelines and food pyramid set by the Department of Health for a good well-rounded meal plan. If residents request a certain food that they like, our cooks will try to include it in a meal. Their input is important.”
Cooks will often prepare a meal from scratch so they are similar to what the residents are used to eating when they were cooking in the homes they lived in. The cooks will also prepare baked goods for the residents, too, such as homemade cookies, bars, or banana bread.”
Residents can often be seen relaxing and visiting with one another over a cookie and a cup of coffee.
“Mom loves her time at Valley View. It is a lovely facility with a kind, caring staff,” said the daughter of a resident.
There is a myriad of amenities offered to the residents at Valley View, too. A large family room has a home-like atmosphere with comfortable furniture for residents to sit and visit, read by the fire, or to view a movie or ball game on a large-screen television.
There is also an impressive sunroom that residents use for church services, activities, socializing, special programs, private dining, or special occasion celebrations with friends or family members.
A community whirlpool tub room is also available to all residents, as is the in-house beauty shop.
Among the activities the residents enjoy include bingo, cards, puzzles, coffee time, arts and crafts, and musical entertainers.
“We also have outings where we go to ballgames, the county fair, and community events,” said Franzen. “Several residents are very active in a walking club. We let the residents offer suggestions for things they want to do. We want them to be able to be included in the activities we decide to have. Some of them are real crafty and want to make certain things.”
The nurses and attendants that work at Valley View Estates were hired for their ability to not only perform their job well, but also for their compassion and care for the residents they serve.
“Every one of you took such good care of mom and truly cared about her, as she did you. After the many years she was there, Valley View was her home, and all of you her extended family,” said the family of a former resident.
“Our staff takes the time to get to know each resident,” said Franzen. “They care for each resident, and the residents care for the staff. They become like family to one another.”
Valley View Estates is located at 1104 4th Avenue NE. Long Prairie, Minnesota. To set up a tour or for any questions, call 320-732-2360 or email vvlongprairie@outlook.com. To learn more about their services, visit their website at www.valleyviewassistedliving.com or visit them on Facebook.
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