image_pdfimage_print
Belmont Village … Comfort and Care to Florida
 
Belmont Village offers stunning ocean views, culinary delights, fitness programs and a range of health, support and social activities, in an exquisitely decorated and architecturally designed premier senior living complex fashioned for independent, assisted living and award-winning memory care.
 
With that description alone it sounds like more than 200 residents are living the life but read on … there is so much more. Founder and CEO Patricia Will used her own frustrating personal experience to change the paradigm of aging from an exercise in denial to a reward and opportunity for seniors and their families. It has become her career of passion since 1997. With her MBA from Harvard, Mrs. Will continues to learn and contribute by serving on several Boards including the USC Davis School of Gerontology, Argentum, Texas Assisted Living Association and the American Seniors Housing Association.
 
“We developed relationships in the medical and hospitality circles to merge the best of both worlds and sought guidance from experts in gerontology at leading universities AND from seniors and their families. Because people change over time, we knew it would be important to be able to adapt our programming and our environment. We took all that we had learned – all of these great ideas – and built a community around it. Now there are 31 communities coast to coast and in Mexico,” Will said.
 
Belmont Village owners and management teams continue to absorb new ideas by working hand in glove with business and industries focused on seniors. “We drink from a fire hose of innovation and expertise,” she remarked.
 
Belmont Village brings its national reputation to Fort Lauderdale underpinned by learnings from the Hilton School of Hospitality and knowledge base of Universities and health care gerontology experts to introduce a village of social, physical and psychological resilience where residents aged 55 + experience the joys of living independently or with deliberate therapeutic programs to help alter or slow the trajectory of cognitive or physical decline if necessary.
 
Belmont Village Fort Lauderdale is the company’s pioneer project in South Florida and it opened the door for a unique joint venture partnership with Baptist Health that will lead to future development in the region. This prime location combines state-of-the-art knowledge of senior health specialists with the ultimate in amenities and assistance. The 24/7 clinical and social staff can help residents with their lifestyle needs no matter what level of assistance is necessary to support engagement in a meaningful relationship with spouses, family members and friends as they set out on this stage of life.
 
All About the People
Executive Director René Buck was tapped to lead this brand-new senior community style of living based on more than 20 years of expertise in the hospitality industry internationally and most recently in Florida.
 
 According to Buck, building a successful center for longevity is dependent on a balance of the 3 P’s Product, People and Process. “I pull from my roots as a former pastry chef and my recipe for team building basically consists of measuring each ingredient precisely. We blend, knowledge, emotion, sensitivity and capabilities, compensate fairly and provide training and support in the upholding values of the Belmont Village culture. Our owners and operators surround themselves with a knowledgeable management team and the result is a stable vested work force, with low turnover and many promotions from within. The line staff is closest to our customers and we listen to them and share ideas for improvement or change on a regular basis,” he summarized.
 
He recognizes that many residents and prospective residents who seek the benefits of this Florida climate have roots in the East and Midwest.  Accordingly, management suggests décor, activities, menus and programs personalized to make them feel comfortable and familiar.
 
“Fresh food choices, yoga, tai chi or educational programs, and common areas to socialize with neighbors and families are essential to residents’ happiness. They enjoy our diverse staff, of all ages, who are familiar with the area, interested in our community and bring a youthful enthusiasm and seasoned wisdom to the job every day. We were overwhelmed with the quality and quantity (600+ responses for 200 job opportunities) of respondents when we hosted our job fair,” Buck explained, “and know our residents will bond with them in a mutually beneficial relationship.”
 
As to future trends, Buck commented that technology is ever present from electronic health records to staff reminders re medical management and new products to alert staff and senior partners when help is needed or an event is planned.
 
“Seniors remain one of the fastest growing users of technology and we stay abreast of current technology and Wi-Fi capabilities to keep seniors active and in-touch,” he said. “Additionally, our expansive licensure and programming make it easy for our residents to age in place, providing a long-term solution to couples with differing care needs.”
 
The 1031 Seminole Drive, Fort Lauderdale newest location built and designed from ground up, is scheduled to host ribbon cutting and several open houses focused on prospective residents and community business introductions beginning in mid-March. Residents will begin to move in on April 1st.