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Some say “growing old is the pits,” however that is not the case at Hover Senior Living Community as they welcome two new staff members who focus on the continued growth of residents.
Holly Raymer, CEO and Lisa Bryant, director of the Beatrice Hover Assisted Living facility, joined the team in March 2021 and brought a new perspective.
Raymer has worked as a nursing home administrator for Assisted Living and Skilled Care at Hover Senior Living Community since 2018.
In a phone call, Raymer said she’s been working in elder care for 38 years. Her mother was a nursing home administrator, so Raymer got her start helping out as a teenager.
“I just can’t imagine doing anything else, and I really love working with these people,” she said. “I’m lucky that I was chosen [as CEO]and really grateful.”
Raymer helped with Green House facility when she started in 2018. These programs work to build relationships between elders, staff and families, where all people can be protected, sustained and nurtured, according to the Green House Project.
“Holly is a fantastic leader with extensive experience in our industry. Her commitment to our elders, their families and the Longmont community as a whole is beyond compare,” Director of Admissions Kelley Frederick said.
Bryant joined the team after working at the Green House Homes in Loveland. She started as an activities director and fell in love with person-centered care and connected with Eden principles.
The Eden Alternative philosophy says “that no matter how old we are or what challenges we live with, life is about continuing to grow.”
Practices like the Green House Project and Eden Alternative work off the principles of person-directed care. The ideas behind it center on collaboration between elders and their caregivers, so that those being cared for still feel value and self-determination in their lives.
Haymer and Bryant both spoke enthusiastically about person-directed care, and continuing the practice as part of their vision for Hover Community. The importance of retaining autonomy through aging, and a continued improvement in quality of life is key to that.
“Lisa and I spend a good amount of time together each week growing and learning together,” Raymer said. “We’re working to bring quality and continuity to each person’s life no matter how they come to us.”
“I want to make a difference in our elder’s lives,” Bryant said. “It’s most important that I work and grow with our staff and residents, so that we can really be servants for our community here in Longmont.”
“I value Lisa’s fresh perspective and supportive approach. She has already made significant improvements to the physical community as well as to systems and processes,” Frederick said.
Both women bring decades of experience in the industry, with a focus on meeting the needs of a new generation entering the elder care.
“It’s not the Glen Miller generation anymore, it’s the Led Zeppelin generation that’s entering our care. We need to get into the groove and meet them where they are when they come to us,” Raymer said.
Practices like the Green House Project and Eden Alternative work off the principles of person-directed care. The ideas behind it center on collaboration between elders and their caregivers, so that those being cared for still feel value and self-determination in their lives.
Raymer and Bryant both spoke enthusiastically about person-directed care, and continuing the practice as part of their vision for Hover Community. The importance of retaining autonomy through aging, and a continued improvement in quality of life is key to that.
“Lisa and I spend a good amount of time together each week growing and learning together,” Raymer said. “We’re working to bring quality and continuity to each person’s life no matter how they come to us.”
Raymer and Bryant also spoke to bringing in a level of sophistication to the campus, including advancing technology and resources for residents at Hover Community. Raymer plans to look into grants and fundraising opportunities to continue making improvements to the campus.
“We still have a little bit of land we can use, so we’re looking into a new resource center or even a cafe, anything we can do to support the residents on campus,” Raymer said.
“We want to meet the needs of the new generation entering our facilities, and really add value to their lives. We want to bring our facilities and care to where they are,” Bryant said.
Raymer also discussed plans to expand Hover Community’s Hover at Home services. The program supports independent living for community members 55+ that need some assistance in their daily lives. Services include housekeeping and laundry, meal services, errands and social visits.
“The direction of this last year has renewed our focus on Hover at Home,” Raymer said. “The program can really benefit the community as a whole and we’re looking at more services we can provide.”
