DEARBORN, Michigan – This past December, Virginia resident Mary Malzahn made a trip back to her home state of Michigan to visit family over the holidays and tour retirement communities with her dad — not expecting that he would be making a move so quickly.
Living room of hospitality apartment for Oakwood Common guests.
“In January, he fell and bruised his hip,” said Malzahn, who described it as a “happy accident” because it wasn’t more serious and resulted in his move from Grosse Pointe Farms to Oakwood Common in Dearborn.
Malzahn’s dad was admitted to a Detroit area hospital for treatment and then transferred to the Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Oakwood Common for physical therapy.
“We had already visited Oakwood Common and identified it as the best option. It has such wonderful amenities and the folks we met were so happy to be there. Then the staff at Oakwood surprised us with a solution that made his transition from skilled nursing to an independent living apartment totally seamless,” added Malzahn.
Donna Brandt, sales coordinator for Oakwood Common, suggested that Malzahn’s father move from Skilled Nursing to a guest apartment while a permanent apartment was customized to his liking.
“The communication between the Skilled Nursing and Independent Living areas was exceptional,” said Malzahn. “They also helped us locate a mover and other resources that made everything so easy.”
According to Malzahn, living in a temporary guest apartment for a month helped him become more familiar with his new neighbors and all the services available.
Even though it’s a nine hour drive from Malzahn’s home in Virginia to Dearborn, Oakwood Common is centrally located for her brothers, who live in the Detroit area and can readily stop in for a visit.
“While our dad was very receptive to making the move, if others have parents who need more time to make a decision, I would highly recommend they take a ‘test drive’ in a guest apartment at Oakwood Common,” added Malzahn. “We had the happy experience of our dad going in ‘reverse order’ from skilled nursing to independent living.”
About Oakwood Common
Oakwood Common offers one and two bedroom apartments located at 16351 Rotunda Drive, within a beautiful 29-acre retirement community that includes exquisite landscaping, nature trails and scenic views along the historic Rouge River Gateway in Dearborn. Oakwood Common apartments, available with flexible payment options, offer exceptional amenities for independent living and can be readily customized. Assisted living and a comprehensive rehabilitation and skilled nursing center are also available for those with additional needs. For more information and to arrange tours, call 800-642-4663 or visit www.OakwoodCommon.org.