Atria Day

Yesterday 11.04.08 my class and I went to the Atria Crossgate this isnt an old person home this is an Enriched living enviroment. We met Kevin Bevan first he was the engaged life director. His job mainly was to make sure the clientele stayed connected with the real world so that they felt they were independent. We also met Janice Thompson the director she was very nice she explained her job history. She also mmentioned that her passion was working with older people, senior citizens, she said she will never work with anyone but senior citizens. This place has 84 apartments with more men which is weird because most of the time its majority is woman. We got to see one of the rooms, the bed looked comfy they had all the things a normal home would have, there was a tiny kitchen a small living room, 2 closets, and a bathroom. When i look back on it I really can see how comfortable it would be. The rooms cost 3200 a month which includes the room and the utilities. Other little packages like shower aids, med techs., and anything that would help them with things that doesnt go in there room. A few challenges that they have is if a client ends up going into depression. The food and beverage department doesnt really have alot to worry about mainly they just have to make sure that there isnt to much salt or too much sugar. The similarites I saw was the fact that they both rely on private resources. They both have accesible room. Many ammenities are the same internet, tv, and a restaurant. There were many differences obviously like the fact that the Albany Marriott doesnt have a Wii and they dont have karoke or bingo. Marriott leaves their guest alone while at the Atria they cannot do that there has to be some kind of personal touch that is what they pay for. I enjoyed the day at the Atria it was fun. If I could choose the place I wanted for the internship I would probably choose the Atria, Because it seems like I would get more from the guest where as at the marriott. you have a moment of truth you get this but a hundred times more personal.