7 Questions with Heidi Hutton from The Cottages at Mill Creek in Mill Creek, WA.
Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on June 01, 2018
7 Questions with Heidi Hutton from The Cottages at Mill Creek in Mill Creek, WA.
Hello Senior Living Link Family and welcome to our 7 Questions Interview blog where we ask our senior community members seven questions to provide insight and clarity to something you might be pondering. Today, I am excited to present one of our members, The Cottages at Mill Creek, a Care Partners community in Washington state.
The Cottages at Mill Creek is a memory care community. It's a very unique model. Within the secured community are four separate "cottages." The cottages are neighborly to one another and sit in a perfect outdoor layout to encourage walkabouts, sitting and enjoying the fresh air, and comingling among residents living in the four cottages. It embodies an environment of a community, residential living, and independence in a safe environment.
I had a chance to interview Heidi Hutton who is the executive director at The Cottages at Mill Creek. She has been with CarePartners and The Cottages at Mill Creek for almost 2 years and started her career as a skilled caregiver 23 years ago. She’s worked in different roles throughout her career in healthcare and finally found her perfect role in 2010 as an administrator. I asked Heidi our seven insightful questions, and here is what she had to say…
What one thing do you wish for people to already know or keep in mind when they start touring senior housing communities?
Heidi: It would be great if people already knew the differences between Adult Family Homes, Assisted Living and Skilled facilities. It would keep them from wasting time when starting the process of looking.
Donna Mae: I agree with you, Heidi. There are so many senior housing models available to families that it can feel overwhelming, cumbersome and intimidating. It prevents people from taking the next necessary steps because people simply don’t take action when there is confusion.
We have a blog called “Senior Living Options in a Nutshell” that is a great start to simplifying the different senior housing models. The intention is to learn the basics about senior housing models so well that you simply add knowledge as you learn more from other resources. If you understand the basic goals and ideas for each model, you can narrow your search based on appropriate level of care needs and desired living environment style.
Based on your experience, what is one thing residents, or their adult children, or families wish to achieve by moving into your community?
Heidi: The number one thing I hear from families is that they want more socialization and activities for their loved one.
What is one common myth you can think of that people have about communities that they find not to be true once they move in?
Heidi: One common myth is that the residents are sitting around in wheelchairs drooling and sleeping. We customize activities to each resident and try to keep them engaged.
Give a nickname for your favorite resident and why is he/she your fave?
Heidi: “Beth” is just one of my favorite residents. She is always so happy and whistles all day long. The only time she is not whistling is if she’s sleeping. The louder she whistles the happier you know she is. Every time I re-enter her cottage it is as if she’s seeing me for the first time each time. I’m greeted with excitement, hands waving me over, a hug and kiss.
What challenges do you foresee in senior housing and how is your community preparing for it?
Heidi: One challenge I see is that people are healthier and living longer and the price for senior housing is going up. Meaning people are running out of money to pay privately for senior housing. One of the reasons I love working for CarePartners is that they don’t make people move once their money runs out. They do not turn their backs on our residents.
Donna Mae: If you are seeking senior housing on the western side of Washington state, you must hear the value of what she is describing here! I want to take a moment and take this in. It is incredibly comforting to know that you will not need to relocate based on your financial situation now and in the future! If you are seeking senior housing in the vicinity of Mill Creek, Washington area, you owe it to yourself to at least call Heidi, stop by, and see for yourself if her community is a potential option for you!
What one golden advice can you give adult children who transition their loved once into senior housing?
Heidi: Allow time for a transition to the facility for their loved one. Everyone is different, it may take a while or no time at all for their loved one to transition.
What is your favorite time of the day for yourself and why?
Heidi: My favorite time of the day is first thing in the morning when getting to work. The residents are up and having breakfast. They are always excited to see me and I get that interaction with them immediately when I walk in. It makes it so easy to look forward to coming to work.
Shameless Plug Time: What 3 things do you love most about your community?
Heidi: What I love about our community is that no day is the same as the last. Most of the resident love activities and being part of something. They need to feel there is still a purpose for them every day and as a benefit of our job here we get to do activities with them. I love that we have four cottages, but each of them is a “home” to our residents.
That concludes our 7 questions with Heidi Hutton, executive director for The Cottages at Mill Creek in Washington state. And what a gift it truly is when you “get” to go to work and you are looking forward to it!
Heidi is one of many people at CarePartners who dedicates themselves to providing excellent service to aging people and their families. Give Heidi a call and stop by and see the happy culture she creates at The Cottages at Mill Creek in Mill Creek, WA. Give her a call at (425) 379-8276 or email her at heidi@cottagesmemorycare.com.
Want to learn more about their community, check out their profile with us at http://www.seniorlivinglink.org/directory/memory-care/the-cottages-at-mill-creek-83269
I hope this was helpful to you and that it gave you additional insight and clarity with what you are facing with yourself and your family.
See you at our next 7 questions interview blog.
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