Author: mfehrmann

When a hurricane threatens our communities, the Westminster Communities of Florida family comes together to ensure the safety of all residents.

This week, Hurricane Dorian’s threat to the East Coast of Florida caused St. Johns County to order an evacuation of Westminster Woods on Julington Creek.

Independent living residents went to Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee, where they dined and spent time as one family. The Oaks residents even had up a sign to greet them: “We have to stop meeting like this!” The residents from Westminster Woods on Julington Creek enjoyed a bus tour of Tallahassee and the fine lifestyle opportunities and hospitality of Westminster Oaks for the holiday week.

Meanwhile, assisted living and Health Center residents went to Westminster St. Augustine and Riverside Presbyterian House, two sister communities in greater Jacksonville, as well as Taylor Residences and Cathedral Care of Jacksonville.

It was thanks to the the hard work and dedication of our staff that the residents from Westminster Woods on Julington Creek were safe and well-cared for throughout the storm.

Sue Gambill, a resident at Westminster Oaks in Tallahassee, captured the spirit when she said, “I admire the staff! They stayed later and all took on extra tasks. The Jacksonville staff have had to evacuate several years now. We residents throughout Florida are so lucky to be part of such an amazing community.”

Chief Operating Officer Garry Hennis said, “Our incredible team members provide care and compassion for our Mission daily. But it is magnified in challenging times, and they truly rose to the occasion.”

We hope you share in our gratitude to our employees. Together, our family is stronger than any storm.

We also ask that you keep the citizens of the Bahamas in your prayers, especially on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. They have suffered far more than they did, and our hearts go out to them.

ORLANDO, July 22, 2019 – On Monday, LeadingAge Florida honored Westminster Communities of Florida’s CEO, Roger Stevens, for his extraordinary career of leadership and service to older adults.

This year’s awards were given at LeadingAge Florida’s 56th Annual Convention, held at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort. The theme of this year’s event was “What If?”

Stevens was recognized for his exceptional dedication to older adults throughout his entire lifetime. In presenting the award, Westminster COO Garry Hennis said that Stevens is “a visionary leader and builder – someone who has made exceptional contributions over the course of a career and has positively impacted and advanced the aging services field.” He added, “Please join me in congratulating Roger!”

After the award was presented to him, Stevens said in his remarks, “What an honor it is to be chosen by you for this award – all of you who contributed to this! It is not always easy to serve, so I want to say thanks to all of our staff for their dedication. And thank you very much for this great honor.”

Stevens has served Westminster Communities of Florida and its residents since 1995, first as chief operating officer, and then as chief executive officer since 2011. He is also the chairman of LeadingAge Florida, the state association representing the industry. He is a Certified Public Accountant and former manager with an international CPA firm working for not-for-profit retirement community and health care clients throughout the Western United States. He is experienced in feasibility studies, new facility development, financing, start-up, turn-around and operations. Stevens has been a speaker at national and regional retirement community and healthcare meetings and conventions, and has been active with LeadingAge and LeadingAge Florida.

Westminster Communities of Florida is proud to have such an exceptional leader contributing to our Mission. It is through his hard work that we are able to serve older adults throughout Florida and make the greater communities we serve stronger at the same time.

Please join us in congratulating Roger Stevens on this award!

LAF 2019 Awards: Roger Stevens from AssociationStudios.com on Vimeo.

About LeadingAge Florida: For 56 years, LeadingAge Florida has served as a nonprofit statewide association of more than 250 mission-driven communities, representing the full continuum of care for seniors with members ranging from affordable housing to nursing homes and from assisted living facilities to continuing care retirement communities. LeadingAge Florida is proud to serve quality leaders who devote themselves to creating a culture of excellence that motivates and inspires others throughout the aging continuum. LeadingAge Florida’s members are trusted with providing quality care and services to Florida’s seniors. LeadingAge Florida promotes practices that support, enable and empower people to live fully as they age.

About Westminster Communities of Florida: Westminster Communities of Florida is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization serving more than 7,000 residents in 22 communities around Florida who are in search of an enlightened, fully integrated, person-centered approach to health and wellness. Since 1954, we’ve been Florida’s best choice in active senior living. Our Mission of service commits us to creating and preserving excellent active living communities and honoring each person’s dignity, rights, self-respect and independence.

We’re excited to join the Westminster family and our whole country in observing National Nurses Week, a celebration of dedicated women and men who have chosen the profession of nursing. In celebration of the nearly 350 Licensed and Registered Nurses who support the Mission of Westminster Communities of Florida, our COO, Garry Hennis, wrote a letter of thanks to all nurses. Read Garry’s letter below to learn how we celebrate those who serve our residents:

May 6, 2019

Dear nursing team,

I’m excited to join the Westminster family and our whole country in observing National Nurses Week, a celebration of dedicated women and men who have chosen the profession of nursing. Nearly 350 Licensed and Registered Nurses support the Mission of Westminster Communities of Florida throughout our organization, sharing in our commitment to the quality of our residents’ lives and their wellbeing.

Nursing is a distinguished profession and are called to serve. It brings to mind my favorite hymn, for those who are called into service: Here I Am, Lord.

Here I am Lord,
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night,
I will go, Lord,
If you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.

This week I especially want to Celebrate the 350 nurses of Westminster Communities of Florida, members of the 4 Million Reasons to Celebrate.

Every day, Westminster’s nurses ensure resident safety and wellbeing, offering both a sense of security and the opportunity for residents to remain active and independent. You provide the essential communication with physicians, pharmacists, therapists and other providers to define the needs of the resident and the effective responses to those needs.

Westminster nurses have invested in the profession of nursing and through their action and commitment have become examples for others. You have encouraged women and men from all departments to respond to the call to join the profession of nursing and become Reasons to Celebrate. 

In addition, Westminster nurses participate in the essential training of students in nursing and related health care professions who come to our sites for internships and clinical practice.  Westminster nurses therefore shape the future of post-acute care.

This week, we plan to discover what nurses enjoy about working for Westminster Communities of Florida. I look forward hearing how you have responded to the call to serve our Mission of the Heart.

I am so grateful for the nurses who choose to serve the residents and families of Westminster Communities of Florida. On behalf of all of us, thank you!

Gratefully yours,

Garry D. Hennis
Chief Operating Officer
Westminster Communities of Florida