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The Westminster Communities Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the Barbara W. Makant Scholarship, a permanent endowment generously created by Westminster Oaks resident Barbara Makant.

This distinguished fund is dedicated to supporting team members at our Life Plan Community in Tallahassee and their children or grandchildren who are pursuing certification, licensure or degrees in nursing.

The scholarship fund is a heartfelt tribute to two individuals who have left a lasting impact on the Westminster Oaks community: Certified Nursing Assistant Cynthia Davis and Barbara’s husband, Joseph Edward “Ed” Baseheart.

Cynthia has been a dedicated member of the Westminster Oaks nursing team since 1997. Known for her professionalism, compassion and exceptional care, she plays a vital role in supporting residents and their families during challenging times. Her attentive and respectful care for Ed during his final months at the Bertrand Health Center exemplified the highest standards of nursing. Her kindness and skill left a deep impression on Barbara and inspired this enduring gift.

“Caring for residents at Westminster Oaks has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Cynthia said. “To know that my work inspired this scholarship is deeply humbling. I hope it helps others pursue their dreams in nursing and carry forward the spirit of compassion and dedication that defines our community.”

The fund also honors the memory of Barbara’s beloved husband, Ed. A resident of Westminster Oaks for nearly eight years, Ed was a man of many talents and interests—from biology and counseling to outdoor adventures and gardening. He held degrees from Millikin University and San Francisco State College and was known for his creativity, warmth and zest for life.

Barbara’s own life reflects a deep commitment to education and service. With a background that spans teaching, nursing, military service and law, Barbara has earned four academic degrees and served as a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since moving to Westminster Oaks, she has been an active and engaged resident leader.

“Education has shaped every chapter of my life, and nursing has always held a special place in my heart,” Barbara said. “This scholarship is my way of giving back—to honor the care my husband received, to recognize the dedication of caregivers like Cynthia Davis, and to support those who aspire to serve others through nursing.”

Through this generous endowment, Barbara has ensured that the legacy of care, compassion and excellence continues at Westminster Oaks for generations to come.

Today, Westminster St. Augustine became Florida’s only senior living community to earn the 2024 LifeLoop Communities That Shine award, and one of just 12 nationwide.

“We’re very grateful and honored to be recognized as a community that shines,” said Kori Montague, Director of Activities and Volunteer Services at Westminster St. Augustine. “We have this technology thanks to the Westminster Communities Foundation, and the two machines are used in all facets of our community.”

The community leverages iN2L’s diverse programming in all levels of care, including exercise routines, engaging games, captivating videos, a wide selection of music, comforting spiritual content, and a user-friendly volunteer platform. This empowers easy and meaningful one-on-one interactions between volunteers and residents. 

iN2L by LifeLoop is especially beneficial for residents of assisted living and memory care who have mobility challenges or benefit from support with activity motivation, fostering personalized connection and engagement.

“It gives us a lot of pride to know we were able to provide something that directly helps the residents right here at the community,” said Westminster St. Augustine’s Director of Philanthropy, Tonnie Alliance. 

LifeLoop received an impressive 130 submissions for this year’s award, Westminster St. Augustine’s program standing out as a particularly compelling aspect of their application. Through the program, volunteers utilize iN2L programming to help support their own comfort measures during a resident’s final moments with spiritual guidance, music, and other IN2L resources.

“iN2L is a hands-on interactive tool that helps residents at all levels of care,” said Health Services Administrator Misty DeGross. “Our team members do a fantastic job identifying which residents need which programming and what would best support them.”

Charles de Vilmorin, Senior Vice President of Resident Engagement for LifeLoop acknowledged the community’s dedication, stating, “Our mission and passion is to help communities like yours flourish. We spent countless hours reviewing the submissions and the work that Kori and her team does is essential.”

The ceremony concluded with a tour highlighting how innovative technology fosters a vibrant and deeply connected community, underscoring our commitment to elevating well-being and enhancing the resident experience.

Congratulations to Westminster St. Augustine for your innovative use of technology to supplement the personal care and devotion our team members and volunteers provide to members of our community.