Meet Bob
Executive Director
The executive director, along with our friendly and professional staff, strives to create positive, stimulating ways for residents to continue living life with meaning and purpose. We are a friendly family where we treat residents like real people with real life stories.
Our community is a great story that includes heartwarming chapters and incredibly unique characters all in a wonderful setting. Here is the executive director’s story:
In what ways do your residents inspire you?
The wisdom and experience of each and every resident inspires and motivates me every day. In spite of handicaps, they seem to overcome, reach out to other residents and have an overall great attitude about life and living.
Do you have any memorable experiences with a particular resident you would like to share?
My memorable experiences with residents are vast. The one that stands out is a resident that approached me during the hurricane(s) of 2004 and told me how happy and proud he was to be living in our community and he couldn’t think of a place he’d rather live.
How do you honor your residents at your community?
I wish we could do more! We do a GREAT job at honoring residents for their birthday, especially for landmark birthdays (90, 100, and 103). We gave a blown up wedding picture to a resident for their 70th wedding anniversary and she practically screamed for joy!
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story?
The stories we hear are incredible but the one that stands out is a resident who was co-founder of a major national chain. To hear his story about the growth and success of his business was great. I am moved on a daily basis by listening to a resident recount her experiences and survival in the Nazi death camps. Respect and honor for what she went through cannot be told in words.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
One resident in particular stands out! He moved in depressed, frail and could barely walk. He started going to meals, gained some friends (male and female) and within a month I went with him and a group of residents to a local casino. I sat back, shook my head in wonderment as he went from slot to slot, smiling, laughing and hugging friends as he won or loss. “What a changed man,” I thought! That was an inspirational feeling of success.
How long have you worked in the retirement industry?
For 10 years.
What do you like best about your job?
Serving seniors and the feeling you get when a resident or family member says “I love Lake Worth Gardens.”
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
Sailing! (FREEDOM)
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I’d love to meet Alexander the Great! I believe he was one of the greatest leaders of all time.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is “The Godfather.” I found the entire movie from start to finish absolutely fascinating in every respect. “The Godfather” has it all: drama, action, love and intrigue.
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
Gumbo is my favorite dish because of my upbringing in the Louisiana (Cajun) area. My favorite dessert is German Chocolate cake due to it being my Mom’s favorite cake to bake.
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
To watch the dining room servers in our community carefully serve each resident is inspiring in itself. But to see them take an order, bring it back only to be told it wasn’t what they ordered, (actually it was) and then with a smile assure the resident they would “make it right.” What an inspiration! The entire food and beverage staff inspires me EVERY DAY by the hard work they do and their great attitude while doing it.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
The atmosphere is created not by me, but by the residents and employees themselves. If they are happy and content they will bond with us and each other. The employees here are happy to serve and it shows by their willingness to go above and beyond. My job is to set the pace and attitude needed to succeed and communicate with everyone.
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
The employee that best embodies our core values is Maria, our housekeeping supervisor. She embodies our core values by:
Integrity - Never have I had a complaint about Maria or her staff doing anything that would discredit themselves or our community.
Respect - The rapport Maria has with each and every resident is nothing short of amazing. Along with that, no matter what the problems may be she ensures that every resident is treated with the utmost respect possible.
Responsibility - Maria’s department works like a precision instrument every day. Her leadership ensures every employee gets his or her job done and it is done right, each and every time.
Professionalism - The day-to-day operation of Maria’s department is impressive. She ensures that every job is done correctly, professionally and within all company guidelines.
Teamwork - Maria’s ability to keep our staff motivated is the key to her success. No one employee exemplifies teamwork better than Maria and her department.
At Lake Worth Gardens, we understand that deciding where to live is a big decision that deserves careful thought. We invite you to visit us, stop by for lunch or be a guest at one of our special events or classes. We look forward to meeting you.
LiveWell!
Lifestyle Programs and Events
At Horizon Bay, helping residents stay healthy is one of our top priorities. We empower residents to actively engage in life and achieve an optimal state of body, mind and spirit. By emphasizing personal choice, self-direction and optimism, we support the belief that everyone can find ways to enhance health and age well. The
LiveWell! Lifestyle Programs & Events are designed to provide social, fitness and recreational opportunities that have a positive impact on the well-being of our residents.
LiveWell! encompasses the six dimensions of wellness. To learn more about each dimension of wellness, click on the link.
Physical Intellectual Emotional Social Vocational Spiritual
Over the years,
LiveWell! has been honored with several prestigious awards. In 2008, Horizon Bay received a 2008 Best of the Best Award from the Assisted Living Federation of America, which recognizes senior living companies for innovative excellence. In addition,
LiveWell! received The Best Practices Award for wellness programs in senior retirement communities from the National Council on Aging.
LiveWell! Signature Programs
Horizon Bay offers these ongoing programs that give residents the opportunity to live life to the fullest. Programs include leisure and recreational events, such as arts and crafts, book clubs, sightseeing tours, excursions to cultural events, theme parties, intergenerational events, musical entertainment and faith-oriented services. In addition, a wellness lecture series provides education on a variety of healthy aging topics, including medical, fitness, therapy and social service fields. To learn more about
LiveWell! Signature Programs, click on the link.
Mind Aerobics Matter of Balance ForeverFit
Residents receive a monthly newsletter with a calendar of events and tips on how to stay healthy. And new residents receive an orientation and complete an activity interest survey to determine what programs will most benefit them.
The Six Dimensions of Wellness:
Physical
Physical wellness is living a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition, self-care and regular physical activity relative to level of ability. Some classes available at our community may include: fitness, strength and endurance programs; movement classes including dance, tai chi and yoga; walking programs; and Horizon Bay’s Matter of Balance Fall Prevention Program.
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Intellectual
Intellectual wellness is expanding one’s knowledge through ongoing learning opportunities, creative pursuits and stimulating discussions. Intellectual wellness programs offered here may inlucde the LiveWell! Educational Series; Horizon Bay’s Mind Aerobics program; writing classes; and computer classes.
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Emotional
Emotional wellness is understanding, managing and expressing feelings in a successful way. It’s also utilizing coping skills and stress management techniques. Programs available may include: art and music programs; humor programs; journal and writing classes; and therapeutic wellness groups.
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Social
Social wellness is creating and maintaining relationships through talking, sharing interests and beings socially engaged. Horizon Bay offers social wellness programs that may include: new resident welcome receptions; monthly birthday parties; theme parties and events; holiday and seasonal socials; and intergenerational programs.
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Vocational
Vocational wellness is about discovering personal growth opportunities, gaining satisfaction from service to others, sharing life experiences and learning and improving skills. Vocational wellness programs offered at Horizon Bay may include: many volunteer opportunities; hobby and craft classes; woodworking and sewing programs; mentoring programs; and gardening clubs.
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Spiritual
Spiritual wellness is building upon personal values, finding meaning and purpose in life and a peaceful harmony in the world. Horizon Bay offers an abundance of spiritual programs, which may include: church services; prayer groups and bible studies; stress management and meditation; nature programs; cultural awareness and appreciation programs; and daily positive affirmations.
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Mind Aerobics
Mind Aerobics is a mental fitness program designed on the science of the mind that shows the brain can change and improve performance at any age. Keeping your mind active is a key element to healthy and successful aging. Researchers have shown that diet and exercise can help older adults maintain their physical health, which is a key component of healthy aging. But maintaining mental health is just as important. New evidence suggests older adults can preserve and even enhance their memory by adding memory strategies and mind exercises to an overall healthy lifestyle. This program will help improve overall brain health and keep your mind active, sharp and vibrant. Horizon Bay’s Mind Aerobics consists of the following four programs:
Memory Training: Participate in brainteasers, puzzles and memory exercises that emphasize thinking skills and teach memory strategies.
Healthy Lifestyle Practices: Learn about healthy diet and nutritional habits that promote brain health and prevent dips in blood glucose, the primary energy source for the brain.
Physical Activity: Understand how daily physical activities like walking and stretching have been found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Stress Reduction: Practice relaxation exercises to reduce the stress that causes the body to release hormones which can impair memory and judgment.
Horizon Bay’s memory enhancement program will help build brainpower and healthy lifestyle habits that benefit your overall health, improve self-esteem, show you new ways to stimulate your mind and help you feel empowered to try new things.
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Matter of Balance
Are you afraid of falling? Do you go out less often? Do you look at your feet when you walk? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, then Matter of Balance is for you. Matter of Balance is a fall prevention program that has been proven effective in changing perceptions and behaviors of older adults who are limited by the fear of falling. This is a unique program that was developed by Boston University’s Roybal Center. The eight-week program consists of educational lectures, discussion, flexibility exercises and strength training. Most people that have taken the class experienced increased confidence, improved fitness and make new friends.
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ForeverFit
A physical activity program, ForeverFit includes fitness and exercise opportunities to improve strength and balance, enhance flexibility and gain endurance. Activities may include strength training classes, chair yoga, tai chi, walking clubs, sit and be fit exercise classes, fitness centers and aquatic programs. ForeverFit also includes exercise readiness assessments, fitness evaluations and FitnessBucks, a motivational and incentive program for residents.
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