The Ashford of Beavercreek provides residents with as much or as little care as they need

The Ashford of Beavercreek, a 114-apartment independent, assisted living and memory care facility in Beavercreek, is working to get the word out that there is no better time than now to start looking at retirement communities—be it for you or a loved one.

“The less time you have, the less options you have. But if you know this is a decision you’re going to have to make down the road, go sample it. Go take a look [and] figure out what you like before you’re forced to make that decision,” says Adam Squires, regional vice president of Sales.

At The Ashford of Beavercreek, which opened in January 2024, residents can access whatever level of care they desire.

“We can provide most levels of care, but for those who are even higher, there is an opportunity to partner with third party organizations to provide more care,” says Squires. “We have people in our residences who still have jobs and drive. We have people that are on hospice and are living out their final days… So really everything in between.”

This includes memory care,

“In memory care, we can provide the same care that we provide in assisted living, but it is in a secure neighborhood,” says Sara Ward, executive director. “But our memory care is really about the programming and making sure that the residents have a peer group, making sure that the activities are based upon someone that might have a short retention and might only be able to remember 20 minutes. They’re short and meaningful activities.”

These activities include outings, church services, exercising and an art program. Residents are also encouraged to reminisce.

“One of the things I’ve seen in other [Wallick] Communities [which owns and operates The Ashford as well other communities] is when the chef comes in and brings in different herbs and they smell. They tangibly are touching and smelling these herbs and they’re reminiscing about, ‘Oh, my grandma used to cook with basil all the time. This reminds me of her pasta sauce.’ Or tasting certain things and talking about the memories they have about that,” says Squires.

Ward adds that The Ashford’s memory care also endeavors to provide a home-like atmosphere. “The meals are a little bit different. They’re served family style, so all the residents are sitting together like they are in their home,” she says. “We try to keep the same caregivers in memory care so there’s continuity of care.”

The Ashford provides residents with many living and care options, but both Ward and Squires agree that people should start looking at communities for themselves or a loved one before it’s needed.

“Nobody drives down the street and goes, ‘Oh, that’s a fancy new skilled nursing facility. I’m going to go check that out.’ Nobody looks at it until they need it. But once they do need it, they’re overwhelmed with all of the options and they don’t know the difference between one place or the other,” says Squires. “I always tell people when they’re trying to make that decision, brochures are pretty, commercials are fine, but follow your five senses. When you walk in, does it smell good? Do the residents look well cared for and happy? Taste the food. This is the stuff that they’ll be eating day in and day out. Do you hear music? Do you hear laughter? Your subconscious is going to tell you if this is a good fit and a happy place.”

If you’re interested in learning more about The Ashford of Beavercreek, visit theashford.com/our-communities/the-ashford-of-beavercreek or call 937-777-9423.