Business Spotlight

WEBSITE: harborchase.com HOURS: Monda – Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. HarborChase Brings 5-Star Hospitality to Assisted Living

There's a remarkable sense of light and welcome atmosphere from the moment you walk into the foyer at HarborChase of South Oklahoma City. Willena Ferguson, executive director at the facility, says that sensation is entirely by design.

"I think one of the things that set us apart is that we are a hospitality-based company," said Ferguson. "We operate with a high standard when it comes to our medical framework, but we also focus on the hospitality industry like a resort would have."

Ferguson wants the public to understand that when she and the HarborChase staff talk about the balance of those two areas, they are both approached with passionate professionalism.

"We are staffed with nurses and caregivers 24/7," said Ferguson, "That includes Certified Nursing Assistants and Certified Medication Aides. We do cater to residents with diabetic needs because that seems to be a void for many in the assisted living world."

HarborChase also offers memory care for those with Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as transitional memory care, a program for individuals with mild memory impairment. Transitional Memory care is an option for those who would benefit from focused care but may not require full attention or a secured environment.

"The transitional bridge program is for people with early onset Alzheimer's, but they still are very high functioning," said Ferguson. "They can stay on the assisted living side of the community as long as they're not an elopement risk. And that way they can still enjoy amenities of the regular assisted living as long as they can."

On the hospitality side of HarborChase, Ferguson says the facility offers a remarkable variety of options for residents to enjoy.

"We're unique in that we have a full-service lounge," said Ferguson. "We have a bartender, and we're licensed to sell liquor. We have three restaurants, including as well as what we call the 'Counter Offer' where folks can come and grab a sandwich or something like."

HarborChase's other restaurants include a pizzeria and The Grill Room, an upscale option that will rival some of OKC's finest steakhouses.

"The Grill Room is usually open on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays, and we get a lot of participants," said Ferguson. "It is open also to the public by reservation only, and it's right up there with Charleston's or Mahogany. We have a very well-trained executive chef who has worked in many country clubs throughout the United States."

Ferguson says HarborChase also places a high priority on resident safety.

"We have an 1800 square foot safe room that is FEMA approved," said Ferguson. "It can withstand an EF5 tornado and will house all residents, employees, and pets in our community."

When you add in HarborChases's three levels of activity programs and many field trips, you have a facility that feels more like a cruise ship than assisted living.

Ferguson said, "We try to have more than one program at a time. That allows the residents have a choice of activities they can do. Sometimes there are so many things you can do that it's hard to decide.

For more information or to schedule a visit to HarborChase, call the number listed above or visit the website.