COVER STORY – Mari de Villa

COVER STORY LIVE WELL

MARI DE VILLA by stephanie wallace

WHEN IT’S TIME TO MAKE A LIFESTYLE transition, older adults may find the prospect of moving to a retirement community or skilled nursing facility daunting. They may worry about the services provided or have concerns about being cut off from things they once enjoyed. Mari de Villa eases all of those worries. The luxury senior living community has been serving residents for more than six decades, providing both comprehensive care and plenty of opportunities for socialization and fun. “Mari de Villa opened its doors on March 9, 1960, and has continued with the same initial hands-on approach,” president Fred Wiesehan says. “We strive to make a difference in the lives of our guests daily.”

Located on a 23-acre campus in Town and Country, the community offers a continuum of care, from extremely independent and active to comprehensive nursing assistance, including memory care. Its skilled nursing team provides individualized care for residents, and the full therapy department offers physical, occupational, speech and rehabilitation services. “We have had many guests start out enjoying an independent living villa and, as care needs increase, transition to our Villa West, East and Waterford buildings, which provide 24-hour nursing services,” Wiesehan says. “They get to continue to enjoy the grounds and amenities they are familiar with and build relationships with the staff.”

Mari de Villa also offers a wide range of activities to keep seniors active and engaged, such as live music, book clubs, wellness classes, indoor water aerobics, and seasonal gatherings like summer barbecues and holiday parties. “Our daily activities are not only enjoyable, but they also offer important opportunities for socialization,” Wiesehan notes. While room service is available, guests are encouraged to eat in the dining rooms and can even have their diet planned by a registered dietician. Along with meals, the community’s all-inclusive rates cover housekeeping, laundry, cable TV and Wi-Fi, and nursing care.

All guests and employees are encouraged to feel like they are part of the Mari de Villa family, according to Wiesehan. The fact that the community is a single location allows him and the staff to devote their full attention to the property and its residents. “We aren’t dividing our efforts between any other locations,” he explains. “We are focused on providing the best level of care here. Thanks to our strong local roots, we often welcome second and third generation families as guests at Mari de Villa.”

Last year brought unprecedented challenges for everyone, but especially senior living communities. Thanks to its dedication to the safety of residents and staff, Mari de Villa didn’t experience any cases of COVID-19 for the first 10 months of the pandemic and was able to ensure the campus was virus-free again after the national spike in November and December. Now, the community is ready to safely invite potential residents and their families to tour. “Our dedicated staff have been nothing short of heroic,” Wiesehan says. “We’re excited to welcome new guests into the Mari de Villa family.” &

PHOTO: THOMAS WARWICK

MARI DE VILLA OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF CARE.

SENIOR HEALTH & LIFESTYLE SPECIAL SECTION

LOCATED IN TOWN AND COUNTRY ON A MORE THAN 20-ACRE CAMPUS, MARI DE VILLA HAS BEEN SERVING SENIORS OF ST. LOUIS FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. IT OFFERS A CONTINUUM OF CARE, STARTING WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING AND EVOLVING AS CLIENTS’ NEEDS CHANGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 636.227.5347 OR VISIT MARIDEVILLA.COM.

COVER DESIGN BY JULIE STEILER | COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF MARI DE VILLA

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