UF President Machen, Musical Performances Will Mark Assisted Living's First Anniversary Celebration

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida -- July 14, 2005 -- Today, retired pediatrician Dr. George Dell will be singin' the blues.  But there's no mournful wailing here, only an air of energy and excitement as he and other residents at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida present Our First Anniversary: A Musical Celebration. A unique offering of musical comraderie around the Steinway, the event will feature formal remarks by UF President Bernard Machen, whose parents live in Oak Hammock's assisted living community.

 

The event marks Assisted Living's first anniversary and its newfound accessibility to the Gainesville community due to the recent awarding of its Skilled Nursing Medicare license. The musical program, tours and a wine and cheese reception are all open to the public to highlight the change.

 

"This whole thing started when (Oak Hammock retiree) Adele Moody couldn't fit it in her apartment, so she loaned her Steinway to Assisted Living. She came to play it every afternoon, and before long, it was drawing everyone in the place," said Cindy Flowers, Assisted Living Manager. "It's how we like to do things at Oak Hammock." Moody, Dell and others will perform several vocal and instrumental pieces during the performance.

 The Pavilion at Oak Hammock – which encompasses skilled nursing care, assisted living, rehabilitation and memory support – allows a continuum of care through all areas, as well as making it more accessible to the Gainesville community. Now, Oak Hammock can take direct admissions from the community -- patients do not have to be living at Oak Hammock to receive skilled nursing care at The Pavilion under Medicare.

This recent development opens up new choices in Assisted Living as well, Flowers said.

"Now that The Pavilion is open to the community, we can offer people who have come for skilled nursing care the additional option of being discharged to Assisted Living to continue their rehabilitation before returning home. The Shands, Oak Hammock and Gainesville community will benefit from this, and as long as we have the availability, we want to do this for the community," Flowers said.

The Pavilion provides a complete spectrum of on-site, integrated, coordinated healthcare services in all-private accommodations. Its 37 spacious, assisted living suites are designed for those who need help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing or assistance with self-administered medications.

People interested in receiving rehab services following a hospital stay can call a centralized admission number at 548-1133. Or for more information, visit www.oakhammock.org.