Ovation Communities – Year in Review

There have been a number of exciting improvements and updates to the Ovation Communities campus and operations this year. These initiatives ensure that Ovation remains the first choice for the best quality care and programming, as well as top-notch esthetics and amenities.

Elevated Dining Experiences Roll Out Across Campus

With a focus on wellness and food quality, several projects to enhance the dining experience at Ovation Communities began to take shape this year.

• The new Chai Point kitchen opened in January, more than doubling the size and allowing for improved workflow, dedicated meat, dairy and parve areas, and top-of-the-line new appliances. Residents can now enjoy a customized dining program, featuring fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch cooking, accompanied by unique restaurant style dining options. Resident engagement has been invaluable throughout this project and tweaks continue to be made as they begin to experience the new kitchen and provide helpful feedback.
• The Oasis Kosher Café is one of the only full-service kosher restaurants in the city of Milwaukee. The team continues to work to expand operations so guests in the area always know they have a reliable, delicious option for excellent kosher cuisine.
• Ovation Communities recently hired a new food service director, Mike Aparo. Mike is an exceptional kosher chef and certified dietary manager who is excited to reinvigorate Ovation’s food offerings and continue to add culturally appropriate foods throughout the campus.
  

Kavod Terrace opened at the end of September, setting a new standard for the highest quality memory care services in a beautiful, homelike setting. The 14,718-square-foot, 16-apartment wing features enlarged community spaces, a new light-filled solarium overlooking Prospect Ave., and Monya’s Garden, an outdoor space with views of Lake Michigan. This innovative project reimagines the original vision of this residential community to make people feel at home in a rich, vibrant environment and surround them with the sensory stimulation of art, music and personalized programming.

Kavod Terrace was recently designated a Dementia Specific Facility following Administrator Katie Quintanilla’s successful completion of LeadingAge Wisconsin’s Dementia Care Designation System certification. This makes Kavod Terrace and the Jewish Home two of only 15 total facilities in the state to hold this important distinction.

With the opening of Kavod Terrace, Ovation Communities now has a full continuum of care, allowing our residents to remain in the community they know and love as their level of care needs evolve. My personal goal is to make sure that every resident feels as though they are truly at home at Kavod Terrace. The intentional open-concept layout serves to foster a sense of community and togetherness to combat the isolation and loneliness often felt by residents living with dementia. Our staff is poised to provide a safe, peaceful and joyful living experience for each resident as we strive to meet them where they are on their journey. We are so excited to see this vision come to fruition as we start welcoming our first residents!”
— Katie Quintanilla,
Administrator, Ovation Jewish Home

Building an Indoor Playground

Ovation Communities secured funding this year to install a children’s playground on the main level of the Jewish Home. Unexpected in a senior living community, this new amenity will serve as an incredible quality of life boost for residents that struggle to leave the campus. Seniors love nothing more than watching children play and Ovation is thrilled about the upcoming on-site play option available during visits from beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

New Nurse Call System

Staff across Ovation Communities are now equipped with wireless pager devices notifying them of resident calls immediately, even when they’re not at the desk. The new technology will cut down on the time it takes for nurses to respond to and assist with any and all needs, offering additional peace of mind for residents and their families.