Winter Walks and More
Winter may have been chilly, but it didn’t slow down the activity level at Our Lady of the Valley!
Residents were “walking the walk” at the Roanoke area Walk to End Alzheimer’s event—a cause near and dear to the hearts of our families.
We also hosted our first ever “Walk Through the Valley,” with a showcase of beautiful Christmas trees decorated by local community partners and organizations, plus celebratory treats and drinks!
Read all about it, plus our many other seasonal activities and outings, in our Winter 2023-2024 Newsletter.
In the News: Erin McKeon on Veterans Voices
Our Lady of the Valley’s Erin McKeon (Director of Admissions, Assisted Living & Memory Care), was recently featured on WFXR’s Veterans Voices of the Blue Ridge series.
Erin proudly served in the Navy for four years. She was a 3rd Class Petty Officer from 1994 to 1998 stationed in Crystal City at Navy International Programs Office and worked in the Pentagon.
“What I loved about it was the camaraderie, and the young people you meet from all over the country…” Erin stated. Erin is now a director at Our Lady of the Valley where she uses many of the leadership and relational skills from the Navy in her current role working with seniors and their families.
Watch Erin’s interview on WFXR to learn more!
Fabulous Fall
Residents in the mood for amazing food, stunning mountain views, and a lovely scenic drive found exactly what they hoped for during a recent outing on the Blue Ridge Parkway. An excited group boarded our bus and set out to the Peaks of Otter Lodge Lake View Restaurant to grab lunch and enjoy the great outdoors. Beautiful vistas included nearby Sharp Top Mountain and the glistening Abbott Lake…
Read more about our Peaks of Otter trip, Beaver Dam Sunflower outing, team updates, and much more in our latest newsletter. Download and share our Fall Marketing Newsletter or pick up a copy when you visit.
OLOV Care Recognized with Local 2023 Awards
Our team was excited to be recognized recently with five new awards:
- Roanoke Times: WINNER – Best Rehab
- Roanoke Times: FAVORITE – Best Assisted Living
- Roanoke Times: FAVORITE – Best Retirement Community
- HOME Magazine: PLATINUM – Best Retirement Community
- The Roanoker Magazine: SILVER WINNER – Best Rehab/Post-Op Facility
Our Lady of the Valley has always been proud to offer the area’s highest quality senior care. But it is especially gratifying and encouraging to our team members when the local community recognizes their daily efforts. Our community is truly honored to be the recipient of these awards!
Thank you to everyone who voted!
Warm-Weather Fun
Summer is here and we’re excited about it!
From the halls of our Christopher Center (memory care) to the Salem Memorial Ballpark, our residents have been having a blast enjoying the highlights of summer.
The Fourth of July and Cinco de Mayo were a perfect excuse for games, laughter, and food. On The Longest Day, we supported the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association. And one brave resident threw out the first pitch at a Salem Red Sox game! To read all the details, download our Quarterly Marketing Newsletter for Summer 2023 or pick up a copy at our assisted living front desk.
Full-swing into Spring
Spring is here and we are ready for it!
So many fun things have been happening at Our Lady of the Valley. Twin Day was double the fun as residents and staff dressed up in matching outfits and celebrated their favorite colors, teams, and alma maters.
In our Christopher Center, the NCAA basketball tournament inspired us to play our own round of “March Madness.” And a visit to our favorite, local TV station gave us a peak behind the scenes at how the news and weather reports are made. It was interesting and exciting.
Read about these stories and more in our Spring 2023 Quarterly Newsletter!
OLOV Honored for Award-Winning Rehab
Have you heard the news?
Our Lady of the Valley was awarded the 2023 Silver Winner in the Best Rehab/Post-Op Facility category by readers of the Roanoker Magazine. Our state-of-the-art care, on-site services (provided by Powerback Rehabilitation), and our beautiful and comfortable PRIVATE rooms are just a few of the reasons that seniors love completing their rehab in our community.
Thank you to everyone who voted!
Winter Wonders
Winter brought lots of celebrations, laughter, smiles, and new memories to our community.
From holiday festivities, to fun outings and some amazing food (including an in-person cooking demonstration!), the winter months were warm and wonderful at Valley. Not to mention tasty!
Read all about our winter happenings in our latest newsletter. Download the PDF here and read all about it!
Fantastic Fall
Fall is fantastic at Our Lady of the Valley!
Read our latest newsletter and you’ll see many of the reasons to “fall” in love with this time of year. Our residents have certainly been making the most of this season, from a harvest celebrations to special outings. See the happy memories we captured at our Fall Festival and our trip to the sunflower farm. You’ll also see happy residents in the portraits drawn by artist Kyle Edgell.
Download the our Fall 2022 Newsletter to read all about these stories and more, or pick up a copy at the front desk during your next visit to Our Lady of the Valley!
Local News WSET Features Our Lady of the Valley Care and Lifestyle
We were excited to recently host our friends from WSET ABC13’s “Living in the Heart of Virginia” program as they explored the many services and amenities available in our community.
Executive Director Mary Lynn Yengst spoke about how our community is truly “home” for our residents and reflected on the family feel that you find within our walls. Covering the vast array of services now provided at Our Lady of the Valley – from assisted living and nursing care to rehabilitation and memory care – she also talked about some of the things that make our community unique. Our brand-new chapel, theater, Bistro, and expanded rehab center were just a few of the lovely spaces highlighted during the interview.
Click the play button below to view the entire segment!
Summer Fun: Living the Good Life
Residents and team members have been having a blast this summer – from outings and parties to anniversary celebrations. We’ve been making memories to last a lifetime!
A recent trip to Butterfly Field Farm in Bedford had residents smiling as they spent time with a variety of friendly critters. We also recognized the marriage anniversary of one of our sweet couples, who have continued their love story here at Our Lady of the Valley. And no summer would be complete without parties on our porch!
Read these stories and more in Our Lady of the Valley’s summer newsletter.
5 Ways to Maintain Your Independence
No matter your age, maintaining your independent lifestyle is important! Whether you’re a senior or the loved one of an older adult, we all wish to remain active and engaged as we age.
What are the best ways to ensure that you or a family member remain as independent as possible?
The Roanoke Times recently published an article, 5 ways to maintain your independence in your silver years, featuring some expert advice from our very own director of marketing and admissions, Erin McKeon. With years of experience in the senior care industry, as well as a love for older adults, Erin shares her valuable knowledge along with a positive outlook on aging.
Springtime Happenings
Spring has sprung at Our Lady of the Valley! We were honored to welcome The Most Reverand Barry C. Knestout, D.D., Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, for the dedication of several new spaces. It was a special and memorable time for our community.
We also spent time outdoors on our lovely porch and spacious patio area, celebrating family on Mother’s Day, and just enjoying life!
Read all about it in our Spring 2022 Quarterly Newsletter!
Star City Christmas Traditions (and More!)
This winter was a busy time for the residents, families, and staff at Our Lady of the Valley. Celebrating the Christmas season brought many fun activities as we created new memories together.
From our outing to see decorated Christmas trees at the Hotel Roanoke, to crafts, entertainment, and more, our calendars were full!
Learn more about this wonderful season and see a few familiar faces in Our Lady of the Valley’s Winter 2021-22 Quarterly Community Newsletter.
Quarterly Newsletter: Summer Issue
See what’s new at Our Lady of the Valley from annual holiday celebrations to new programs and technologies. Download our most recent newsletter to read all about what’s been happening in our community:
Our Lady of the Valley Quarterly Newsletter – Summer 2021
Hardcopies are available at Our Lady of the Valley (quantities are limited). Inquire at the front desk.
Summer Fun is Here! June Staycation Schedule Now Available
We are so excited to announce the return of our Summer Staycation Program!
Our June dates are now available. We invite you to join us for one of our fun local outings or activities happening right here at Our Lady of the Valley.
Click here to download the complete June schedule. Ready to sign up for one, two, or all of our events? Simply give us a call at 540-345-5111 today! We can’t wait to spend time with you and your friends this summer!
A Reason to Smile! Quarterly Newsletter Now Available
It’s here!
Don’t miss the latest edition of our quarterly marketing newsletter. Click here to download a PDF of the Winter 2020-21 issue! Read about our recent vaccination clinics, exciting changes happening in our building, healthy eating tips, and reflections on a lovely holiday season.
Interested in a hardcopy? Contact the front desk (quantities are limited!).
Valley Residents Discover Pen Pals - Young and Old!
Recently, our life enrichment department invited the greater public to join our residents in a Pen Pal Program. The response we’ve received as been amazing!
Local news station, WSLS Channel 10, recently covered this story on their evening news – click here to read the article and watch the interviews.
If you would be interested in participating, email Hannah Sitze, our life enrichment director, for details. Our residents love receiving mail from people of all ages!
New Expansion Brings Changes, Memory Care
If you’ve visited or driven past Our Lady of the Valley recently, you probably noticed some major changes happening on our campus!
New Lounge Space
Our community has recently broken ground on a nearly 20,000-square foot, $8 million expansion project which will create more nursing care rooms, lovely common areas, and bring a new service to our community—specialized memory care, including a new, secure outdoor courtyard!
WDBJ7 recently released an article about the new changes—check it out here!
The work is expected to be completed in the summer of 2021.
Having a Good Time at Valley
As the title of our Spring 2020 Newsletter states, COVID-19 changed our normal routine, but we can still have a good time! From caricatures to show and tell and St. Patrick’s Day, our residents have been keeping busy while social distancing and staying safe.
Our latest newsletter also highlights some of the wonderful gestures our friends and family members have made to thank our wonderful team members during this difficult time. Be sure to download and read the newsletter for all the details!
Celebrating 30 Years Under the Star
Our Lady of the Valley recently celebrated 30 years of service to seniors in the greater Roanoke area. They commemorated the milestone with a party on Wednesday, October 23 with the theme “30 Years Under the Star,” a nod to their downtown location in the Star City.
Residents, family members, staff, board members, the management team, and special guests all gathered to enjoy an afternoon of light hors d’oeuvres and special desserts prepared by the Our Lady of the Valley dining team.
Speakers at the event included Board of Directors President Forrest Hodge, City of Roanoke Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr., Our Lady of the Valley Executive Director Trent Clugston, LeadingAge Virginia CEO Melissa Andrews, and Robert and Mary Elyn McNichols of the community’s management firm, Coordinated Services Management, Inc. A prayer and special remarks were given by His Excellency, Bishop Barry C. Knestout of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.
Guests also enjoyed music by a local harpist and tours of the community, which has seen several expansions and renovations over the last three decades.
Our Lady of the Valley continues to offer quality assisted living, nursing care, and rehabilitation services on its beautiful campus, located directly across from St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. Sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, it is a nonprofit, nondenominational community open to people of all faiths. For more information, visit ourladyofthevalley.com or call 540-345-5111.
2019 STAR Award Nominee
The Annual CSM STAR Awards Program (presented by our management firm) was designed to recognize the most outstanding employees from their senior living communities across the state. Standing for “Special Thanks And Recognition,” this program highlights the best employees in the company. Each community, including Our Lady of the Valley, nominates one deserving team member to be awarded this honor.
Our Lady of the Valley’s 2019 nominee was James (Jimmy) Steahly, the maintenance assistant. He was recognized at a special luncheon presented by CSM for all STAR nominees.
According to co-workers, “Jimmy’s quality of work shows in everything he does and sets a standard for other employees throughout the maintenance department and Our Lady of the Valley staff. He is always willing and ready to go above and beyond to assist his co-workers and residents. Jimmy is exactly what anyone would want in an employee. He is kind, always smiling, and always willing to lend a helping hand.”
Congratulations to Jimmy for achieving this special honor!
