Legacy E Newsletter, July 18 2007
Meet Lana VanGiesen - New Executive Director for The Legacy at Willow Bend
Lana VanGiesen has been named as Executive Director for Dallas' newest premier retirement community, The Legacy at Willow Bend. The Legacy at Willow Bend is scheduled to open its doors in Spring 2008 and will consist of over 100 independent living apartment homes, 18 Villas, 40 assisted living residences, 18 memory support suites, and the largest health care center of any retirement community in the area consisting of 60 skilled nursing suites. The Legacy at Willow Bend offers amenities such as a separate men's and women's card rooms, business center, home entertainment theater, vitality spa which includes a beauty salon, barber shop, two lane lap pool, walking resistance pool and state-of-the-art gym and aerobics center. This is but a handful of the luxury indoor and outdoor features that will be offered.
"The exceptional standards which we have set for The Legacy at Willow Bend also carry over to its leadership. Lana VanGiesen has many years of acclaimed service to the Dallas retirement community and she is a welcome addition to our team. I have all the confidence in her ability to do great things in this position." said Michael Ellentuck, President of The Legacy Senior Communities, parent corporation of The Legacy at Willow Bend.
Ms. VanGiesen received her Masters Degree in Gerontology from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. She began her career consulting on Aging Awareness and presented at the Governor's Conference on Aging twice. In 1991, she began teaching sophomore medical students at St. Louis University Medical School and continued as a Professor for seven years.
In 1989, Lana became the Assistant Executive Director for Gambrill Gardens in St. Louis and chaired the EAGLE committee which led to national accreditation for quality care and services at retirement communities. She moved to Dallas in June of 1999 to become the Director of Retirement for a new community called, Signature Pointe on the Lake. Within a year, Ms. VanGiesen utilized her expertise to grow occupancy to 100% in Retirement & Assisted Living.
For the past 3 years, Lana has been the Executive Director of Town Village Retirement Community here in Dallas. Once again, she was able to increase occupancy to almost 100% and also developed a Wellness Center for the community. On top of Ms. VanGiesen's outstanding career achievements, she also has received her Assisted Living Managers Certification, Nursing Home Administrators License and is a renowned Retirement Housing Professional with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
Lana VanGiesen stated, "I am happy to be the newest member of The Legacy team. I love the senior community and have adored dedicating my career to their cares and needs. I am very excited and honored to assist in writing the first chapters for The Legacy at Willow Bend and I am eager to get started."
Construction Update
Progress, progress, progress! Construction is hot for The Legacy at Willow Bend! Our construction crew has completed the fourth, and final, floor of the main Independent Living Building and the first stage of roofing has begun. Our Memory Support Wing is completed and final roofing will be done within the next month.
Six of our eighteen luxurious Villas have been constructed with more on the way and we even have the final roof shingles going on the Skilled Nursing Building!
Stay tuned for more updates on Dallas' most desired retirement community.
View the latest photos from the site.