Opening a Long-Term Care Facility on St. Simons Island
Author: Cayley Meiners
Faculty Supervisor: C. Tate Holbrook, Ph.D.
Abstract:
During the 2017 spring semester, I did an internship with Thrive at Frederica Assisted Living & Memory Care on St. Simons Island. This is a brand-new facility offering high-end, long-term care in a way that is different than any others in the area. With this internship, I got a real behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to open a home of this caliber. I witnessed state and local licensing procedures, sat in on numerous corporate conference calls, and attended community outreach luncheons with potential partners and residents. I also had opportunities to assess residents for their move-in care plans and give tours of the building to interested families. Lastly, I spent time with the seniors by assisting them with their daily activities and overall helping them enjoy their time spent there. Working with the team and residents at Thrive at Frederica has given me invaluable insight into geriatric care; I was able to practice my bedside manner and learn about healthcare administration, both of which will help me moving forward with a career as a Physician Assistant.
