Treemont Retirement Blog

Senior Living Houston: Driver Jessica Hinojosa provides support during COVID-19

Transportation service is often a key reason Treemont residents choose to move to a retirement community. Jessica Hinojosa joined the Treemont Transportation Team two years ago in January to provide additional support to Mark Thomas in providing transportation services for our residents.

What is the role of our Transportation driving team? Treemont offers scheduled transportation for: (1) doctor’s appointments within a 5-7 mile radius; (2) grocery store and Wal-Mart shopping trips; (3) pharmacy pickups and (4) personal trips such as to the bank. With about 300 residents, residents are asked to call the Front Desk (or leave a message for Mark or Jessica) one week in advance, to reserve a spot on the Treemont van or car. With fewer outside excursions these days, Jessica is also making sure all visitors answer the “coronavirus questionnaire” and get their temperature checked.

Senior Living Houston: Housekeeper Esther Renteria supports residents

The beauty of retirement living is that life is maintenance-free, with daily tasks such as housekeeping a task of the past, as this service is included in Treemont’s monthly rent. We are fortunate to have Esther Renteria tending to our residents’ apartments.  With her friendly demeanor and great work ethic, Esther is a valued employee.

Esther is one of the many long-tenured employees (31 years!) that support our residents. Esther is the housekeeper for many of our Building A residents. Her duties also include upkeep of common areas in the community. Each Treemont resident is assigned to a housekeeper to do weekly housekeeping in their apartment, as part of Treemont’s all-inclusive monthly senior apartment rental. This covers vacuuming, dusting, wiping down counters and cleaning the bathroom. Extra services include weekly change of bed linens

Senior Living Houston: Welcome Cook Donna Alexander!

A key reason seniors choose retirement living is a desire to have the option of three meals a day, seven days a week, to help residents stay healthy and also provide more social opportunities. Since most Treemont residents, however, dine three times daily at our community, it is extra important that our Dining Staff make dining a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Naturally, food preparation is important. A key ingredient to a wonderful dining atmosphere is also the attitude of staff.  Dining Service Manager Chef James Renshaw works to hire capable team members that are in tune with customer service. Most recently, Donna Ann Alexander was hired as our senior living Houston's newest Cook.

Says Chef James, “Donna has 14 years of experience in senior care, cooking, providing customer service so that she offers a valued perspective on what we do at Treemont. Donna is a quick learner and has gained the respect of fellow staff.”

 She is working with James, Myra, BJ and the Team on rolling out the new menu items.

Senior Living Houston: Welcome Monica Muniz, Activity Director

Social interaction, activities, companionship and making new friends are key reasons many seniors choose to move to a senior living community. It’s convenient to be able to walk out of your apartment and enjoy activities, including entertainment, and one’s neighbors. At Treemont, the goal is to sponsor activities that our current residents value. We’ve been fortunate to have Activity Director Nikki Andress at the helm for most of 2018. We are now welcoming another experienced Activity Director Monica Muniz to the Treemont family.

Monica says, “I envision my role is to fulfill the lives of our residents with active engaging activities such as exercise, outings, brain games and socials that will be beneficial for our residents.” This includes working with the community to bring in relevant instructors, performers, and speakers as well as designing appropriate programs.

Senior Living Houston: Spotlight on Food Server Deborah Hughes

Treemont provides three meals daily, seven days a week, which is atypical for most independent living communities. Residents benefit from staying well-nourished, having built-in social opportunities as well as minimizing grocery shopping, cooking and cleaning. That being said, the service in the dining room is an important contributor to resident happiness, particularly for those who tend to eat most meals in the Treemont Dining Room.

The dining room team members play a key role in the dining experience — and Food Service Server Deborah Hughes is a new team member that epitomizes the type of food service employee Treemont desires.  “Deborah is the most positive individual we have on our team! When asked how she is doing,, Deborah  responds “fan flipping tastic!” It’s really

Senior Living Houston: Spotlight on Activity Director Nikki Andress

Social interaction, companionship, and making new friends are key reasons many seniors choose to move to a senior community. It’s convenient to be able to walk out of your apartment and enjoy activities, entertainment, and intellectual programs all in your own community. At Treemont, our goal is to sponsor activities that our current residents value. With our new Activity Director Nikki Andress at the helm, this retirement community in Houston is taking the opportunity to re-evaluate its activity program. The March 12^th Activity Planning Meeting was the first of four quarterly meetings to be held in 2018. Designed to listen to resident suggestions and spark fresh ideas for programming, the meeting was held in collaboration with an Activity Planning Survey. The most popular ideas from the survey will debut in the April Activity Calendar.

Nikki says, “My role is to coordinate programs that will be interesting,

Senior Living Houston: Spotlight on Maintenance Director Don Ibanez

Treemont Maintenance Director Don Ibanez has been a consistent, reassuring presence on the Treemont Campus for 34 years. Everyone at Treemont knows Don’s name and talks about him and his oversight of the Maintenance Department with awe and amazement. He is Treemont’s “rock star” on campus.

A key reason seniors move to a retirement community is the following: “No more upkeep of a large home! No more chores or housekeeping! No more maintenance!” Don makes a point to make this desire a reality. He is typically one of the first Department Heads new residents meet when they move into their new apartment, stopping by to make sure all is working well in the apartment, to introduce himself and advise on how to place a work order.

Senior Living Houston: Spotlight on Dining Supervisor Kelley Hough

A key reason seniors choose retirement living is a desire to have the option of three meals a day, seven days a week, to help residents stay healthy and also provide more social opportunities. The dining room staff  play a key role in the dining experience — and Dining Supervisor Kelley Hough is a key team member that makes sure residents have a pleasant dining experience.  Kelley’s daily responsibilities are to oversee employees in their daily routine serving residents, clients, family members and staff. Kelley also serves residents in the dining room and oversees the catering of Treemont events, parties and small family gatherings.

Kelley joined the Treemont Team about a year ago. “What attracted me was I have a passion

Assisted  Living Houston: Spotlight on Maintenance Cornelio Vega

A key reason seniors choose retirement living is a desire to no longer have to worry about maintenance and upkeep of their home. This senior living Houston community is known for the care and attention to resident’s maintenance needs. A key person contributing to the success of this department for over 30 years is Maintenance Team member Cornelio Vega. Only Supervisor Don Ibanez has served longer in Maintenance!

Residents have this to say about moving to a senior living community.

• No more upkeep of a large home!
• No more chores or housekeeping!
• No more maintenance!

Cornelio is one of this senior living Houston longest-serving employees in this senior living