By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

Vitality Living of New York Mills has seen its share of updates and changes in the past year and a half since it took over ownership in August of 2024. Executive Director Kari Collins has been on staff since March, but recently stepped into her new position and is looking forward to seeing new faces come to visit for the holiday season.

Collins became Executive Director in September and has since been working on and accomplishing a number of team goals for the facility, one of which includes hosting open house tours every quarter. For December’s open house, the team is celebrating the Christmas season and inviting the community to come and tour their updated facility. Guests can enjoy coffee and cookies and get to know the staff.

“When I first started in March, we had a lot of traveling staff,” said Collins. “Since July, we have been fully staffed, it’s all our own people, so that’s huge, that makes a big difference, I’m very proud of the team we’ve built.”

Part of keeping a healthy team of employees includes showing appreciation for each and every one of those who work in the facility. For Vitality Living, that has included monthly employee engagement activities, which have included bowling, bingo, and a staff Christmas party held this month.

While the staff enjoy their time together with different activities as a team, the residents also have a busy schedule of activities available to them throughout the weeks and months. From music to retail therapy to Bible studies and in-house podiatry opportunities, the assisted living facility always has something going on.

“My favorite part of this job is to provide resources and a place to live for residents that resembles their own life, to do as much as we can to make it their home,” said Collins. “My goal was to build a positive team of employees to provide the best care, so I feel like I’ve done that and continue to do that—that’s a big part of it. You have a happy team, you have happy residents.”

With 31 total residents in December and a maximum capacity of 38, along with 28 staff members, Collins is looking forward to seeing some new faces enter the doors and fill up the remaining rooms.

“I am looking forward to a full house,” she said. “With our staff that we have on board, we have an opportunity to be a well-known, sought-after assisted living facility. My goal is 38 people with a waiting list.”

Along with the many residential activities, both new and old, a gift is given to each new resident as they move into the Vitality Living facility. Trinity Lutheran Church of NY Mills makes and donates quilts to be given to each new resident as a symbolic warm hug and welcome to the community. “That kindness is so appreciated,” said Collins. 

“We’ve been working hard at upgrading the activities and the team, but we’ve also had some physical updates. We have new upgraded fiber internet, new carpet on the books, and fresh paint coming soon also. So that’s a big thing,” said Collins.

Vitality Living hosted their Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 11 with a number of community members present for coffee, cookies, and a tour around the upgraded facility. Anyone interested in a future tour is able to get in touch with the front desk at (218) 385-4700 or watch their Facebook page for the next Open House in a few months.