International Visitors Tour Park Place of Elmhurst
On March 4, Park Place of Elmhurst welcomed a group of international visitors as part of a learning exchange focused on senior living communities.
The group represented St Monica Trust, a UK-based nonprofit organization with more than 100 years of experience creating retirement communities where older adults can thrive. Through its retirement villages, care homes, and charitable programs, the Trust supports thousands of older adults and focuses on connection, contribution, and choice as key elements of healthy aging.
Joe Xanthopoulos, Executive Director for Park Place, said, “It was very interesting to learn more about their organization. There are many similarities between what they offer in their retirement communities and care homes and what we provide here. Their ‘Chocolate Quarter’ is part of a larger, integrated development that opens retail spaces to the broader community, something we see in more urban life plan communities in the U.S., such as St. John’s on the Lake in Milwaukee. I only wish we had more time to learn about their reimbursement model in care homes and the history of their foundation.”
During their visit, the delegation toured the Park Place campus to learn more about Providence Life Services’ integrated approach to senior living. Conversations covered a wide range of topics, including resident engagement, wellness programs, rehabilitation services, and the operational challenges and opportunities facing senior living organizations around the world.
Representatives from LeadingAge also joined the visit, contributing a perspective on regulations and the role of industry associations in advocating for both residents and senior living communities.
As the group toured the campus, they also had the chance to speak with residents. One resident shared how convenient it has been to have therapy services available right on campus after surgery, explaining that being able to simply come downstairs for outpatient therapy made recovery much easier.
Visitors expressed particular interest in the continuum of care offered at Park Place of Elmhurst, including the close connection between independent living, assisted living, and rehabilitation services.
David Williams, Chief Executive Officer of St Monica Trust, shared his thoughts on the trip, “What stood out most to me was the continuum of care you offer here. Seeing independent living, assisted living, and rehabilitation connected within one community is impressive. The scale of the rehabilitation services in particular is something we don’t often see in the UK, and it’s been fascinating to learn more about how it supports residents. I look forward to continuing the conversation and sharing ideas internationally so we can learn from each other’s successes—and our mistakes.”
“Our communities are always learning and evolving,” said Megan Tengerstrom, Chief Operating Officer of Providence Life Services. “Opportunities like this allow us to share ideas with organizations from around the world and learn from one another as we all work to create the best possible environments for older adults.”
The visit concluded with an invitation for the Park Place of Elmhurst team to visit the St Monica Trust communities in the United Kingdom in the future, continuing the spirit of collaboration and shared learning across the senior living sector.
