Argentum Member Spotlight

The building was completed in 2008.   This was the “brain-storm” of several Oakland business owners to build a long-term care facility that would serve the local community and keep their seniors “at home”.  Although built to the standards of an assisted living facility, the founders never moved forward to obtain the licensing with IDPH as Assisted Living.  For that reason, it was operated as thirteen (13) independent senior apartments.  In August, 2019, Eric and I purchased The Oaks Manor and immediately started “jumping through the hoops” with the State of Illinois.  Our probationary license was granted in January 2020.  

Our number 1 service at our small boutique community is to spoil our residents and their extended family members.  We cater to their wants and desires from the food prepared to the way their rooms are cleaned.  Like other assisted living communities, we offer three home-cooked meals daily; weekly housekeeping and personalized laundry service.  Our suites have their own private geothermal heating system and central air conditioning.  This allows our residents to set the temperature in their suites so it is comfortable for them, and it adds a measure of safety since air ducts are not shared between rooms.  Our residents enjoy DirectTV, internet and the ability to visit with family via Zoom calls.  We work directly with outside care providers such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, home health care providers and hospice.  Activities include cards, Chinese checkers, bingo, crafts, piano music, exercise and educational learning on a wide variety of subjects.  When permitted, local clergy lead Bible Study and provide Church Services weekly.

The Oaks Manor motto is “ Residents do not live where we work, we work where they live”.   Our community has beautiful furnishings to provide the feeling of home, not an institution.  It also smells nice.  We have lots of art work on the walls including many canvas photographs of African wildlife taken by Eric and I while in Kenya in 2020.  All our team members are CPR-certified and go through additional training to become Resident Aides.  They are all cross-trained to help out wherever needed.  We probably have the largest percentage (67%) of team members with a Food Manager’s License and the remainder with a food handler’s certification.  We have a very large backyard for the enjoyment of all where we grow tomatoes and peppers in the summer and lots and lots of flowers.  We are located right next to Oakland Horizon Health.  Dr. Bajaj and Casey Anderson, P.A. will come to our facility to visit our residents when they do not feel well.  Within a block we have the public library, the senior center, Oakland city park, post office, grocery store.  Directly across Rt 133 are Casey’s and Family Dollar.  Another unique feature of living in The Oaks Manor is the friendly and supportive people who live here.  The art teacher from the elementary school loans artwork so it can be displayed on our hallway walls.  The people of Oakland are, by far, the most friendly, loving and helpful people you will ever meet. They consistently send cards to our residents and bring by little gifts and treats.  This has been essential toward keeping up the spirits of residents during this pandemic.  

It is really all Eric’s fault!  Eric worked at a long-term care facility as a young man and had a vision of owning his own one day.  Eric is our CFO and has worked as a CPA and corporate fund-raising in a lot of different industries.  He eventually focused in medical devices.  I have a doctorate in Microbiology from Kansas State.  I had worked the previous fifteen years as a trainer/mentor in the realm of real estate investing.  Putting all our experiences and training in a big cauldron and stirring it vigorously, out popped “The Oaks Manor”.  We are both new to this industry, but we saw a financial opportunity and believe that the need for senior long-term care will explode in the next few years.  We look at our involvement in this industry as our “Mission Field”.  

We are most proud of the relationships we have created with The Oaks Manor and the Oakland community.  We are proud of the level of care we provide and how happy our residents and their family members are.  One family member said, “The impact you have made on my mother has been incredible, she loves The Oaks Manor! We are so appreciative of what you do and if you need anything, we have your backs.”  

The vision I have for The Oaks Manor would be a waiting list for entry into our community.  When that happens, we will consider building additional rooms on adjacent land (possibly to provide care for Alzheimer’s).  Eric and I both believe we are one of the “best kept secrets” in East Central Illinois and the need for long-term care is only going to increase in the coming years. 

The pandemic has brought this entire industry to its knees.  A major setback full of unforeseen challenges, costly remedies, confusing government intervention leading to significant stress to our residents and their families.  Many communities will cease to operate due to low census and increasing costs associated with Covid-19.  We are optimistic that if you can survive “the storm”, you will emerge stronger on the other side of this better trained and better prepared.  You will be in a poised to profit from the unstoppable “Silver Tsunami”.  Be prepared to ride the wave.