Cascade Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care- "Comfortable, Loved, and Appreciated"

Quotes Courtesy of Heather Oleson, Community Relations Director

In 2017, after being taken down to the studs and rebuilt as a modern, inviting, home-away-from-home, what was formerly known as Oregon Retirement for over 50 years was remodeled and renamed Cascade Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care. With 7 Managers and 23 employees on the Care Team providing 24/7 services to its Residents, Cascade Valley is proudly 100% employee-owned and operated, and it shows on the cheerful faces of the Residents and staff.

“Cascade Valley is for someone who needs 24-hour care, extra assistance with medications, meal-prep, dressing, and round-the-clock help as needed.” The facility has many home-like qualities available to Residents and families such as The Hub, a communal meeting area where Residents gather to sip coffee, play piano, and prepare for appointments out in town. The Activities Area is an open-concept space and always has something available for recreation such as playing cards, coloring books, watching sports, and spending time together. Outdoor areas feature walking paths and courtyards, and the Walla Walla River trickles by just beyond the fence. “It’s very scenic and peaceful, and a big catch for the Residents. During the Spring, Summer, and Fall, Residents will sit outside and chat it up.” The Family Room, adjacent to the Dining Room, features a dual-sided fireplace and a semi-private cozy place to spend time with visitors and family.  

Weekly dining options vary widely from a standard breakfast to lighter fare such as soups/sandwiches/salads, to their once-weekly ethnic food day featuring meals from different cultures. Dessert is offered daily and could be a traditional piece of cake to the wildly popular Build-Your-Own-Sundae. “Kitchen staff does a wonderful job keeping it festive for all holidays” and serves themed foods such as brownies with green icing for St. Patrick’s Day.

Knowing how important it is to keep Residents engaged, Cascade Valley provides several excursions for their Residents: Wal-Mart trips, rides to the Blue Mountains and Harris Park, and picnics. “Harris Park is a favorite because it’s handicap-accessible, so it’s easy for people to get off the bus, walk through the grass, and sit at a picnic table.” Local car clubs drive by and put on a mini car show and a picnic for the residents.

“The thing I really like to emphasize is the community giving back to the Residents here at Cascade Valley. They donate clothes, books, coloring books, quilts, afghans, lap blankets, magazines, and even gardening tools.” With the gardening tools, Residents of the Memory Care facility created a little greenhouse garden where they spent time cultivating plants! “People volunteer to visit with Residents that don’t have family, they play piano for the Residents. We’ve had Christmas Carolers from different churches in the area; Pastor Tim and Robin Sanchez come and do a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays. The Pioneer Posse kids spend time with the Residents and made valentines and heart-shaped cookies for them. Boy Scouts brought Christmas wreaths and put it on each Resident’s door. The Key Club created plant atriums that they donated. The 4^th Grade class from Gib Olinger made hand-art Christmas trees that the Residents decorated. It’s always wonderful to have children come in and spend time with us.”

“Milton-Freewater has great respect for their elderly in town. Other communities often say their elderly are left behind and forgotten, but not here in Milton-Freewater! This is [the Resident’s] last home and we try to make them very comfortable, loved, and appreciated.”

For more information, call Heather Oleson at 541-938-5693 option 4. The process usually takes about 2 weeks and starts with a tour, talking over what the needs of your loved one are, going over the medical requirements with the family and the doctor, and picking out a suite for the new Resident.