The Woodlands first opened its doors in 1947. The brainchild of local nurses Carol Shroyer and Hazel Wilson, they later sold to Life Care Centers of America in 1972. Fifty-two years later, The Woodlands still upholds the same mission that Shroyer and Wilson first envisioned and recently celebrated their 77th anniversary earlier this year.
Now in the capable hands of Kevin Spaugh, executive director, and an experienced and dedicated management team, The Woodlands offers both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, in addition to its Memory Care Facility, the first of its kind in Muncie. Spaugh is originally from Anderson but has adopted Muncie as his second home since graduating from Ball State in 1993.
“We specialize in continuity of care, where we employ our own on-site staff,” said Connie Kiger, director of business development since 2017. “It really makes a difference for our caregiving teams and for the residents who are met with a familiar face.”
“There’s lots of longevity in our ranks,” added Kiger, who attributes this to the welcoming atmosphere, and Life Care’s investment in its staff and residents alike.
“It’s unusual to maintain the same ownership of a facility for as long as we have,” said Spaugh. “It really speaks to an exemplary working relationship between Life Care and our staff.”
The Woodlands’ short-term rehabilitation averages 30 days and entails physical, occupational and speech therapies. All are in-house. Long-term care focuses on activities of daily living, for which staff encourages residents to be up, engaged and involved. “Our goal is to keep our residents moving,” said Kiger. “Giving them choices in their care and well-being is paramount to our mission.”
“Our residents’ rights always prevail, as they should,” said Spaugh.
The Memory Care wing provides space for 30 residents, and supplies geriatric, physical and psychiatric services. The Woodlands utilizes a social model of care, as opposed to the normal clinical model. “We strive to provide a safe haven for everyone there,” said Kiger.
Recent additions to the Memory Care programming include a monthly Community Caregiving gathering and a monthly Memory Cafe. The gathering is geared toward supporting memory-care families in the community. “It’s like a therapy session for the families,” said Spaugh. “They learn that they’re not alone.”
The cafe is intended for memory-care friends as well as their caregivers. “The Woodlands strives to be a resource to anyone affected by memory-care issues and their families/caregivers,” said Kiger.
On a daily basis, The Woodlands provides the utmost in medical care via its caring and competent professionals. Dr. Jeffrey Hiltz is on-site for patient assessments and treatments three days a week. Nurse Practitioner Shannon Sitgreaves is available five days a week, advocating for and attending to residents’ needs.
Both Spaugh and Kiger realize the importance of staying ahead of the curve with their vision and best practices. Utilizing individualized care plans and 24-hour skilled nursing care, The Woodlands ensures that each patient’s unique goals and abilities can be maximized.
“We strive to make our residents’ quality of life as exceptional as possible,” said Kiger.
The Woodlands is located at 3820 West Jackson Street in Muncie, only a mile from IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State.
