Radford, Virginia Native Brings Leadership and Team-Based Approach to Full-Service Retirement Community
Smithfield, Va. – Riverside Healthy Living Community-Smithfield is pleased to welcome Robert “Wes” Viers as its new Administrator. Nestled in the historic town of Smithfield, the facility underwent an $8 million renovation in 2015 and offers assisted living, memory support, nursing home and short-term rehabilitation, all on one single campus.
“Our facility – like Smithfield itself – is very welcoming,” said Viers, who joined the team in early March. “It’s a beautiful place physically, and you get that small town feel here. People know you, and we can get to know you.”
Viers, a Radford, Virginia native, worked in banking, insurance and retail distribution before entering the field of health care. “I wanted to get into a career where I could make a difference,” he said.
Prior to joining Riverside, Viers held positions at Medical Facilities of America, a regional leader in providing quality skilled nursing and rehabilitation care, as well as Sava Senior Care, one of the largest providers of short-term and long-term health care services in the United States.
At Riverside Healthy Living Community-Smithfield, Viers joins a state-of-art facility that embraces a Household Model of care where individual resident routines are known and respected. Residents arise when they choose, eat when they choose, and have the autonomy to be the driver of their daily lives.
“We strive to make the environment feel as much like home as possible for our residents,” said Viers. “The furnishings, the overall appearance, even the lighting is more home-like, and you no longer have that institutional feel.”
The 2015 renovations at Riverside Healthy Living Community-Smithfield included a complete remodeling of the 34-year-old nursing home and the addition of 12 new Memory Support apartments to the campus.
The new nursing home, called Willow Creek, has 34 beds in order to create an intimate environment that fully supports the household model of care. The nursing home institution is replaced with an authentic home where residents receive a high level of quality clinical care in a highly residential setting. Each Willow Creek unit features private bedrooms and bathrooms and open dining and living areas. At the heart of the home sits a family-style kitchen meant to bring every aspect of home life to the forefront of daily living.
While the Household Model of care is important, Viers is also a firm believer in the power of teamwork.
“I like to have a team approach to care, from our clinicians to the administration,” explained Viers. “I want to bring everybody together to talk about the best way to care for folks.”
When he is not in the office, Viers enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He and his family love the many outdoor activities available around the area, including kayaking, hiking and going to the beach.
Visit Riverside Healthy Living Community-Smithfield for more information.