The future of the Residence

Tan stucco building with balconies

The next chapter of an assisted-living forerunner

Nearly 30 years ago Macdonald Residence opened as the first 100% Medicaid assisted-living in the nation. What's next?

 

In a time of scarcity and COVID, we’re all very focused on getting through the day. It’s hard to think in strategic ways - and it’s critical. - Linda Nilsen

 

With Linda Nilsen, Macdonald Residence Facility Administrator

We have a good relationship with the state, and I think there’s more opportunity to deepen our partnership to better serve our residents. For example, can we pilot something here that could be used in other places?

I'm also excited about exploring more ways to coordinate with Maybelle Center programs to serve our residents and others in our broader neighborhood. There are so many opportunities to leverage and expand services in collaboration with other organizations.

On a more immediate note, I hear the CDC may be coming out with relaxed guidelines for people who’ve been vaccinated. So, that could be a game-changer for us – both for staff and residents.

Continue reading the full interview with Linda:

Part 1: Pandemic Life

A female sits behind a table with a laptop, getting ready to check in people for the vaccine clinic

Assisted living amid a global pandemic

Just 3 months on the job, Linda shares what it’s like to be at an assisted living facility amid the constant threat of infection, state-mandated safety restrictions, and how her time at Macdonald Residence has upended her long-held assumptions about public health.

Part 2: Residence Vaccines

A nurse in protective gear inserts a syringe into a bottle of vaccine

An insider’s guide to vaccinations in assisted living

A quick look into the vaccine process, including how Macdonald Residence got knocked off the list and how vaccine hesitancy caught them off guard.

Building a more vibrant Portland,
one relationship at a time.

By Jillianne Bandstra

Jillianne never grew out of the childhood “But, why?” stage. This insatiable curiosity led her to get two masters degrees (Adult Ed. & MBA). Jillianne can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than listening to someone’s story and getting a glimpse of the unseen history that we all hold. She believes there is beauty and value in all our stories, even if they’re messy. Outside of her work as our Communications Manager, you’ll find her chasing middle-schoolers in her role as a Youth Director and stepping on Legos left by her two young boys.