The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) proudly launched the Outlook of Hope support group, created for caregivers, families and residents in the DFW area navigating the challenges of dementia. The group held its first meeting on Thursday, July 10, in the Assisted Living/Memory Support building of the OAW community.
Facilitated by Wendy Thomas, OAW’s Assisted Living Advisor, and Yashica Washington, Director of Assisted Living, and the inaugural meeting served as an introduction to anyone seeking a welcoming and compassionate space for sharing experiences.
Wendy shared, “The group’s name, Outlook of Hope, refers to a mindset grounded in the possibility of positive outcomes even in challenging circumstances.”
What to expect from Outlook of Hope:
Empathy – A listening ear without judgment. Being heard can be healing.
Honesty – Real stories, real struggles, real support. Every journey is valid.
Flexibility – Come as you are, share at your own pace.
Community – You are not alone.
Confidentiality – All conversations are held with respect and privacy.
Outlook of Hope is an open invitation to anyone in the Plano/DFW area, of any age, seeking support and encouragement while facing the challenges of caring for loved ones with dementia. The next support meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at OAW. To attend, please contact Wendy Thomas at (469) 990-4929. Click here to view the August support group invitation.
This summer, Brooke Gray is serving as the Sales and Marketing Intern at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW). She will begin her senior year this fall at the University of Arkansas, where she is majoring in marketing with a minor in supply chain management. On campus, Brooke is involved in Kappa Delta sorority, SALES Club, WISE (Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence), and Community Against Cancer. At OAW, Brooke supports the Sales and Marketing team with daily operations, assists with closing and move-in processes and supports the business office. We caught up with this busy intern for a fun Q&A to learn more about her. Read about Brooke below.
What are you passionate about regarding your role? I’m passionate about building genuine connections with people and using creativity to solve problems. I love working in environments where I can make a positive impact through marketing, communication and teamwork.
What has surprised you about working at a senior living community? Something that surprised me was how quickly I built relationships with residents and teammates. I didn’t expect to feel connected so quickly, but it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of this internship experience.
What is something that makes you feel proud? I was a competitive and school cheerleader for twelve years and I coached cheerleading for two years. I’m proud of staying committed to cheer even after tearing my shoulder during my final season. The same week I became injured, my group of third grade cheer students, who had no idea I was hurt, surprised me with cards saying I was their favorite coach and shared how much they looked up to me. That small moment reminded me how much it matters to show up for others.
On the weekend: You can find me spending time with my family and friends, going out to dinner, on lake trips, relaxing with my dogs or spending too much time on TikTok.
What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants? Hammontree’s is one of my favorite restaurants in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It has the best grilled cheese sandwich, and my boyfriend and I love going there for lunch. My other favorite foods are any kind of pasta, Tex Mex, chicken and waffles and chicken salad.
Tell us about your hobbies: I love going to concerts! I have three more shows lined up to attend this year and can’t wait. I also enjoy spending time in the kitchen, especially around the holidays, baking homemade pies and treating friends to my favorite cookie brownie sundaes. When the weather’s warm, I enjoy heading to the lake for surfing and wakeboarding. But my absolute favorite activity is my family’s annual winter snow ski trip.
Share about your family: I have three older siblings, a twin sister, two nieces and a nephew. My twin sister is in nursing school at Abilene Christian University, but we are all spread across different states (Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas). We have two dogs, Lady (an 18-year-old Dachshund) and Brody (a 13-year-old Havanese), who both love to cuddle on the couch or beg in the kitchen for food they’re not supposed to eat.
How would your friends describe you in three words? When I asked my friends, they described me as understanding, selfless and outgoing. I try my best to see things from others’ points of view and to be there for the people I love when things get hard.
What do you hope to be doing five years from now – personally or professionally? Professionally, I see myself working in Texas, in the hospitality or rental industry, and using my marketing background to create memorable customer experiences. Personally, I hope to be close to my family and friends, with opportunities to travel often and hope to continue learning and growing in new ways.
The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) is pleased to announce the newly elected members of the Resident Council, a group of residents who will serve as the voice of OAW’s Independent Living (IL) community.
The purpose of the Resident Council is to:
Represent the interests of OAW’s IL residents
Foster community spirit and enhance residents’ quality of life
Serve as a liaison between residents and OAW management
Provide input to staff for social, cultural, wellness and educational activities
Address concerns related to the well-being, safety and rights of residents
Administer the annual Teammate Appreciation Fund
These residents stepped forward to serve and advocate on behalf of their neighbors, and we are grateful for their leadership and commitment:
The Longest Day, also known as the summer solstice, is the day with the most light and a day when the Alzheimer’s Association asks communities and organizations across the country to bring light to the darkness of Alzheimer’s by raising awareness and funds for care, support and research.
On June 20, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) took part in The Longest Day by pedaling for a cause. The OAW team set up stationary bikes and invited residents to ride in 15-minute intervals to honor the cause. Though it became a smaller version of the originally planned Bike-a-Thon, the event went on with a handful of enthusiastic residents who were eager to pedal for purpose.
OAW is proud to have raised $1,200 during National Senior Health and Fitness Day to support the Alzheimer’s Association and their important mission. Together, we’ll shine brightly and beat the darkness of Alzheimer’s! Click here to learn how you can join the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
Kristy (Kris) Ross is a Resident Services Specialist for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), a role she began in August of 2024. She serves as the welcoming face and central hub of communication for the community, creating an inviting experience for everyone who walks through the doors. We caught up with Kris for a fun Q and A to learn more about her. Read about her below.
What are you passionate about regarding your professional role? Professionally, being of service to our residents is my top priority. I want them to know I am here to help with anything they need, whether it’s bringing a heavy box up to their apartment, locating lost keys or offering support during an emergency. I take great pride in making sure our residents feel cared for, seen and heard. The Resident Services team help by managing residents’ requests, responding to concerns with care and promptness and assisting with keeping the OAW community running smoothly.
Favorite memory/moment to date during your time at the OAW: One of my favorite memories is when a resident came to the front desk thinking she accidentally tossed her phone down the trash chute. Together, we walked to the trash compactor, opened the hatch and saw her phone sitting pretty on top of a box. With safety in mind and some teamwork, we were able to retrieve her phone! I’ll never forget that day – it was hilarious!
What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities? Without a doubt, the care we provide is unparalleled. Having worked at other senior living communities, I can confidently say that OAW excels at prioritizing residents’ needs and valuing their input to enhance their experience.
What is something that makes you feel proud? I am most proud of my strength and perseverance. My life journey has not been a smooth path, but I’m proud of my determination to keep moving forward and becoming the best version of myself, without letting roadblocks prevent me from achieving my goals.
On the weekend: You can find me sleeping! After a busy work week, my weekends are dedicated to catching up on my beauty rest. Besides sleeping, you will find me cleaning and organizing my apartment, watching a good movie at IPIC Theatre, spending time with my family and volunteering. I enjoy volunteering at pet shelters to assist with cleaning, feeding and socializing with the animals, especially with dogs dealing with extensive trauma. I want to show them so much love and care because I understand what it feels like to be disregarded.
What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants? I love chicken so much, it’s ridiculous! By far, my favorite spot to pick up chicken is Cowboy Chicken. I also love Soul Food and a hot breakfast plate with pancakes, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, cheesy grits and fruit on the side.
Favorite dish(es) to cook or order: My favorite dishes to order are the pecan waffles from Waffle House, chicken alfredo from Olive Garden, Chick-Fil-A’s mac and cheese and the Crossroads taco from Torchy’s Tacos.
Tell us about your hobbies: I love writing. At twelve years old, I started writing poetry after watching my all-time favorite movie, Poetic Justice. That movie inspired me and challenged my creativity in such a positive way. Now, I’m working on my first children’s book, and it’s going to be magical and amazing!
Share about your family: I am the second of three children. My older brother Derek, who is my best friend, lives in Tacoma, Washington, with my beautiful niece/science enthusiast Naomi and prayerful mom, Thalia. Kamil, my extroverted and wise younger sister, resides in Lewisville, so we spend a lot of time together. She is always giving me advice as if she is the older sister. My dad, who enjoys acting as my therapist, lawyer and financial advisor, is enjoying his retirement in Waco, where he takes care of his “baby girl,” a poodle named Bella.
How would your friends describe you? My friends would say that I am the glue holding everyone together, especially during tough times and disagreements. I am the one who makes sure we face difficult conversations head-on so that we can get back to what matters the most.
The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) marked National Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 28, with activities focused on health, movement and fun. OAW residents began the morning with the community’s First Annual Walkathon, where residents walked either one mile or a half mile around their neighborhood. The walk also served as a fundraiser, with donations benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.
After the walk, residents took part in “Minute to Win It” games: a series of quick, one-minute challenges using everyday household items. The goal was to complete each challenge within the time limit. The day wrapped up with a visit from Kona Ice, serving up shaved ice to help everyone cool down and enjoy a treat after an active morning. National Senior Health and Fitness Day is observed annually at more than 1,200 locations across the country on the last Wednesday of May.
Sabrina Gonzalez is the Culinary Services Supervisor at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW). She joined the OAW community last August as a server, then advanced to lead server and was recently promoted to her current role. As Culinary Services Supervisor, she oversees the daily operations of food preparation as well as service in the kitchen and dining rooms. We caught up with Sabrina for a fun Q and A to get to know her better. Read more about this hard-working teammate below.
What are you passionate about regarding your professional role? Professionally, I am passionate about creating delicious and unique dishes that bring joy to our residents. It’s rewarding to know that they enjoy the food we prepare.
Favorite memory/moment to date during your time at OAW: One of my favorite memories took place a week before Halloween at our Sip and Swirl event. It was the first community party where everyone dressed up in costumes and even the teammates also got into the spirit of things. It was so fun to see everyone enjoy themselves, smiling and laughing.
What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities? This is my first experience working in a senior living community but what sets OAW apart from other places I’ve worked at is the shared compassion among residents and teammates. Everyone is welcoming, helpful and caring. No matter where you go at OAW, it feels like home.
What is something that makes you feel proud? It’s something simple, but I am still proud of buying my first car. Usually, parents help with that when you’re young, but at the time, I moved away from my parents and relocated to Texas. I had to get a car on my own and it was tough, but I knew if I could handle that experience, I could handle anything that came my way.
On the weekend, you can find me: During my days off, I am very much a homebody. I love staying home and watching movies or playing video games with my boyfriend, Tristan.
Share about your family: I am the youngest of my siblings and have two older brothers. Joshua (41) is a cardiovascular invasive tech and lives in Celina. My other brother Octavio (37) is a foreman for Huntington Ingalls and lives in Mississippi. My parents Gerardo and Teresa live in California. Occasionally, I’m able to visit them but they usually drive to Texas for the holidays. My boyfriend Tristin and I have been together for four years and we live Little Elm with our ferret named Nadix. Nadix sleeps most of the time, but when he’s awake he is very curious and makes a mess of our room. He is the sweetest, funniest little guy and we’re so happy that he’s part of our family.
What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants? I love ramen and sushi. Marufuku Ramen in Frisco is a favorite spot. Once in a while, Tristan makes homemade ramen and it tastes way better than anything prepared at a restaurant.
Tell us about your hobbies: My hobbies include playing videos games, binge watching movies and tv shows or just relaxing at home with our ferret or reading.
How would your friends describe you? My friends would describe me as dependable and as someone who isn’t afraid to tell the truth when no one else will. They would also say I’m a good listener and that I give pretty good advice when it’s needed.
The Forefront Living Foundation (FLF) hosted a “Churros, Coffee and Conversation” presentation for residents of The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW). The session offered an opportunity to “Meet the Team” and shared FLF’s mission to “provide the extraordinary,” through caring funds, special programs and capital improvements across Forefront Living communities. Since 1984, FLF has grown alongside the organization and now provides support to each entity, including OAW.
At OAW, FLF provides direct financial support to residents facing unexpected challenges, along with funding for spiritual care and benevolent programs on campus. This essential support is made possible through major gifts, planned giving, endowments, grants and special fundraising events.
“The FLF team is delighted to partner with our newest senior living community, OAW. We are grateful to already have friends and supporters of FLF who live at OAW, which is so special. We look forward to building new relationships, serving the community and creating the extraordinary for residents who call OAW home,” shared Diane Fullingim, FLF Executive Director.
FLF looks forward to serving and supporting OAW residents through personal care and a commitment to good stewardship.
In March, Memory Support (MS) at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) opened to officially welcome its first resident, Thomas Cullar. Mr. Cullar, who enjoys reading and soaking up the sunshine, brought warmth to OAW from his first day. Yashica Washington, OAW Director of Assisted Living, shared how special it was to witness Mr. Cullar light up when he saw his wife and was greeted by smiling teammates on move-in day. Since then, the neighborhood has grown to six residents and these neighbors enjoy playing games, participating in music therapy and yoga.
The MS neighborhood offers a spacious layout with vibrant colors and compassionate caregivers, features that set it apart from other senior living communities. With its personalized care, OAW’s MS community continues to grow and is a place where residents like Mr. Cullar can feel right at home.
