Category: News

Efrem Windom joined The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) team in July as the Director of Spiritual Life, but many residents affectionately call him “The Outlook Pastor.” In his role, he provides spiritual care, guidance and emotional support to residents and teammates. He also leads Bible studies and grief classes for residents across all levels of care at OAW, as well as manages community volunteer opportunities. We caught up with Efrem to learn more about him, personally and professionally.

Professionally, I am passionate about:
I am passionate about spreading the love of Christ, sharing teachings that enhance the lives of others and making a positive impact on everyone who encounters me. I am also passionate about writing books that provide wisdom and insight for daily living.

What drew you to serve in a senior living community?
This role is the ultimate opportunity for me to serve in a way that I have never served before. After being a senior pastor for more than 25 years, I had never focused on mainly serving the generation who came before me. Serving the senior community is just like serving my own parents.

What does spiritual care mean to you in the OAW community?
Spiritual care means caring for the whole person and not just focusing on their faith traditions or beliefs. It means sharing the practical teachings of Christ. Spiritual care means serving and it means being ready when called upon to pray, encourage, lead and love.

How do you approach supporting residents of different faith traditions or those with no faith tradition at all?
I support residents of different faith traditions and those with no faith traditions in the same way, I choose to love everyone just as Jesus did. At the end of the day, we are all humans and deserve to be cared for and loved. I do my part and I leave the rest up to God. If anyone wants to talk to me about their faith tradition or their lack of, my door is always open.

What have residents taught you about life, aging or faith that has stayed with you?
The residents have taught me a few things that stick with me daily: 
1. Always be your authentic self and no one else.
2. As we age in life, it’s important to share your wisdom with others.
3. Grow closer to God each day.

What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities?
I truly believe what sets OAW apart from other communities is the heart of our leadership team, the camaraderie amongst our teammates and the positive, spiritual culture that resonates here. Everyone at OAW believes in the values and vision of Forefront Living. Also, our state-of-the-art facilities and amenities are top-notch!

I am most proud of:
I am most proud of being a husband and father, as well as writing five books!

In my free time, I enjoy:
In my free time I love to spend time with my wife, travel, read, fish and produce music. On my days off, you can find me working around the house completing my “honey-dos” or watching sports.

My favorite foods/restaurants include:
My favorite cuisine is Mexican food, and I love dining at Gloria’s and Mi Cocina. My favorite items to order are burritos, nachos and enchiladas, although my favorite dish is blackened salmon served with rice.

Share about your family:
I am married to my gorgeous wife, Alicia, and we have a beautiful blended family, which includes a total of seven kids. Alicia has seven grandkids and I have two granddaughters. One was born on my birthday, September 16, and the newest addition was just born on September 8! Our Aussie Doodle named Prince rounds out our family. I am also the oldest of five siblings.

How would your friends describe you in three words?
My friends would describe me as caring, talented and intelligent.

What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
People may be surprised to learn that I am an award-winning Gospel music producer and songwriter and that I am very interested in the study of snakes. They may also be surprised that I am an ambivert, a person with both introvert and extrovert traits. However, I consider myself more of an introvert.

What would you love for people to know about the spiritual life of older adults?
I would love for people to know that the spiritual life of older adults is SIMPLE! They don’t make things complex, they are just open to receiving love. 

By Amee McGough

Professional Photos by Sarah Macias

Forefront Living is pleased to announce that Angela Morgan has accepted the position of Director of Sales and Marketing at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), where she will lead the sales and marketing efforts of the Plano senior living community. She has been part of the OAW team for more than five years, serving as a sales advisor. During that time, she has built strong relationships with residents and future residents and played a key role in helping OAW reach 100% occupancy.

Prior to joining OAW, Angela’s career included leadership positions with some of the city’s most recognized luxury hospitality organizations, including The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, the Meyerson Symphony Center and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Her background includes sales strategy, relationship development, marketing, revenue generation and team leadership, along with a strong focus on providing exceptional service.

Kristen Jordan, OAW’s Executive Director, shared the following, “Angela has been an important part of OAW’s story from the very beginning. For the past five years, she has been instrumental in the growth and success of our community. I am excited to see her guide our sales and marketing efforts as OAW enters its next chapter.”

The tables were set for fun and fortune at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) as residents across the community tried their luck at two casino-themed events filled with festive decorations, live music, delicious food and games galore!

Assisted Living residents enjoyed an “Ace of Hearts” casino afternoon featuring Blackjack, Poker and Roulette. Nearly 30 Assisted Living residents and several of their family members joined in the fun. Everyone enjoyed the event so much that residents were already asking when they could do it again.

Later, almost 100 Independent Living residents rolled the dice for a high-roller evening in The Hall at OAW. Residents were feeling lucky as they tried their hands at Blackjack, Craps and Roulette, with each participant receiving starter chips to kick off the evening. Additional chips were available for purchase as a donation to the Teammate Appreciation Fund, raising $1,800 for the cause. The casino action continued until the final chips were counted, with Paul Schrier as the big winner of the evening!

OAW resident, Jane Bowers, summed up the evening sharing, “Casino Night was so much fun. Even though I lost all my chips at Blackjack, I had fun doing it!”

By Amee McGough

On August 26, there was lots of tail-wagging excitement at OAW as residents and their four-legged friends celebrated National Dog Day.

The morning began with a dog parade around campus, allowing residents, teammates and their pups to enjoy a walk together. It was a paws-itive start to the day!

The parade ended in the courtyard, where Efrem Windom, OAW’s Director of Spiritual Life, led a special blessing of the animals. Residents gathered with their furry companions as each dog received a blessing. After, the celebration continued at the community’s dog park, where residents and their pups gathered for Puppuccinos and pastries. Memory Support residents enjoyed passing out treats especially made by Assisted Living residents during another afternoon parade.

As part of National Dog Day, the community is collecting supplies for the Plano Animal Shelter through the end of the month. Everyone is encouraged to donate items from the shelter’s wish list to help care for animals awaiting their forever homes. It was a fun day to recognize the companionship and unconditional love dogs bring while also helping other animals in need.

By Amee McGough

Michael Thompson is a member of The Outlook at Windhaven’s (OAW) culinary team, serving as a cook in the OAW kitchen. He joined the community in January. We caught up with this hardworking teammate to get to know him better. Read more about Michael below.

Kristen Jordan, OAW Executive Director, shared these kind words, “What stands out about Michael is the pride he takes in his work. He doesn’t just focus on getting the job done, he cares about doing it well and consistently delivers something he can be proud to serve our residents.”

What are you passionate about regarding your professional role?
My passion is cooking and putting a smile on someone’s face while they’re enjoying a meal I prepared.

What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities?
The care provided to residents and everyone’s friendliness are what sets OAW apart. 

What is something that makes you feel proud?
I’m most proud of my wife, family and my grandchildren. They mean the world to me.

Share about your family.
I am the oldest of five. I have eight children – three sons and five daughters. I have 22 grandchildren and one great grandson! Family is important to me and I’m proud of them.

On the weekend, you can find me:
On the weekend, I am usually working and I try to spend as much time as possible with my family.

What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants?
I love seafood and my favorite restaurant is The Juicy Crab.

How would your friends describe you?
My friends would describe me as friendly and easygoing.

What’s something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
People might be surprised to learn about the number of grandchildren I have.

By Amee McGough

Professional Photos by Sarah Macias

As summer winds down, residents and teammates at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) cooled off from the heat in a sweet way with a visit from the Kona Ice Truck. More than 140 members of the OAW community enjoyed shaved ice in their favorite flavors while spending a chill afternoon together.

“It’s been so much fun seeing residents and teammates enjoy a cool treat together. Sometimes it’s the simple things that bring a smile and make for a great afternoon at OAW,” said Katie Snezhkova, Director of Resident Services.

As the back-to-school season begins and Plano Independent School District starting school this week, it was a great way to savor the taste of summer.

Dian Knight, OAW Executive Assistant, shared, “It was wonderful seeing teammates and residents get together to enjoy an ice cold treat on a hot summer’s day! Some even shared that it had been decades since they’d enjoyed a frozen sweet treat like this, which made the afternoon even more special and fun.”

By Amee McGough

One year ago, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) launched the Outlook of Hope, a dementia support group created especially for caregivers and families in the DFW area navigating the challenges of dementia.

Facilitated by Wendy Thomas, OAW’s Assisted Living Advisor, and Yashica Washington, Director of Assisted Living, the group is open to anyone seeking a compassionate space to share, ask questions and meet others experiencing the difficult dementia journey.

Since the first meeting last July, the Outlook of Hope consistently welcomes about 15 participants each month, including returning attendees and new faces. While some participants have loved ones who are OAW Memory Support residents, others in the group are family caregivers.

Over the past year, the meetings covered dementia education, communication strategies, caregiver self-care, managing behaviors and available resources. Guest speakers and educational videos have also added to the discussions. No matter the topic, the focus is always on finding hope throughout the caregiving journey.

In the beginning, many attendees came looking for information. As the group celebrates its one-year anniversary, its biggest impact is the supportive community it fostered. “It has been wonderful to watch relationships form and see attendees become a source of hope for one another,” Wendy shared.

“The greatest takeaway has been witnessing people realize they are not alone. Caregiving can be incredibly overwhelming and isolating, and many people come to their first meeting carrying the weight of uncertainty. Watching them leave with encouragement and feeling supported has been incredibly rewarding,” said Wendy

“When I started Outlook of Hope, my goal was to create a place where no one facing dementia would feel they had to walk the journey alone,” she said. “One year later, I’m grateful to see the encouragement, friendships and hope that have grown within this special group of people. It’s been a privilege to be part of their journey.”

As Outlook of Hope enters its second year, the group looks forward to reaching more people in the DFW area who are navigating the challenges of dementia.

Outlook of Hope meets monthly at The Outlook at Windhaven and the group is open to everyone. For more information, contact Wendy Thomas.

By Amee McGough

Residents from The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) shared the gift of music through a patriotic concert with memory support residents at Avalon Memory Care in Allen.

Twelve members of the OAW resident chorale performed a selection of favorite and familiar songs, including “God Bless America,” “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and a military medley honoring the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The performance brought smiles and moments of recognition. During the military medley, several memory support residents immediately recognized their branch of service being honored and proudly saluted.

The visit provided an opportunity for residents from both communities to come together through a shared love of music. Members of the OAW chorale enjoyed performing for their fellow seniors and it was a great reminder that music has a unique way of bringing people together.

By Amee McGough

At The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), Independence Day carried extra festivity this year as residents marked the 250th birthday of The United States of America with celebrations across the community.

Independent Living kicked off the weekend with a feast that mirrored a delicious backyard cookout, but indoors. Residents enjoyed burgers, grilled chicken, chicken wings and all the classic fixings. The Hall was filled with tables and patriotic spirit as residents and teammates sang “God Bless America,” danced to live music and enjoyed the company of their friends and neighbors.

Assisted Living residents gathered for a special seated luncheon also featuring live music and great food. Several residents invited friends and family to join them for these festivities.

In Memory Support, the holiday was celebrated with red, white and blue refreshments and themed games. The activities were designed to be engaging, with teammates and residents spending time together in a familiar social setting.

Across all levels of living, the Fourth of July at OAW was filled with events across its campus as the community shared recognition of a milestone year for our country.

Independent Living

Assisted Living

Memory Support

By Amee McGough

This month, a talk show-style series called “Get to Know Your Neighbor” made its debut at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW). Hosted by OAW resident Barbara Baird, the engaging program offered residents a chance to learn more about their neighbors.

The idea for “Get to Know Your Neighbor” was suggested by Katie Snezhkova, OAW Director of Resident Services, and Courtney Lammons, Community Life Coordinator, who thought resident interviews sharing memorable and personal stories would be a fun way to get to know community members. The Community Life team asked Barbara to serve as the official talk show host.

Barbara opened the inaugural program by describing how welcoming she found the OAW community to be, while noting that it can be easy to forget the names of residents. She then sat down for a conversation with the first featured resident guest, Tom Swisher. Barbara’s questions covered an array of topics including Tom’s childhood, his first job and other early experiences, to how he would describe himself, advice for those approaching retirement and what has surprised him most in life.

Nearly 50 residents attended the introductory interview, and the audience enjoyed being a part of the conversation. Laughter and comments from attendees and a question-and-answer session added a lot of personality to the program. One resident asked Tom what type of beer he would take if he were moving to Mars. Without hesitation, Tom chose a Belgian dark beer.

Judging by the turnout, “Get to Know Your Neighbor” is off to a strong start. OAW residents should to mark their calendars, as the program will continue on the third Friday, monthly, at 2 p.m. in The Hall.

By Amee McGough

Photos by Sarah Macias