Sarabeth Wilkins, LPN, has been named the new executive director for The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Collegedale, located at 9300 Messinger Lane.
Wilkins oversees daily operations at the memory care community. She works with a team of directors, nurses, nursing assistants and other support staff to provide personalized care programs for residents and support for their families. Wilkins will focus on fostering meaningful relationships and experiences for residents as well as promoting their health, independence and well-being. She will also help train, mentor and grow other Morning Pointe Senior Living associates in the field of senior living.
A director of nursing for the past four years, Wilkins has been working in senior living for five years.
“Working with seniors is truly what I was created to do,” said Wilkins. “Collegedale Lantern is such a special place. I love the smaller, homey feel of the community, which I feel is important when caring for those with dementia/Alzheimer’s. The staff is amazing and truly caters to the specific needs of each resident. Morning Pointe as a company has been great to work for –everyone I have worked with from the home office seems to truly care about the staff at the community level and wants to see us succeed.”
Wilkins has lived in Tennessee since she was 6 years old. She currently resides in Riceville with her husband, Cody, and their blended family of three girls and two boys ages 16 to 6. She enjoys going to UT football games and hanging out at the pool or the lake with her family.
“Sarabeth brings a great nurturing spirit and clinical experience that is valuable in caring for our residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Abby Medley, vice president of operations for Morning Pointe Senior Living’s Lookout Region. “Her dedication to compassionate care and her ability to connect with both residents and their families will be a tremendous asset to our community.”
The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Collegedale offers memory care with clinical and nursing staff. Meals are served with dietician oversight in a restaurant-style setting and with an emphasis on fresh, local produce. Residents enjoy a full life enrichment activity program, including regular outings, service projects, intergenerational programming and engaging community partnerships. Physical, occupational and speech therapy services are also available on-site. Memory care programming includes the Best Friends™ Approach, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, music therapy, art therapy, cuddle therapy and Meaningful Day™ purposeful memory care program that provides structure to help residents feel safe and secure.
Nearby is The Lantern’s sister community, Morning Pointe of Collegedale at Greenbriar Cove Assisted Living.
Morning Pointe Senior Living was founded in 1997 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow. It owns and operates 38 assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states. Other Morning Pointe campuses in Hamilton County are located in Chattanooga, East Hamilton County and Hixson.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide nursing scholarships and caregiver support.
