https://heritageoakshealth.org/

Heritage Oaks Health, 2255 Frederica Road, Saint Simons Island, GA (2025)

10/06/2025

🔥🍫✨ S’more Smiles This Fall at Heritage Oaks ✨🍫🔥

There’s nothing like crisp autumn air, the smell of toasted marshmallows, and the sound of friends gathered close. Our Life Enrichment team treated residents to a cozy s’mores-making afternoon — complete with melted chocolate, golden marshmallows, and plenty of laughter.

Fall is a season of comfort, connection, and simple joys, and this activity brought it all together. Residents shared stories while carefully toasting marshmallows, creating sticky, sweet masterpieces and even sweeter memories. 🍂💛

Because at Heritage Oaks, every season deserves a little warmth — and nothing warms hearts quite like s’mores.

10/05/2025

🌟 Sunday Skills School: “Hoyer Lifts — Hover, Don’t Hurt!” 🌟

❓ Ever seen our team roll a big blue contraption down the hall and wondered… UFO? Forklift? Resident rocket launcher?
✅ Nope — that’s a Hoyer lift, one of the most important tools we use here at Heritage Oaks on Saint Simons Island to keep our residents safe and comfortable.

⸻

❓ Who actually needs one?
✅ Residents who are non-ambulatory, recovering from surgery, living with advanced arthritis, neurological disorders, spinal injuries, or profound weakness.
✅ Anyone who can’t stand steadily or pivot safely without risking a fall, fracture, or skin injury.

⸻

❓ Is it safe?
✅ Yes — extremely. The lift spreads weight evenly, cradles fragile joints, and minimizes shearing and pressure injuries.
✅ Staff stay safe too — less back strain, rotator cuff tears, and musculoskeletal injuries (a leading cause of healthcare worker lost time).

⸻

❓ Who decides if it’s needed?
✅ Our skilled nursing staff and therapists assess every transfer: strength, balance, skin integrity, and pain. They choose the safest option each time.

⸻

❓ Why not just lift by hand?
✅ Because humans aren’t cranes. Manual lifting risks falls, skin tears, dislocations, and caregiver injury. A Hoyer lift is precision, comfort, and protection rolled into one.

⸻

💡 Bottom line: The Hoyer lift is not scary — it’s a hug on hydraulics. It keeps residents comfortable and secure, while letting staff provide dignified, medically safe care without risking injury.

💡 At Heritage Oaks, the Hoyer lift is more than a piece of equipment — it’s a promise:
That every move is done safely, respectfully, and by trained medical hands. It keeps our residents secure and our caregivers strong.

✨ Because here, safety is love in action — and sometimes, it looks like a hug on hydraulics.

✨ Keeping care safe, smart, and a little bit magical.

⸻

10/04/2025

🌸🎨 Sip, Savor & Stroke — An Afternoon of Artful Joy at Heritage Oaks 🎨🌸

There’s something magical about gathering around a table with friends, a paintbrush in hand and a cool drink by your side. This week, our residents joined a small, guided Sip & Paint session — complete with refreshing beverages and vibrant acrylic paints — and the results were as beautiful as the laughter that filled the room.

More than just a creative pastime, painting offers powerful therapeutic benefits. Each brushstroke encourages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The focus and rhythm of painting help reduce stress and calm the nervous system. Creative expression can even boost mood, support memory, and nurture emotional well-being — especially in a warm, social setting.

Our residents explored color, shared stories, and discovered new artistic talents while enjoying time with one another in a relaxed, joy-filled atmosphere. The art may dry on paper, but the smiles and sense of accomplishment last long after the brushes are set down.

✨ Here at Heritage Oaks, we believe in nurturing the mind, body, and soul — and days like this remind us that healing can be colorful, creative, and shared with friends. 💛

10/03/2025

🍂✨ Happy Friday from Scarecrow Row! ✨🍂

There’s a special kind of autumn magic happening at Heritage Oaks — our long, winding cul-de-sac driveway has transformed into Scarecrow Row! 🌻🎃👩‍🌾

Every scarecrow along the path was dreamed up and brought to life by our creative departments, residents, and community partners. Each one tells its own little fall story — from classic straw-hatted charm to whimsical, unexpected characters that will make you smile.

Residents and neighbors alike are welcome to stroll or roll down the lane to enjoy the display, soak in the crisp fall air, and admire all the imagination that went into each creation. 🍁✨

If you’re looking for a cheerful autumn outing this weekend, come take a peek at the artistry and heart our community poured into Scarecrow Row — it’s the perfect way to kick off October with a grin.

🍂💛 Happy Friday, friends — may your day be as bright and joyful as our row of scarecrows!

10/02/2025

🌟 Honoring Joseph Palmer — Our Tireless Floor Technician 🌟

For more than 10 years, Joseph Palmer has been the quiet force keeping this very building beautiful, safe, and welcoming. As our Floor Technician, he works endlessly to make sure every hallway, resident room, and common space shines. Most recently, Joseph took on the enormous task of polishing every single room in our building — a job that demanded long hours, intense focus, and incredible pride in his work.

Joseph is the teammate who never says no. When a job needs to be done, he’s already on it — thoughtful, thorough, and always willing to lend a hand. He keeps our building running smoothly by stocking supplies, helping co-workers when they’re short on time, and using his deep knowledge of facility rules to keep everything safe and compliant.

Beyond his skill, it’s Joseph’s kindness and quiet strength that stand out. He’s smart, helpful, and deeply respected by everyone — from residents who smile when they see him working to staff who know they can rely on him. Even after a recent arm surgery, Joseph returned with the same unstoppable dedication that inspires us all. And if you’ve ever stopped to chat, you know he’s an animal lover with a heart of gold. 🐾

Joseph, thank you for the countless unseen hours, the polished floors, and the dignity you bring to our home every single day. Heritage Oaks is brighter because of you. ❤️

10/01/2025

🍃✨ Hands, Hearts, and Healing Through Creativity ✨🍃

This Tuesday, our Life Enrichment team led a beautiful, brain-boosting activity — we created little leaf caterpillars using fresh greenery we gathered outside and bright pipe cleaners for antennae.

🌱 Therapeutic Benefits:
• Fine motor coordination: Picking and layering leaves, threading pipe cleaners, and gluing small details all exercise the small muscles in the hands and fingers — essential for maintaining dexterity and independence in daily tasks.
• Sensory stimulation: The feel of cool leaves, the smell of fresh greenery, and the vibrant colors help keep the brain engaged and connected to the natural world.
• Cognitive engagement: Planning, sequencing, and creating something new sparks neural pathways and encourages problem-solving.
• Emotional well-being: Time outdoors collecting leaves, then crafting together, lifted spirits and encouraged social connection — both vital for mental health.

Nature-based art is more than a craft — it’s gentle therapy for hands, minds, and hearts. Watching our residents laugh, share stories, and proudly show off their leafy caterpillars reminded us why creative, science-backed activities matter so much in long-term care. 💚🦋

09/30/2025

🌟 Honoring a Life of Love & Leadership: Rosa Green Hill, ADON🌟

Some people don’t just work in long-term care—they live it, breathe it, and love it with their whole heart. Rosa Green Hill is one of those rare souls. For 46 years, she has answered a calling that she knows came straight from God: to love, comfort, and advocate for the elderly and those in need.

“I know without a doubt God called me to this ministry. If I’ve made even one life better, it has been worth the journey,” Rosa shares with quiet grace.

Rosa began her career in 1980 as a receptionist in a nursing home and, over the years, worked her way through nearly every role—Secretary to the Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Assistant Administrator, Social Worker, Activity Director, Licensed Administrator, and finally Registered Nurse after completing college and passing her boards. She spent 19 years at one nursing home alone, eventually serving as Regional Nurse, overseeing care in 10 facilities from Brunswick to Rome, Georgia.

Today, as Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) at Heritage Oaks, Rosa’s work touches every corner of our building. She ensures clinical excellence, supports our nursing team, and brings decades of wisdom to every decision that impacts resident care. But it’s her heart that truly sets her apart. She knows each resident’s story, holds their hands, celebrates their milestones, and offers the hugs, smiles, and tender “I love you’s” that make this place feel like home.

“Every moment spent with a resident is my favorite—the hugs, the smiles, the I love you’s. They are memories for a lifetime,” Rosa says.

Those who work alongside Rosa know her as dependable, loving, and unwaveringly dedicated. She’s a gentle teacher, a trusted leader, and a shining example of what it means to serve with compassion and excellence.

“Rosa is the kind of nurse you dream of having at your side—steady, brilliant, kind, and full of grace,” says one colleague.
“She’s not just a nurse; she’s a light in this building,” shares another.

In March, Rosa will celebrate 8 beautiful years in this very building —but her impact stretches far beyond time. Her decades of devotion have shaped not only the lives of countless residents but also the hearts of those of us blessed to work with her.

Rosa, your journey is a testament to faith, perseverance, and love in action. Our residents feel it. Our families see it. And your team is inspired by it every single day.

💛 Thank you for pouring your life into this ministry and for showing us what true servant leadership looks like. Heritage Oaks is better because you are here.

09/28/2025

🎥 A Son’s Beautiful Words About Heritage Oaks 💛

RJ Chapman

There’s nothing more meaningful than hearing from the families who trust us with their loved ones. Recently, RJ Chapman shared a heartfelt video about his mom’s life here at Heritage Oaks, and it touched all of our hearts.

RJ spoke about how wonderful it feels to know his mother is surrounded by joy, connection, and purpose every single day. He gave a special shout-out to our Life Enrichment team, saying how much he appreciates the creativity and heart that goes into keeping our residents engaged and smiling.

The day he visited was extra special — we were celebrating our September birthdays with live music from our friends Dr. Ryan Rentz (anesthesiologist and guitarist) and Robbie Langley (Sea Island porter and painter), the talented duo known as The Crooners.

Hearing RJ describe Heritage Oaks as a wonderful place for his mom is exactly why we do what we do — to create moments that matter, every single day. 💕

✨ Thank you, RJ, for sharing your heart and for reminding us why this work is so special.

09/27/2025

🎶 A Heartfelt Thank You to The Crooners! 🎶

Yesterday’s September Birthday Party at Heritage Oaks was pure joy thanks to two very special friends — Dr. Ryan Rentz (anesthesiologist by day, rockstar guitarist by night!) and Robbie Langley (a gifted painter and porter at Sea Island with music in his soul). Together they make up The Crooners, and they gifted our residents a beautiful 45-minute set of live music filled with classic favorites, toe-tapping rhythms, and sing-along smiles.

Music has a way of reaching places that words alone can’t — it stirs memories, lifts spirits, and soothes the soul. For many of our residents, live music isn’t just entertainment; it’s therapy. It sparks joy, calms anxiety, and connects hearts across generations. Yesterday, we saw that magic come alive in our dining room — hands clapping, feet tapping, and voices humming along.

Ryan and Robbie, thank you from the bottom of my heart for dedicating your time, talent, and energy to our cause. Your kindness and music gave our residents a moment of pure happiness — and those moments matter more than you know. 💛

✨ Here’s to friendship, to music, and to the healing power of both. ✨

09/26/2025

🌸✨ A Touch of Luxury for Our Hands & Hearts ✨🌸

Yesterday, our community gathered for a very special Life Enrichment event with the lovely Nancy Bowen, FNP-BC of the renowned Advanced Aesthetics & Skin Bar. Nancy brought more than skincare knowledge — she brought warmth, grace, and the kind of personal care that makes every resident feel cherished.

As autumn’s cooler air begins to arrive, Nancy shared expert tips for protecting and nourishing our skin — especially our hands, which so often show the first signs of dryness. Then she treated each resident in attendance to a pampering hand massage, complete with gentle exfoliation and a rich, soothing moisturizer. ✋💖

The room was filled with soft laughter, cozy conversation, and grateful smiles. One resident said, “It felt so good to have someone take time just for me.” Another added, “My hands feel like silk now!”

We are so thankful to Nancy for sharing her time, her expertise, and her kindness with us. Events like these remind us that caring for ourselves can be simple, joyful, and deeply comforting.

💐 Thank you, Nancy Bowen & Advanced Aesthetics & Skin Bar, for bringing beauty, self-care, and connection to Heritage Oaks. 💐

09/25/2025

🌟 The Heart Behind the Desk: Amy Gordon 🌟

At Heritage Oaks, the heart of our community beats a little brighter because of people like Amy Gordon, our compassionate and dedicated Business Office Assistant.

Though much of Amy’s work happens behind the scenes — paperwork, organization, and keeping everything on track alongside Miss Jackie — she is far more than just the steady hand guiding our office. Amy is a warm presence who lights up the lives of our residents. She treasures moments like laughing and “cutting up” with Mrs. Goode or Mrs. Shirley Miller, and she even shares her love of movement by teaching chair yoga, helping residents feel strong, centered, and joyful.

Amy is also the first to quietly step up and help bring in new team members, making sure each person who joins our family feels welcomed and supported. Her compassion and determination shine through in everything she does. And while life has handed her challenges, Amy’s strength, grace, and love as a devoted mother inspire everyone around her.

Amy says it best: “Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is a laugh when they need it most. For a few moments, the hard things disappear and joy takes its place.” 💛

We are grateful for the heart she brings to Heritage Oaks every single day — a heart that makes both our residents and our team feel cared for and uplifted.

✨ Help us celebrate Amy in the comments — share a kind word or a favorite memory of how she’s made a difference here at Heritage Oaks! ✨

09/25/2025

🌟 All Heart, Always — Celebrating Stephanie Chasteen 🌟

If you’ve visited the front office at Heritage Oaks lately, you’ve probably been greeted by a warm smile and a helping hand — that’s Stephanie Chasteen. Officially, she’s a Certified Medication Aide (CMA), but around here she’s so much more. Stephanie jumps in wherever she’s needed, and right now that means keeping our front office running smoothly while still caring deeply for our residents.

Stephanie’s work touches almost every part of daily life here. She provides hands-on care, emotional support, and medication assistance, but she also brings something you can’t teach — an open heart. She describes herself as compassionate, upbeat, and determined, and those words couldn’t be truer. Whether it’s singing and laughing with Mrs. Shirley about “the good old days,” helping a coworker in a busy moment, or finding little ways to make our residents smile, Stephanie shows that care is more than a job — it’s a calling.

What makes her remarkable isn’t just her skill but her generosity. Despite life’s challenges, Stephanie finds ways to give back to the people she serves — from small, thoughtful gestures to going above and beyond to brighten a resident’s day. She once said what she loves most about her job is “helping people and making a difference in their lives… going home feeling like you made a positive impact in someone’s life.” Every day, she lives those words.

Please join us in celebrating Stephanie — a teammate, a friend, and truly the heart of Heritage Oaks. 💙✨

Heritage Oaks Health

10/06/2025

10/05/2025

10/04/2025

10/03/2025

10/02/2025

10/01/2025

09/30/2025

09/28/2025

09/27/2025

09/26/2025

09/25/2025

09/25/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category