Montgomery Place Provides Seniors With Culture Of Community

This Patch article is sponsored by Montgomery Place.

Located in the heart of Hyde Park, Montgomery Place is a lakeside senior living community that provides seniors with a welcoming, comfortable and enriching place to call home.

For more than three decades, Montgomery Place has been counted among the best senior living communities in Chicago, earning a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and ranking among the top-performing, short-term care rehabilitation programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.

Patch caught up with Montgomery Place CEO Deborah Hart to learn more about her career and the diverse community that's dedicated to enhancing residents' quality of life.

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you're in?

Hart: I got into senior living when I was an auditor, and from there, I moved into the corporate environment in the care provider industry. It’s the interplay between the service business and accounting that always intrigues me. It's finding the resources that can bridge those two worlds, to serve and to innovate — that’s my desire.

Patch: If you had to sum up Montgomery Place’s business mission to a stranger, what would those words be?

Hart: We attract interesting people who are 62 or older and value the gracious, energized lifestyle
we’ve created to foster a sense of community. If and when they need it, we also provide
support and healthcare services.

Patch: What's the biggest challenge or most difficult moment you've faced in your job?

Hart: That of course is occurring right now: mitigating COVID-19. The fear factor has almost crippled the world of senior living. We still offer an abundance of amenities — from dining to numerous social programs — but fewer people are interested in making that transition right now. They aren't moving here at a point in their lives when they can enjoy our lifestyle: they’re waiting until they need more assistance. And even then, adult children, who now are working from home, have more flexibility to take care of a parent. So there is a huge shift to people looking for home-care services — which we also offer through Life Care at Home.

Patch: What's the most satisfying part of your job?

Hart: For me, certainly, it's learning about the people who live and work at Montgomery Place. I
enjoy getting to know their personalities, their histories, how they have influenced society —
their stories. It's the stories that engage me more than anything.

Patch: How would you say your business distinguishes itself from the others?

Hart: One element is diversity. Montgomery Place is well-known throughout the country as being
one of the few racially and religiously diverse senior living communities. We promote our
urban mix, which is a reflection of our neighborhood.

The second defining element is that, historically, our residents are in charge of their lifestyle
and daily activities. They plan all the activities and trips they want — rather than having some
corporate entity decide for them — and rely on our concierge to handle some of the details.
Both hallmarks make us unique in this industry.

Patch: What is the best advice you've ever been given when it comes to success?

Hart: I think the phrase that comes to mind for me is “Under-promise and over-perform.”

Patch: Are there any new products or endeavors you're working on that you're extra excited about?

Hart: We have started renovating some of our common areas. We also are looking at what services our market now wants. We want to be certain that we are positioning ourselves to serve the expectations and needs of future residents, too. With home-care and support services, we really focus on helping an individual remain independent for as long as possible, and to find new ways to address how an aging body can affect a person’s cognitive and social life.

Patch: Do you have any events coming up in your community?

Hart: Due to the pandemic, we’ve curtailed community events, but we’re looking forward to re-
engaging with our neighbors when it’s safe to do so.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more about your work and business?

Hart: Our recently redesigned website is filled with information and photos — including our large private terrace overlooking Lake Michigan — as well as tours and details on apartment pricing and leasing. I invite folks to take a look.