Photo by Diane Cox
Stacey Noble-Loveland is the new executive directors at the Foxes Grove retirement community in Wood River.
WOOD RIVER — Stacey Noble-Loveland says she may have finally stepped into her dream job as she welcomes the challenge of being the new executive director at Foxes Grove retirement community in Wood River.
“Before coming to Foxes Grove, I worked for Senior Services Plus and St. Clare’s Villa in Alton,” Noble-Loveland said. “I really have a passion for working with older adults. I earned my master’s degree in gerontology and learned the position here at Foxes Grove was available. It was an opportunity for me to do something that I’ve always wanted to do, which is work in this environment at this level.”
Foxes Grove was established in 1987 as a premier retirement center and was certified in 2007 as a supportive living facility. The concept of Foxes Grove is to give residents the comfort of their own independence while giving families the security of knowing someone is available for their loved one if needed.
“We have 94 apartments here at Foxes Grove,” Noble-Loveland said. “We currently have 80 filled, so we are just over 80 percent, which is good for the community. This is a wonderful place … As a society, we are living much longer than our residents’ parents or grandparents lived, which is wonderful, but it’s created a gap of time where people may need just a little extra help.”
Foxes Grove offers studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments as well as social activities to keep seniors moving, interacting and staying mentally sharp.
“People want to live in their own homes for as long as they can,” Noble-Loveland said. “Sometimes there comes a time where perhaps it’s just better to be at a place where they can still come and go and have that private space. The apartment is theirs and we respect their privacy. Our facility gives families a good peace of mind knowing that mom and dad still have their independence, but there is someone here for them 24/7 just in case.”
Noble-Loveland has been in the field of caring for others for more than six years and brings a history of customer service experience to the Foxes Grove community. Having experience working with the senior community through Senior Services Plus at a department director’s level, she found that she had something to offer Foxes Grove when the opportunity became available.
“I must admit; this really is my dream job,” Noble-Loveland said. “I’m able to bring great experience here and it’s close to home for me as well. I’ve been involved with a lot of community-driven organizations that have given me tools I can bring here to help make this facility feel more like home to our residents.”