Published November 2002

South Pointe offers
‘homey’ atmosphere

By Kimberly Hilden
SCBJ Assistant Editor

When Shirley Harchenko was a teen-ager working at a hospital in Snohomish, one reason she liked her job was being able to improve the quality of life for senior citizens there.

Now a senior herself, Harchenko continues to improve the quality of life for seniors at South Pointe, an assisted-living residence in south Everett that she owns and operates with her husband, Ted.

“As you get older, you have more empathy and sympathy. You can relate better,” Shirley said recently as she walked the hallways of the 6-year-old facility located on Fourth Avenue W.

Which is why the Harchenkos paid attention to the details in making South Pointe a comfortable place to live.

Details like the floral prints bordering the pastel-colored walls of the hallways and five common areas, which also boast flower arrangements, paintings and prints.

Or the wooden gazebo that sits in one of two outdoor garden areas surrounded by rose bushes and other greenery — a place for informal gatherings and ice cream socials.

Or the electric fireplace that flickers in the community room, adding warmth and atmosphere to group singalongs and movie nights.

“We wanted it light and bright, cheerful and homey, because everybody needs a home; everybody needs to feel at home,” Shirley said.

The 38 units — 37 are studios and one is a one-bedroom — include private bathrooms and kitchenette areas for snacks in between the three meals South Pointe serves daily, and residents are encouraged to furnish their space as they desire, bringing memories from their former homes with them.

“Years ago, people (in an assisted-living facility) would be in an institutional setting, a stark-white setting,” Shirley said. “Now, they can live with dignity and elegance.”

South Pointe’s warm atmosphere is reflected in the around-the-clock care its 26-member staff provides, Shirley said, as she opened a cupboard in one of the two wellness offices at the facility, pointing to rows of notebooks detailing each resident’s medical and daily-living needs. South Pointe has a registered nurse on staff and on the premises at least five days a week, she said, as well as another nurse and other staff who oversee residents’ medications and needs.

The facility also has a therapeutic tub situated in a private room decorated in a Southwestern theme. There, with a staff member on hand, residents can enjoy the soothing effect of the jetted tub, Ted said.

“We had one of these at Seabrook,” Shirley said, referring to another Everett assisted-living facility that she and Ted had a hand in developing and managing before selling their share of the facility to develop South Pointe, which they opened in 1996 with 16 apartments.

But the couple soon realized that 16 units weren’t enough to meet the demand. “We had a waiting list, a long waiting list, so we decided to expand,” Ted said.

A year and a half ago, South Pointe added 22 apartment units. Now, the facility has 32 residents, and the Harchenkos said they expect to be at capacity by the end of the year.

And that’s thanks to word of mouth, Shirley said, from residents and residents’ families telling others about their experience with South Pointe living.

Like the trips residents take in the South Pointe van to appointments, leisure activities or shopping excursions. Or the way residents are encouraged to make use of the pull chords situated in their bathrooms and living areas to call for assistance — whether they need help getting out of bed or just picking up a comb they’ve dropped.

“Here, we tell them, ‘Ring it no matter what you need,’” said Shirley, who along with Ted, spent much of the 1980s managing retirement facilities for Holiday Retirement Corp.

Their experienced, caring philosophy eases guilt feelings family members may have about moving their loved one into a retirement facility, she said.

“Some of the family members are just exhausted,” Shirley said. “When they come in and see the lovely atmosphere, the care offered on a personal level, the guilt is just lifted from them.”

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