After celebrating Oakmont of Santa Clarita’s one-year anniversary on Jan. 11, Executive Director Margie Veis is looking back on the senior living community’s first year in the Santa Clarita Valley.

“They say time flies,” Veis said. “We did Monte Carlo Night for our residents and our families and our staff to just celebrate all that we’ve accomplished, which, when I take that step back and look at it, we’ve accomplished so much.”

One of Oakmont’s biggest accomplishments in Veis’ eyes is the transition Oakmont of Santa Clarita has made from an empty building to an active community to a true home for its residents.

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“You look at the friendships that have been formed from resident to resident, staff to staff, but also resident to staff and family member to family member — they’re there to support one another in the good times, in the not so good times,” Veis said, “because in a year, life happens.”

Unfortunately, the senior living community has already lost a few of its residents in its first year, but Veis stressed the importance of focusing on the relationships made and impact each one had on those at Oakmont, and vice versa.

“Even though they may have only been there a short time, there’s such a connection,” she said. “I mean, we’re taking on a family member — that’s a huge responsibility, and they quickly become very close at heart.”

A common question Veis gets is how she copes with the loss of her senior residents, and her response is to look for the silver lining.

“What I really go back to is, I’m so proud that at that last stage of life, for whatever reason … Oakmont was kind of that last stop,” Veis said. “And what a beautiful and wonderful place to be, and to be surrounded in beautiful surroundings (with) caring staff and these new friends. So I find that silver lining.”

Oakmont is a luxury senior living community in Santa Clarita located on seven acres of land on Newhall Ranch Road. Recently opened in January 2016, Oakmont of Santa Clarita is comprised of 80 pet-friendly apartment units, with both independent and assisted living options available. Residents can enjoy five star amenities like a salon & day spa, movie theater, fitness center, restaurant-style dining, gardens and walking paths, pet park, wellness center and more. A separate wing of the community, called Traditions Memory Care, is dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Oakmont of Santa Clarita

28650 Newhall Ranch Road

Santa Clarita, CA 91355

(661) 347-0051