FRANKFORT- Wesley Manor is renovating its apartments and village homes and has a full schedule of fall and holiday events, many of them open to the public, staff said Monday.
Octavia Trent of Wesley Manor and Melissa Robertson, Director of Life Enrichment, spoke Oct. 5 on “Party Line” on WILO 96.9 FM, Boone 102.7 FM and WILO 1570 AM.
New leadership, community service
Wesley Manor’s new leadership team, Molly Vissers, Executive Director and Abby Lane, Associate Executive Director, took over in the past few months. One of their goals is to have staff work on projects in the community. Two weeks ago, the office team spent a Friday at the We Care home painting, cleaning and moving items. New maintenance director Jake also handled small repairs.
“It was awesome to lend a helping hand, but also just bond as a team,” Trent said, adding that the group plans to keep doing projects like this. “Wesley Manor is really growing, and it’s growing rapidly.”
Apartment and village renovations
Renovations are underway in the main building. Three floors are finished, and work on the fourth floor is wrapping up. Two apartments are under construction and one more is left to build out. The updates include new showers, kitchens, countertops, paint, baseboards and carpet.
In the village, six homes that became vacant were stripped to the studs this summer. All but two are now finished. They have walk-in showers, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Photos are posted on Wesley Manor’s Facebook page.
Staff encouraged people to tour, including adult children looking at options for their parents. “A lot of people have negative thoughts about communities like ours just because of how they’ve gone in the past,” Trent said. “But once you tour and get information and you see how beautiful these units are … and how we can personalize them,” people are often surprised.
Upcoming Wesley Manor events
– Medicare open enrollment seminar – Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2 p.m., Event Center. A leader from BHI’s corporate office in Indianapolis will explain enrollment and the changes coming in 2027 and take questions. The seminar is open to the community.
– Memory care support group – Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1 p.m. The group is for people caring for a loved one with dementia. It is led by Angie Pitzer, a registered nurse with extensive dementia-care training.
– Trunk or Treat – Tuesday, Oct. 27, 5:30 p.m. Residents hand out candy as children in costume walk by. Organizers expect a large crowd. Donations of money or individually wrapped candy can be dropped off at the main desk.
– Veterans Day program – November. The program honors about 40 veterans who live at Wesley Manor, including a World War II veteran who just turned 100. More than 14 new engraved bricks are being added to the veterans tribute out front, which opened four years ago. Five names are also being added to the wall honoring residents age 100 and older.
– Holiday Bazaar – Thursday, Nov. 12, 1 to 3:30 p.m. The bazaar is open to the public. Vendors with homemade gifts or baked goods can contact Robertson for a free table. “It is our way of trying to bring shopping to the manor for some of our residents who are unable to get out,” Robertson said.
– Friendsgiving – November. This private Thanksgiving dinner is for everyone who toured Wesley Manor in 2026. It is the event’s third year.
–Tour of Trees – Trees go up the week of Nov. 23, and decorating starts the Friday after Thanksgiving. The public event is Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and visitors are welcome anytime. Each canned food item donated earns one vote for a favorite tree. The food goes to the Salvation Army Food Bank.
A fall party with straw bales and a wiener roast is also planned outside the main entrance. It follows a recent village block party and a village garage sale.
Grant and other news
In June, Wesley Manor won a $5,000 grant at the Community Foundation’s 30th anniversary. The money bought new weather-resistant blue rocking chairs and benches for the main entrance, the memory care unit and the health center entrance.
The facility’s chaplain is retiring, and Wesley Manor is looking for a replacement. The job is posted on its website.
Staff also thanked WILO and everyone who visited Wesley Manor’s booth at this year’s WILO Senior Fair.
