When your dad asks for help to record his favorite team’s big game – the one airing long after he’s gone to bed – will someone stop by before dinner with patience and genuine support? When your mom needs help with a maintenance request, will she get a warm hug along with professional service? These aren’t luxury perks – they’re the everyday moments that reveal whether the staff at a senior living community truly cares.
At Atria Chandler Villas in Arizona, these moments happen naturally because excellence isn’t an accident. Led by Executive Director Shiron Ruff and Maintenance Director Marcus Gillard, this community has earned four consecutive Quality Enhancement Awards – a track record that tells families everything they need to know about choosing the right senior living community.
How to choose a senior living community: Look for consistent excellence
Awards don’t lie, and consistency matters. The team at Atria Chandler Villas doesn’t just win awards – they’ve made it a habit:
- Best of Senior Living award winner from A Place for Mom, 2021 to 2025
- Caring Star award winner from Caring.com, 2021 to 2025
- Quality Enhancement (QE) Award winner, 2021 to 2025
“Show up and care. Every single day,” explains Shiron when asked about the community’s secret.
It’s simple advice that reveals something profound: The best senior living communities don’t save their best efforts for inspection day.
What makes a senior living community exceptional: Staff who stay and grow together
When evaluating senior living options, ask about staff tenure. Atria Chandler Villas’ team members don’t just work together – they build careers together. Marcus started as a contractor doing landscape irrigation and worked his way up to Maintenance Director. Shiron began as a Community Business Director and earned a promotion to Executive Director.
This isn’t just a feel-good story – it’s your assurance that experienced, committed professionals will be caring for your family member.
Investing in professional development
Quality communities invest in their people because they understand that professional growth translates to a better experience. Shiron earned her college degree through Atria’s tuition reimbursement program. Marcus is currently taking classes that will be reimbursed. When staff members are growing professionally, residents benefit from their increased knowledge and job satisfaction.
Signs of daily excellence in senior living
At Atria Chandler Villas, maintenance requests are closed before 4 pm every day. This isn’t about impressive statistics – it’s about understanding that when residents want their space to be perfect, prompt service matters.
“We get on those really quick because we know how much residents appreciate having everything working just right,” Marcus explains. “Whether it’s adjusting a thermostat or helping with a remote control issue, we want people to feel completely comfortable in their homes.”
Leadership that empowers, not micromanages
Quality senior living happens when staff members are trusted professionals, not simply supervised workers. Marcus describes his approach: “When you have good people you work with, it makes it simple. Just professionals who know their stuff.”
This trust-based environment creates the confidence and job satisfaction that translates directly to better resident support.
What genuine relationships look like in senior living
The difference between adequate support and exceptional support often comes down to relationships. Marcus lights up when talking about Dorothy, a 102-year-old resident who greets him with a daily hug, and Kirby, a handy resident who’s become his go-to consultant.
“We like to talk shop,” Marcus explains about his friendship with Kirby. “He likes to be involved and help wherever he can with repairs or maintenance. I might have something going on with electrical work, and I’ll go to him and say, ‘Hey Kirb, what do you think about this?’
And he's like, ‘Oh, yeah, let’s do this!’ He’s just a good man with a lot of knowledge who loves being useful.”
This is what families should look for: staff members who know residents as individuals, not just apartment numbers.
How to evaluate senior living quality: look for pride, not nervousness
When quality auditors arrive unannounced at Atria Chandler Villas, the team gets excited.
“We’re just proud to show off what we do every day to someone who isn’t here every day,” Shiron explains. “We’re excited and proud to show them around and show them all the good things we’re doing.”
If a community’s staff seems nervous about unexpected visitors or formal evaluations, that tells you something important about their confidence in their daily operations.
What to look for in your senior living search
When evaluating communities, look for these indicators of genuine quality:
- Stable, long-tenured staff who know residents personally
- Same-day response to maintenance and service requests
- Leaders who coach and develop their team members
- Staff who participate in community life
- Residents who interact positively with team members
- Consistent recognition from quality assessors
The best senior living communities make excellence seem effortless because they make it a daily habit. As Shiron puts it, “Sometimes you just get with a dream team that clicks and everybody works in harmony.”
That harmony – between staff, residents and families – is exactly what you should be looking for.
Find your community
Imagine your mom starting each day with a warm hug from Marcus, just like 102-year-old Dorothy does. Picture your dad being valued for his knowledge and experience, consulting on projects like Kirby does. These aren’t rare exceptions – they’re the everyday moments that happen when a senior living team has spent years perfecting the art of genuine community and support.
Find an Atria near you where award-winning isn’t just a title – it’s how your family will be treated every single day.
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