To turn 100 years old is a big celebration, and it’s why Arosa is looking to celebrate more centenarians with their “Century Club” honors.

Arosa, which was formerly Family Staffing Solutions, is an integrated homecare company, so they offer care management as well as caregiving. 

“We go in the home and do all the basic assistance with ADLs, meal-prep, cooking, cleaning, dressing, bathing, all of that,” said Middle Tennessee Area Director Amanda Lankford. There are also offices in Murfreesboro, Brentwood, and Clarksville.

They have 25 caregivers in Shelbyville, all of whom are used. The care managers are typically licensed social workers, nurses, physical therapists that come in and navigate the waters of elder care, according to Lankford. 

Lankford, who joined Arosa in 2015 after serving as a substitute teacher with Cascade’s special needs students, said, “There is such a need here…We take care of a lot of people.”

Arosa also works hand-in-hand with other facilities.

“I don’t like calling it competition because we all work together to care for people,” said Lankford. “At the end of the day, Arosa itself is client-centered.”

That’s the major benefit of in-home care: staying safe in your own home. “Our caregivers do get close to families and that’s a given. Because they do become like family,” said Lankford. A caregiver can go in as much as 24 hours of the day or as little as four hours a day. Arosa caregivers are also often the “gap-fillers" for hospice care.

Admittingly, at-home caregiving can be expensive, especially if paid for out of pocket. Lankford said it would be helpful if Medicare could recognize in-home care. But for now, she encourages people to purchase long-term care insurance policies.

At Arosa, they’re also looking at highlighting the mental-health aspect of it all as well. “When you deal with senior care or anybody with disabilities, there’s a psychiatric piece to that, and a lot of people don’t know their resources,” said Lankford. This could include which type of psychiatrist a client needs to attend.

“That’s our goal as a homecare company, is we don’t want to take their independence away. We want them to be able to stay independent as long as possible,” said Lankford.

Working in an environment where some of their clients can be as young as 20-years-old, Lankford said it opens one’s eyes to being cautious and knowledgeable—all with a desire to help.

So, when it comes to celebrating 100-year-olds, it’s a major milestone.

Currently, Arosa has honored seven centenarians in Bedford. Tennessee-wide, Arosa has honored 52 centenarians.

Originally, the club was founded in the Rutherford County location. Then in 2017, Lankford wanted to bring the program to Bedford.

After digging, they found four 100-year-olds right away.

“Those people have a story to tell. And they have a lot; they’ve been through a lot. And to be able to honor them when we can, it’s very special,” said Lankford.

She recalls several of the first centenarians that they met, and how their “keys to life” can be attributed to staying active in the community to drinking more Jack Daniel’s.

“You never know what’s going to come out of their mouth,” said Lankford with a laugh.

These 100-year-olds receive a proclamation from the governor’s office as well as from the Bedford County mayor’s office. “We do celebrate them. They deserve a celebration,” said Lankford.

If you know a centenarian or anyone turning 100, call 615-716-1564 or email amanda.lankford@arosacare.com.