Dr. Rheba de Tornyay was one of the very first residents to move in to Mirabella Seattle. The fabulous new community officially opened its doors on December 15, 2008, and Rheba moved in on December 17, in the midst of the region’s record-breaking snowstorm. Despite the bad weather, Rheba says the move went “amazingly well.”
She describes her two-bedroom corner apartment on the 10th floor as “filled with light and absolutely lovely.” She says, “This is not your average ‘old people’s home.’ It’s not like that at all—it’s a truly gorgeous place.”
“But to me,” says Rheba, “What’s far more important than the beautiful environment is the attitude of all the people at Mirabella and Pacific Retirement Services. I’ve never been anywhere like this where everything, and everyone, works so well together. The staff, the residents, the PRS management—it’s just seamless. Mirabella is still brand new, but there is already a real sense of community. It’s remarkable.”
Of the staff, Rheba says, “Everyone is so eager to please and provide excellent service. They are just fantastic.” She also has high marks for the food: “The Chef is incredible! Every day we have a choice of eight or nine entrees, five or six appetizers, and five or six desserts. I’ve eaten my way through the
whole menu—the food is fabulous and the company of fellow residents is wonderful.”
Before Rheba retired, she served as the Dean of the University of Washington’s School of Nursing, which is ranked as the top nursing school in the country. She chose Mirabella Seattle because she wants access to outstanding care as her needs change over time. She says, “I started researching options for retirement because I know that at some point in the future, it’s likely I’ll need some type of care. I chose a PRS community because of PRS’s excellent reputation, and the excellent reputations of the communities they run. The Rogue Valley Manor in Medford, Oregon, has a reputation of being one of the best Continuing Care Retirement Communities in the nation. I have a friend who lives in southern Oregon and she said the Health Care Center at the Manor was just exceptional. I’m a widow and have no children. I came to Mirabella because I know that if something happens, I’ll be well taken care of.”
Since moving to Mirabella, Rheba has toured the Skilled Nursing and Special Memory Care areas. She says, “Again, this is really not your grandmother’s nursing home. The rooms are all private, very spacious, and well appointed. You really have to see it to understand. I feel very, very fortunate to live here.”
