Hurricane Milton Updates

Update as of 10/11/2024 at 5:30pm EST

We are delighted to inform you that all residents from Hearthstone Lake Nona and Sonata Lake Mary have safely returned home.

First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the families for their patience and understanding during this challenging time. Your support has been invaluable.

To our residents, we are grateful for your resilience and cooperation throughout this journey. Your positive spirit has been truly inspiring.

We also want to express our deepest appreciation to our dedicated staff. Their hard work and commitment ensured that everything went smoothly despite the circumstances.

We recognize the significant impact Hurricane Milton has had on many lives, and we sincerely hope that you, your friends, and neighbors are all safe. Despite the challenges, we are pleased to report that the return process went extremely well, and all is well at Heartis Venice.

Thank you once again for your continued support.

Update as of 10/10/2024 at 5:00pm EST 

We hope this message finds you well and that you, your friends, and neighbors are all safe.   We are pleased to inform you about the upcoming schedule for residents returning to Heartis Venice tomorrow, after our recent road trip due to Hurricane Milton.

Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Catered Living Residents at Lake Mary:

  1. Departure Time: Around 10:30 AM tomorrow, Friday.
  2. Details: Residents will have breakfast before departure and will leave with a boxed lunch for the trip back. 

Memory Care Residents at Lake Nona:

  1. Departure Time: Around 12:30 PM after lunch 

Families Who Took Their Loved Ones Home:

  1. Return Time: We will not be able to accommodate any move-backs until after 5 PM, as we will be coordinating the return of the buses.
  2. Details: We are currently reaching out to all families to inform them of these details. 

We deeply appreciate your understanding and patience during this transition. Your cooperation is essential in ensuring a smooth and safe return for all our residents.

Thank you for your continued support.

Update as of 10/10/2024 at 8:30am

It has been a long couple of days, but we are pleased to report that everyone is doing well and making the best of the situation. Many of our residents have even made new friends along the way, which has been wonderful to see.

We understand that everyone is anxious to return home, but we need to ensure that it is safe to do so. The city of Venice has experienced significant flooding, and the last thing we want is to return to a potentially challenging situation. We are in close contact with local Venice officials and the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. Once they give us the go-ahead, we will make the necessary arrangements to return home.

We appreciate your patience during this process.

In the meantime, we wanted to share some positive comments from our residents, which we hope will give you a sense of how well things are going despite the challenges we have faced:

  • “The staff has done a great job taking us here on short notice, and we are so grateful.”
  • “We in memory care appreciate the extra care provided for our family.”
  • “In an extreme situation, the staff handled our needs in an exemplary way.”
  • “The staff has done a fantastic job. We thank them for their patience and assistance.”

Thank you once again for your continued support and understanding. Together, we will get through this.
Update as of 10/9/2024 at 5:00pm EST
We are pleased to share that everyone in both communities is doing well. The resilience and positive spirit of our residents have been truly inspiring during this challenging time. Despite the storm, morale remains high, and we are all looking forward to its passing.

According to the latest forecasts, we expect the storm to move south of our host communities during the early morning hours. This means that by tomorrow, we should see a significant improvement in weather conditions.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued understanding and patience. Your cooperation has been invaluable. Additionally, we would like to commend our staff for their exceptional dedication and hard work. They have been going above and beyond to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort.

Thank you once again for your support. Together, we will get through this.


Update as of 10/9/2024 at 7:30 am EST

We are happy to announce that all residents have safely reached their new temporary homes at Hearthstone at Nona Lakes and Sonata at Lake Mary. Our team assisted everyone to settle in comfortably.  Many residents have already woken up as I am writing this and although a bit tired, are in good spirits and ready for breakfast.

We recognize that this transition might be a bit overwhelming, but please be assured that our dedicated staff is on hand to provide continuous care and support. Our commitment to delivering the high-quality care you expect remains unwavering.

We will keep you informed with any new updates as they come. For the latest information, please check our Facebook page.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this period.

Update as of 10/08/2024 as of 8:30 pm EST

We are pleased to inform you that all residents have safely left Heartis Venice and are currently enroute to our sister communities, Hearthstone at Nona Lakes and Sonata at Lake Mary. Our team has worked diligently to ensure a smooth and efficient transition, and we are confident that your loved ones will receive the same high standard of care and comfort at these locations.

We understand that this is a time of uncertainty, and we want to reassure you that the safety and well-being of our residents remain our top priority. Our staff is accompanying the residents to provide continuous support and care throughout the journey.

We will continue to keep you updated with any new information as it becomes available. Please monitor our Facebook page for the latest updates.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Update as of 10/8/2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to inform you of an important update regarding our community. As required by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, we will be evacuating due to Hurricane Milton.  We are taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents as we prepare to move residents and staff to sister communities.

To this end, we are diligently packing all necessary supplies to guarantee that everyone has what they need during this transition. Our dedicated team is working hard to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

We are pleased to inform you that our residents will be temporarily relocated to our sister communities, Hearthstone at Nona Lakes (for our memory care residents) and Sonata at Lake Mary (independent, catered living and assisted living residents). These communities are well-equipped and prepared to provide the same high standard of care and comfort that you have come to expect from us.

Please rest assured that we are committed to maintaining the highest level of care and support for your loved ones during this time. We understand that this may be a period of uncertainty, but we want to emphasize that our primary goal is the safety and well-being of our residents.

We will be back in touch with more specific details as soon as they become available but please monitor our Facebook page for all updates.  In the meantime, please bear with us as will not be able to respond to calls.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Update as of 10/07/2024 as of 11:00 a.m. EST

As the pattern of Hurricane Milton approaches our area, Heartis Venice is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents. Our community takes a proactive approach to storm preparedness by closely coordinating with local authorities and taking all necessary precautions to protect everyone in our care.

Evacuation Plans: In the event of an evacuation, it’s important to let us know your plans for your loved one. Whether you intend to take them home or have them stay with family, please keep us informed so we can accurately prepare and provide any necessary medications or supplies.

Real-Time Communication: During a named storm, we will share real-time updates on our Facebook page. This platform enables us to communicate quickly, even in the event of system disruptions. Please follow our page for the latest information.

Confidence in Our Preparedness: Our team regularly tests emergency generators, secures outdoor areas, and stocks essential supplies. We conduct daily meetings to review tasks and ensure that all safety measures are in place.

Thank you for trusting Heartis Venice with your care. We remain dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment.  Feel free to continue to monitor our Facebook page for any updates. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us directly.