Building a Dream: Leigh and Sam Watts’ Journey to Opening Water Oak Villa
Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Ryan McGill
Water Oak Villa is a premier specialty care facility that provides memory care assisted living services to Jasper and the surrounding areas. The story behind its creation is a couple's journey of love, sacrifice, and determination to create a safe haven for individuals with memory impairments.
Leigh and Sam Watts both grew up in Jasper and became high school sweethearts. Their relationship continued to blossom at Auburn University, and while Leigh pursued her Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), Sam joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He went on to graduate from Auburn and serve as a commissioned officer.
Sam's military career took the couple to California, where they lived for nine years. During this time, Sam was deployed on five combat tours while Leigh worked to manage and build a fully encompassing Integrated Physical Medicine Clinic.
When Leigh found out she was expecting their second child, Levi, Sam decided to leave active duty and move back to Jasper to pursue his dream of becoming a FedEx pilot. He continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves.
Initially the move to Jasper was intended to be a temporary one, but the couple found themselves becoming more and more involved in the community. They soon decided to stay permanently.
One day, Leigh shared her dream of opening a memory care facility with Sam. Always one to support his wife’s aspirations, and in gratitude for the way she had always done the same for him, Sam was on board. After surveying the community's needs to determine the potential for viability, the duo set out to create a desirable option for memory care in their hometown.
“Leigh always supported my dreams and had moved across the country, away from family, for me and my military career. She’s fiercely dedicated to our relationship and our family, and once I understood the need for the memory care facility in the community, I was fully in support of her,” Sam says.
Thus, Water Oak Villa was born.
Leigh says she wanted to provide a place where a person would feel comfortable sending their loved ones if the need arose.
"Through my previous work experience, I developed a passion for caring for the elderly, particularly those with conditions like Alzheimer's and Dementia,” she says. “It's hard to watch a loved one go downhill, and it's hard to be a caretaker in that situation. It's physically and emotionally draining, and I had seen it firsthand in my own family.”
Services provided at the 16-bed facility include 24-hour care staff— including an on-site Registered Nurse—assistance with all adult daily living activities, medication management, homecooked meals and snacks, daily housekeeping and laundry services, on-site barber and beautician services, structured activities, wellness programs, and outdoor activities.
Each resident at Water Oak Villa will have their own care plan, developed alongside their primary care physician and tailored to their stage of memory impairment. Families of residents will also be able to contribute to the care plans and will have a 24-hour open line of communication with the staff.
"Our goal is for Water Oak Villa to feel like a new home to the residents rather than a medical facility. It's not only a safe place for the residents but also a place where they can continue to live out the rest of their lives," Leigh says. "We are excited to be welcoming residents and start providing the best care possible. The community's support has been amazing, and we can't wait to see where this journey takes us!" 78
For more information about the residential services available at Water Oak Villa, please contact (205) 265-2058 or by e-mail at leigh@wateroakvilla.com