Nantucket ranks among top Christmas towns in U.S., masslive.com/entertainment
Better Health D
MUSIC: Young@Heart’s 40th anniversary, D7 THEATER: 1-man show of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ D7 LIFESTYLE: Overhauling etiquette for 21st century, D7
| SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2022
|
Senior Health By CORI URBAN
Special To The Republican
When Robert F. and Janet L. Geoghegan were living in their own home in Tolland, Connecticut, they realized “we’re getting old,” he said. Taking care of the house was getting more difficult, and hiring others to help became expensive. So they decided to make a change before they were in “crisis mode,” Mrs. Geoghegan said. They have been residents of The Ivy at Ellington for about a year now, and they enjoy more free time and no routine responsibilities — “No more mowing the lawn,” Bob enthused. At The Arbors and The Ivy Assisted Living Residential Communities, residents can enjoy their independence in a supportive environment with the peace of mind that assistance is available 24/7. There are eight communities in Massachusetts (Amherst, Greenfield, Westfield, Chicopee, Stoughton, Taunton, Stoneham and Dracut) and two communities in Connecticut (Ellington and Watertown). Each community has between 75 and 95 apartments, and all of them offer a secured Memory Care Community, called Reflections. At The Arbors & Ivy Assisted Living Communities rent includes up to 60 minutes of personal care per day, weekly housekeeping, a daily social engagement calendar, three chef-prepared meals per day, exercise and wellness programs, planned outings and shopping trips, and on-site healthcare visits by third-party healthcare professionals. “Assisted Living Communities provide elderly adults personalized care in a residential setting and offers safety 24/7,” said Emily R. Quinn, The Arbors & The Ivy Assisted Living Communities regional director of sales and marketing
and a co-owner of the family business. Assisted living is a smart option for seniors who need some help with everyday tasks such as getting dressed, bathing, preparing meals and managing medications. It can also accommodate specific care plans to address poor nutrition or other individualized needs. “The benefit of assisted living is that it allows the resident to regain their independence in a safe and secure setting. It also gives them the opportunity to regularly see friends and meet new people,” she said. “It gives the family a peace of mind in knowing that their loved one is not sitting home, all alone. Assisted living adds years to your life and life to your years!” Luci S. Giguere’s mother, the late Irene Connor, lived at The Arbors in Westfield, which “absolutely gave me peace of mind,” said Giguere, of East Longmeadow. “She was safe, in a place where she was checked on frequently and her nutrition was extremely better as she wasn’t eating alone anymore.” The Arbors & Ivy Assisted Living Communities are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days per week. A receptionist is at the front door from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the front doors lock at 8 p.m., at which time one must ring a doorbell to be let in by a staff member. Each apartment has an emergency pullcord in every room, and residents and can wear an emergency-alert pendant around their neck for additional safety. Residents and/or families may also request additional periodic safety checks. If an individual requires a secured community for safety due to cognitive decline, the Reflections community requires a keypad entry/ exit. All residents must sign in and out when they leave and re-enter the communities, and all guests must sign in and out.
“My Mom was in the Arbors for about four years. She loved it there,” Giguere said. “She made lots of friends, and the activities kept her very busy, from playing cards with the “girls” to bingo at night. As her mobility became more
challenging, we increased her services, and she was on hourly safety checks and dress assist which eased my mind considerably.” Services at the residences include up to 60 minutes of intermittent personal care per
“It gives my family a peace of mind in knowing that their loved one is not sitting home, all alone. Assisted living adds years to your life and life to your years.” Emily R. Quinn - Regional Director at The Arbors & The Ivy Assisted Living Communities
Top Photo: The Arbors at Dracut. Bottom Photo: The Arbors at Stoneham.
day. If more care is needed it is offered for a per-day charge, up to 120 minutes per day. Personal care includes showers, morning/evening care, compression socks, safety checks, laundry services and more. Medication management can be put in place if needed. Also offered are weekly housekeeping, three chef-prepared meals per day, regularly scheduled outings and shopping trips, transportation to doctor appointments and a daily exercise and social engagement calendar. “We know that one of the biggest factors of needing or wanting to move to an assisted living community is social engagement. Some seniors may be living alone and barely socializing, but when they come to The Arbors/Ivy Communities, we offer activities all day long, every day,” Quinn said. Social engagement directors spearhead the daily activities that include exercise, baking classes, crafts, painting classes, word games, TED talks, history lessons, guest speakers, trips to the movies, bowling or excursions for ice cream. Prior to moving into the community, residents are asked to fill out a leisure activity form, so staff can learn what they like to do and be sure they have something on the calendar for everyone’s interests. When a new resident moves into one of the communities, they are linked with another resident who acclimates them to the community, gets them for activities and sits with them at meals. They are also invited to a new resident social to meet the community and are invited to a “Welcome to the Family” event where all new residents and family have a chance to meet the employees and learn their roles. The Geoghegans both feel safe at The Ivy at Ellington, and though it was an adjust-
ment to give up some of the control of daily life, they like remaining close to their family, doctors and banking. “Make the move when you are capable physically and mentally of making your own decisions,” they agreed. It is crucial that an individual or his or her family does not wait too long to make the decision for assisted living. “Oftentimes we hear, ‘They aren’t ready yet,’ when in reality they would benefit immensely from assisted living and potentially add years to their life,” Quinn said. “Assisted living is a chance for you or your loved one to engage with others and get the care needs they may require, in a safe environment. Most people wouldn’t prefer to move out of their home, but by waiting too long they run the risk of no longer being appropriate for assisted living and needing skilled nursing (nursing home).” As residents age in place, they often move from one level of care to another. Personalized care plans are created for each resident and are reviewed every 90-120 days. If and when a person needs more or less care, it can be changed accordingly. “As third-generation owners of a family business, we truly believe it is our family taking care of your family,” Quinn said. “Our communities are designed to be a home-like atmosphere. Our main living rooms are cozy and inviting. We want our residents and families to always feel like they are truly ‘coming home.’ Our employees have also become family. We have a large group of employees who have been with us over 20 years.” Giguere wishes her mother had moved to assisted living sooner: “It was a great environment for Mom, and we had the peace of mind that she was safe and well cared for.”