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February 2010 -  The video linked to the right is a four minute trailer that highlights the concepts of the Dining with Friends™ video
September 2009 -
Masonicare at Ashlar Village Re-accredited Jon-Paul Venoit The accreditation covers all three of Masonicare at Ashlar Village’s service lines: the continuing care retirement community, the assisted living community and the assisted living-memory care area. In addition, the not-for-profit organization received an “exemplary” citation for its programming for the latter group. By pursuing and achieving accreditation, an organization demonstrates that it meets measurable international standards for quality and is committed to pursuing excellence. An organization receiving a five-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. “Our residents and staff are delighted with the news,” said Jon-Paul Venoit, president of Masonicare at Ashlar Village. “The CARF-CCAC accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded, and just 10% of communities receive it,” he noted. The Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) was founded in 1985 as the nation’s only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities. In January 2003, it merged with the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which was founded in 1966. An affiliate of Masonicare, Masonicare at Ashlar Village is located in Wallingford on the upper campus of Masonicare. Its continuing care retirement community has 459 independent living residents, and its assisted living population totals 113. Masonicare is Connecticut’s leading not-for-profit provider of healthcare and retirement living for seniors. Its other affiliates include Masonicare Health Center and Masonicare Primary Care Physicians in Wallingford, Masonicare Home Health & Hospice (statewide), Masonicare at Newtown, The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut and, most recently, Masonicare Partners Home Health, a partnership with Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford. June 2009 At CALA's Caregiver Recognition Event on June 25, 2009 at Water's Edge Resort and Spa, CALA was pleased to announce the following 2009 CALA Resident Service Award winners. Elissa Evanauskas, the village at mariners point. Elissa is the community driver at the Village at Mariners Point, but she is so much more than that. She makes residents feel safe and encourages those who might be afraid to get out on scenic bus rides and other outings. She noticed when four men in the building were in need of haircuts and arranged for an impromptu barber shop outing. She anticipated a bad snowstorm and got residents out to Wal-Mart and Stop & Shop the day before. She picks up supplies that are needed for the Activities program and arranged for her grandmother to bake food and come visit residents for the polish club. Carmelita Evans, Maple Woods at Hamden. Carmelita is the dedicated housekeeper to the Harbor Unit at Maple Woods at Hamden. When Carm was asked to transition to the Harbor last year she was upset to leave her assignment on the traditional side of the community. Carm had endured the loss of her mother and watched her have cognitive changes and was frightened she wouldn’t be able to do the work. This past year Carm became an angel to many on the Harbor. She sits with those who just need company. She walks with others, she does activities, and she helps with meals and setting tables. “Carm does it all!” Most recently we had a resident who was dealing with increased back pain. It was Carm who could comfort her with just her time and tender touch. Carm made the difference for the resident. She eased her pain, she made the difference. Carm was the person this resident reached for. “Carm has done more than overcome her fear, she had found her fit and made a difference.” Stacy Burnham, RIVER RIDGE AT AVON. Stacy Burnham is the Harbor Program Director in the Alzheimer’s memory impairments neighborhood. Stacy consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty. For example, a new female resident moved into the harbor community. She seemed pleasant but could not communicate because she only spoke Spanish. A private aide was hired to help this new resident get acclimated to her new environment as we had limited Spanish speaking resources. Stacy went out of her way to learn Spanish. Stacy gained this Spanish speaking resident’s trust so much that this resident no longer has a private aid and is thriving will in her new home. Another example of daily acts of kindness is Stacy’s laughter. A resident, staff or even a family member can be having a bad day but when you hear Stacy’s laughter you can’t help but forget your problems and laugh with her. People seem to flock to her whenever they see her. “Stacy is one of the reasons why family members feel that River Ridge is the place for their mom or dad. Peace of mind that their loved one is going to be taken care of.” Loretta Ward, Middlewoods of Newington. Loretta is the Chef Manager at Middlewoods of Newington. However, while her vocation may be culinary arts, her passion is the residents at Middlewoods. Loretta is best known for her ability to make every day fun and exciting. She schedules out trips for the Residents to attend local sporting events. At the Hartford Hawks game, Loretta arranged to have Coach Jen Rizzotti come up to the stands to personally greet our Residents. The Hartford Hawks even welcomed Middlewoods of Newington Residents on the megatron! She taught the residents how to Wii bowl. The Resident team now calls themselves the “Middlewoods Sharp Shooters” and have a trophy after beating their sister community, Middlewoods of Farmington, in a bowling challenge! May was National Hamburger month and Loretta not only researched and offered creative and freshly made burgers every week, she also scheduled an out trip to Louis’ Lunch in New Haven – reputed to be the birthplace of the hamburger. During the Olympics, she spearheaded and organized an entire week of Olympic Games for the Residents to participate in. She planned opening and closing ceremonies and had more than 10 “events” for the Residents to participate in. She had medals for each of those participants – all this while arranging to have that week’s menu of food represent various countries competing at the Games. When Loretta noticed Residents checking their new mailboxes numerous times every day she took it upon herself to leave an anonymous card in everyone’s mailbox. The Residents spent weeks trying to figure out who was their secret admirer! “Loretta has a tremendous impact of life at Middlewoods of Newington and we are truly blessed to have her as a member of the family!” Linda LaBarge, LUTHER RIDGE AT MIDDLETOWN, Director of Activities. “Linda provides outstanding service to the residents, volunteers, and guests at Luther Ridge.” Linda made 50 individual edible flower pots for the Spring Fling Party in March. She filled the bottom of each pot with crushed Oreo cookies, placed a scoop of chocolate ice cream next, topped that with crushed cookies and a drizzling of chocolate syrup, a gummy worm and an artificial flower stuck into each pot. The finished product appeared to be a potted flower just in time to celebrate Spring. Linda wears many hats at Luther Ridge. She is the activities director, volunteer coordinator, bus driver, shopper, decorator, and even finds time to create staff and resident educational programs. As the bus driver, Linda provides the necessary assistance to each resident who otherwise would not be able to go on the weekly grocery shopping trips. For many, this is the only opportunity for purchasing groceries each week. She orchestrates the storage of walkers, she retrieves the grocery carts for those who are unsteady, she carries the dozens of bags of groceries onto the bus and off again back at Luther Ridge. She monitors each resident as they shop and always lends a hand to reach items off the top shelves. As it is impossible to complete all the planning, shopping, and decorating for the events and activities during normal business hours, Linda is often seen at Sam’s Club, Walmart, or Stop and Shop during the early morning or evening hours in order to provide outstanding programs for the residents. “Luther Ridge is truly blessed to have such a dedicated employee.” Diane Dennis, EMERITUS OF WOODBRIDGE. Diane Denis, RW is the SALSA at Emeritus of Woodbridge. Diane cares very deeply about the resident’s entire physical, mental and spiritual well being. She is always coming up with ideas to brighten and enrich all of the resident’s lives. She has started a “Tea and Talk” hour with the ladies and this has become a favorite every other week. Diane has also started a musical instrument hour in our memory care unit. Each resident is given an instrument to play as Diane leads “The Band”. Several residents have severe dementia and now have begun to participate and blossom. Diane spends numerous hours of her own personal time planning these activities, purchasing books, music etc to benefit our residents. “Diane is a wonderful nurse who understands nursing is not just paperwork and medications. She gives her heart and soul to each and every resident to ensure they are healthy in all ways.” Diane Gauthier, Peregrine’s Landing at the Shoreline. As Recreation Director, Diane Gauthier goes above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis. Recently she used her skills and her unique understanding of resident needs to complete a “final task” for one resident who was under hospice care. The resident, a female who had a terminal cancer diagnosis, was obsessively making long lists for a picnic she wanted to have, and was often upset and anxious regarding her need to “get to the store” to buy party supplies, so anxious that there were several tearful and agitative incidents daily for nearly a week despite all attempts to calm her. Diane, recognizing the importance of unfinished business, scheduled a picnic with the resident involved every step of the way, down to hosting the event at the head table (and toasting with a “near” beer!). The event was beautifully managed, and the following day the resident put away her lists and spent a calm morning with her family visiting. That afternoon she got into her bed, never to leave it again, and died within the week. Her family believes Diane helped her to finish her “unfinished business” and expire with dignity and peace. Kerry Cardinal, Ridgefield Crossings. Kerry Cardinal is the Activities Director at Ridgefield Crossings. His leadership at the Community has been “nothing short of transformational” in the words of his coworkers. In the brief time Kerry has been with the Community he developed a brand new volunteer program that has engaged over 40 volunteers, recruited and trained several associates who have enriched lives of all our residents and initiated and provided ongoing leadership for several key clubs and important groups including a monthly Men’s Club; weekly Shabbat services for Jewish resident; on-site, volunteer-run Baptist, protestant, and Episcopal services; computer training for interested residents; and a knitting group that makes hats and blankets for premature babies, among so many, many other things. Kerry is also responsible for planning regular trips to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. The rewarding attendance success of the Community’s Arthritis Foundation program is due largely to Kerry’s tireless involvement and Kerry also put together a highly successful summer concert series. Kerry receives daily and sometimes hourly praise for being engaging, gentle, patient, deeply kind and caring, tirelessly hardworking and inspirational. John Paradise, Spring Meadows of Trumbull. John Paradise is the Director of Housekeeping and Laundry at Spring Meadows of Trumbull. “John comes to work everyday with a smile, a positive attitude, and a willingness of team work that far surpasses the standard for excellence.” John performs the most difficult tasks of the housekeeping department himself rather than asking his staff. It is not uncommon to see John working side by side with a housekeeper making beds, cleaning toilets, shampooing carpets, washing floors, collecting trash, vacuuming, or delivering linens. When asked why he was spending his day working with particular staff, John’s answer was, “I need them to know that I am not any different than they are and that I am completely willing to do all the things they do. I need them to know that I completely understand how difficult their job is and that when I say thank you, I really mean it”. John went on to explain that, “Our residents deserve the best service we can provide them, but working alongside of my staff I am ensuring that the standard continues to be met.” John greets each resident he meets, asking a personal question, sharing a comment about the weather, or the news, leaving them with a smile on their face as they continue on their day. Often, John will see residents at their weakest and most vulnerable moments. They may have fallen and bled on the carpet and John is there to extract the stain, or perhaps they woke in the middle of the night and couldn’t quite make it to the bathroom. John treats each resident with the utmost respect and kindness, he tells them not to worry, not to be embarrassed. John was heard to say to a resident, “but isn’t that why you moved here; so that we could take care of these things and you wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore”? And he often comments, “this is [the residents]home, the rest of us are here to work for them”. Valerie Bartos, HOFFMAN SUMMERWOOD. As Director of Community Relations, Valerie is responsible for marketing Hoffman SummerWood Community (SummerWood) to interested community residents. From skits to music to lectures to out-trips, Valerie brings excitement and fun to the lives of the residents. Valerie’s love and pride for SummerWood grew and soon she developed a strong desire to share the news of our community all around. Knowing that our community should have a warm welcoming feeling as soon as residents enter their home, Valerie connected with local Jewish volunteer groups and worked with them to plant the beautiful and colorful flowers that line the SummerWood entrance and front sitting areas each spring. Beautifying the raised flower beds has also been one of Valerie’s favorite events. When a new resident came to SummerWood with his 35 year old Calamandrin orange tree, Valerie quickly reassured him that we had the perfect sunlit spot in our activity center where all residents could enjoy this gorgeous fruit-bearing tree! Valerie shared his wife’s recipe for Calamandrin Orange Cake with our Sous Chef and it was a featured dessert one evening in his honor…he was so delightfully proud! She has been known to take residents out to lunch, helping a resident in choosing a new pair of eyeglasses and accompanying the resident to a beauty salon for an updated hairstyle. She has included our residents in her community outreach by creating and designing an eye-catching “Ask Me About Hoffman SummerWood Community” t-shirt, that our members wear proudly when out and about in the community. Aware that moving into a new home can be a very stressful time for a new resident, Valerie will carefully choose a current resident whom she feels will support the new resident with their adjustment. Soon the new friends can be seen dining together, playing Rummikub, or sharing with each other stories about their children and grandchildren. What Valerie brings to the community goes beyond marketing and is performed with love. With a record number of award nominations, the committee announced the following recipients of Honorable Mention: 2009 Honorable Mentions Jay Bourret, Facility Manager, Hoffman SummerWood Community David Schiller, Driver, Transportation Department, Crosby Commons Diane Kirkegard, R.N. Staff Nurse, The Gardens Larry Murphy, Executive Chef, Laurel Estates Marie Morris, RN Case Manager, Hebrew Health Care CALA also takes great pride in recognizing Connecticut's Assisted Living providers who were honored at ALFA's 2009 Conference and Expo on May 6, 2009. 2009 ALFA AWARDS 12th Annual ALFA Hero Awards This year, two recipients of the Annual ALFA Hero Awards were from Connecticut. Joan Carney of Hoffman SummerWood Community was presented with the Executive Director Hero Award. Kasey Gobin, Chef at Emeritus of South Windsor was presented with the Staff Hero Award. Congratulations to them both! ALFA Best of the Best Awards Program 2009 This year, The Greens at Cannondale and Hoffman SummerWood Community both received Best of the Best Awards from ALFA. The Greens at Cannondale received the award for their Intergenerational Connections Program while Hoffman SummerWood Community received the award for its Waitstaff Star Incentive Program. Benchmark, Sunrise, Emeritus and Brookdale also received Best of the Best Awards citing their organization wide practices. Congratulations! Finally, CALA's Board Chair, Laurie Heintz announced a special award presented to Jane Wilkinson, former Executive Director at One MacDonough Place. For all who knew and loved Jane, the moment was made more special with the attendance of Jane's daughter, Mary Beth Wilkinson, who traveled from Texas to accept her mother's award.
May 2009 Best of 50+ Housing Award goes to “The Residence” Click to Read Full Article March 2009 Labor and Employment Legal Update The Employee Free Choice Act: What You Need to Know Today Click to read full article December 2008 CALA's 2008 Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on Dec. 2, 2008 at The Hawthorne Inn Annual and Best Practices Award Winners   CALA's 13th Annual Meeting of the Membership and Awards Dinner, Dec. 2, 2008 Photos courtesy Carol Robinson Isabella Firth, Lifespan Network, Maryland 2008 CALA Distinguished Service Award Chanté Drasdis, The Arbors 2008 CALA Humanitarian Award Nancy Bryant, Middlewoods of Newington 2008 CALA Legislator of the Year Award The Honorable Jonathan Harris, Connecticut State Senator, 5th District 2008 CALA Media Award Lois Alcosser, The Greens at Cannondale 2008 CALA Best Practices Award Resident Care Middlewoods of Farmington 2008 CALA Best Practices Award Staff Recruitment and Retention Hoffman SummerWood Community 2008 CALA Best Practices Award Marketing The Greens at Cannondale 2008 CALA Best Practices Award Managed Residential Services The Greens at Cannondale November 2008 Jerome Home Celebrates Grand Opening of Arbor Rose, an Assisted Living and Memory Care Addition  From left: Lori Toombs, Arbor Rose Executive Director; Trish Walden, VP of Central Connecticut Senior Health Services; John Manning, Jerome Home Trustee; Harry Mazadoorian, Jerome Home Trustee; Mayor Tim Stewart; John Downes, Jr., Downes Construction Company; Thomas Sherer, Jerome Home Trustee; Lisa Connolly, Jerome Home Executive Director; Gerard D. Frank, Bechtel, Frank, Erickson Architects According to New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart, “As the only assisted living in New Britain, Arbor Rose will offer our seniors the opportunity to live in a safe environment, while providing them with socialization and the ability to live as independently as possible within a community environment.” “The new addition further expands Jerome Home’s ability to care for residents of Greater New Britain with individualized, personal care to meet their individual healthcare needs” said Laurence A. Tanner, president of the Jerome Home Board of Trustees, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, and head of the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, parent company of those healthcare organizations. “Assisted living is a logical extension of the outstanding care already being provided on the Jerome Home campus. Residents can access short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, outpatient services, transportation and medical services all on one campus.” Jerome Home’s continuum of care currently offers a 120-bed facility located on a beautifully landscaped 5.5 acre campus. The three-building, interconnected complex provides a rehabilitation and health center; skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility and residential care. “Assisted living offers an affordable homelike alternative to seniors who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout all the stages of their lives. We are looking forward to adding this important component to our existing community of care,” stated Jerome Home Executive Director Lisa Connolly. Jerome Home is a nonprofit member of the Central Connecticut Health Alliance, Inc. For more information, contact Lisa Connolly, Jerome Home Executive Director, at 860-229-3707. August 2008 As Costs Continue Rising, Assisted Living Remains the More Affordable Care Choice As a whole, long-term care costs have increased 5 to 13 percent in the past two years, according to the recently released 2008 Long-Term Care Cost of Care research report from Prudential Financial. But regardless of across-the-board cost upticks, the average daily cost for assisted living is still less than half the average daily cost for a private room in a nursing home—which helps fuel support for allowing seniors to age in place once they move into assisted living communities. The Prudential study found that the average daily cost for assisted living is about $100, or $3,241 per month. The average daily cost for a nursing home private room is $217, or $79,205 annually. The study also reports that costs can vary significantly by geographic region. Alaska is the most expensive in the country at $82,956 per year for assisted living and $183,595 per year from nursing home care. The least expensive areas include Oklahoma City and St. Louis. August 2008 Joanne Elser of Southbury Named Director of Assisted Living for Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown Newtown, CT, Joanne Elser of Southbury has been promoted to the position of Assisted Living Director for Lockwood Lodge, Masonicare's assisted living and memory care community at Ashlar of Newtown on Toddy Hill Road in Newtown. Thomas M. Gutner, President of Ashlar of Newtown, made the announcement. Ms. Elser, with more than 16 years of experience in healthcare marketing, joined the staff at Lockwood Lodge as Marketing Manager in June of 2007, and has been serving as the Interim Director of Assisted Living since February of this year. In making the announcement, Mr. Gutner said, "In her roles as both marketing manager and interim director, Joanne has made significant contributions toward continuing the positive direction of Lockwood Lodge while maintaining excellent relationships with residents, families and staff as well. We're so pleased Joanne has agreed to take on this expanded role and look forward to working with her in the future." Ms. Elser is a graduate of St. Vincent's School of Nursing and Norwalk Hospital School of Respiratory Therapy. She and her husband, Chris, and their two children are Southbury residents. Ashlar of Newtown and Lockwood Lodge are affiliates of Wallingford-based Masonicare, Connecticut's leading not-for-profit provider of healthcare and retirement living for seniors. April 2008 Getting It Done with HUD Financing: One of the best kept secrets in America "Given the current interest rate market, it may be an ideal time for you to refinance your facility, make capital improvements, or otherwise revisit your financing situation. When doing so, consider a HUD loan and the benefits it has to offer."  Ellen Guelfi, Vice President CWCapital For apartments, assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has some of the best loan programs available in the United States. Unfortunately, there is a misconception in the industry that preparing and processing an application for HUD insured financing is a painstaking process. While the execution of a HUD loan may not be as fast as other conventional financing programs, HUD has a combination of unique benefits to offer. These include fully amortizing terms of 35 to 40 years available on the finance of new construction projects, substantial rehabilitation projects, and new purchases and refinance loans. HUD also offers some of the lowest interest rates available, and offers non-recourse lending programs, making its loan programs one of the best kept secrets in America. Many owners are particularly attracted to the peace of mind gained by knowing that a property does not have to be refinanced under a short term balloon note, protecting the borrower and facility from the uncertainty of financing terms in the future. In 2002, HUD implemented a program that has successfully accelerated the delivery of the mortgage insurance programs. The Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) program dramatically reduced the time HUD requires for the review of mortgage insurance applications. Under MAP, the HUD approved MAP lender is responsible for the complete underwriting of the property before the application is submitted to HUD. Therefore, the loan parameters are known early in the process, and HUD is required to review the applications within 45 to 60 days. Working with an experienced HUD lender is the key to processing an expeditious HUD loan. While loan terms and conditions will remain relatively constant from one HUD lender to the next, the quality of the loan execution will not. An experienced HUD lender, CWCapital continuously strives to streamline the delivery of HUD programs while working to ensure that borrowers do not incur delays in the application process. Most delays occur when information is missing or clarification of details is required. The simplest way to assure an expeditious HUD application review is to provide a thorough application package that addresses all possible questions. While this sounds simple, it requires the experience and expertise in HUD programs and processes that CWCapital is proud to possess. Earlier this year, CWCapital launched a variable-rate bridge loan program for healthcare facilities that facilitates and expedites access to the HUD fixed-rate permanent finance program. This bridge loan product affords eligible HUD borrowers the benefits and timing of a capital markets execution while obtaining the high leverage, long term benefits of a HUD loan. Given the current interest rate market, it may be an ideal time for you to refinance your facility, make capital improvements, or otherwise revisit your financing situation. When doing so, consider a HUD loan and the benefits it has to offer. About the Author: Ellen Guelfi is a Vice President and Loan Officer for CWCapital. Based in Boston, CW is a large, national and vertically integrated commercial real estate finance and investment management company that places an emphasis on local service. Prior to joining CW, Ms. Guelfi served as Senior Project Manager at the Boston HUD office for 15 years, specializing in the finance of healthcare and multifamily properties. The statements and opinions in this article are solely those of Ms. Guelfi, and not of HUD or CWCapital. December 27, 2006 - Record Journal News QuietCare seen as potential lifesaver for senior citizens SOUTHINGTON - You are a senior citizen with a number of medical problems that concern your family and have established patterns of behavior ranging from the number of bathroom visits a day to how often you open the refrigerator door or a case concerning various medications. >> Read more ... November 11, 2005 - For immediate release: Benchmark Assisted Living Acquires Five Alzheimer's Communities from Amicus Healthcare Company Continues Expansion in Massachusetts and Connecticut >> Read more ... February 18, 2005 - For immediate release: Residents at Tower One/Tower East "good neighbors" to community, world For further information: Dorothy Giannini-Meyers, President 203.772.1816 New Haven - Those who think the senior citizens who reside at Tower One/Tower East fill their days only with craft projects, exercise classes, and board games couldn't be more wrong. The residents of Tower One/Tower East are among the first to rise to the occasion when members in the local or global community need their help. Take, for example, the recent tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. Tower One/Tower East residents loaned their support to global relief efforts by choosing two disaster relief organizations. They then collected donations from residents, their families and staff. Many small and some large donations were put together and sent to the organizations. During the winter holiday season, residents remembered those who are less fortunate by joining in a coat drive for a local homeless shelter. The warm winter coats that residents collected were picked up and delivered to the Columbus House Homeless Shelter by the owner of Sweet Relief Café in New haven for distribution at the shelter. Even though there is no formal "social responsibility" program at Tower One/Tower East, CEO Dorothy Giannini-Meyers notes that the seniors who reside in a residential community do what they can to maintain their connection to the wider community. "Community outreach efforts are extremely important to our residents who want to feel that they continue to make a difference and are able to help those in need in any way that they can," Giannini-Meyers said. Other examples of community service programs supported by Tower One/Tower East residents and staff in recent months include participating in the Susan B. Komen breast cancer awareness "wear jeans to work" day, collections for the Connecticut Food Bank, and the Towers' ongoing program with New Haven's Welch Elementary School. Students from the elementary school visit the Towers monthly to participate in arts and crafts activities and to receive a little "grandparent" love. Perhaps the most impressive community service activity supported by the residents is its very own Gift Shop. Residents are in charge of many of the aspects of this "business," including merchandising, pricing, maintaining inventory, etc. Proceeds from the Gift Shop each month are donated to the Towers to purchase perishable and other necessary items for the Food Bank located on its campus and also help to support some of the Towers' activities. "Operating the gift shop - a small retail shop -- is a huge responsibility," Rita Krevit, President of the Tower One / Tower East Residents' Association said. "The proceeds help to support the great life that we have at the Towers." Six floors of brand new assisted living apartments, made possible through a series of grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, were recently opened in Tower One. Seniors interested in one of the remaining assisted living apartments or one of the Towers' well-appointed "classic apartments" should contact Tower One/Tower East for reservation information now. With 365 apartments, Tower One/Tower East is currently home to about 350 residents aged 62 and older. The Towers provides residents with independent housing plus a full-range of assisted living services as well as recreational, social and health support services that are tailored to each individual's needs. Applications are now being accepted for the new assisted living as well as the Tower's "classic" apartments. For further information, call 203.772.1816, ext. 250. Congresswoman Nancy Johnson visits Ashlar of Newtown. Newtown, CT- As one of the Fifth District’s 100 largest employers, Ashlar of Newtown was honored to have Congresswoman Nancy Johnson visit on Friday, February 4th. Johnson met with Ashlar of Newtown department heads, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Director of Patient Services from the Brookfield Office of Connecticut VNA, and the President of the Connecticut Association of Not-for-profit Providers For the Aging (CANPFA) to discuss a variety of issues and concerns facing healthcare providers today. Johnson also attended a reception with Ashlar of Newtown and Lockwood Lodge residents, where she answered questions and shared valuable information of importance to seniors. Topics covered included recent changes to Medicare and the new prescription drug discount card, the latest Cardiovascular and Diabetes screenings, the free “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam, and how to manage chronic illness. Informational packets on the “Medicare Modernization Act” were distributed. The packets included information on the many changes taking place in Medicare and contact information for Johnson’s office for those with additional questions or issues to discuss. Ashlar of Newtown is an affiliate of Wallingford-based Masonicare, Connecticut’s largest not-for-profit provider of senior-focused healthcare and retirement living. Contact: Laura Vhay, Marketing and Community Relations, Ashlar of Newtown 203-364-3127 lvhay@masonicare.org Benchmark Assisted Living Names New COO Christopher Rio Brings 26 Years of Hospitality and Assisted Living Experience Wellesley Hills, MA (January 28, 2005) - Benchmark Assisted Living, the largest assisted living provider in New England and one of the top 10 nationally, announced today that Christopher Rio will join the company as chief operating officer. Rio is a proven leader in the hospitality and assisted living industries. Rio joins Benchmark from Southern Assisted Living, Inc. (SALI), a premier provider of senior living services in the Mid-Atlantic region. Rio served as the chief operating officer for SALI and was responsible for directing all aspects of property operations for 65 senior living communities. "Chris is an excellent addition to Benchmark’s senior management team," said Thomas H. Grape, Benchmark chairman, CEO and president. "He is an exceptional operations leader with a track record of results. His leadership made SALI a top performer for its residents and investors, and I know he will accomplish great things at Benchmark." Rio has more than 26 years of experience in multi-site property operations, development and acquisitions. In addition to his SALI management role, he was executive vice president with Divi Hotels Inc, a premier Caribbean resort owner, as well as a manager for Aircoa Companies, the largest independent hotel operator in the United States. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Denver. About Benchmark Assisted Living: Benchmark Assisted Living is the largest assisted living company in New England and one of the top 10 in the nation. Known for exceptional resident satisfaction, the privately-held company owns and operates 38 properties, equaling 3,800 assisted living, independent living and Alzheimer’s apartments. For more information about Benchmark, visit the Web site at www.benchmarkquality.com. Contact: Emily Lalone, O’Neill and Associates 617-646-1014 Benchmark Assisted Living Continues Expansion with Five-Facility Acquisition Wellesley Hills, MA (March 16, 2005) – Benchmark Assisted Living announced today that it will continue to grow throughout New England with the acquisition of five assisted living properties from Athena Health Care Systems. This is the second major purchase for Benchmark in four months. Last quarter, the Wellesley Hills-based company completed the acquisition of Village Retirement in one of the largest assisted living transactions in five years. Benchmark, already the largest senior housing provider in New England, adds 526 Alzheimer’s care and assisted living units to its portfolio with the purchase of the five Athena Connecticut communities. “We are honored to offer New England residents and their families a quality choice for assisted living. Athena’s communities are exceptional; they have an outstanding reputation for offering great care and hospitality. We are pleased that these communities are joining the Benchmark brand,” said Benchmark Founder, CEO and President Thomas H. Grape. Benchmark, which is one of the 10 largest assisted living providers in the nation, is known locally and nationally for its commitment to quality and for the satisfaction of its residents and employees. "Benchmark prides itself on offering personalized, custom care to all our residents,” Grape said. “Our exceptional associates take the time to understand what makes each resident happy and comfortable and then deliver that great service to them." Sovereign Bank provided the financing for the purchase of Laurel Gardens of Trumbull. Greenfield Partners, LLC formed a joint venture with Benchmark to provide the equity for the purchase of the remaining four residences. Debt financing was provided by M&T Bank. Contact: Brooke Tyson, O’Neill and Associates (617) 646-1023 Benchmark Assisted Living Promotes Three to Vice President Posts Wellesley Hills, MA (January 19, 2005) – Benchmark Assisted Living, the largest assisted living company in New England, has announced that three of its senior executives have been promoted to vice presidents. Alison Carnduff will serve as Vice President of Investments and Patrick Collins and Troy Florian will be Vice Presidents of Regional Operations. "These three individuals have consistently earned high praise and respect and have played key roles in Benchmark’s success. Their leadership is valued and appreciated by the entire Benchmark team, and I am pleased to honor them with these promotions,” said Thomas H. Grape, Benchmark chairman and CEO. “We look forward their continued success." Alison Carnduff originally joined Benchmark in 1997 when the company was founded. She has made a significant impact in the development and research activities of the company. Carnduff most recently was pivotal in the underwriting and closing of Benchmark’s acquisition of Village Retirement and the company’s recapitalization with KFH. She is a resident of Watertown, Mass. Patrick Collins joined Benchmark in 2003. Collins works closely with the executive directors and staff at many Benchmark residences and in this capacity has helped to appoint and groom many of Benchmark’s greatest employees. He resides in Sudbury, Mass. Troy Florian has been a member of the Benchmark team since 2002 and has had a profound impact on field operations for the company. Florian is responsible for building the community management teams and providing support for their daily operations. He was also instrumental in the recent transition of Village Retirement communities to the Benchmark brand. He currently lives in Boston, Mass. Contact: Emily Lalone, O’Neill and Associates (617) 646-1014 July 9, 2000, Sunday, NY Times, Connecticut Weekly Desk A Place of Their Own, With a Difference By NANCY DONIGER Josephine Bojnowski, 83, surveys her small but cheerful apartment at Lockwood Lodge, an assisted living center associated with Ashlar of Newtown, and smiles at the place she has called home for the past year. Ms. Bojnowski, a former teacher and reading supervisor for the Newington school system, lived alone in a single-family house after her husband died but she could no longer manage after breaking her leg. "There were too many stairs," she said. "I needed a place that served food and provided assistance." Ms. Bojnowski reflects a growing number of elderly Americans who need help with some of the activities of daily living but otherwise want to retain their independence. Assisted living is the fastest growing residential alternative for elderly people with incomes high enough to support the monthly fees, averaging $2,500 or more, since Medicare does not cover assisted-living expenses. Assisted living is defined as a living arrangement in which residents buy or rent their own apartment, where they live independently with medical and housekeeping assistance. They receive three meals a day in a common dining room and share many common areas with other residents. There also is a nurse on call 24 hours a day. The adoption of assisted living regulations by the Connecticut Legislature in November 1994 paved the way for growth, according to industry officials. Since the regulations were adopted, 70 assisted-living service centers have been licensed in the state. Colonel John Kulp, 86, who retired from the United States Army, chose Lockwood Lodge because of its attractive ambience, services and proximity to his daughter in Redding. "It's bigger than Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond," he said about his one-bedroom apartment. "I would rather be climbing the Alps, or out running around, but I decided to move here when I began to have trouble with my vision. I need someone to look out for me as I get more absent-minded." With the explosion of new centers, many still under construction, have come vacancies, particularly at some of the older complexes and at those with studio apartments. No longer is a waiting list the rule at most centers. This is due in part to the newness of the industry in Connecticut and a lack of awareness about it by the consumer, industry officials said. But Chris Carter, the executive director of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association, disputes the notion that assisted-living centers in the state are overbuilt. CALA was founded in June 1995 and offers education, training and information to raise the level of awareness about assisted living, in addition to fostering ethical standards and serving as a legislative ally. "Connecticut has 175,000 residents over the age of 75," he said. "It's our belief that 50,000 of these individuals need assistance with daily living, of which 20,000 have an annual income of more than $25,000, making them eligible for assisted living. "Connecticut has 70 assisted living sites with a total of 4,000 units," he continued. "The market is not overbuilt. With education, all the units will find themselves in demand." The Greens at Canondale in Wilton opened two years ago and has full occupancy. Its monthly fees range from $3,750 to $5,850. A certain number of units are designated for people with lower incomes. "We have residents who have been here since we opened," said Sandra Sajec, executive director at the Greens. "This is their home. We haven't lost too many." By and large, residents must foot the bill for assisted living without Medicare reimbursement. But long-term care insurance is a growing commodity, offered by private insurers such as General Electric, John Hancock and Travelers. Some companies are even offering long-term care insurance for their employees' parents, according to Tim Hodges, vice president of marketing for Kensington Green of Southbury. Kensington Green is a 120-unit facility that will emphasize a healthy life style, focusing on diet, exercise and social relationships. It will have 24 separate apartments for people living with Alzheimer's disease. The facility is scheduled to open in March 2001. "We did a market feasibility study to find out the demand and determined it was there," Mr. Hodges said. The average age of assisted living residents is 84-85, and their average stay is two years, according to Mr. Carter. He said residents either die or require greater care at a nursing home. Ginny Carroll, the Lockwood Lodge marketing director, said there is an industry-wide problem of people waiting until they are physically incapacitated before looking into assisted living, which is geared to people who enjoy relatively good health. "I'm trying to get people to think about assisted living before a crisis occurs," said Tony Copeland, a spokesman for the AARP, "so they can take the time they need to find a facility, research it and make sure it meets their needs." Ms. Carroll also mentioned an unanticipated phenomenon. "We're finding the demand to be different than we expected," she said. "Through our studies, we expected more people to want studio apartments, due to the economics. We're finding people don't want to give up their space. They want to bring their memories. One-bedroom apartments are much more popular than studios." Mark Ryan, secretary of the state for the Office of Policy and Management, said the state has been studying assisted living with interest, in an effort to deal with an aging population whose ranks are expected to surge over the next 30 years with the graying of the baby boomers. According to Mr. Ryan, Connecticut has one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in the nation. The statistics are dramatic, with 34 million Americans 65 or older, up from 20 million in 1970, and the numbers are expected to swell to 70 million by 2030, according to AARP statistics. The number of elderly residents in Connecticut is proportionately higher. Nationwide, the percentage of people 65 or over is 12 percent, compared with 14.3 percent in Connecticut, according to 1990 state and federal census reports. By 2030, 20 percent of the national population will be over 65 and Mr. Ryan said Connecticut's population is expected to be elderly about 10 years sooner. "We're making major investments in assisted living," Mr. Ryan said. "We believe there is a good chunk of people in nursing homes who are poor but could manage well with assisted living, while improving their independence, respect and dignity." The Office of Policy and Management and other state agencies are planning a pilot program with 300 assisted-living beds in five or six urban and lower-middle-class suburban communities for people living on Medicaid. A bill is pending in the state legislature that would allow assisted living to be layered into existing congregate care housing for the elderly, based on the belief it will provide a less costly and more desirable alternative to nursing homes for low-income elderly residents, according to Mr. Ryan. If the bill passes, some or all of the costs could be covered by Medicare. Martha Meng, a lawyer with Murtha, Cullina LLP of Hartford and New Haven, was part of a working group convened in 1991 by the Department of Health to write regulations for assisted living. The group completed the task in November 1994. "The assisted-living services agency is the licensed entity and must provide services within a managed residential agency that is registered with the state but is not itself licensed," she said. "The managed residential agency is the platform, or physical plant for the services that must be provided to qualify as assisted living." Services include three meals a day, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, access to health care, 24-hour security and staff availability, an emergency call system, medication management, social and recreational activities; and assistance, as needed, with eating, bathing, dressing, and mobility. Assisted living is as popular with baby boom children as it is with their older parents. Diane Mauriello of Newtown and her husband have school-age children living at home and they also have primary responsibility for their aging parents. Ms. Mauriello's father-in-law had a stroke last year and had to move to a nursing home in Southbury. Her mother-in-law, Cara Mauriello, 82, is frail, but not incapacitated. Although she does not need a nursing home, she can no longer live alone. "She was depressed and was not eating," Ms. Mauriello said of her mother-in-law. "She didn't like living alone and needed companionship." Since moving to Lockwood Lodge, she has blossomed, Ms. Mauriello said. "She looks good, is well cared for 24 hours a day and never lonely. My husband and I were able to go on a cruise and leave her. We wouldn't have been able to do that before." Darlene O'Connor, director of integrated care for the Connecticut Department of Social Services, offered the following advice for anyone considering assisted living for themselves or a loved one: "Make sure you know what you are purchasing now and down the road, when you need more support. What conditions can the facility handle? What happens when your assets are gone?" Connecticut Assisted Living Association 70 Halls Road, PO Box 483, Old Lyme, CT 06371 Ph: 860 434 5760 Fx: 860 434 8976 Email: info@ctassistedliving.com |
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