• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Print Subscription
  • Contact Us

Assisted living

Staying Connected with Elderly Family Members

November 13, 2020 by Christine Pasqueralle

Photo courtesy of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living

For many people, the holiday season is a time filled with joy and gathering with loved ones. Now more than ever people look forward to what the new year may bring and to bidding a (not so fond) farewell to 2020. But for many families, the challenge and difficulty of safely visiting with loved ones who live in assisted living facilities continue. How can families stay connected to one another during this time and encourage togetherness while also keeping loved ones healthy and safe?

Lisa Newcomb is the Executive Director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) and the organization represents over 300 of the 545 licensed assisted living communities in New York State. The ESAAL advocates for these communities through legislation and providing education for member administrators, directors and other management personnel. Speaking with Newcomb one gains a sense of what life has been like for residents of assisted living facilities during the pandemic as well as the steps being taken now to regain some sense of normalcy for senior residents and their families, especially as the holiday season approaches.

As Newcomb states, it has been a rough road for everyone involved from the beginning of the pandemic when there was a major lack of PPE available and a struggle to get supplies.

“One death is too many, so getting PPE is critical to any ongoing on-site visitation,” said Newcomb. As infection rates decreased, visits began to resume but, as she says, it can still be a hardship for many. “It’s taking a toll on residents and family members too. The staff are doing their best to fill in for family members,” she said, adding that no one can take the place of your own child.

Assisted living residences are known as being very social places. Many residents are mobile, active, and like to socialize with one another, with their family and friends, as well as take trips out of the facility. By July, visitation was allowed with rules in place. If anyone tested positive for Covid-19, visitation was shut down for 28 days. By September, the rule changed to a 14-day shutdown, and this has had some positive impact on visitation rates. Residents are encouraged to conduct visits outside with some circumstances allowing for indoor visits in a well-ventilated room with supervised social distancing.

Facilitating Visits

As the weather gets colder, it may become increasingly harder to visit with loved ones in-person if the rules stay as they are. Fortunately, there are other ways families can keep connected. Staff can facilitate virtual visits (such as FaceTime) with residents and family–seniors who are grandparents especially love to see the faces of and talk to their grandchildren. But nothing can fully take the place of an in-person visit especially for residents who have dementia and trouble comprehending; they may feel abandoned or forgotten by family.

There are clever ways some assisted living facilities are handling holiday visits. One facility rented a construction trailer for the next six months: it is heated, big enough for one to two visits at a time and is ADA compliant. Seeing family in-person can be the one bright spot in a resident’s day. Newcomb said she is hopeful small gatherings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah will be allowed so long as there are no cases of Covid-19. In the past, holiday gatherings have taken place in the dining room with visits from community and family members.

“The rates are so low, so hopefully clusters can be controlled quickly and stopped. It has an emotional impact on the elderly–assisted living is the place to be doing things.” Residents want to get out, visit with loved ones and do activities together. “Seniors move into assisted living to live–not to be confined to their room or apartment without visitors. Activities can be done safely keeping in mind that our residents’ mental health well-being is as important as their physical health.”

As the holidays approach, let’s all remember those in assisted living, and hope they are allowed the dignity of a visit with their loved ones this season.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Assisted living, COVID, elderly, PPE, safety, Visits

Assisted Living Week Celebrated at The Greens in Greenwich

September 21, 2017 by The Inside Press

Greenwich, CT– A good time, had by all. The Greens staff, creative arts therapists, chefs, nurses, housekeepers, resident assistants, residents and families all helped make National Assisted Living Week a memorable week of fun, food, music, dance and celebrating all kinds of families.

Schedule a Tour

203.531.5500

Visit thegreensatgreenwich.com

 

Filed Under: Sponsor News! Tagged With: Assisted living, Dementia, elderly, Event, fun, horses, Ice Cream, The Greens

Local Programs Inspire the Retired

August 16, 2014 by The Inside Press

by Helen Meurer

The North Castle Public Library offers many interesting community programs as well as books, periodicals and audio-visual materials.
The North Castle Public Library offers many interesting community programs as well as books, periodicals and audio-visual materials.

Byram Hills High School isn’t the only place with active seniors. Not every empty nester is looking to fly the Armonk coop. There’s plenty for seniors to do here right in town. The North Castle Library’s main location has many wonderful free programs for adults, with nourishment for body as well as mind. Tai Chi on Saturday mornings is a great way to get your energy flowing. Want to learn Italian? Mara de Matteo is at the library every Tuesday evening leading beginners and more advanced students throuh the delights of the Italian language and culture. There are talks on Art History, you can learn to play Mah Jongg or join the First Tuesday’s book club. Adult Services Librarian Edie Martimucci is expanding the range of programming to include poetry and creative writing workshops in the Fall. Feeling befuddled by your new iPad or tablet? Call the library to make an appointment for help with any digital device or with navigating the Internet–you can get a personal one-on-one on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and at the branch library on Thursdays. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance on Whipoorwill Road East.

The Hergenhan Recreation Center on Maple Avenue has a whole slew of programs for seniors (60 and over). Drop in on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to do ceramics, play ping pong, do chair Yoga, or just chat with old and new friends. Also year round on Mondays and Thursdays is a walking program at 10 a.m. (weather permitting). The Fall brochure can be found on the town’s website, with details on an AARP Defensive Driving class, a decluttering workshop, Balance and Flexibility classes, Line Dancing, and Zumba. If you are no longer driving, you can get a ride to ShopRite on Fridays. Liz Thomas, the Senior Recreation Leader, also has some trips lined up–the City Island Nautical Museum in August; the Empire City Casino, Yonkers in September; and South Pacific on Broadway in October.

Armonk’s compact downtown has expanded into Armonk Square, anchored at the eastern end by DeCicco’s market, where seniors (62 and over) can get a 5% discount on all non-sale items every Wednesday. It’s a lovely area to walk around, maybe grab a coffee or a frozen yogurt, or just sit and enjoy the outdoors. Nearby, the Mariani Gardens on Bedford Road is a beautiful place to take a stroll, or browse through the shaded design store “Spruce,” and have breakfast or lunch in the charming café.

A new Assisted Living Facility, The Bristal.
A new Assisted Living Facility, The Bristal.

A new assisted living facility, The Bristal on Business Park Drive, opened in March offering studio, one and two bedroom units plus a dedicated memory-issues wing. All residents enjoy a considerable range of amenities including a beautiful outdoor pool, patio gardens, beauty salon, spa, café style lounges with a pool table, a lovely restaurant serving several entrée choices at lunch and dinner, organized trips and 24/7 LPN coverage. Recreation Director Toni Schmidt has put together a variety of programs. There are two indoor theatres where residents can watch TV or films, and also enjoy specially scheduled virtual tours of museums during which a guide will showcase the art and answer questions–a fantastic interactive approach to expanding residents’ horizons. The Bristal Better U™ developed with Hofstra University Continuing Education is a wonderful educational program in which residents learn about many subjects–from political science to climate change–via webinars (interactive online seminars) with accredited professors. Close to 50 seniors (a little less than 1/3 maximum occupancy) already call The Bristal home.

Anyone for tennis? If Wimbledon and the US Open are your thing, there are four all weather tennis courts at the Armonk Community Park on Business Park Drive. There are also two platform tennis courts–if you haven’t tried it, platform (or paddle) tennis is a great fast-paced doubles game that’s played mostly in winter; it’s great exercise, and all your tennis skills come into play.

If you like cycling, but are looking for a statelier bicycle, check out the ‘step through’ bicycles at Hickory and Tweed–a throw back to when ladies wore skirts.

So, what are you waiting for? Leave the senior slump to high school students, and take advantage of all there is to do right here in Armonk!

Helen Meurer lives in Westchester, favorite things: working on sustainability issues, caring for the environment, sunsets over the Hudson, cycling around town, hiking, reading, writing, hanging out with family and friends.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Assisted living, Retired

Primary Sidebar

Please Visit

William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
White Plains Hospital
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
NYOMIS – Dr. Andrew Horowitz
Raveis: Lisa Koh and Allison Coviello
Purple Plains
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Korth & Shannahan
Douglas Elliman: Chappaqua
Terra Tile & Marble
Congregation B’nai Yisrael
Beecher Flooks Funeral Home
Compass: Natalia Wixom
King Street Creatives
Pinksky Studio
David Visconti Painting & Contracting
Temple Beth El

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Armonk Inside Chappaqua and Millwood Inside Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Publisher’s Note Regarding Our Valued Sponsors

Inside Press is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse or not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in either sponsor-driven stories or in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of any information, services or resources made available through this publication.The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising or sponsor driven stories that appear in this publication. The views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.

Opinions and information presented in all Inside Press articles, such as in the arena of health and medicine, strictly reflect the experiences, expertise and/or views of those interviewed, and are not necessarily recommended or endorsed by the Inside Press. Please consult your own doctor for diagnosis and/or treatment.

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2025 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in