Senior care panel discussion slated at United Methodist Church of Monroe

SHELTON - Crosby Commons Senior Living Community will be part of a collaborative senior care/living options panel discussion hosted by Generation Bridge Oct. 28 from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the United Methodist Church of Monroe, 151 Cutler’s Farm Road. 

The event is free and open to the public and will feature some of Fairfield County’s most knowledgeable senior care professionals including:

• Lisa Bisson: Director of Community Outreach at Crosby Commons Independent/Assisted Living Community
• Justin Brown: Director of Marketing & Community Relations at Bridges by Epoch in Trumbull
• Susan Oderwald: Owner and Senior Care Expert, Always Best Care (ABC) Senior Services
• Omera Young: Director of Nursing Services at Newtown Rehabilitation & Health Care Center

The discussion will provide helpful information for those caring for a loved one who is aging or experiencing a change in daily living/care needs. 

• Learn more about what’s included/ not included for different care situations (independent/assisted living, memory care, short-term rehab, skilled nursing, etc.).
• Know the right questions to ask when exploring senior care options and advocating for yourself or a loved one.
• All participants will have the opportunity to talk to each professional, ask questions and walk away with real answers.

The event schedule will be as follows:

• Brief coffee chat: 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
• Panel conversation: 10-11 a.m. 
• Q&A session: 11-11:30 a.m. 
• Light lunch: 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

For more information or to register for the event, visit:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/senior-care-living-options-what-you-need-to-know-tickets-719305852167?aff=oddtdtcreator

Crosby Commons & Wesley Village: Crosby Commons is located on the Wesley Village senior living campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. in Shelton and is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization with a 150-year legacy of caring. 

The Wesley Village campus offers independent and assisted living, enhanced assisted living, early memory support, skilled nursing, and short-term rehab. 

To learn more about Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, Lifestyle Transitions, or Bishop Wicke Health Center, visit our website or contact us at 203.225.5024. 

Generation Bridge seeks to help people answer questions to life's challenges. If we can make a difference in one person's life, then we are fulfilling our mission. 

In our years of putting on events and seminars, it's clear: The more prepared you are, the better decisions you'll make. Don't wait until you're in the middle of a crisis to start learning. Learn something and meet people you can actually reach when you have questions. 

Those interested in sponsoring the event can contact Brian Sherwood (Brian.Sherwood@generation-bridge.com).

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Klarides-Ditria: Virtual meeting slated on Commodore Hull Bridge rehab

The public is invited to a VIRTUAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING regarding the rehabilitation of Commodore Hull Bridge (Route 8) over the Housatonic River in Shelton and Derby. Residents, commuters, business owners, and other interested individuals are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about and discuss the proposed project.  The meeting will be live streamed via: Microsoft Teams Live Event and YouTube Live on Thursday, January 13, 2022. The formal presentation will begin at 7 p.m. and will be immediately followed by a Question and Answer (Q&A) session. For more information or instructions on how to access the meeting or how to provide comments or ask questions, please see the project webpage here: https://portal.ct.gov/DOTSheltonDerby126-176. Sincerely,

Couple at Wesley Village in Shelton marks 70th wedding anniversary

Wesley Village residents Ken and Doris Steeves have lived at the campus for more than four years. They are pictured in their apartment at Crosby Commons a few years ago./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Longtime Wesley Village residents Ken and Doris Steeves celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary July 14.  

They have lived on the Shelton senior living campus since 2017. 

The couple commemorated the occasion with several special touches arranged by Wesley Village team members.

At Crosby Commons Independent and Assisted Living Community, Front Desk Manager Cathy Brelsford met Steeves as he was leaving the dining room after breakfast, all smiles and ready to visit Doris at Bishop Wicke Health Center, where she resides.

Brelsford and Steeves, who resides at Crosby Commons, posed with Maintenance Manager Jim Tomchik showing off the flowers and cake prepared for the anniversary visit. 

“It’s a big milestone," Steeves admitted with a smile. “Seventy years. Not a lot of people make it that long in a marriage. We’re grateful for each other and for the support of this campus.”

Wesley Village senior living campus at 580 Long Hill Ave. is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization. 

The Wesley Village campus offers independent and assisted living, enhanced assisted living, early memory support, skilled nursing and short-term rehab. 

To learn more about Crosby Commons, Wesley Heights, Lifestyle Transitions, or Bishop Wicke Health Center, visit our website or contact us at 203-225-5024.    

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

United Methodist Homes in Shelton wins Mature Media Awards

SHELTON - United Methodist Homes was a winner in the 30^th Annual National Mature Media Awards Program. 

The program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation’s best marketing, communications, educational materials, and programs designed and produced for older adults.

UMH, a local not-for-profit senior living provider based in Shelton, offers independent and assisted living, enhanced assisted living, early memory support, skilled nursing, and short-term rehab. Among the organization’s award-winning communities are Wesley Village (Shelton), Middlewoods of Farmington (Farmington), and Middlewoods of Newington (Newington).

The organization received a Merit Award for their e-book, “7 Myths about Life in a Senior Living Community,” in the category of publications and editorials for senior living. 

The book provides honest insights to common misconceptions about life in a senior living community.  It also discusses the anxiety many people have about making a move and addresses, with transparency, the issues of independence, cost, lifestyle, relationships, differences between assisted living and skilled nursing care, and more. 

The resource was designed and produced under the direction of UMH Digital Media and Marketing Manager Tracey Haughton.

“We see many seniors and their families overwhelmed by difficult emotions and misguided assumptions when they contact us for help,” said Elizabeth Schave-Bemis, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for UMH. “For a lot of people, the idea of moving to a senior living community brings great apprehension about quality of life. Our goal with this book was to offer credible information that would provide a more accurate picture of real life in a senior living community and promote a greater understanding of its benefits.” 

To download the free ebook, click here or visit: (https://offers.umh.org/7-myths-about-life-in-a-senior-living-community).

Additionally, UMH was also awarded a Merit Award for their digital publication, “A Legacy of Caring: How Connecticut’s United Methodist Homes Changes Senior Care for the Better”. The article takes a closer look at the legacy of United Methodist Homes senior living communities in the Hartford area. As stated in the article, “Over the last two decades, these communities have emerged as optimal solutions for seniors looking to continue leading meaningful, active lives in the Farmington and Newington areas of Connecticut while receiving the award-winning care United Methodist Homes is known for.” 

To read more, click here or visit: (https://storystudio.ctpost.com/2020/04/22/a-legacy-of-caring-how-connecticuts-united-methodist-homes-changes-senior-care-for-the-better/).

All entries were judged by a distinguished panel of mature market experts from across the United States for overall excellence of design, content, creativity and relevance to the senior market. 

To request the 2021 complete list of winners, visit: (https://seniorawards.com/mma_main.html).

To learn more about UMH, its mission and longstanding history of care and service to older adults and their families, visit www.umh.org or call 1-877-929-5321.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Wesley Village residents in Shelton make blankets for wildlife in Australia

From left: Terry Moffat, MaryAnn Griffith, and Lisamarie Grailich talk about different colors and modifications they can make to the bowl pattern to accommodate larger or smaller animals./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - During the 2020 kickoff breakfast for the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Wesley Village, members agreed to help the homeless animals caught in the Australian Wildfires.

Kelly Coppola, activities director at Crosby Commons at Wesley Village, learned of the need for animal nests and blankets from staff members Terry Moffat and Lisamarie Grailich.  

A local news program featured a call for donations of nesting bowls and crate blankets for the homeless wildlife displaced by the fires in Australia.  

Coppola brought the idea to coordinators, Barbara Quinn and MaryAnn Griffiths, who went to work on finding the patterns, yarn, and hooks to start the project.  
They shared the supplies along with the information about the project at the breakfast meeting.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry is made up of residents of Wesley Village and volunteers from the community.  

Over the years, they have knitted or crocheted prayer shawls and lap robes which were blessed by the community chaplain and then given to sick individuals or grieving family members.  
In addition to the animal project, they will also make baby car seat blankets and hats to donate to Griffin Hospital in Derby to give away with the car seats they install.  

If you are interested in joining the Prayer Shawl Ministry at Wesley Village, call 203-944-8279.

Wesley Village senior living campus is located at 580 Long Hill Ave. and is part of United Methodist Homes, a local not-for-profit organization. 

The Wesley Village campus offers assisted and independent living, memory support, skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and outpatient therapy and fitness services. 

To learn more, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers 12-week Wellness for Life program

Griffin Hospital is offering its 12-week Wellness for Life program starting Sept. 10./ Contributed photo

DERBY - The start of school is right around the corner and Griffin Hospital is helping individuals learn how to live a healthier life this fall with its Wellness for Life program.

Wellness for Life is a 12-week, evidence-based lifestyle change program that helps prevent and treat many chronic diseases. 

According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, 80 percent of chronic diseases, like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, can be prevented with better lifestyle choices in nutrition, activity and emotional health.

Starting Sept.10 from 6-8:30 p.m., the program offers a custom fitness evaluation, individual nutritional guidance, one-on-one coaching, and small, interactive health seminars so participants can make a commitment to a healthier life. 

Each participant also receives a Fitbit, which helps track participants’ activity, sleep patterns and food intake.

“Making changes for a healthy lifestyle isn’t easy – it requires one-on-one guidance and on-going support,” said Wellness for Life Program Director Eunice Lisk. “This program helps people assess their lifestyle, provides them with a personalized plan to increase vitality and gives one-on-one and group support every step of the way to better health.”

Wellness for Life focuses on hands-on learning, featuring an activity monitor, health coaching, and weekly group sessions to establish healthy weight control, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, better sleep and energy, and increased personal strength and resilience.

Since its start in 2015, Wellness for Life participants have seen significant weight loss and reductions in blood pressure, and the program has received high satisfaction scores from participants in meeting expectations and for presentations by the expert speakers.

Wellness for Life meets at The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave.

For more information about Wellness for Life, visit griffinhealth.org or call Amanda Fowler, 203-732-1369 to register.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

All generations race at Wesley Village Halloween 5K in Shelton

On your mark, get set, GO! This was the starting line at Wesley Village’s 8th annual 5K and Fun Walk in Shelton./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - Wesley Village hosted its eighth annual 5K and Fun Walk Oct. 29 on its senior living campus on Long Hill Avenue. 

Truly a “Race for All Generations,” the event was sponsored by Serra & DelVecchio and boasted more than 300 total participants, 40 of which were over the age of 70! 

Participants (some in costume) crossed the finish line at the front entrance of Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center, to the roaring cheers of dozens of Wesley Village residents, staff, volunteers, and family members. 

The 5K Run featured a flat out and back course sponsored by C.E. Floyd Company, along with a 1-Mile Fun Walk sponsored by M&T Bank and a Kids Run, sponsored by Merit Insurance. 

The community event was coordinated with the help of JB Sports Event Management. 

Race festivities were hosted across the beautiful Wesley Village Campus and included trick-or-treating, face painting, a bounce house, music, food, and a trophy and awards ceremony. Proceeds from the race benefitted award-winning resident programs at Wesley Village as well as The Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter. 

Wesley Village would like to thank Mayor Mark Lauretti, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bill Purcell, the Pine Rock Park Volunteer Fire Company, Silvia Rodriguez and the Youth 2 Youth Program, and the many other local sponsors and participants who helped to make this year’s race a huge success! 

For race results, photos, and video highlights from the race, visit http://www.umh.org/5k-road-race-2016. 

The Wesley Village Campus offers independent and assisted living, memory care, short-term rehab and skilled nursing, and outpatient therapy and fitness services. 

The campus is owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local, mission-based, not-for-profit organization serving all members of the community. 

To learn more about the continuum of care offered at Wesley Village or the mission of UMH, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or contact Lisa Bisson at 203-225-5024.

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.