Masonicare at Wesley Heights in Shelton to offer Alzheimer’s Association series

SHELTON - Masonicare at Wesley Heights is proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association this spring to offer "The Empowered Caregiver," an educational series designed to empower caregivers in navigating the responsibilities of caring for someone living with dementia. 

Attendees will receive valuable tips on understanding key aspects of caregiving, managing finances, supporting independence, communicating effectively, responding to dementia-related behaviors, and exploring available care and support services.

Join us for this three-part series on Tuesday evenings in May from 5:30-7 p.m.

• Tuesday, May 13: Supporting Independence

• Tuesday, May 20: Communicating Effectively

• Tuesday, May 27: Exploring Care and Support Services

  All sessions will take place at Masonicare at Wesley Heights, an independent and assisted living community, located at 580 Long Hill Ave. A light dinner will be provided. Attendance at all three sessions is encouraged but not required. Register for one, two or all three sessions by contacting Lisa Bisson at lbisson@masonicare.org or 203-225-5027. RSVPs are required; space is limited.

  Individuals interested in learning more about Masonicare’s memory support community, Lifestyle Transitions at Wesley Heights, are invited to arrive early on May 20 for a brief tour and an introduction to the community’s dementia care program. Please note your interest in this option when replying to reserve your tour.

  About the Alzheimer's Association

  The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia®. 

  About Masonicare:

  Masonicare is Connecticut's leading not-for-profit provider of senior living and healthcare services, offering a complete continuum of care tailored to meet the diverse needs of older adults. Visit alz.org or call our 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900 for more information.

• Services range from independent and assisted living and memory care to skilled nursing, rehabilitation, senior behavioral health, medical and non-medical home health care, hospice, and palliative care. 

• Driven by a mission devoted to service excellence, Masonicare is committed to providing compassionate, personalized care that evolves with the needs of the seniors they serve. To learn more, visit masonicare.org or call 888.332.0033.

This is a press release from Masonicare at Wesley Heights in Shelton.

Wesley Village in Shelton marks year of resilience during COVID-19

From left: Luz DeJesus, housekeeping associate, Pam O'Connor, dining associate, Maryann Porcadilla, CNA./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - On March 11, one year after COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency in Connecticut, Wesley Village senior living campus joined with Leading Age Connecticut in their public effort, #oneyearstronger, to commemorate the past year, one marked by compassion, strength, and resilience. 

'Caring Superhero' and
Joylynn-Jarrett Smith, CNA

Residents and staff came together to celebrate the strength and courage displayed throughout the year and show gratitude for the outpouring of love and support given by family members, volunteers, and the local community during the pandemic. 

Vice President of Assisted Living Services, Lori Pisani, reflected on the challenges of the past year. “A year ago, we never would have imagined the experience we had this past year, but we have stayed the course and are grateful to be stronger and more connected than ever," she said. "With the arrival of the vaccine and strong response we have had in vaccinating our residents and staff, it finally feels like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We feel very hopeful.”

The campus organized a variety of activities and events to commemorate the day, including a cannoli truck and opportunities for reflection. Stickers with red hearts and the words “Stronger Together” were scattered everywhere and spotted on staff and residents as they walked through the community. 

A “One Year Stronger” sign was posted at each community entrance to greet staff as they arrived for the day, along with a “We Are Stronger Because…” display which featured personal thoughts and messages of gratitude. 

“We have felt the support of those around us - residents, staff, and family members,” one card read. Another card read, “We can count on each other,” and “We appreciate every day and take one day at a time, with more gratitude.”

“We have learned so much this past year," said Debra Samorajczyk, administrator at Bishop Wicke Health Center. “We are so grateful to our fearless caregivers for their strength, resilience, perseverance, love, heroism, and dedication.”

As a humorous surprise, a “Caring Superhero” bear wandered through the campus to inspire smiles and laughter and share love and thanks. The bear paused to take individual photos, much to the delight of residents.

President and CEO of United Methodist Homes David Lawlor thanked the Wesley Village team as part of a special message commemorating this past year. 

“We’ve come to realize how important it is to support one another in good times and in bad, and how much we mean to each other,” he said. “Many thanks to our incredible team, our supportive families, our Board, and the entire UMH family. Our history will note we survived this pandemic, we became stronger as an organization, and we look forward to great days ahead.”

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

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

To learn more, visit www.wesleyvillage-ct.org or call 203-225-5024. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes.

Free webinar on veterans' benefits for senior care slated Tuesday

SHELTON - Seniors, caregivers, and family members are invited to participate in a free webinar at 2 p.m. Tuesday (March 9) offered by Wesley Village Senior Living Communities and AidandAttendance.com. 

The webinar will discuss the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.

“This webinar is a great opportunity to learn if you qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits, which can pay $1,244 to $2,295 a month for senior care,” said Lisa Bisson, Director of Community Outreach for Wesley Village. “For those who qualify, these benefits can be a great resource, especially for older adults with changing care needs.

Wesley Village, a Shelton senior living campus owned and managed by United Methodist Homes, will be partnering with AidandAttendance.com to present this webinar. Registration is required. 

To register, call Lisa at 203-225-5024 or visit https://calendly.com/vabenefit/umh or REGISTER HERE

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 or contact us at 203-225-5024.

For more information about VA Aid and Attendance Benefits, visit AidandAttendance.com or call 800-626-7145. AidandAttendance.com is not the Department of Veterans Affairs or part of any government agency or service organization. 

Only the VA can determine who is eligible for benefits, including Aid and Attendance pension benefits. 

This is a press release from United Methodist Homes. 

Wesley Village in Shelton to host free webinar for caregivers

 

SHELTON - Seniors, caregivers, and family members are invited to participate in a free webinar offered by Wesley Village Senior Living Communities. 

The webinar, “How To Keep Your Loved Ones Happy And Healthy In The New Year,” will be held from 2-3 p.m. Jan. 19.

 

Wesley Village, a  senior living campus owned and managed by United Methodist Homes, will be partnering with Middlewoods of Newington senior living community, also part of UMH, to present this webinar. 

The webinar will offer tips for getting a healthy start to the new year, with insights from one of our award-winning UMH Activities Directors, Laura Healy, who works with the team at Middlewoods. 

She will share some simple ways your loved one can start or continue being physically active, engage their mind, and improve their overall emotional health and wellbeing.

 

“We often hear family members and caregivers share with us that they wish they could get their loved one to stop sitting so much and get up and get moving,” says Healy. “This can be a real struggle, especially for older adults who live alone at home. In this webinar, we’ll be sharing some practical exercise ideas to help you encourage your loved one to be more active while offering advice for improving cognitive and emotional health as well.”

 

Healy brings with her six years of experience working in health care and senior living settings as both a Certified Nursing Assistant and an Activities Director. 

She enjoys working closely with older adults and individuals with cognitive deficits and has been a member of the UMH and Middlewoods team for nearly three years. 

Healy is also a 2019 recipient of Leading Age CT’s Aging Services Award of Excellence and has been recognized in 2020 with the UMH “Values in Action” award for her outstanding commitment to caring and service with United Methodist Homes.

 

To register, please contact Lisa Bisson, 203.225.5024 or at lbisson@umh.org.

To RSVP online  visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8655152535996145936

 

 

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.