Hello Friends of The Atrium,
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had some wonderful conversations with many of you about how you’re staying busy, active and connected as you stay safe at home. In these conversations, many of you have asked how members at The Atrium are keeping healthy and engaged. Here are some examples of how we’re focusing on the positive and making this period of social distancing more enjoyable for everyone:
- Door-to-door visits to our members with afternoon treats, such as our chef-prepared margaritas and tostadas, or a glass of wine and a selection of hot hors d’ouevres
- Our in-house exercise physiologist, Sarah, creates exercise videos of her Strength and Flexibility classes to share with the community, so members can stay fit at home. Check out one of Sarah’s classes HERE.
- Links to video concerts such as one from a favorite concert pianist, Clare Longendyke. Click HERE to enjoy.
- Weekly yoga classes continue with our long-time instructor, Jessica, who is doing live Zoom classes with our members
- Nick from Maine Audubon provides interactive Zoom presentations, just for our community. Most recently, the members enjoyed an active discussion with Nick on tropical birds
Although our members look forward to, once again, choosing from the many programs, concerts, classes, lectures and community excursions The Atrium calendar offers – we’ve managed to keep life interesting and, more importantly, our members feel safe and well. Over the past few weeks, we’ve heard our members say, “I cannot think of a better place to be during this time.” And a recent email from a member reads, “Between the weekly cart, delicious meals (not flattening my curve), grocery assistance, online ideas from Sarah etc., etc. I thank you – and know for sure that I made the right choice moving to The Atrium.”
As the new Independent Living Advisor at The Atrium at The Cedars, I’m thrilled to bring my fifteen years of senior living experience in helping people select a new home. The Portland area has many different options, and the decision process can be complicated and confusing. One of the most important parts of my role is to help you with questions you may have about senior living and making a choice that is right for you.
Take care and be well,
Kelli Cummings
Senior Living Advisor, The Atrium at The Cedars
kcummings@thecedarsportland.org
207-221-7192
Our journey towards the Sam L. Cohen Households is moving along. The foundation is in place along with the elevator supports and steel frame. PM Construction has been pleased with the warm winter weather and are on schedule for a completion at the end of 2020. The SLC Households will offer a new level of care for The Cedars, Memory Care Assisted Living with two additional skilled nursing care households. Each household will accommodate 20 residents in a home environment, with spacious common areas in the center including an open kitchen – open 24 hours per day – dining area, living room, den, and a private dining room. The residents will be the center of the home, making choices for how they live their lives. For more information on the Households, please call Katharine O’Neill at 207-221-7100, email , or visit 
In these days of social distancing and ‘stay safe at home’ orders, it’s critical to keep our residents connected to their loved ones and community, for happiness and overall well being. As we have adapted and navigated our current situation under COVID-19, we want to take a moment to share some of the platforms, personal connections and virtual technology in place, as well as our approach to offering special events and activities. The satisfaction, fulfillment, health, and safety of our community members is our main objective and we look forward to a continued offering of enriching and enhancing programs and experiences.
If you would like to schedule a ‘visit’ with your loved one – please call 221-7000 between 8:30AM and 3:30PM, Monday through Friday. 
Our construction Team, PM Construction, continues to make steady progress on The Sam L. Cohen Households.The second elevator shaft is being completed and they have started the installation of the under slab utilities and perimeter drainage as well. We marvel in each piece of the project, as it takes us closer to home for our residents. And we look forward to offering the new level of care, Memory Care Assisted Living in addition to Skilled Nursing Care in our three Households, with only 20 residents each in a private, home environment. For more information, call 221-7100 today.
On December 7, 2020, Falmouth High School (FHS) students, residents of The Cedars, and local artists gathered for An Intergenerational Celebration of Puppetry, Storytelling, and Music—the culmination of a four-month long project in collaboration between FHS, The Cedars, and Figures of Speech Theatre.
This program was funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Sam L. Cohen Households construction is forging through as the crew finishes the installation of the exterior draining and utilities equipment. In addition, they are prepping the foundation base in anticipation of the materials-testing, at which point the foundation will be poured. The footings are in place, and we expect the foundation to be completed by early February.
As we prepare for the building of the Sam L. Cohen Households, our construction crew is finishing up the drilling and blasting for ledge removal at the end this week. We expect the job site trailer to be on site Thursday. Starting the first week of November, we can expect our construction crew to start working on retaining walls, utility and further site work. And then, starting the third week of November, we’ll begin to see the foundation area being prepared. For more information on the Sam L. Cohen Households, offering two levels of care: skilled nursing care and the new, memory care assisted living, call us at 221-7000, ext. #1426.
Construction on the Sam L. Cohen Households continues this week with drilling and blasting to clear and level the land for the new building and parking areas. On October 7, the City of Portland has clear procedures that require that the excavators take an incremental approach to the blasting process which results in diminished impact on the surrounding residences over a greater period of time. The blasting hours will be restricted to Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 4:00PM and PDK, Inc. estimates that the total blasting time will be complete in three weeks’ time. If anyone has concerns about the blasting, please contact PDK, Inc. at 207-415-5467.