Posts Tagged: retirement living

Dining at The Cedars Retirement Community

How to Serve a Quarter-Million Meals a Year and Savor Every Moment “A full plate tells me someone who needed nutrition didn’t get it and will have to make it up with supplements.  That’s unacceptable to me.  An empty plate tells me someone enjoyed a real meal, made from natural local ingredients with real care.” – David Kessler When Wendy Bush was admitted to The Cedars senior living community, she worried about maintaining her weight while recovering from a broken leg.  “The food at The Cedars is wonderful!”  she declares.  “When I started looking forward to the next meal, I knew I might be in trouble.  Thank goodness for the portion control.” She really means thank goodness for David Kessler, Director of Dining Services, and his team.  When David arrived at The Cedars in 1994, he served 102 residents with a staff of 18.  Today, David oversees the preparation, production...

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Rehabilitation at The Cedars Retirement Community in Portland, Maine

“My therapists helped me create a plan and achieve my goals.  When I was discharged, I knew I was ready to go home. – Wendy Bush LAST AUGUST, Wendy Bush stepped off the front porch of her son’s Long Island vacation home and missed the bottom step. Her leg was broken. Her son was able to drive her back to Maine for treatment, but the journey back to her own home would take much longer.    As the Vice President of Marketing at F.L. Putnam and a member of the Mercy Hospital board of directors, Wendy knows how to assess a difficult situation and make a sure decision. “I was in a cast and under doctor’s orders not to put any weight on my leg,” she recalls. “I knew I would recover much faster with round-the-clock help. My doctor and several friends recommended The Cedars Rehabilitation Center.”    The...

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Challenging Ourselves As We Age: Retirement Living

  If you’re fortunate enough to live into your 90’s – life is looking better and better.  Earlier today the Associated Press released a summary of findings from a Denmark study indicating that 95 year olds today are more mentally acute than those of ten years ago.  Although they are not sure why, scientists are chalking it up to better nutrition earlier on in life, as well as more intellectual stimulation.  At The Cedars Retirement Community, we’re strong believers in offering multiple opportunities for mental challenge and stimulation – both for ourselves and our residents.  Members living in our independent living at The Atrium choose which types of programs they want to see.  What’s on our recent calendars?            Historical lectures by members and guest speakers Current Event Discussion Groups (this group often contacts local representatives) Blackjack, Mahjong Story writing and telling, “Legacy Letters” Trips to OLLI and SAGE classes,...

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Retirement Community Health and Wellness: Safe Sun Exposure

With the beautiful summer weather upon us, many members at The Cedars Retirement Community are spending more time outside – taking walks, golfing, dining in our courtyard.  During these special months, seniors need to take extra care to avoid sunburn and dehydration.  The following are some tips from our Wellness Expert, Sharon Leddy-Smart to stay safe and healthy.  Watch the Weather: when the temperatures soar, stay in the air conditioning and if you need to venture outdoors, do so in the early morning of late afternoon hours. Drink Plenty of Water: adults should drink 8-10 glasses of water daily, and in the warmer weather, drink more.  Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to start sipping, and try to avoid alcohol, sugary drinks and caffeine when out in the sun. Dress for the Heat: wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothes and be sure to don a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Wear Sunscreen: be...

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The Cedars Retirement Community: Volunteer of the Year

Each year at The Cedars Retirement Community, we have the difficult task of choosing one person to represent The Cedars as the volunteer of the year. It presents a challenge, because everyone here has remarkable talents and gifts that they share with our residents. This year we recognized Mary Goff a volunteer whom is originally from Green Bay Wisconsin and has followed us throughout history, volunteering for many years at the Jewish home and now present day here at The Cedars. Currently she visits daily with multiple residents, assists the Life Enrichment department with activities and transport, assists residents from the Osher Inn on Regional Transportation Program (RTP) trips and even accompanies residents to their medical appointments. Her overall volunteer experience spans 30 years and includes, Big Brother Big Sister, Habitat for Humanity, Ingraham Volunteers and she has even helped to establish the Portland Chapter of Pine Tree Epilepsy. She is compassionate, enthusiastic...

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Best Retirement Community: Member Poet Contemplates Spring in Maine

“A Spring Poem” by Mary Lou Martindell, member of The Atrium at The Cedars It’s the Creation story, the reincarnation of all of nature. The snow has cleansed and purified the earth, Trees shrug off their snowy limbs like heavy overcoats. Spring blossoms, almost anemic in their hunger for the sunlight, poke through the snow to the rhythm of their own internal clocks. Velvety pussy willows put out their silvery light visible a long way down the road. Hard wood trees sprout new leaves. Blades of wilted grass turn green. Small animals who’ve been hibernating all winter rise out of the ground and search for a mate. The Spring birds will soon be arriving to seek out their new homes. The silence of nature thick with the aroma of bark and humus, rotting pine needles and the perfume of fresh air. It is a new beginning, a rebirth of...

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A Concert with Tom Snow

Come join us for an afternoon of jazz with Maine pianist, performer and arranger, Tom Snow Monday February 25th, 2013 For more information or to reserve your seat, call...

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Best Retirement Community: Taking Care of Our Hearts

  Health and Wellness: Taking Care of Our Hearts  February is Health Healthy Month and a great opportunity to take inventory of our heart wellness.  As we age our hearts become less efficient and have to work harder to pump the blood.  Here are several ways we can promote heart health taken from livestrong.com. If you have any questions about healthy living, stop in and see Sharon Leddy-Smart Lifestyle Coordinator at The Atrium at The Cedars.  Exercise: Exercise is related to your cardiovascular health, and as an older person it’s important for you to be active. Exercise 30 minutes daily, even breaking it into three 10-minute sessions. Even moderate exercise, such as brisk walking 30 minutes daily, provides many benefits to your heart health. Exercise can improve circulation, help you lose weight, aid in smoking cessation, improve blood cholesterol levels, help manage stress, reduce coronary heart disease in women by...

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Flu Season at The Cedars: Keeping Our Community Well

With the flu season in full swing, The Cedars residents and staff are well equipped with their vaccinations and the enforcement of a community-wide regime of excellent hygiene through frequent hand washing and good respiratory etiquette.  Until the season behind us, The Cedars asks that visitors and staff who are showing any signs of cough, fever or congestion to stay home for 24 to 48 hours after their symptoms have resolved. To stay ahead of the flu season curve, The Cedars Director of Nursing, Susan Dionne-Jones has been in frequent contact with the Maine Center for Disease Control as well as local hospitals for updates.  To protect yourself and others, we recommend: Washing your hands often with warm, soapy water Keeping your hands away from your face When you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with a tissue or your upper sleeve or elbow Do your best to stay...

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Best Retirement Community: Therapy Award for The Cedars

The Cedars Retirement Community incorporates wellness into all that we do – for our staff, members and residents.  One of our newest outpatient programs, Living Well With Dementia offered from our Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center, is gaining increased recognition.  This past weekend, the Maine Occupational Therapy Association (MeOTA), honored our Angie Hunt with their OT Advocate Award, specifically for the work she has done to create Living Well With Dementia.  Angie is the Executive Director of the Assisted Living, Rehabilitation Center and Skilled Care at The Cedars. Here is the letter that was submitted by Lisa Clark, Program Coordinator of Living Well With Dementia, to MeOTA: Angie (Hunt) is a physical therapist who is the Executive Director of The Cedars in Portland, Maine.  The Cedars is a retirement community that offers a continuum of senior living options for elders: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care.  The Cedars’ philosophy revolves around...

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