Full House at Kaplan Estates!
With numerous assisted living communities on the North Shore, it’s interesting to note how perspective residents decide upon Kaplan Estates. “Most people find out about us via word-of-mouth,” explained Antonio Alvarez, Director of Community Relations at Kaplan Estates. “Individuals are often referred to us by friends and family members who have stayed on the continuing care campus, whether it be for assisted living at Kaplan Estates, Shapiro-Rudolph for Adult Day Health or at the Brudnick Center for Living for Short-Term Rehab or Long-Term Care. Our reputation is key. In fact, many decide not to even tour other communities. That’s incredibly rare in this industry.”
This past spring has been a busy time at Kaplan Estates. The building, which accommodates 144 residents in total, is filled to capacity. “It’s a pleasure to welcome new residents into the mix and to witness the spirit of camaraderie among staff and residents,” said Alvarez.
Polly Trudeau moved to Kaplan Estates in late March to recover from a fall on the ice earlier in the winter. She credits the staff with making the transition seamless. “I’ve never met a group of people so helpful in my entire life!” exclaimed Polly. Although Polly grew up in the Peabody/Salem area, she was not familiar with the Chelsea Jewish Lifecare campus. After her fall, Polly spent a month at Salem Hospital, which led to an additional month of Rehab at Brudnick Center for Living. From there, it was a logical step to move into an apartment at Kaplan Estates.
Since Polly still has limited mobility, she has not been able to participate in many activities as of yet but still finds ways to meet residents and acclimate herself to her new home. “I walk in the hallways every few hours, believe it or not. It’s actually a great way to meet people!” said Polly with a laugh. “Everyone has been friendly and welcoming.” Added Polly, “I really like that the staff comes in to check on me frequently and a marvelous CNA helps me get ready for bed. It’s comforting to know I am not alone.”
The staff pulls together to facilitate the move-in process. Each department takes the time before and after move-in to make sure that the resident’s care plan and social experience not only caters to the individual’s core needs, but also to their personality and who they are as an individual. “It’s essential that our residents and families know that they have support in getting oriented to their new environment,” stressed Alavarez. “The assisted living assigns an ambassador who dedicates time to ensure the resident is assisted in navigating their new surroundings. We encourage our residents to meet new people and try new activities that they have never done before.
Jill Hemeon, Area Director of Community Relations at Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, pointed out that a key advantage of moving into a Chelsea Jewish Lifecare community is the accessibility to many different levels of care. “Whether you are looking for additional daily care needs, an all-inclusive setting, or just to socialize a bit, it is always smart to think about what the future may hold. Many individuals find comfort in knowing that our community is set up so residents may age in place through our continuum of care.”
For Marjorie Snow, the respite program at Kaplan Estates enabled her to make a full recovery after surgery. She stayed at Kaplan Estates for a month to recuperate after surgery and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “The staff was always so pleasant. I never felt lonely, which I think is really important. “Marjorie made a point to stay active and participate in activities. She enjoyed lectures, bingo, trivia games and meals in the dining room. “The food is really good. I love the variety of homemade soups!”
Now living in her home, Marjorie hopes to rejoin her Kaplan Estates family at some point. “I had such a good time during my stay,” said Marjorie. “Mark my words, I’ll be back!”
“Moving to a senior living community can be extremely emotional and physically challenging,” said Hemeon. “We want people to know that our team is here to assist future residents and their loved ones in making a move as smooth as possible.” Jill advises new residents to give themselves time to settle in. “Our overall goal is to ensure a better quality of life for all of our residents.”
Carolyn and Ron Paskavitz decided to move to the Peabody campus after touring other residences with their children. Carolyn recalled knowing that Kaplan Estates was the right choice the minute she walked through the doors. “I really can’t explain it,” mused Carolyn. “Everyone was so warm and welcoming. We could sense immediately that the staff really cares about the residents.”
Both Carolyn and Ron enjoy the sing-a-longs, games, movies and a full roster of activities. Shabbat services, in particular, is a ritual they look forward to every week. “Although I am not Jewish,” remarked Carolyn. “I love attending Shabbat services on Fridays. It’s a beautiful tradition.”
The couple’s six children and eight grandchildren are frequent visitors. In May, they used the Garden Kitchen to host a Mother’s Day party. “It was wonderful having the whole family together,” remarked Carolyn. Today, the couple is excited about the future. “I originally thought it would be hard to adjust to assisted living,” said Carolyn, “but clearly, I was wrong. I truly feel like we are home.”
