Senior Care Archives - Page 6 of 10 - Regency Nursing & Post-Acute Rehabilitation Blog

Experience the Regency Halftime Show!!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Judah

I’m not into the vaunted Super Bowl halftime show.

Sounds crazy, I know.

The fact is, the halftime shows have been in the news these past several years for their sometimes racy and inappropriately themed performances ostensibly catered to “all ages.”

When there was the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the halftime show several years ago, parents were rightfully livid over the egregious mismanagement (before and after the malfunction) which exposed their children (quite literally – and figuratively too) to images better left for a far different venue.

Thankfully, – yes thankfully, we do not keep a television at home for our children to be exposed to the filth of immorality, indifference, murder and corruption that makes for today’s ‘viewing programs,’ so the superbowl and halftime show is immaterial and purely academic in my home.

But wait a second, I’ll be at Regency Park Nursing in Hazlet this Sunday!!

They have TV’s!

The latest Flat screens!

BIG ones!

Panasonic, Vizio, Samsung, you name it, we have it. The latest in LCD flat screen nirvana!!

Shall I watch the Superbowl and halftime show at Regency?

Will I experience a state of blissful ecstasy, rapture, contentment and delight watching the great Peyton Manning unload on those hapless Seahawks (there, you have my pick for what it’s worth!) on his way to a ring and an MVP trophy?

Perhaps.

However, I’m gonna enjoy the Regency version of a “halftime show” first!

What in tarnation is a “Regency Halftime Show, you wonder?!”

Well, it looks virtually identical to the concert we hosted at Regency just this very afternoon!

Take a gander at our awesome FULL time “Regency Show:”

Special Valentine Gift Request For Regency Heritage Nursing Center, Somerset NJ!!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Judah

My colleague, Terri, just sent me this e-mail she received from a thrilled family! I’ve got no editorial commentary to spoil this pristinely beautiful email. I’m floating on a cloud after reading this letter and for all of you readers with a connection to Regency, I’m certain you will share my sentiment.

Email Subject:

“My Wife’s 2014 Valentine Present Request”

In 2009, I had a bad bike accident, breaking my pelvis, 7 left ribs & getting 11 stitches in my head. After a few days in a room off the emergency room at the hospital (they needed to monitor my condition very closely.), I was most fortunately sent to the Jewish Home for the Aged/ now known as Regency Nursing in Somerset to recover. From the labels in my clothes, I was in Room 1175, Goldfarb 1.

I recall my stay was several months & my departure was speeded by the absolutely superb staff in your Physical Therapy department. (I tried to work up to 4 hours a day & loved their encouragement & direction.)

Even so, I still couldn’t walk without a walker &, since we had stairs up into our nearby home, I couldn’t go home. Fortunately, we had a friend in a local volunteer ambulance company who had a stretcher. So he and several of his friends got me home, where an expert from the Visiting Nurses soon had me using my walker on the relatively quiet streets of our senior community.

When I was discharged, I received a superb, heavy white bathrobe with a colorful Regency Nursing & Rehab Center logo on one breast pocket. While I was recovering, my wife who teaches acquacise, swims & usually exercises several times a day if possible, used this bathrobe after her showers as it was far more absorbent & comfortable than any she had (& she looked fantastic in it!).

By the time I recovered enough to even think about a bathrobe, I found I had a new striped one (which weighed about half of what my beautiful white Regency one). Since it got me dry, with the help of a towel, I let my wife have my Regency beauty. A beauty for my beauty!!!

Just before my wife left on a business trip, her first of this new year, I asked her what she wanted for Valentine’s Day, which would be a few weeks after her return. Looking a little sheepish, she said what she really wanted, if she could have her heart’s desire, was another Regency bathrobe – a new one – to replace the one which had almost worn out from all its use, washes & dries, since it entered our home. It didn’t dry like it used to, wasn’t as comfortable to wear & didn’t look as spectacular as it had.

I recently called to inquire & it looks like my ‘bride’ of 10+ years may get her Valentine’s wish (& I may have the ‘glow of triumph’ about me for a while – most probably for several years if it lasts as well as its predecessor).

Best regards & thanks for your help in my recovery,

James D.

—————–

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

Folks,

Would you like to see the robe which James was referring to (and I fully concur with his assessment :-)?

Here it is!

A Time to Cry

Posted on January 15, 2014January 15, 2014 by Judah

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
-Ecclesiastes-

“A time to cry”

On the way to the office this morning, I noticed a flag on a building flying at half staff. I’m not sure why this was, but it aptly reflected my pensive melancholy this morning.

Usually, I am able to maintain a sense of equanimity, but today I think of our two long term residents who passed away this week. They and their families were beloved to all of us at Regency and we join in mourning their deaths just as we celebrated their lives.

At Regency Nursing Centers, we don’t simply care for our patients and residents, but develop a love for them as well.
Mark Benedek, Administrator at Regency Gardens in Wayne, shared with me last night a speech one of his staff members gave to several applicants, where she highlighted the “4 C’s” that make up the fabric of the Regency philosophy.

They are: compassion, caring, commitment, and consistency.

Because we are so invested in our families, with the passing of our loved ones, our sadness is more profound and acute.

In my community, I am often asked to sing a special prayer at the funerals which I attend.
The prayer is extremely powerful and poignant. It invokes the ephemeral nature of our lives and always evokes tears and introspection. Sometimes, I have a difficult time getting through the piece without shedding a tear.

One needn’t be a religious person to understand that human beings do not exist in a vacuum during our short time on this Earth. We live amongst family and friends and we love as we are loved.

Our job is to leave this Earth a better place because of our indelibly positive impact and influence.

These two residents affected people in that way and therefore effected the reaction we all felt upon their passing.

Life is short.
Learn, Live and Love.

Jay Leno Video Interview With 100 Year Old Dorothy Custer!

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Judah

At Regency Nursing Centers, it is a well established fact that we have more centenarians under our roof than any other nursing facility around. We ‘wrote the book’ on Centenarians! We achieved a Guinness World Record for hosting the largest Centenarian gathering under one roof.

The fact is, our residents thrive with us and their quality of life at Regency is the catalyst for their healthy ‘golden years!”

So when I saw this recent video interview by Jay Leno with 100 year old Dorothy Custer, I was absolutely tickled with delight!
You must watch this video. You will roll with laughter.

Dorothy Custer is the definition of gumption. Listen to her tell the story of how she met her husband, then at 1:15 she reveals the secret to long life (btw, it’s the cutest thing ever).

Blessed Snow and Joy at Regency Senior Rehab Centers in NJ!

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Judah

This morning I left the house early for a brisk 3 mile run. Lo and behold about a mile into the run it started to snow! Blessed snow! The first such storm of the winter! By the time I got home, I was coated and my glasses were rendered useless.

I was energized and pumped for another day at our splendid Regency Nursing Homes!

The snow really has a way of bringing out the Holiday spirit!

Our very own Frank D. of Regency Park in Hazlet certainly agrees!

Here he is knee deep in the joyous task of applying the finishing touches to the 2 west dayroom tree.

He looks enthused and so are we!

Frank D. looks pretty happy about the tree on 2 west!

You know, last winter I posted a blog and picture of Regency Park during the first snow of the winter.

That was right here.

Well, here we are in the thick of the first storm of this winter and I’ve got an identical photo for you!

Take a look:

Regency Nursing Shines Bright During Holiday Season!

Posted on December 9, 2013December 9, 2013 by Judah

You know, I was just walking around the Regency Park Nursing Center a few moments ago, and I cannot help but marvel at the beauty of this place made even more festive by the various holiday decorations and motifs.

At Regency Nursing Centers, we celebrate all holidays equally and we always shine especially bright during these joyous times!

I’m so proud to be here. So proud.

Here are a few pictures for you to look at:

Brand New Generator Installed at Regency Grande, Dover NJ

Posted on November 27, 2013November 27, 2013 by Judah

I recently blogged here regarding the state of the art generator we were installing at the Regency Grande Postacute Rehab Center in Dover, NJ.

Well, it was just completed!

How appropriate to tout this serious accomplishment and upgrade in light of this weeks storm surge around the Country!

Take a look!

Brand new generator at Regency Grande in Dover!

New Regency Frequently Asked Questions!

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Judah

Check it out!

(Thank you Mr. Gross, for the idea, concept and direction)

http://njnursing.com/regency-faqs/

We will be implementing this on all of our websites.

What’s in a Name: The Regency Brand.

Posted on November 13, 2013November 13, 2013 by Judah

So I went for a 5 mile run this morning at 6 am. Was awesome and I’m already deep into another day at the amazing Regency Post Acute Rehab Center in Hazlet, NJ! I LOVE THIS PLACE.

Anyway, I took my daughter to her first Orthodontist appointment the other day.

Did you know that most dental insurances, including ours, do not cover for Orthodontists! That’s right, it is an out of pocket disaster! What parents don’t do to brighten the smiles of their children, but I digress.

I was instantly struck by the beauty of her office. My first reaction was that if aesthetics are any indicator of performance, then this practitioner must be incredible!

Then I took a look at her business card on the receptionist’s desk and noted the various designations after her name, including D.M.D., M.S., L.L.C. (no clue what any of it stands for, but undoubtedly, it took her a long time to get all of those.)

I should have been duly impressed, right?

Wrong.

Fancy letters after your name and prestigious titular designations means nothing to me; absolutely nothing. You could have the whole alphabet printed after your last name with scary looking periods in-between and it matters not a lick to me. I’m not impressed. Impress me with your skills, because your titles and alpha numeric values wont.

You know why I’ve adopted this approach?

Actually, it is all Mr. Gross’s fault, as I shall explain.

(I know that I keep invoking our beloved Regency Founder. Alas, I cannot help myself since Regency is all that it is because he is the indispensable Sine Qua Non of our organization. In fact, everywhere you turn at Regency Postacute Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers, his creative fingerprints are everywhere. It isn’t my fault for pointing out the obvious.)

One of the first things that struck me when I joined the Regency family is that Mr. Gross’s email and written missives to his staff and employees, NEVER includes fancy titles and alphabet after his signature. He’s got just as many fancy titles as anyone of his stature in the Healthcare industry, yet he invokes NONE of them, save for his name printed simply yet succinctly; David Gross.

I think I know why and I believe my theory makes sense.

He’s got nobody to impress and no need to project. Those who know him KNOW him and those who don’t will quickly learn.

A name alone, when buffered by the singular status of the individual, is the most forceful designation there is. Anything printed after the name only detracts, quantifies and restricts.

This is similarly true for the Regency name which bears Mr. Gross’s ‘signature’.

In the world of senior healthcare, mention Regency Nursing in New Jersey and EVERYONE knows who we are. One needn’t throw in all of the various divisions and subdivisions of the Regency brand to state the obvious.

The Regency name ITSELF is the brand and speaks and attests unequivocally to all of the various highlights which make up our individual components.

In the final analysis, the Ortho’s office (I must say, the game station in the waiting room with Madden football was a very nifty idea. My daughter wanted something different, but I was happy as a lark!), is infinitely more instructive to me than all of the letters and periods after her name.

Nuff ‘said.

Give a Gift and Receive a Gift!

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Judah

This past weekend I had a chance to sit with an elderly person who was participating together with me in some religious services.

During the hours between services, he asked to speak with me and we sat for awhile and schmoozed. He regaled with me stories from his youth, growing up in the Bed-stuy section of Brooklyn. These were the times when you could buy a “pickle for a nickel.” The man, while physically compromised and wheelchair bound, is completely alert and oriented and had so much wisdom to share.

We talked for about an hour or so and at the end of our conversation, his eyes welled with tears and he thanked me profusely as he took my hand in his.

He began to cry and this is what he said: “I live alone with only a caregiver to attend to my physical needs. My family has since departed, except for one brother who lives in California. I have nobody to talk to and nobody to share my memories and experiences with. To me, this is worse than death, because I feel so isolated and alone in the world. With your kindness and generosity of spirit you have given me the most precious gift of all; your time.”

I was stunned and touched at the same time. Here I work in Healthcare and interact with elderly people daily. At Regency Nursing Centers in New Jersey, we obviously touch the lives of our patients and residents every single day, because we spend quality time with them to listen to their stories even as we heal their bodies.

However, I’d been missing the significance of this all of this time until now!

More than caring for the physicality of our patients, they need and indeed yearn for that emotional connection and listening ear! They want our time and our respect and validation of their humanity inherent in these displays.

To us, this isn’t even a sacrifice since it is part of our job descriptions! To the patient however, to offer them of our time is to bestow upon them a valuable ‘gift’.

As I contemplated the import of this concept, I found tears coming to my eyes as well and I thanked Lenny for not only teaching me a valuable lesson, but for sharing of his own time and experiences with me!

When you give a gift, you get one in return!