National Assisted Living Week: Celebrating Community Life!

Caring Relationships. Enriching Lives.

During the week of September 8^th-14^th, our United Methodist Homes Assisted Living Communities will be celebrating a very special week with residents, families, and staff. Established by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) in 1995, National Assisted Living Week® provides a unique opportunity for residents, families, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding community to come together to share with our residents a variety of events and activities that show them how much we care for them. 

National Assisted Living Week 2013

The National Center for Assisted Living has promoted this year’s theme, “Homemade Happiness” which encompasses the connection that occurs in communities between the staff, residents, and families as they build warm, welcoming, and vibrant homes. Celebrating the passionate commitment of staff and friendships that form between residents, “Homemade Happiness” will be a time to recognize the efforts, small and large, of every individual in a community that turn a residence into home for countless assisted living residents. http://www.ahcancal.org/ncal/events/Pages/NationalAssistedLivingWeek.aspx

Our local assisted living communities, Middlewoods of Farmington (Farmington, CT), Middlewoods of Newington (Newington, CT), and Crosby Commons (Shelton, CT), along with our Foxbridge Assisted Living and Memory Care community in Memphis, TN, will be celebrating together in a variety of ways!

Visit our website at www.umh.org and search by community to find out some of the special happenings that are going on during this week!

Throughout the past few years, these award-winning assisted living communities have planned and coordinated some fantastic community events in celebration of National Assisted Living Week. Along with the national theme for that particular year, each community has worked hard to create memorable experiences that invite residents, staff, family members, volunteers, and the community at large to connect with one another, acknowledging the spirit of caring that is alive in their relationships. We focus all of our efforts on personalizing our events and activities programs to allow every individual to experience a sense of fun, a sense of ownership, and a sense of belonging.

One memorable event, created by our team at our Middlewoods of Newington community was our “Life Walk”. The “Life Walk” was a special display of personal items from residents and staff that helped to tell their life story in some way. Residents and staff shared photos of their families, artwork, music, a memento from their career years (one resident shared his firefighter’s helmet), arts and crafts, and more. The items were displayed around the community and each individual was invited to share their thoughts about the piece, which were posted on a label by the item. Throughout the entire week, everyone who visited the community had an opportunity to walk the “Life Walk” and experience the life stories of our residents and staff, the people who make our communities so vibrant. What an invitation to build relationships with one another!

As part of the United Methodist Homes organization, our communities are committed to our mission: To provide a continuum of services for that supports health, independence, and dignity. We build this continuum on the belief that a relationship-centered philosophy best sustains body, mind, and spirit.

Come and visit one of our communities this week and see our mission in action! Experience the difference a mission, vision, and values can make in the lives of our seniors and celebrate National Assisted Living Week with our residents and their families!

For more information about the National Center for Assisted Living, visit their home page at:  http://www.ahcancal.org/ncal/Pages/index.aspx