Encouragement and Support

Hi Everyone!
It has been way too long!

I have been trying to pen a note to you about encouragement and support, the kind you get here at The Canterbury.

This idea grew after a board meeting we had recently.
Someone mentioned the great things we are doing on the internet.  It made me want to get busy and to do more!

It is one thing to do well at something, it is another to do well and get support and encouragement for your efforts.  Here's a visual:

This is Barbara.  She just returned from her doctor's office where he gave her a "celebrating hope" bear.  I asked if she wanted to tell you more about this and she looked at the picture and said "it tells the whole story".  Celebrating with her doctor, then with me, and soon her friends at Canterbury makes her experience with prolonged good health all the richer!

We strive to have consistency in the office, a smile, no negativity, criticism or gossip.

"I heard your voice, you are young and I feel better around youger people" Nora says to me.  "They think and feel different" she adds.  She likes to get a boost from the energy of the Office Attendant, especially on rainy days.  Her vision is declining and life is especially difficult for her on cloudy days.  Nora moved in with her husband, and when he passed away her son asked if she would like to come live with him.  She replied that she wants to stay here.  "I need people because once I get involved in old thoughts I can not solve anything or do anything".  "You release your thoughts and your brain gives you a break"

Tomorrow a resident gets radium and chemo. treatments.  We have it on our wall calendar here in the office, and will be with her every step of the way to encourage and support this person.

I guess that's what you call family.  We are your Canterbury family. . . Soooo Come on over!

Sincerely,
Emily

Heat Wave and Shuttle Discovery

Wow!
How did you like that heat wave yesterday!  It seems a little cooler today.
In the past people would take cold showers or put their feet in cold water or ice.

"The heat seems harder to take now" said a resident who just left the office.

Thank goodness for air conditioning!

We are taking residents to their doctor's appointments today.  Many got together to view the Shuttle landing.  A favorite part was the little American flag waving out a window as they came in.

All is well.
Take Care,
Emily :)

Beautiful and Happy

Hi All!  Happy Spring!

I just read a post from a facebook friend:

"Being beautiful doesn't make you happy, but being happy makes you beautiful".

No wonder all our residents are so beautiful!!!!!!!!!! 

Our residents rode the van to the grocery store this morning and will enjoy having our Van Driver carry their groceries to their apartments. 

For $1195. a month, including utilities and services, you can't get a regular 1 br apartment in West Hartford it seems.  We get a lot of calls from people under 55 years old complaining about what they see.  Sorry, we wish we could help!

Enjoy your Monday, and I hope no one fooled you too badly yesterday!

Happy April!
Emily

Best Float!

Good morning everyone!

It IS a Happy Monday here at The Canterbury!

I can usually tell when someone hasn't been here before.  They often pull on the front door instead of ringing the doorbell (our building is secured).

Today I heard someone pull on our door and when I went to greet him what did I find?

 A gentleman from the Park Road Playhouse carrying this:

I am trying so hard to remember my manners and not gloat, so I will just end this note to say Thank-You, we are honored to be a part of this wonderful event in West Hartford!

Emily

Supported and smiling

Hi all-

One thing that is true at Canterbury is you will feel supported!  Here is an example:

When I returned from my sad events there were cards...lots of them, and flowers!

A huge group of residents had gotten together to make a donation to a charity in my dad's name.

One gal who fills in for me works at a bank.  She paid attention to the one month anniversary of my dad's passing and asked if I'd like the day off.  She says she feels wonderful when she comes here, everyone is so warm and caring (she has had major losses of her own).  She wants to know if I want to have a long weekend "off".  She is doing for me what I wasn't doing for myself because she cares.  She said our van driver told her "thank-you for giving Emily a day off" and told me "you are loved" here.

Perhaps it is our size, maybe it is the length of time employees have invested in their careers here, certainly it is our wonderful residents who set the tone...Canterbury is truly a nice place to be!

If you are reading this because you are wondering if your parent will get support if he/she/they move in- they will!

Even our mailman is a riot!  I commented on how his hair had grown and he said he was having it cut today.  I suggested bangs and he talked about his ideas.  "Whatever I do I'm going to look good", he said.  Ha!

I'm smiling!

Take good care and be happy.

Emily

I had to come back.  Our former Live-In-Attendant is here helping a resident and she spotted another resident, and embraced her like a sister (this resident is one of the sweetest, kindest ladies I personally have ever met).  They re-created it for me so I could share it with you.  Unfortunately the first picture is a little blurry (charging the battery now) but here you go:

March

Hi Everyone!
Happy March.

I have been quiet because my dad passed away in February.  They say "a picture is worth a thousand words", so...here is my family:

 I am the youngest.   Dad was 85 years old.

Here's Mom and Dad:

As a staff member so eloquently put it; I picked the good parents card, and I'm lucky.  Grief is not easy.  Perhaps some of our readers could chime in and give suggestions about coping with grief.  We would love to hear from you.  "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now. Martin Luther King, Jr.  We need each other!

Take care everyone,

Emily

Predictions

Hi Everyone!

Even though it is a little colder outside, that famous groundhog in Pennsylvania did not see his shadow, so spring surely is right around the corner!  Phew!  After last years winter it is nice to have a break from piles of snow.  Did you notice I don't have my facts straight?  Hmmnnn...maybe I do...

According to Stormfax.com,  Phil is accurate 39 percent of the time.

Due to the unusually warm winter we've been having, hopefully he'll be wrong this year.

According to the Weather Channel's website,  63 percent of the country was covered in snow last year. Unless a giant blizzard pops up in the near future, the U.S. won't even come close this year – barely 25 percent of the country is covered in snow. Alaska, Seattle and Midland Texas are above average, but ski resorts around the country are making their own snow because their slopes are bare, and in the upper plains, the snow is needed to ward off drought conditions.

Back to West Hartford,

On for today at The Canterbury:

Ride to the grocery store, multi-cultural hour, chair exercises, and we are crocheting hats for kids who have Cancer. 

We do have a few more colder days before spring arrives, so don't forget your coat.  Did you know your hands and head lose much of the heat from your body?  So keep them covered and you wont feel the cold as much. 

Until we meet again, T-H-I-N-K  S-P-R-I-N-G!

Big Hugs (remember, it's the love month),
Emily