Happy New Year at Maristhill!

The holiday season was bright here at Maristhill, with many celebrations of family and friends taking place in our updated facility.

The New Year is off to a grand start as well, with another activity-rich month. Among the favorites will be Gary Landgren, better-known as the Honky-Tonk Piano Man!

"The Honky Tonk Piano Man" is a nickname that has followed me around for over 20 years to all the places I have entertained," Landgren says.  

"It's a style that includes ragtime, swing and early jazz elements all rolled into a very informal, yet lively presentation. Usually one hour. I also inter-act with the people, a touch of humor, some history etc etc. For the most part, audiences tap their toes, clap and sing-along."

Christmas Spirit At Maristhill!

Maristhill gets in the Spirit of the Season and kicks off Christmas with their annual Family Christmas Party featuring Tony Funches, a great entertainer who was formerly with the Platters.

The event took place in our new sun-room, which was completed as part of our recent renovation. 

Great Expectations!

As the holidays approach, we are excited to be able to bring back our traditional annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Day Dinner in the Activities Room.

Last year, we were unable to host these events because of construction, and we missed having the opportunity to join with residents and families in celebrating. We also plan to hold separate holiday parties for our two long term care units, now that we have the lovely sun-room to use for functions, and we hope many of you will join us for live music and goodies! 

Information on these and all the many holiday “happenings” will be available in this newsletter, on our bulletin boards, and at the front desk.

Halloween at Maristhill!

Staff, residents, and a special visitor are getting ready for the annual Halloween party at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. 

Our annual party and celebration will take place in the Activity room on Monday afternoon.

Additional activities during October include:

- Pumpkin Carving with St. Jude Students

- Art Therapy

- Eddie Marando on Accordian

- Halloween Dessert Making

- Halloween Crafts

                                      - Voting Day!

Staff Recognition

In this month's newsletter Administrator Carolyn Fenn shared a special thanks to Bill Driscoll, our Activities Director, whose energy and enthusiasm in planning and executing Maristhill Marketplace were exceptional. This major fundraiser each year is astonishing to all of us! 

Also, please welcome Lynne Koot, RN, our new Assistant Director of Nursing/Staff Development. 

Lynne will be working closely with Luanne Deagle, our Director of Nursing, and has already jumped in with both feet to assist with flu shots, staff training, and all our ongoing projects! 

Maristhill Marketplace - Raffle Tickets Available By Phone!

As noted in our previous post, Maristhill's 8th Annual Fall Marketplace will take place on Friday, September 23rd from 1:00-6:00pm, and on Saturday, September 24th from 9:00am-12:00pm. 

A wide-range of collectibles will be offered at the sale, as well as jewelry, small furniture, holiday items, kitchenware, and hand-knitted Afghans. 

This year's raffle will have a 1st prize of $1000 and a 2nd prize of $500 along with 25 additional prizes ranging in value from $25 - $250! 

If you’re unable to visit us to buy raffle tickets this year you are luck… as tickets can be purchased by telephone! Simply call (781) 893-0240 Extension 30.

Read more...

Maristhill Marketplace Resumes in 2016 - Save the Dates!

Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is happy to announce that our 8th Annual "Maristhill Marketplace" has been scheduled for Friday, September 23 rd from 1:00-6:00pm, and on Saturday, September 24 th from 9:00am-12:00pm.

As in previous years, the Marketplace fundraiser will take place in early Fall, with the raffle drawing set to begin on Saturday the 24th.

A wide-range of collectibles will be offered at the sale, as well as jewelry, small furniture, holiday items, kitchenware, and hand-knitted Afghans.

Prizes!
This year's raffle will have a 1st prize of $1000 and a 2nd prize of $500 along with 25 additional prizes ranging in value from $25 - $250!

Read the press release...

The Moving Wall Comes to Waltham August

The Moving Wall is the half-size replica of the Washington, DC Vietnam Veterans Memorial and has been touring the country for thirty plus years. 

When John Devitt attended the 1982 dedication in Washington, he felt the positive power of The Wall. He vowed to share that experience with those who did not have the opportunity to go to Washington. John, Norris Shears, Gerry Haver, and other Vietnam veteran volunteers built The Moving Wall. It went on display for the first time in Tyler, Texas in October of 1984. 

Two structures of The Moving Wall now travel the USA from April through November, spending about a week at each site. It will be in Waltham August 10th through the 16th. 

Book Signing at Maristhill - Join Us!

In one of last year's posts we announced that Noah Beit-Aharon, Assistant Director of Activities at Maristhill, is also a talented author of fantasy novels!

In fact, Noah has secured a two-book contract under his pen name N.S. Dolkart, and a book-signing event has been scheduled to take place at Maristhill on Wednesday July 6th.

You are welcome to join us from 3pm - 5pm in Maristhill's newly-renovated lobby for a presentation and reading from Noah's second book, "Silent Hall," and, of course, for some socializing and fun!

Curious about the book?

Here's a brief summary:

After their homeland is struck with a deadly plague, five refugees cross the continent searching for answers. Instead they find Psander, a wizard whose fortress is invisible to the gods, and who is willing to sacrifice anything – and anyone – to keep the knowledge of the wizards safe.

With Psander as their patron, the refugees cross the mountains, brave the territory of their sworn enemies, confront a hostile ocean and even traverse the world of the fairies in search of magic powerful enough to save themselves – and Psander’s library – from the wrath of the gods.

All they need to do is to rescue an imprisoned dragon and unleash a primordial monster upon the world. How hard could it be?

Grand Opening & Dedication of the Mary DiDuca Wing at Maristhill

The official grand opening of Maristhill’s new sunroom will take place on Friday June 17th from 4:00 to 6:30pm, when we invite members of the greater Waltham community to an open house and dedication ceremony.

The work has been ongoing for some time, and we are completing final touches in the lobby, with furniture, art work, and landscaping at the front entrance, just in time to get outside and enjoy the wonderful weather!

Read the full announcement...

A Wonderful Resident Milestone Celebration at Maristhill

It seems like there's always something happening at Maristhill as our engaged elder community regularly enjoys a wide range of activities, performances and presentations. 

In the picture to your right, resident Pauline Manning, who recently celebrated her 100^th birthday, enjoys the resident luncheon with her niece Dawn Marie.

Congratulations Pauline! 

The activity room was crowded with residents and their families at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s Mother’s Day Social with renowned entertainer Tony Funches.

As you may know, the incomparable Tony Funches was the former lead singer of Herb Reed’s Platters. A favorite among residents and staff, Tony’s stage career has spanned nearly thirty 30 years, more than twelve of which were spent with the Platters. 

He has performed at Maristhill numerous times over the past several year, and the wide vocal range of this incredible singer is just the beginning of his talents. His on stage personality and ability to engage audiences of all age levels are exceptional, and we are thankful that Tony visits Maristhill on a regular basis.

Grand Opening of Renovated Space at Maristhill Coming Soon!

It is a time of excitement and change here at Maristhill, as we prepare for the grand opening of our renovated lobby and sunroom.

In the next week, we will be re-opening the main parking lot and moving our receptionist back to the front of the building.

New furniture has also been ordered, and I am working on landscaping the front area to be a welcoming and colorful space.

Stay-tuned for another update soon! 

Bentley University Fundraiser to Benefit Maristhill

Bentley La Società Italiana di Bentley presents "A Taste of Italy: Wine & Food Tasting," a fundraising event from which all proceeds will benefits Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

 

 

Enjoy delicious Italian food, including antipasto, calamari with marinara sauce, Caprese salad, penne with meatballs, gnocchi and assorted Italian mini pastries, gelato & fruit!

• When: Saturday April 2nd from 6:30-8:30 PM
• Where: LaCava Executive Dining Room

More information...

St. Patrick's Day at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

The residents of Maristhill and their families found the luck of the Irish at this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Party.

The event capped-off a busy week of activities, which included crafts with students from St. Jude's school and a wonderful performance by entertainer Dave Burns.

It seems there's always something good happening at Maristhill!

Valentine's Day at Maristhill

Valentine's Day is a popular holiday at Maristhill, and our residents enjoy various activities and events such as our Valentine's Day Social.

We have also enjoyed an ongoing intergenerational program with local students from St. Jude's school, who visit our facility and work with residents on holiday-themed arts and crafts projects.

National data shows that these programs are beneficial for both the young and the old, offering viable ways to keep children and seniors learning, growing, eating well, and staying active.

These programs are also a favorite within our engaged community here at Maristhill.

Maristhill Successfuly Completes JCAHO Survey

We are happy to report that Maristhill has once again successfully completed its triennial JCAHO survey.

JCAHO stands for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The  accreditation reflects a commitment to systems and processes designed to enhance quality care with standards that go beyond basic regulation.

Congratulations and thanks to our dedicated staff for their diligence and excellent work!

Recipe for a Happy New Year & Thank You!

We are at the dawn of a New Year, and I am taking the opportunity to share a "Recipe for a Happy New Year" to get us off to a good start.

But first, I want to thank all of you for your generous response to our Annual Appeal, especially at a time when so many other causes call us to action. The monies raised will help us proceed with our renovations and culture change initiatives, all meant to improve the lives of those we serve.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with you, get to know you, to share memories and forge new experiences over the past year. I look forward to many good things in 2016, including and especially the opening of our renovated lobby and new third floor lounge and terrace!

Recipe for a Happy New Year, Anonymous, from Appleseed.com:

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past –have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing – don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Happy New Year,

Carolyn Fenn, Administrator

Santa Visits Maristhill!

Christmas spirit, holiday excitement, and a range of engaging activites have made December a lot of fun here at Maristhill.

A caroling and eggnog gathering, coffee social, entertainment by the wonderful "Bobby G" as well as our local Kiwanis club, and a family Christmas party have all been joyous occasions for our residents and staff.

And a surprise visit from Santa was a great way to top it all off! 

Merry Christmas to all, and a very happy New Year...

Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Celebrates Veterans Day

Veterans of multiple generations and service branches greeted each other with smiles and flag pins at Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s Veterans Day ceremony.

 

The function was organized by Good Shepherd Community Care in conjunction with Maristhill’s Activities Department. Residents and staff alike enjoyed the festivities, which is par for the course given our engaged community here at Maristhill.