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! 

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...

Encore - A Maristhill Rehabilitation Story

Maristhill loves its’ repeat customers, especially ones as vibrant as Catherine Walsh.

Catherine, who looks and acts much younger than her stated age, is on her second "go-round" at Maristhill.

Her first stay was in 2015 after a fall left her with a fractured Leg. She came to us directly from the hospital emergency room wearing an immobilizer and only able to bear minimal weight.

Our rehab department worked on her upper and lower body strength and she was able to go home safely in less than three weeks.

"I love the rehab department…," she said. "And the place is immaculate!"
After the success of her first stay, when she fell and needed rehab again Catherine was happy to return.

Her current stay is more complex, but she knows that our rehab department they will have her climbing the stairs in her beloved home as soon as possible.

Read the full story...

Summertime on the Patio at Maristhill

Residents Ellen O’Neill and Lucila Cohen relax on the patio during an outdoor ice cream social at Maristhill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The patio is an ideal place for residents and their guests to enjoy the sunshine and warm summer weather. 

It seems like there's always something happening at Maristhill. In addition to our ice cream socials, cookouts, birthday celebrations, and gardening activities are also conducted on the patio. Movies, concerts, sporting events, bingo, family birthday celebrations and parties are among the many social and educational activities that Maristhill's active community of patients and residents regularly enjoy.

Games Can Be Good Exercise and Good Fun

Numerous sources in the medical community have said that elderly games are excellent ways to exercise the “mental muscles," and to have fun at the same time.

This has certainly been our experience here at Maristhill.

Consider that we use different different skills to perform different physical tasks, and our brains "exercise" in similar fashion when we play different games, such as card games, board games, word games and, more recently, computer games. The special value of certain video games is that they can stimulate or "exercise" components of both mental and physical muscle groups. In fact, one study indicated that certain computer games can improve mental agility and even slow the onset of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Either way, games have a definite place in our ongoing effort to engage our community and continually improve their well being.

Happy Valentines Day at Maristhill

Holidays can boost our spirits and it was another happy Valentines Day here at Maristhill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

In addition to various activities, which included a very popular afternoon of lollipop making, the residents enjoyed a festive Valentine's Day party, complete with refreshments and a rousing performance by singer Tony Funches, former lead singer for Herb Reed's Platters.

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

Tony Funches Performs at Maristhill

All of us at Maristhill have enjoyed the talents of the incomparable Tony Funches, former lead singer of Herb Reed’s Platters, who has performed at Maristhill numerous times over the past several years.

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.

The wide vocal range of this incredible singer is just the beginning of his talents, as his on stage personality and ability to engage audiences of all age levels – as shown at left while crooning with patient Susan Burke during Maristhill’s annual Family Christmas Party – is truly impressive.

Intergenerational Programming is Fun!

Our residents frequently spend time with local students, which is fulfilling and enjoyable for all parties!

Whether carving pumpkins or playing bingo, the students have fun and the residents share an opportunity to engage with the local community.

Over the past month all of us at Maristhill enjoyed a fabulous concert presented by the Brandeis Chamber Music Club, carved pumpkins, and also spent some creative time working on various arts and crafts with younger students from St. Jude's school.

Read more...

Maristhill Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Maristhill joined with the American Cancer Society in October to participate in “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” with events and fundraising throughout the month. 

As an organization dominated by women (residents and staff!), many of us have been touched by this dreadful disease.  We started the month by dressing ourselves, our lobby, our trees and our signs “pretty in pink!" 

A bake-sale with the pink theme was a big success – never have I seen so many pink confections in one place!! 

On October 5^th, the “Maristhill Pink Warriors,” led by Lori Savlon, our Human Resource Director, walked in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Boston event, raising $5,000 towards the cause on a beautiful fall day along the Charles River. 

The month ended with a local “Making Strides” Luncheon held each year by the Orifice Family – this event typically raises between $18-20,000 per year in the fight against this disease.  Truly, it was an amazing month of teamwork and camaraderie. 

Thank you for all your hard work, energy, and good humor above all!

An Engaged Community

It seems like there is always something happening at Maristhill!

Or at the very least, our engaged community of residents, patients, team members and community members are involved in a wide range of activities every week.  For example, some of the things happening in October at Maristhill include:

• Exercise classes
• Monthly luncheon
• Pet therapy
• Singer Kerry Maher
• Saturday yoga
• Pumpkin carving w/St. Jude's students
• Halloween Party!

Wide Range of Items & Activities Planned for Maristhill's Fall Marketplace

As noted in our previous post, this year's fall marketplace will take place on September 26 & 27. You'll find a wide range of items and "goodies," including jewelry, kitchenware, furniture, and more!

 

There will also be a bake sale table, a raffle ticket table, a table of handmade greeting cards created by our residents, and a table where the Marist Sisters sell little toys and things to raise money for the convent next door.

Here are a few pictures from the 2013 marketplace - hope you'll be able to join us this year!

Annual Fall Marketplace September 26 & 27 - Join Us!

Maristhill's 7th Annual Fall Marketplace on Friday has been scheduled for September 26th from 1:00-6:00pm, and on Saturday, September 27th from 9:00am-12:00pm.

As in previous years, the Marketplace fundraiser will take place on the last Friday and Saturday of the month, with the raffle drawing set to begin at 12:30pm on Saturday the 27th.

A wide-range of collectibles will be offered at the sale, as well as jewelry, small furniture, holiday items, kitchenware, and baked goods. This year's raffle will have a 1st prize of $1000, a 2nd prize of $500, and more than 25 additional prizes donated by the generous Waltham business community.

"Everyone looks forward to the Marketplace," said Bill Driscoll, Activities Director. "Residents, families and friends enjoy the community spirit and camaraderie that this annual fundraiser generates, and all proceeds go to the Resident Council fund, which sponsors special events, programs and outings throughout the year for all our residents."

Have it your Way - Breakfast at Maristhill

As part of our effort to engage residents and provide a little something "extra," Maristhill has initiated an on-unit breakfast program that has been an instant hit!

The objective is to simply provide residents with a wider range of personal choices, and to prepare their breakfast of choice in a fashion similar to "tableside cooking" at various restaurants.

Everyone that is involved, including our kitchen staff, enjoys the interaction and fun!

Ultimately, residents can enjoy watching the cooking process as well as a freshly-cooked breakfast of their choice, giving them an added sense of well-being.

Saturday Morning Yoga at Maristhill

As noted in an earlier post, exercise programs at Maristhill have been extremely well received by our Residents.

So, in addition to our regular programming, we've added a "Saturday Morning Yoga" session to our calendar - and it has quickly become one of our favorites!

As you may know, when carefully done and managed by a qualified instructor, yoga can help elders improve their balance, strength and overall sense of well-being. In addition, an Illinois study showed that yoga can often help elders improve a range of cognitive tasks, including information recall, mental flexibility and multi-tasking. 

Maristhill Receives Another Deficiency-free Survey from Department of Public Health

I am happy to report that Maristhill recently received a Deficiency-Free survey from the Department of Public Health during their annual visit.

The surveyors interviewed residents, families, and staff, reviewed numerous medical records, observed medication and treatment administration, and toured the facility. With our help they were able to access the information they needed and they were very complimentary about our quality of care.

This means a lot to us, as there are so many regulations and requirements that govern our work. I congratulate and thank our staff for this accomplishment – we couldn’t do it without teamwork!

Sincerely, Carolyn Fenn, Administrator

An Engaged Elder Community

An important component of our mission at Maristhill is to provide health care that fosters each individual's physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well-being.

Our community of residents, patients and staff is highly-engaged, living and working together in an up-beat, familial environment, that encompasses over one-hundred activities most months!

These vary significantly, and include exercise classes, music and art therapy, patio visits, crafts, entertainment, pet visits and more... thus providing options that are of interest to our diverse community.

A number of our events are also open to the community-at-large, such as our annual fall Marketplace; and we look forward to the possibility of seeing you at Maristhill. 

Promoting Healthy Habits

We are once again engaged in a little friendly fitness competition among staff members here at Maristhil... a figurative “Walk Across Massachusetts!”

 

Our objective is to promote and encourage healthy habits and lifestyles throughout the facility.  Several team members will be walking multiple times each day and some are closing in on the finish line! 

 

We hope the healthy routine continues long after the competition is over!

Music Therapy Very Popular Among Elders



Music is very popular at Maristhill

Music has a powerful impact on everyone, but can release a tripwire of powerful memories to the elderly, says Dana Larsen, a senior living writer.

“This is why music therapy is one of the most effective treatments for the elderly,” she explains.

We agree, and we consistently conduct musical events here at Maristhill, ranging from concerts, shows by professional entertainers, sing-alongs, and other performances.

Here are just a few improvements noted by elders and their families, and listed by MusicWorks, a Delaware music therapy organization:

• Better awareness and concentration
• Enhances interest levels and social interaction
• Improves memory and recall
• Happier outlook on life and higher self-esteem
• Increases mobility and coordination
• Diminishes pain and improves recovery time
• Reduces tension and promotes relaxation