Belle Reve Senior Living News

“L-O-V-E, love—it’s the most important thing,” he emphasized. Emil and Josephine Petrick, both residents at Belle Reve Senior Living, will celebrate 73 years of marriage on June 9. She was the pretty girl next door, and he was the neighborhood paperboy—both living on opposite sides of the Washington Street Bridge in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Their connection is a happy coincidence. “We still don’t know how we got together,” said Josephine. Their brush with fate started in their teens when Emil would stop to chat with Josephine on his paper route. “I don’t know why he was after me,” said Josephine, sheepishly. “But, he was a good-looking fellow, and he never was after any other girls.” Their paths continued to cross at different affairs. Josephine loved to attend the dances held at the church hall. Emil was a wallflower, who would wait and watch as Josephine took a spin on the dance floor. And, into high school, they remained close, but it wasn’t anything serious. Then, Emil received a draft notice. He was off to join the Army during World War II. “I gave her an engagement ring, and told her to wait for me,” said Emil. The separation was rough for the young couple. “He said to wait for me that he'd only be gone six months, but six months turned into 3 ½ years,” said Josephine. She waited. He went to war. The couple stayed in touch through letters. To his safety, Emil will attest to his strong Catholic faith. Close to the end of the war, with not a scratch on him, Emil was hit in the heart. This time it wasn’t by love—it was a bullet! Instead of the bullet piercing his skin, it was deflected by a crucifix, which he placed into his breast pocket just moments earlier. His brush with death solidified his main objective—marrying the woman he promised himself to years before. When he returned home, they married a short time later, and Josephine joked that they were kissing all the time. Although the Petrick’s faced their ups and downs, they remained loyal to each other. “He would always say, ‘I love you, that’s why,’” said Josephine, which Emil replied, “Because it’s true.” Together they raised three children and doted on their seven grandchildren. Now at Belle Reve, the couple is enjoying companionship, freshly prepared meals, and plenty of entertainment to pique their interests, as well as additional amenities and services.

MILFORD, Pa., Dec. 14, 2016 – Belle Reve Senior Living, in Milford, Pa. is proud to announce that they have been selected as one of the 2017 Best of Senior Living Award Winners on SeniorAdvisor.com, the largest ratings and reviews site for senior care and services in North America.

SeniorAdvisor.com’s Best of 2017 Award winners represent the best of the best of in-home care, assisted living, and other senior living providers, based on the online reviews written by seniors and their families. This exclusive designation honors the top one percent of senior care providers across the country.

“We are honored to receive this award from SeniorAdvisor.com,” said Kaitlyn Huttman, marketing director. “We strive to create a homelike environment, in which our residents can feel safe and comfortable and be cared for every day, and we are thrilled to have family members recognize that dedication and provide us with these outstanding online reviews.”

The annual SeniorAdvisor.com Best of Awards tabulates over 130,000 family created reviews to find the best quality care providers for this honor. Of the nearly 200,000 communities currently listed on SeniorAdvisor.com, just over 1,600 were recognized with this prestigious award.

Belle Reve is one of the only winners in Milford, PA, and regularly receives highly positive reviews from their families like this one: “My father had a short stay at Belle Reve after having surgery. He was there as a rehab in-take patient. I must say that the nurses and assistants were very friendly and helpful. My father made so much progress within the first few days of being there that he was able to be released much earlier than anticipated. I am sincerely grateful to the staff on the skills unit and appreciate all their efforts and helping my father with his rapid recovery,” said Heather D.

“Families are increasingly looking to online reviews to find out who truly delivers great care for our seniors, not just who claims to deliver great care,” said Eric Seifert, President of SeniorAdvisor.com. “Our SeniorAdvisor.com Awards program is all about celebrating the exceptional people who do just that. We're honored to spread the word about these organizations whom families can entrust with the care of their senior loved ones.”

To qualify for inclusion in the Best of 2017 Awards, providers must have maintained an average overall rating of at least 4.5 stars while receiving three or more new reviews in 2016. Additional details and a complete list of award winners can be found on SeniorAdvisor.com.

About SeniorAdvisor.com LLC

SeniorAdvisor.com is the largest consumer ratings and reviews site for senior living communities and home care providers across the United States and Canada. The innovative website provides easy access to the information families need when making a senior care decision, and features trusted reviews and advice from local residents and their loved ones. For more information, please visit www.SeniorAdvisor.com or call 866-592-8119.

About Belle Reve

Belle Reve has been providing seniors with the best Personal Care, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing services for 15 years. Senior living services are offered on an affordable month-to-month lease with no buy-in fees. We invite you to visit our community and see what makes Belle Reve a great place to live! For more information, please call 570-409-9191 or visit www.bellereveseniorliving.com.

Contact:

Kaitlyn Huttman​
Marketing Director
Belle Reve Senior Living Community
404 East Harford Street
Milford, PA 18337
570-409-9191
khuttman@bellerevesl.com

Belle Reve Senior Living recently opened their doors to the public, to showcase their newly renovated Memory Care Neighborhood. This Open House allowed the public, family members, and friends to visit the community, see the updated Memory Care Neighborhood, and meet staff members.

The new Memory Care Neighborhood now includes a new, heated floor in the atrium, new floor in the living room, a new kitchen area for residents, and all new furniture.

“The Open House was a huge success; Belle Reve was joined by community professionals, family members, and the general public,” said Kaitlyn Huttman, marketing director. “We not only had a chance to show people what makes us the experts when it comes to caring for those with dementia but we also had a chance to highlight our DayBreak program and Red Plate meal program.”

The DayBreak program is designed to promote independence, socialization and quality of life while maintaining residents dignity. There are various activities offered to residents every day.

The Red Plate program is a new meal program offered to residents in the memory care neighborhood, based on a concept that improves the contrast between various foods. Belle Reve started using red plates in their memory care neighborhood and there has been a huge difference in residents’ eating habits. Families have commented on this new change and how it has improved their family members’ appetites. Caregivers have also noticed an enormous change, as some residents who before didn’t have a normal appetite, now are asking for more to eat.

“Thank you to everyone who came to our Open House to see what a fantastic place Belle Reve is,” said Huttman. “We hope everyone spreads the word about Belle Reve and all of these great programs that are designed to help those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We are passionate about caring for each and every senior we have living in our community and we strive to make each senior as comfortable as possible, living life to the fullest!”

The Great 2014 Milford Scavenger Hunt at Belle Reve was a great success! Members of the Belle Reve Senior Living Community management team ventured out into Downtown Milford on Wednesday, June 4 on a team-building Scavenger Hunt. The Scavenger Hunt not only brought the team members closer together, but also helped build a relationship between Belle Reve and local businesses. The Belle Reve management team was split up into three groups. Each team was given a riddled-clue at several locations throughout town. Every clue led the teams to another clue and puzzle piece. Once the teams had all of their puzzle pieces, they had to race back to Belle Reve, link arms, and cross the finish line where staff, family members and residents cheered them on! The five participating merchants included Fretta’s Italian Specialty Foods, Wihlborg’s Deli, Hotel Fauchere, Pike County Public Library, and RE/MAX Real Estate. By involving local businesses, the community was able to meet all of the management team, which includes several new members. “The Belle Reve team learned a lot from the event, most importantly we learned how to work together to achieve a common goal,” said Kaitlyn Huttman, marketing director. “This event also built camaraderie and highlighted each team members’ strengths. Belle Reve is looking forward to making this our 1st Annual ‘Great Hunt’ and next year we may just be challenging Heritage Senior Living management to come and join the fun!”

Senior care providers have a responsibility to tend to the needs of the elderly; this can include housekeeping, assistance with daily tasks, such as dressing and bathing, and of course, eating. But sometimes when a person has Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, their appetite is diminished. Food often gets left on the plate, even when encouragement is given to finish a meal. Poor eyesight, along with the inability to verbally indicate their preferences in menu selection, can lead to multiple medical complications due to not getting proper nutrition. In an effort to combat this problem and to create a fine-dining experience, Belle Reve Senior Living has started using the “Red Plate” theory for the residents in the Memory Care Neighborhood/Daybreak Program. The Red Plate theory is based on a concept that improves the contrast between various foods. The theory was designed by Boston University Biopsychologist Alice Cronin-Golomb and her research partners to help seniors with Alzheimer’s. According to an article about their studies, patients may have visual-cognitive deficiencies caused by Alzheimer’s. They cannot process visual data, such as depth perception and contrast. Cronin-Golomb and her team studied whether seniors with Alzheimer’s would eat more food from red plates than they did with white ones, and they found that patients eating from red plates ate 25 percent more food than those eating from white (Schwab, 2014). Belle Reve started using red plates in their memory care neighborhood in March 2015, and there has been a huge difference in eating habits of residents. “Residents with Alzheimer’s may not know the difference if you ask ‘would you like a crab cake or would you like a cheeseburger?’ What we do is physically bring the two options to the resident on a red plate and ask which one they would like. They may not remember that the beef on the plate is called a cheeseburger but they can point to which option looks appetizing to them,” said Kaitlyn Huttman, marketing director. Families of residents have commented on this new change and how it has improved their family members’ appetites. Caregivers have also noticed an enormous change, as some residents who before didn’t have a normal appetite, now are asking for more to eat, according to Danielle Storms, Memory Care Director. “I have seen a major improvement in Mom’s appetite since this program was started at Belle Reve,” said JoEllen Campbell, daughter of resident Ann Brown. “It can sometimes be difficult for her to understand what the foods are, due to her Alzheimer’s, and I love that the staff members offer the residents a choice in foods, in a way that is easily communicated.” “We are very passionate about caring for our residents and want to provide the best care, using the latest approaches that are backed by research,” said Huttman. “This new way of dining in our memory care community can improve the quality of life for someone who suffers from dementia, and so far it has been just simply amazing!” Belle Reve’s Memory Care community provides care for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and caregivers are available to assist residents with these tasks every day. The staff recognizes each resident’s need for a daily structured routine of set meal times and group activities, which enhances skills and abilities and provides social stimulation. Learn more about how Belle Reve’s expertise with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can make a difference in the life of your loved one. For more information about Belle Reve and the memory care community, please call 570-409-9191. (Reference: Jeremy Schwab. “Red Plates for Eating with Dementia.” Alzheimer’s & Dementia Weekly. 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 23 April 2015.)

Belle Reve Senior Living has been providing seniors with quality care, including personal care, memory care, and skilled nursing, since 2001. The staff and caregivers strive to keep their residents happy, healthy and comfortable, and thanks to the skilled nursing and rehabilitation program, residents who have difficulty walking can use advanced equipment and therapy services to get back on their feet. Barbara Cassimore came to Belle Reve for rehabilitation on a feeding tube and a trach. After eight months of hospital stays and prior rehabilitation, the therapy team at Belle Reve was eager to help get her back on her feet, and she has successfully been weaned off of both the tube and trach and is once again mobile. When she began her therapy program at Belle Reve Senior Living, Cassimore was unable to stand, and wheelchair bound. She was severely deconditioned, having developed overall weakness, decreased range of motion, balance, coordination and endurance. This resulted in decreased independence in functional mobility. When Cassimore arrived, she was very debilitated and was transferring using a mechanical lift.  She received occupational, physical and speech therapy services throughout her stay at Belle Reve. Over almost a 60-day period, she gradually got stronger by attending therapies five days a week. The therapists utilized the PENS protocol from the electric stimulation machines. By the end of her stay, she walked out of the building using a rolling walker. “Barbara was diligent throughout her rehabilitation and was an inspiration to her fellow rehab patients,” said Kaitlyn Huttman, marketing director. “The first time she stood up was an emotional day, not only for Barbara, but also for the therapists and patients who had seen her wonderful progress. She was encouraged to continue toward her goal of returning home. Through hard work and determination, she made an amazing recovery.” Aside from going home, Cassimore’s biggest goal was to attend her grandson’s graduation ceremony from Delaware Valley High School in June. With continued therapy for strengthening, transfers, and family training, she was able to attend the graduation. At the end of June, Cassimore was ready to return home, and a graduation ceremony was held in the therapy department to recognize her accomplishment. “It was a delightful experience helping to get Barbara back on her feet. We look forward to hearing about her continued success,” said Huttman. The therapy department at Belle Reve provides physical, occupational and speech therapies to seniors who need assistance to regain strength they may have previously lost. Belle Reve uses Accelerated Care Plus (ACP) equipment, which is used by many of America’s athletic champions. The ACP equipment is fairly new to the community, having only been on site since 2012. The equipment includes an omnicycle, ultrasound, e-stim, and diathermy. The new equipment enables the department to better treat some conditions – number one being pain control. The department can give more quality time to each patient, thus improving patient outcomes. The patient also benefits from a shorter overall rehab time and can go home sooner. The equipment is primarily split between physical and occupational therapies. There might be a rare occasion for speech therapy to use the equipment, such as a paralyzed facial muscle, but physical therapy usually treats the body from the waist down, working on ambulation, and occupational therapy from the waist up, working on hands, arms and bathing and dressing. Both therapies work on strengthening, pain control, transfers, bed mobility and general safety techniques. Patients in the Skilled Nursing Unit receive therapy five days per week, three hours per day. Therapy in the Personal Care and Memory Care community can receive therapy three days per week, between 45-60 minutes per day. “We are so thrilled to be able to provide these therapies at Belle Reve,” said Huttman. “By having these services in our community, residents have the ability to receive physical, occupational and speech therapy, so they can improve and maintain their health and wellness for as long as possible. Our staff members do everything they can to ensure each and every patient is receiving the best care possible. The results of our patients has been fantastic and we hope to see continued growth in not only Barbara, but all our other therapy patients, as well.” Learn more about Belle Reve and how their therapy services can help your loved one get back on their feet. For more information, please call 570-409-9191. For more than 10 years, Belle Reve has been providing seniors with the best Personal Care, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing services. Located at 404 East Harford Street, Milford, PA services are offered on an affordable month-to-month basis with no buy-in fees. We invite you to visit our community and see what makes Belle Reve a great place to live! For more information, please call 570-409-9191 or log onto www.bellerevesl.com.