Your First Month in Our Residence

By Paula McGrath, The Heather Heights Group, Inc.

Moving from one’s own private home to an Adult Residence can be difficult and confusing. At The Heather Heights Group Assisted Living Residences, we do everything possible to make this transition smooth and enjoyable. The first few months at our residence are the beginning of a new adventure in life, in which you can make new friends, take up new hobbies, participate in community projects, and just relax and allow yourself to be pampered.

Our goal is to make the first day in your new home a special one. We present you with a welcome gift and then give you a tour of the building. On the way we introduce you, our newest family member, to the other residents and staff. We invite your family to stay for lunch or dinner and encourage you and your family to bring in anything that will make your new home special. Our Maintenance Director is available to hang any family pictures or shelves in your room wherever you would like.

You will meet with our highly-qualified nursing staff, who will give you medications and make sure that your daily needs are taken care of. Our dietary team will discuss any special nutritional requirements that you might have. We are sure that you will enjoy having your home cleaned and your laundry done for you by our courteous housekeeping staff. We take pride in our well-trained and genuinely caring staff.

On your second day you will meet your “buddy”, a fellow resident who will introduce you to your table mates at lunch and dinner, show you where all the activities are held, and answer any questions you might have. Your buddy will help show you around for the next week and, who knows? You might stay buddies forever. Quite a few strong friendships have formed through the buddy system.

Our Recreation Director will take special care during your first week to inform you of our many social programs. She will meet with you to discuss your interests and make sure that we have activities that suit you.

During your first month you will be invited to our Welcome Tea. All residents are encouraged to join in on this social occasion to get to know all of our newest family members. It is a fun filled afternoon and a great way to form new friendships.

By the end of your second month, you will find yourself chatting over lunch with your new friends, and attending the many activities and parties we have. You may even join our Entertainment Committee and take part in choosing our entertainers. We are very interested in receiving your feedback and input on recreational programs and are always looking for new activities and suggestions from our residents.

Each month we have a Resident Council Meeting. These gatherings are very informative and everyone is encouraged to attend. The management team is present to address any concerns, suggestions, or new ideas. We also announce our Resident of the Month as well as our Co-Worker of the month. The Resident of the Month receives a certificate for dinner for four in our gracious private dining room. All of our co-workers and residents vote on these special people who go above and beyond the call of duty.

We will also encourage you to invite your family for a glass of lemonade on our front porch, an ice cream in our old-fashioned parlor, or to attend one of our many parties. This is your time. We want you to relax and enjoy it.

By the end of your first month you will be completely at home. We hope that you will feel safe, happy, and well-cared for as we strive to make a difference in your life. We may even ask you to become a buddy for our new family members. Every day is truly a great day in our residences. Welcome.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact us: news@hamistergroup.com .

The Heather Heights Group of Assisted Living Residences provides the very best in luxury senior housing and elder care. We have a professional and caring nursing staff, available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Our residents enjoy a community-like atmosphere, meals prepared by our award-winning chef, an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor where residents can socialize and meet with loved ones, and a full-service beauty shop.

We offer Assisted Living and Short Term Elder Care. Orchard Heights and Heather Heights currently provide Memory Care, and Brompton Heights is expected to commence Memory Care with the completion of its $10 million renovation.

We offer a wide variety of recreation activities, such as group excursions, live music and dancing, computer classes, garden club meetings, sports parties, and visits by therapy dogs.

Our Web Sites:

Orchard Heights Assisted Living Residence in Orchard Park, NY

Brompton Heights Assisted Living Residence in Williamsville, NY

Heather Heights Assisted Living Residence in Pittsford, NY