GRAND OPENING ~ OPEN HOUSE at GREENFIELD TERRACE

by admin on May 10th, 2013

Join us in welcoming MEMORY CARE and ENHANCED ASSISTED LIVING to The GreenFields Continuing Care Community in Lanster.  

See for yourself why it’s . . . just like home.  

Our doors will be open from 2:00 pm – 7:00 p.m.
5979 Broadway - Lancaster, NY    (near Lancaster Country Club) 

Call 684-8400 for details.

Mary Lynn Martin named Director of Human Resources for NLHS

by admin on March 28th, 2013

Mary Lynn Martin has been named Director of Human Resources for the Niagara Lutheran Health System. As director she will be responsible for the human resource needs of the Health System’s nearly 800 employees on two campuses.

Martin has been with the organization for 22 years, 17 in the Human Resources Department where she has served as Recruiter and the organization’s Safety and Wellness Coordinator, among other duties.

Martin attended the University of New York at Buffalo and received her Professional Human Resources (PHR) designation through Cornell University in 2002.

GREENFIELD TERRACE IS OPEN

by admin on March 15th, 2013

The first week of February twelve residents moved into their new home and new way of life at GreenField Terrace, the newest addition to The GreenFields Continuing Care Community on Broadway in Lancaster, adding memory care and enhanced assisted living to the list of senior living services provided on campus.

Residents were warmly greeted by their Care Partners, staff, and family members who showed them around, set up their rooms, and introduced them to their new home. It was easy to see they were notably impressed with the ambience at GreenField Terrace, which is especially designed to be just like home, giving residents individual choices, helping them develop caring relationships, and providing nurturing support. When asked how everything was going, one woman exclaimed, “This is so nice! It’s like home.”

GreenField Terrace consists of four separate houses surrounding an inviting enclosed courtyard. In three of the houses, residents requiring memory care receive individualized attention 24 hours a day. In the fourth house, people whose needs fall between traditional assisted living and skilled nursing receive the enhanced assisted living care they need.

Life at GreenField Terrace includes three home-style meals each day, 24-hour assistance with daily living activities and medication management, housekeeping/laundry services, and scheduled medical transportation, along with social, cultural, educational, spiritual, and recreational programs. Twenty-four hour security and an emergency response system are also provided.

GreenField Terrace is part of The GreenFields Continuing Care Community where each resident has priority access to all the services provided on campus.

DEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTING FOR GREENFIELD TERRACE

by admin on February 11th, 2013

A Dedication Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting was held on January 12 for GreenField Terrace, the newest addition to The GreenFields Continuing Care Community in Lancaster, NY. Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a reception in the first house that will be occupied in early February.

GreenField Terrace consists of four separate houses surrounding an inviting enclosed courtyard. In three of the houses, residents requiring memory care receive individualized attention 24 hours a day. In the fourth house, people whose needs fall between traditional assisted living and skilled nursing receive the enhanced assisted living care they need.

Residents are able to decide what time they want to get up, when they want to eat, and what activities they want to do each day – just like home. In addition, everyone in the household works together to make decisions concerning the household, such as what the weekly menu should be or whether or not to have a pet become part of their household.

Staff at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center Create Holiday Memories

by admin on December 18th, 2012

For nearly 15 years, the staff members of the Greenfield Health & Rehabilitation Center, part of The Greenfields Continuing Care Community in Lancaster, have helped people in need.  Every year, staff members from each department help shop, wrap, and deliver gifts and supplies for people served through Child & Family Services of WNY.

It all started with one department adopting one or two families and, over the years has grown so that now nearly every staff member participates in some way. This has made it possible to make the holidays a happier time for more than a dozen families each year.

Initially there were bake sales, car washes and special lunches to raise funds for the people that staff calls “our families.”  Before long, basket raffles, an annual chicken barbeque, and “The Greenfields Cookbook,” which involved contributions from staff throughout the entire Greenfield Campus, were added.

 “The staff of The Greenfields is very dedicated to helping those in need,” says Darlene Crispell, Administrator of GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center.  “We are grateful that our small contribution benefits families in WNY.  What is really astounding is to see the incredibly positive impact this project has on each of us.”

Memory Care at The GreenFields

by admin on November 27th, 2012

Construction of GreenField Terrace, the latest compenent of The GreenFields Coninuing Care Community in Lancaster, New York, is on schedule to be completed and ready for residents to move in right after the new year.  

At GreenField Terrace, residents needing memory care will receive individualized attention 24 hours a day.  They’ll be able to decide what time they want to get up, when they want to eat, and what activities they want to pursue each day — just like home!  At GreenField Terrace, the focus is on the individual, not a schedule.

Applications are now being accepted for GreenField Terrace.  To learn more, call our Senior Living consultants at (716) 684-8400 or visit www.thegreenfields.org.

The GreenFields Holiday Bazaar is Nov. 17

by admin on November 5th, 2012

The GreenFields HOLIDAY BAZAAR is coming Soon!  This event, which began as a way to make holiday shopping easier for residents, has expanded and become a favorite place for people from all around Western New York to find unique gifts and items for themselves on The GreenFields Lancaster campus. 

There is also FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! in the form of horse-drawn wagon rides, face painting, treats and . . . SANTA, of course!

Saturday, November 17 
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The GreenFields Continuing Care Community
5949 Broadway, Lancaster, NY 14086

50 Vendors in two buildings PLUS fun or the whole family!

Click here to see our flyer

Click here to see a List of Vendors

Darlene Jones Crispell named Administrator – GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center

by admin on November 5th, 2012

Darlene Jones Crispell was recently named Administrator at GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center, an affiliate of the Niagara Lutheran Health System and part of The GreenFields Continuing Care Community in Lancaster.

Darlene has been a licensed nursing home administrator for the last 28 years.  During this time she served as administrator of record for 18 years at the Episcopal Residential Health Care Facility, a member of the Episcopal Church Home & Affiliates.  After leaving Episcopal, Crispell joined the Catholic Health System Continuing Care Division serving as administrator of record for the last 10 years at three of its long term care facilities:  Nazareth Nursing Home, St. Francis ofBuffaloand St. Francis of Williamsville.

As administrator of theGreenFieldHealth & RehabilitationCenter, Darlene will oversee all functions of the facility.

What to Look for in a Retirement Community

by admin on September 18th, 2012

There are many things to consider when looking for a retirement community for yourself or a loved one.  Although many places have similar features and services, there are also many differences. So, you may be saying, “What do I look for? What questions should I ask?”  Hopefully this information will help you with that.

In your initial contact with a community or facility, there are a few things that you should find out first to determine if it may be an option for you or your loved one and if you want to pursue it any further.  From other segments of the Senior Lifestyle Options Series, you should have been able to better determine the level of care you need to be looking for, so you will able to call places that offer that level.

In the initial phone call, you will want to know:
– What services do they offer?
– What type of setting is it?   . . . apartments, rooms, private, semi-private, private bathroom, shared bathroom?
– Are there any openings?  If not, and there is a waiting list, how long is the waiting list and what is involved in getting on the waiting list?
– How do you pay?   Are they private pay?  Are they subsidized?  Do they require an upfront entrance fee?  Is there an application fee or security deposit?  (another part of the Series covers financing senior care.)

Answers to these questions should give you some basic information to determine if it is a community or facility you should consider.

The next step would be to have  information sent to you so you can review it thoroughly. However;  if, due to timing you need to move the process along more quickly, it would be wise to schedule an appointment for a tour during this initial call.

Another option that you might consider, rather than calling, may be to spend a day driving around to different communities or facilities to pick up information and ask for a tour.   Although this is something you can certainly do, it is more prudent use of your time (and gas) to make a call first.

There are several reasons an initial phone call is suggested.
1) You might be spending time looking at places that aren’t the right fit for you or your loved one.
2) It may be that the financial structure is not affordable for you.
3) They may be full, with a waiting list, and you are looking for something right away.
4) Staff responsible for giving tours and providing you with the information necessary to make a decision may already be meeting with other interested seniors.

Keep in mind – this is a very big decision with many different factors to consider.  You want do your research and use your time wisely looking at the most appropriate options.

If you are having information sent to you, review the literature and, if it seems like it would be a good fit, make an appointment for a tour.  Plan on about an hour for the tour and to ask questions.  If you are looking for a loved one, it is probably best to look at several places yourself.  Then, narrow it down to two or three that you think would be the best options to take your loved one to see.

Before your visit, it is a good idea to prepare a list of questions to ask. The literature you’ve received should help you develop questions of your own, and the internet is also a good source for this.  We’ve provided a brief list below of key questions we would suggest:

–Is the community/facility for-profit or not-for-profit?
–Who provides the services offered?  Is it in-house staff or is it contracted out?
–In assisted living or skilled nursing, what is the staff-to-resident ratio?
–What services are included in the cost?  What other expenses would there be that are not included in the cost?
–Get specifics about provided services;  i.e.,  If transportation is provided – what distance is included, how many times can it be used?;  for meals -  what are the dining room hours, what type of meal plan is there? etc.
–Get a full explanation of the financial structure.  What are the fees?  What is refundable/non-refundable?  What type of increase can be expected each year?  What income and/or assets are needed to live there?  What happens if I or my loved one runs out of money?
–What type of activities are offered?
–What happens when more care is needed?

As you arrive for your appointment, look at the grounds and surrounding area.  Is it well-kept; is it safe?  As you enter, look at what type of security is provided . . . can you freely walk in or are the doors locked and you have to be let in by staff?   Observe how you are greeted by the staff and how the staff is interacting with each other and the residents who live there.

While you are waiting, if there are residents around, talk to them.  Find out how long they have lived there and how they like it.  You can learn a lot from them.  Once the staff member who is giving you the tour arrives, be sure to spend some time talking about what you or your loved ones’ needs are.  It is important that the staff knows what you are looking for and what is most important to you.

On the tour, what you observe is as important as the questions you ask.  Things to pay attention to and think about .  .  . Is it clean?  Is the staff friendly?  Are the residents happy? Is it bright and cheery?  Does the staff address the residents by name? etc.

Also, during your tour, pay attention to the type of information you are being given.  Is it the nuts and bolts or is it fluff?  Are they pointing out to you that the facility is very clean or the food is very good?  You will be able to observe if it is clean.  If you are able to have a meal during the tour, you will know if the food is good You can always ask a resident what they think of the food and you will most likely get an honest answer.  This is nice to know, and most people, of course, will choose a place that is clean and has good food.

What should be most important to you are the details of the care you or your loved one will receive and how well the staff will be able to meet your needs. Here are some things to consider:    When looking at a room or an apartment, look at the quality of construction and how sound-proof it is.  Look at room sizes.  Will it accommodate your furniture and belongings?  Look at the view, if that is something that is important to you.  Find out if the apartment or room is furnished or unfurnished, and if it is furnished, can you bring any of your own furniture.

Again, we remind you – during your tour  – talk to residents whenever the opportunity arises.  They will offer a much more realistic feel for the lifestyle offered there.

After the tour, be ready to walk away with lots of information.    As you review the information you received and the notes you made, don’t hesitate to call back if you have questions.  You want make sure you have everything you need to make the best decision.

One thing we’ve learned over the years, though, is that as important as all the details are, you often know which is the right place for you or your loved one the minute you walk through through the door — It just feels like home!

The GreenFields Continuing Care Community is located on 5949-5953 Broadway in Lancaster, offering independent living apartments at GreenField Manor and assisted living apartments at GreenField Court.  GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center provides skilled nursing care, inpatient rehabilitation services and outpatient therapy.

The newest addition to The GreenFields Continuing Care Community is GreenField Terrace, which is currently under construction and due to open in early 2013.  GreenField Terrace will offer enhanced assisted living and memory care in a house-hold style setting that focuses on person-centered care.

LEARN MORE

Click on the Senior Lifestyles Options button on our website at www.NiagaraLutheran.org or
Call The GreenFields at 684-8400.

September Open Houses at The GreenFields

by admin on September 6th, 2012

The GreenField Continuing Care Community is an affiliate of the Niagara Lutheran Health System