Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) Building Bridges Across Age and Cognitive Barriers through Art The Cedars has completed its ninth year of collaboration with Opening Minds Through Art. Opening Minds Through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art making program for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. It is designed to help build a society that values all people without regard to age or cognitive status. This art program promotes social engagement which provides creative self-expression opportunities. OMA also provides staff with opportunities to build close relationships with people with dementia. The Cedars has several OMA trained facilitators on staff to help support our residents. For more information about the OMA program...
Posted in our blog on by Eugene& filed under Atrium, Households.
Portland, Maine is nationally renowned for its restaurants, bakeries, and breweries. Chefs at The Cedars take full advantage of the region’s seasonal ingredients and fun foodie culture. When you read about our diverse and delicious dining options, you’ll want to reserve your table today! When you hear the phrase “retirement home food,” do you imagine unappealing cafeteria-style cooking? Think again! The Cedars campus is located in the heart of Portland, Maine, voted “Restaurant City of the Year” by Bon Appetit and topping national lists of foodie destinations everywhere. Our residents have come to expect a very high standard in fine dining, and we always deliver. The Cedars offers a wide range of dining options across our community, from casual, European-style café cuisine to traditional New England lobster bakes to picnic-style barbecues to formal, multi course meals. Every meal offers so many choices—healthy indulgences, exciting new cuisines, comfort-food favorites—and our...
Our construction continues through the winter months and we are on the last elevation of the brick façade. Completing flooring, painting, and finishes on the first floor, and final touches being completed by all trades on the second and third floors this month. The high ceilings, large windows, spacious apartments, and gathering spaces will be comfortable and cozy. We cannot wait to welcome our new residents to the Memory Care Assisted Living and Long-term, Skilled Nursing Care Households. For more information, contact June O’Neill, Household Representative at...
We’ve all heard that physical activity and exercise are good for us. In fact, being physically active on a regular basis is one of the best things older adults can do for themselves. According to the National Institute of Health, even moderate exercise can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that accompany aging. Being strong and fit can allow us to continue doing the things we enjoy as we age. Making exercise a regular part of our lives helps improve our health and maintain our independence as we age. At The Atrium, independent living at The Cedars, our residents can attest to that. Our Wellness Coordinator develops customized wellness plans based on each person’s goals and abilities. After just one year of exercise, our residents have experienced significant gains. Here are some of their gains: 38% more upper body strength 63% more lower...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
Independent retirement living provides convenience and ease within a welcoming community that offers amenities and services to support your daily lifestyle and preferences. There are many aspects to independent living that can help eliminate the challenges of maintaining a home and inspire a new chapter of adventures and friendships in your life. When talking with residents at The Atrium at The Cedars, here are some of features that have brought them peace of mind since making their move. Socialization when you want it. The beauty of an independent living community is that you can choose to be as busy or as social as you like! While the offerings of activities, lectures, wellness programs and social engagements are plentiful, there is the opportunity to have restful and quiet moments in the privacy of your own home. The convenience of visiting friends and neighbors without the hassle of inclement weather and...
Sitting down for a delicious meal is something we all look forward to, both to nourish our bodies as well as to gather with friends and families. At The Osher Inn Assisted Living, our residents look forward to joining in our dining room that is elegant yet intimate and feels just like home in our small community of 30 apartments. For lunch or dinner, we often have family members join their loved ones to catch up on busy lives. Breakfast time is an opportunity for our residents to plan their days and visit with friends over a lingering cup of coffee. Our Dining Director, John Roy, prides himself on planning his menus around seasonality and variety. “Living in Maine gives us access to the best seafood, produce, and meats,” he explains. “And we don’t want even our most popular dishes to feel repetitive. In every way, we try to...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
When starting the search for a senior community for either yourself or your parent or loved one, first impressions are key to finding the best fit. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your initial visits. 1. Do you like the community’s location and outward appearance? Is the community convenient to restaurants, shops, symphony, theater, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies? Does it connect you to opportunities beyond the campus that allow for enjoyment of a larger community? Are the grounds and building well maintained, with plenty of gardens and walking trails? 2. Are you welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff? And does the staff address residents by their names, interacting with them during the tour? Is it easy to connect with both the residents and the staff? You want to make sure that the staff not only provides excellent services, but also gets involved with the residents and...
Are you anticipating a short-term, inpatient rehabilitation stay in the near future? If so, The Cedars Rehabilitation Team would like to provide you with some insight into the experience. As patients enter the rehabilitation process, we recognize that they are not feeling as “whole” as they had been; they’re suffering a loss of health and may be uncertain about putting trust into the rehabilitation team. This key team consists of physical, occupational and speech therapists, nursing staff, dietician, physician and care coordinators who are all there to assess your needs and arrange a treatment plan with you. The medical staff largely focuses your medical issues – the reason you were admitted to the hospital. While the therapists concentrate on helping you get back to “doing.” Sometimes returning to your prior level of activity comes in phases where you need to learn compensatory strategies during an interim period. For instance,...
Posted in our blog on by Tracy& filed under Featured.
Tips from Kathryn Callnan, The Cedars President and CEO, on active, healthy, rewarding aging. Drawing from her life experience as a nurse and as the leader of the largest not-for-profit senior living community in northern New England, Kathy offers her best advice on preparing for and making the most of your later years: Plan on living to the age of 100. Find the best providers for healthcare, rehabilitation, long-term care and assisted living. Decide where you would like to receive care in the event you are hospitalized. Don’t assume that you’ll always be able to live at home. Determine if you will be happier and better cared for at home with services or by moving to a community. Then do your research, tour communities and get on a waiting list. Talk with your children and let them know what you want before something happens. Do you want to live near...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Atrium, Featured.
As I get to know the many, wonderful members at The Atrium at The Cedars in my role as Marketing Representative, I frequently find myself surprised by what I hear. Members often explain their reasons for choosing our retirement community: proximity to downtown Portland, sense of security from our continuum of care, or relief from the burden of home ownership. Once they arrive, although they may have expected the warm welcome from our community, they are often amazed to find themselves developing new friendships. Real, true friendships with peers who share their stories, provide fellowship and offer support. It seems that this facet of their lives, this idea of relishing the company of friends, was a book already read and returned to the shelf. Once our members at have an opportunity to live without the worries and difficulties that come with aging, the possibilities of living a fuller life...
Portland, Maine is nationally renowned for its restaurants, bakeries, and breweries. Chefs at The Cedars take full advantage of the region’s seasonal ingredients and fun foodie culture. When you read about our diverse and delicious dining options, you’ll want to reserve your table today! When you hear the phrase “retirement home food,” do you imagine unappealing cafeteria-style cooking? Think again! The Cedars campus is located in the heart of Portland, Maine, voted “Restaurant City of the Year” by Bon Appetit and topping national lists of foodie destinations everywhere. Our residents have come to expect a very high standard in fine dining, and we always deliver. The Cedars offers a wide range of dining options across our community, from casual, European-style café cuisine to traditional New England lobster bakes to picnic-style barbecues to formal, multi course meals. Every meal offers so many choices—healthy indulgences, exciting new cuisines, comfort-food favorites—and our...
Our construction continues through the winter months and we are on the last elevation of the brick façade. Completing flooring, painting, and finishes on the first floor, and final touches being completed by all trades on the second and third floors this month. The high ceilings, large windows, spacious apartments, and gathering spaces will be comfortable and cozy. We cannot wait to welcome our new residents to the Memory Care Assisted Living and Long-term, Skilled Nursing Care Households. For more information, contact June O’Neill, Household Representative at...
We’ve all heard that physical activity and exercise are good for us. In fact, being physically active on a regular basis is one of the best things older adults can do for themselves. According to the National Institute of Health, even moderate exercise can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that accompany aging. Being strong and fit can allow us to continue doing the things we enjoy as we age. Making exercise a regular part of our lives helps improve our health and maintain our independence as we age. At The Atrium, independent living at The Cedars, our residents can attest to that. Our Wellness Coordinator develops customized wellness plans based on each person’s goals and abilities. After just one year of exercise, our residents have experienced significant gains. Here are some of their gains: 38% more upper body strength 63% more lower...
Independent retirement living provides convenience and ease within a welcoming community that offers amenities and services to support your daily lifestyle and preferences. There are many aspects to independent living that can help eliminate the challenges of maintaining a home and inspire a new chapter of adventures and friendships in your life. When talking with residents at The Atrium at The Cedars, here are some of features that have brought them peace of mind since making their move. Socialization when you want it. The beauty of an independent living community is that you can choose to be as busy or as social as you like! While the offerings of activities, lectures, wellness programs and social engagements are plentiful, there is the opportunity to have restful and quiet moments in the privacy of your own home. The convenience of visiting friends and neighbors without the hassle of inclement weather and...
Sitting down for a delicious meal is something we all look forward to, both to nourish our bodies as well as to gather with friends and families. At The Osher Inn Assisted Living, our residents look forward to joining in our dining room that is elegant yet intimate and feels just like home in our small community of 30 apartments. For lunch or dinner, we often have family members join their loved ones to catch up on busy lives. Breakfast time is an opportunity for our residents to plan their days and visit with friends over a lingering cup of coffee. Our Dining Director, John Roy, prides himself on planning his menus around seasonality and variety. “Living in Maine gives us access to the best seafood, produce, and meats,” he explains. “And we don’t want even our most popular dishes to feel repetitive. In every way, we try to...
When starting the search for a senior community for either yourself or your parent or loved one, first impressions are key to finding the best fit. Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your initial visits. 1. Do you like the community’s location and outward appearance? Is the community convenient to restaurants, shops, symphony, theater, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies? Does it connect you to opportunities beyond the campus that allow for enjoyment of a larger community? Are the grounds and building well maintained, with plenty of gardens and walking trails? 2. Are you welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff? And does the staff address residents by their names, interacting with them during the tour? Is it easy to connect with both the residents and the staff? You want to make sure that the staff not only provides excellent services, but also gets involved with the residents and...
Are you anticipating a short-term, inpatient rehabilitation stay in the near future? If so, The Cedars Rehabilitation Team would like to provide you with some insight into the experience. As patients enter the rehabilitation process, we recognize that they are not feeling as “whole” as they had been; they’re suffering a loss of health and may be uncertain about putting trust into the rehabilitation team. This key team consists of physical, occupational and speech therapists, nursing staff, dietician, physician and care coordinators who are all there to assess your needs and arrange a treatment plan with you. The medical staff largely focuses your medical issues – the reason you were admitted to the hospital. While the therapists concentrate on helping you get back to “doing.” Sometimes returning to your prior level of activity comes in phases where you need to learn compensatory strategies during an interim period. For instance,...
Tips from Kathryn Callnan, The Cedars President and CEO, on active, healthy, rewarding aging. Drawing from her life experience as a nurse and as the leader of the largest not-for-profit senior living community in northern New England, Kathy offers her best advice on preparing for and making the most of your later years: Plan on living to the age of 100. Find the best providers for healthcare, rehabilitation, long-term care and assisted living. Decide where you would like to receive care in the event you are hospitalized. Don’t assume that you’ll always be able to live at home. Determine if you will be happier and better cared for at home with services or by moving to a community. Then do your research, tour communities and get on a waiting list. Talk with your children and let them know what you want before something happens. Do you want to live near...
As I get to know the many, wonderful members at The Atrium at The Cedars in my role as Marketing Representative, I frequently find myself surprised by what I hear. Members often explain their reasons for choosing our retirement community: proximity to downtown Portland, sense of security from our continuum of care, or relief from the burden of home ownership. Once they arrive, although they may have expected the warm welcome from our community, they are often amazed to find themselves developing new friendships. Real, true friendships with peers who share their stories, provide fellowship and offer support. It seems that this facet of their lives, this idea of relishing the company of friends, was a book already read and returned to the shelf. Once our members at have an opportunity to live without the worries and difficulties that come with aging, the possibilities of living a fuller life...