Terrace Communities Online A Private Eldercare Web Community

Are we in Ireland?  You might think so with all the decorations and festivities.  Wheelock Terrace's Activity Director, Debbie Paronto, began our Irish revelry last Friday the 12^th with the making and baking of shamrock cookies in our Country Kitchen. On Saturday the residents, with great care and expertise, frosted all of the shamrocks green and wrapped them up for the coming celebration. Also on Saturday Deb turned Wheelock Terrace into a green clover wonderland, a status we would be able to enjoy all week long.

On Monday, the day dawned rainy and gray, reminiscent of the native climate ..

Crafts are an important part of many residents everyday lives at Valley Terrace Assisted Living.  Many residents create beautiful crocheted and knitted doilies, scarves, hats etc. While others are use to working with their hands to paint or make things with clay.  We are blessed that we have the Tip Top Pottery Shop in White River Junction, Vermont that brings pottery to us for individual painted creations. Residents joined together to paint rabbits, chickens, easter plates and coffee cups as well as eggs for their grandchildren or their own use.  Laughter filled the room as the masterpieces emerged from a ..

Moving from one's home is always a major event in your life, and to move in with 40 other people can be scarry. So, at Valley Terrace Assisted Living we give all of our new residents a Welcoming Tea Social so they can meet the other residents under a casual atmosphere.  Such was the case for our latest residents, Mr. Jerry Hickson and wife Hazel. We welcomed them with a tea social that everyone came to and they exchanged stories about their work, families and travels. It is a small world and some of the residents had been to the same ..

On  behalf of the Assisted Living Federation of America and its Board of Directors, congratulations to Terrace Communities!
 
Your company is an ALFA 2010 Best of the Best Award winner. As you know, this prestigious program recognizes the very best practices that serve to “raise the bar” for operational excellence. By sharing your success and receiving national recognition for your efforts, your company contributes to excellence in service to our nation’s seniors and to all other senior living companies whose mission is to deliver high-quality, resident-centered care.
 
You have or will hear from an ALFA reporter ..

Terrace Communities has been pioneering the use of social media in the senior living industry since Terrace Communities Online (TCO) launched as an online dementia care community in September of 2008. TCO has evolved into a full-fledged online assisted living community since then, and this month, Provider Magazine featured an article on the cover about how senior living companies are beginning to adopt social media as a business tool. Looks like Terrace was way ahead of the curve on this one! You can download the full article below or read it in our discussion forum here and comment on it. Way ..

Local talent abounds out of Hartford, Vermont with the "Valley Chords" singing group. The residents at Valley Terrace were so pleased to be entertained at an evening event by 15 very talented ladies. The Valley Chords are part of the International Sweet Adelines and they are directed by Laura Fraser.  They offer so much talent in one room and come to visit us twice a year, once for Christmas cheer and once again around Valentine's Day.  They will compete at the National Barber Shop Competition in Springfield, Mass. in May, 2010 and we wish them the best of luck.

Music lightens up everyone's life and brings smiles to faces, and the concert presented by the Williams College Acappella group, "G.Q.,"  did just that.  This very talented group of 17 young men and women directed by Alex Creighton donated their time and talents to Valley Terrace for an afternoon of enjoyment.  Alex is Grandson to one of our residents and his wife, Arthur & Sandra Silverang. We thank the "G.Q." group for spending time entertaining us and visiting afterwards as our reception.

Children and holidays go hand in hand and they always make the holidays more fun.  We are truly blessed at Valley Terrace to have the Willow School on the same property, this gives us the opportunity each week to share time and lessons with the children, ages 3 to 11.  Valentines Day was also a perfect time to have a party and share music and love with them. The residents filled the room with hand made Valentine cards for each of the children.

In early February at Scarborough Terrace a group of artistic, fun-loving residents spent time with Activity Director Doris McKeen decorating 3 foot-wide masks. Glitter, feathers and paint were applied and dried....Mardi Gras was almost here!

On February 16th residents gathered in the Country Kitchen. These wonderful masks were attached to walkers, held up by residents and joyfully marched throughout the hallways and living areas as the King and Queen were chosen. We had a parade!

The group wound their way to the Fireside Lounge for great entertainment and festive foods. Between residents and staff Mardi Gras spread joyful cheer all month ..

Valley Terrace encourages their assisted living residents to continue developing and sharing their talents. One resident that shares her talents with us is Ann Burgess through poetry. Recently she wrote a poem for the staff on Valentines Day.

TO STAFF WITH LOVE ON VALENTINE'S DAY

To Administrators, Nurses, Caregivers and Food Staff

You console when we're sad and laugh when we laugh;

You are the ones who keep us all going

When we believe we are fading and slowing!

You're why Valley Terrace Assisted Living

Includes a large measure of loving and giving;

So on Valentine's Day, ..