As a team member recently commented, "Our residents love a party" and so we oblige! During October's final week, we hosted Halloween parties while baking pumpkin pies, celebrated October birthdays with eerie music and Halloween-themed cakes, donned ghoulish and zany outfits for our costume contests, and caroused at our annual Spooktacular Halloween extravaganza! Spirits at Noble are high after all the festivities and we hope that you, too, indulged in some spooky fun! Don't miss the pictures.
Over 125 people registered for last week's Getting Your Affairs in Order presentation by Salisbury Bank's Kim Downey and former probate judge Charlie Vail. Their program earned rave reviews; if you missed it, please click to get your affairs in order!
If you'd like help enrolling in Medicare Part D, a few private enrollment sessions are still available on November 4. Because plans change year-to-year, Medicare advises an annual review. Please email or call Caroline (860-435-9851, ext. 190). Please stay well and stay in touch!
Support as You Age
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the ever-evolving needs that accompany aging? Whether it's navigating Medicare and its Byzantine billing processes, maintaining or downsizing a home, finding the best care for yourself, a spouse or loved one, organizing legal affairs and health directives, managing family communication, or coordinating physicians, the demands are significant.
On November 11 at 7 pm join Art Mulligan who will explain how a senior advocate can ease the strain and help older adults and their families understand and access services, resources, and benefits to ensure successful later-life transitions.
Gratitude Goes Both Ways
Administrator Bill Pond presided over a spirited Employee Recognition party last week, enlivened not only by the fabulous costumes on display but by the profound gratitude he expressed for the team's remarkable achievement of keeping Noble residents Covid-free throughout the pandemic. "You have been working under the daily stresses of the pandemic for 20 months. You have kept our residents COVID-free. I’ve been in this business since 1985 and have never been more proud of a team of professionals. You are all truly heroes! Thank you."
The party then took an unexpected turn. Autumn Cockcroft, Noble's Director of Nursing, took the mic from Bill and as the room grew quiet, Autumn spoke of a different kind of gratitude. On behalf of Noble team members, she conveyed appreciation for Bill's steady support throughout the prolonged pandemic, acknowledging the many ways he encourages and expresses thanks to the staff as well as his creative and thoughtful management of the pandemic's difficult challenges. As the room filled with applause, she presented Bill with the award pictured above.
Don't Miss This Exhibit
On October 23, the Salisbury Association opened an exhibit entitled, In Her Own Words, featuring 19 contemporary Salisbury women selected from the Association's oral history archive. Immediately upon entering, one comes face-to-face with a photograph of Eileen Mulligan, Noble Horizons' administrator for 43 years. As Noble is on the threshold of its 50th year, the honor is particularly timely and underscores how much has been accomplished during its first half-century.
In her oral history, Eileen recalls that Noble's founders gave the architect of the project "free rein to design something totally different than standard nursing homes and communities for the elderly. Together they created what is now known as the village concept for continuing care." When Eileen arrived in 1975, staff members numbered "between 8 and 12. We had a kitchen and that’s where most of the employees worked. We had an aide on duty 24 hours a day. We had a housekeeper, someone who answered the phone, and a maintenance person; so outside of the kitchen there were probably 5 employees."
We will be telling much more of Noble's rich history over the course of 2022 and hope that you will please add to the story by sharing memories or photos. Those wishing to view the exhibit will enjoy the added treat of meeting two Noble residents, Sandy Gomez and Jean Gallup.
