Legacy residents and their  families enjoyed a special Spaghetti Luncheon. Legacy Program Manager Cheryl Darisse was thrilled with the event. “The residents had a fabulous time planning for the event, setting up the room, decorating and sharing the special afternoon with their families!” Cheryl created this photo album to share the joy of the afternoon.

Woodbridge is pleased to bring “Connecting with Art” to our residents. Lynne Nieman, Director of Resident Life at Woodbridge, states this program quickly became a favorite of the residents. “I was really happy to have Margie join our programming. She has a passion for painting.  As a child growing up in N.Y. she nurtured this passion by taking classes at the Art Students League and the Museum of Modern Art .”

Margie has an undergraduate degree in painting from Boston University and has a graduate degree in Art Therapy from N.Y. University. She has worked primarily in program management for elder service organizations and also oversees the life drawing sessions for the Marblehead Arts Association.  A few years ago, she became interested in an art-based outreach program developed by the Museum of Modern Art. This program is specifically for seniors both with and without dementia.  She adapted this program, which she calls “Connecting with Art”.” Through this art she engages residents in conversation, from Monet to Picasso.

For more information on our resident life programs please contact Lynne at 1-978-854-1870.

Learn why there has never been a better time to make a move to Woodbridge Assisted Living at its Open House at 240 Lynnfield Street in Peabody on Sunday, December 4  from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy a tour of the vibrant community where seniors sustain a high quality of life in a socially-oriented assisted living setting. Explore the myriad options to obtain medical care while enjoying independence and activities. Enjoy refreshments including gourmet muffins and a dessert bar. RSVP recommended. Call Marta Sturm at 978-532-4411 or e-mail Marta at MSturm@avivliving.org for more information or to arrange a private tour.

Aviv Centers for Living is celebrating 66 years of excellence in senior care on the North Shore and operates the Jewish Rehabilitation Center and Shapiro-Rudolph Adult Day Center in Swampscott, Woodbridge Assisted Living in Peabody, Aviv HomeCare and has recently launched Geriatric Care Management. For more information, visit www.avivliving.org

Aviv Centers for Living will offer a Caregivers Support Group at Woodbridge Assisted Living at 240 Lynnfield Street in Peabody the first Thursday of every month from 6:45-7:45 p.m. beginning, Thursday, December 1.

The group will unite caregivers to share challenges and success stories and will be facilitated by Janice Glick, LICSW. Join others in a compassionate environment while exploring creative problem solving techniques. For more information, contact Glick at 781-598-5310 x. 1561 or e-mail her at jglick@avivliving.org.

Pictured left to right are: Yuki Morinobu, Miki Nakamura, Ryo Sasaki, Martin Chen, Jane Niu, Jiyeun Nam, Sunmi Choi, Dianne Sweet (instructor), Yerim Kuon (Amy), Erika Macedo and Dan Kim.

Students from Salem State University’s English as a Second Language program visit seniors at Woodbridge Assisted Living each Monday. The students hone their English speaking skills as they give presentations about their native countries. “Our residents look forward to their weekly visits from the Salem State University students. They enjoy learning about different cultures and being part of the student’s learning experience,” says Lynne Nieman, Director of Resident Life.

“Combating Social Bullying in Senior Housing and Assisted Living” is the topic of a CEU program at Woodbirdge Assisted Living at 240 Lynnfield Street in Peabody on November 2 from 4-6 p.m. Participants can learn how staff and residents can identify and work with the issue of social bullying – the causes, the repercussions, and the remedies. Marsha Frankel, LICSW, Clinical Director of Senior Services at  Jewish Family & Children’s Service, will facilitate the program. Frankel has become an expert on this  issue in her work as a consultant to senior housing with a focus on creating more caring  communities. She was interviewed on this topic by the New York Times “New Old Age blog” and Ageless Radio. Her interview on the New Old Age blog received more than 100 comments, a testament to the timeliness of the issue.  The course will 1.5 CEUs for Social Workers.

The program, sponsored by Aviv Centers for Living and Jewish Family & Children’s Services, is free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Katy Ahern-Tavares at ktavares@avivliving.org or 978-532-4411 x1804.