Construction of our secured Memory Care residential wing is underway with an anticipated opening of mid-February 2021. We will offer sixteen studio apartments with dedicated recreational and care staff providing on-site activities and dining.
Life Care Services Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction
It’s a Proud Time to Live at Pomperaug Woods
Our management company, Life Care Services®, An LCS® Company, ranked highest in customer satisfaction with independent living senior living communities two years in a row — and we have you to thank for it. This award demonstrates that residents and their families are receiving the care and service they absolutely deserve.
The award for Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Independent Living Senior Living Communities encompasses six individual resident-experience factors. We’re excited to say that, not only did Life Care Services win the overall category, but it also ranked highest within each of the six factors:
- Resident activities
- Community staff
- Price paid for services received
- Resident apartment/living unit
- Community building and grounds
- Dining
“Life Care Services is privileged to serve nearly 40,000 seniors across the nation. We are honored to be ranked highest in customer satisfaction with independent senior living communities for two years in a row by J.D. Power,” says Joel Nelson, president and CEO of LCS, the parent company of Life Care Services. “This award represents the voice of our residents and is a testament to our commitment to serve the customer first and foremost.
Nelson notes this year’s award is especially meaningful given the unique circumstances of the pandemic. “I’d like to recognize the heroic efforts of our community staff who serve residents each and every day. Their diligence and perseverance provides residents with the best senior living experience possible,” says Nelson.
Life Care Services ranked highest in independent living resident overall satisfaction with a score of 855 in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study. The study is based on responses from 4,992 residents, or their decision-maker, living in an independent, assisted-living or memory care community within the previous three years.
What Does This Mean for our Residents?
We are deeply grateful to know that our hard work is valued, and we at Pomperaug Woods want to assure residents, family, friends and staff that we will continue to improve, evolve and innovate to provide the newest offerings to meet the needs of current and future residents.
If you’d like to know more about the way we enrich the lives of our residents, send us a message on our contact page.
Life Care Services received the highest score among independent senior living communities in the J.D. Power 2019-2020 U.S. Senior Living Satisfaction Study of resident/family member/friend’s satisfaction with senior living communities. Visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.
COVID-19 Update
As the nation continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic challenges, Pomperaug Woods remains vigilant to prioritizing the health and well-being of our residents and team members.
With the support of our management company, Life Care Services, we have expanded our infection and disease prevention protocols based upon the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention guidance for long-term care communities. This includes enhanced cleaning protocols, screening and restrictions for visitors and new residents, social distancing practices and increased training for team members.
And through it all, we have focused on providing the experiences for which Life Care Services communities are known. We remain dedicated to serving our seniors, first and foremost.
We appreciate each other’s company.
It’s hard to be apart from friends and family, but technology has given us opportunities to turn treasured life’s moments into virtual experiences. At Pomperaug Woods we have turned the preferred resident activities into virtual or socially distanced events, providing the opportunity for meaningful daily connections.
We encourage physical and mental wellness.
Staying active – both physically and mentally – is essential to emotional well-being. We stream exercise classes to help our residents stay active and connected and challenge our residents with various brain teaser activities.
Rest assured, at Pomperaug Woods, Experience is Everything. We remain inspired by the many ways our community team ensures the connectivity of our residents and the security that comes with quality care.
Community Reopening Update:
Pomperaug Woods will continue its partnership with Life Care Services as well as local, state and federal government agencies to prioritize the safety of our residents. We welcome the opportunity to provide virtual visits to those wanting to connect with a loved one or to learn more about life at our community. Our ability to support in-person visits will depend upon current state and local guidance.
Opening up Our Community
Federal and state governments are releasing plans to reopen the economy to essential business. While this is an encouraging sign to our country’s response to COVID-19, please know this process will be taken thoughtfully at Pomperaug Woods. We will implement a three-phased approach when reopening our community. Decisions for each phase will be based on state and regional criteria, advice from public health officials, and the health status of our community.
We are all looking forward to the day when we can resume our lives as a community and gather with our friends, yet the health and safety of our residents and employees must remain our highest priority. From the beginning, we have taken on this challenge as a marathon rather than a sprint. There are no short cuts or easy answers to how we reduce our risk to COVID-19 and it’s as important as ever that we continue to remain focused on protecting ourselves and supporting each other.
In the upcoming weeks, and until further notice, Pomperaug Woods will continue to follow the heightened precautionary measures currently in place. These practices include following social distancing protocol and restricting non-essential visitors. We understand the risks posed to our community from COVID-19 and remain committed to our processes. We’ll only begin to shift our protocols after we know our community is no longer at risk, and with careful consideration of the guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and local and state health departments. As the situation develops, and we make changes to our protocols, residents, employees and families will be notified first —but to reiterate, we will not be modifying our precautionary measures at this time.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and for embodying that hopeful spirit that Pomperaug Woods is known for as we continue to navigate this process together. For more information about COVID-19 and our response to COVID-19, go to https://www.lcsnet.com/covid-19-update/.
COVID-19 Update
After careful consideration for the health and safety of residents, employees, and family members, our community amended its visitor policy on Monday, March 16, and is restricting visitors from entering our community.
Please bookmark the LCS website for future updates and information regarding our community COVID-19 response and prevention measures already implemented, such as:
· Educating all staff and residents in social distancing guidelines
· Increasing the frequency and rigor of cleaning and disinfecting common community areas
· Implementing temporary visitor restrictions, including deliveries
· Canceling on-site large group social events and recreational activities
· Reviewing and executing our emergency preparedness and response program
· Asking residents and employees to reschedule travel plans and remain in our community
· Deploying an updated visitor advisory for communities and to campus
· Coordinating best practices across the broad, LCS partner network
· Making the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 prevention resources and recommendations available to all employees
All future updates regarding the COVID-19 response, including visitor policies, social distancing guidelines, and prevention recommendations, can be found here. LCS has also opened a national hotline for information. Call 855-998-4934. For local information about our community, please use 203-262-6555.
COVID-19 Update
Hello Pomperaug Woods community,
The health and safety of residents living in our community is our top priority, and we are closely monitoring the ongoing situation regarding the coronavirus (COVD-19). We understand that COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind, and we want to be communicative and transparent in the steps Pomperaug Woods is taking to prepare our community during this unprecedented event. Our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for possible scenarios related to COVID-19.
We’ve developed a series of precautionary steps that our community is implementing to help reduce everyone’s risk of COVID-19. Additionally, you can access updates at the following website.
Our community is:
- Continuing to follow the guidance from both the CDC and local health authorities
- Increasing the frequency and rigor of cleaning and sanitizing common community areas
- Encouraging a temporary reduction in visitation and deliveries
- Reducing on-site group social events and recreational activities
- Reviewing our emergency preparedness and response program
- Asking residents to communicate any travel plans
- Coordinating best practices and across our large partner network
- Making the CDC’s COVID-19 prevention resources and recommendations available to all residents
According to the CDC, many of our residents are at a higher risk for serious illness, and we’re providing all residents and their families with the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC and local health officials on the steps they can take to reduce the risk of COVID-19.
We are strongly encouraging all our residents to follow the CDC’s guidelines for individuals at higher risk, which includes:
- Avoiding crowds and large social gatherings
- Regularly cleaning and disinfecting personal spaces
- Avoiding touching your face
- Regularly washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Stay in your residence if you are showing flu-like symptoms or are sick with respiratory illness, including fever, and coughing
These are simple yet important steps that we should all be taking to protect ourselves and our community.
Our teams are staying in communication with local health officials and will share regular updates on COVID-19. For more the most up to date information and personal health recommendations, please visit the websites below:
Updates from LCS: https://www.lcsnet.com/covid-19-update/
COVID-19 Prevention Recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html
COVID-19 Symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
What To Do If You Think You Are Sick: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
Coronavirus Precautions
Coronavirus Update – 3/9/2020
The health, safety and well-being of our residents, employees and families are always top priorities at our community. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the news and on the minds of many, we want to address actions taking place related to this concern.
Some of the actions we are addressing include:
- Consistent updates and communication to those who live and work at the community
- Evidence-based precautions that align with guidelines provided by the CDC
- Reviewing emergency preparedness and response measures in the event that a virus impacts our community or the surrounding area
- Changes to our travel and visitation guidelines for all employees, partners and guests
We are closely monitoring local, state, and federal health agencies to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively to protect our community and mitigate risks of an outbreak.
We will continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to preserve the health and safety of our community.
If you have questions or concerns, or need more information, please contact Kevin Moshier, Executive Director, at [email protected] or 203-262-6555.
Helpful Resources:
Centers for Disease Control
Life Care Services Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction in J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Senior Living Study
It’s a Proud Time to Live at Pomperaug Woods
Our management company, Life Care Services®, An LCS® Company, was ranked highest in Customer Satisfaction among Senior Living Communities in the J.D. Power study. This award demonstrates that residents and their families are receiving the care and service they absolutely deserve.
The award for Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Senior Living Communities encompasses seven individual resident-experience factors. We’re excited to say that, not only did Life Care Services win the overall category, but it also ranked highest within each of the seven factors:
- Resident Services and Activities
- Community Staff
- Food and Beverage
- New Resident Orientation
- Resident Cost
- Community and Grounds
- Resident Apartment Unit
“Our company is committed to providing the resources for communities to deliver an exceptional resident experience driven by innovation, signature programs and quality services. The J.D. Power award represents the voice of the senior living customer, and I can’t think of a more important voice than that of the residents we serve,” says Joel Nelson, LCS president and CEO.
At Pomperaug Woods, we strive to bring the Life Care Services resident-first mentality into our everyday actions. In its unbiased comprehensive study, J.D. Power surveyed 3,021 residents, family members and friends of residents living in communities across the United States. Life Care services scored a full 49 index points above the next highest-performing senior living organization. We are grateful and humbled to receive this honor, especially since it comes from the people we work so hard to serve each day.
What Does This Mean for our Residents?
We are deeply grateful to know that our hard work is valued, and we at Pomperaug Woods want to assure residents, family, friends and staff that we will continue to improve, evolve and innovate to provide the newest offerings to meet the needs of current and future residents.
If you’d like to know more about the way we enrich the lives of our residents, send us a message on our contact page. You can read more about Life Care Services or the award from J.D. Power when you visit the LCS website.
*Life Care Services received the highest score in the J.D. Power 2019 Senior Living Satisfaction Study of resident/family member/friend’s satisfaction with senior living communities. Visit jdpower.com/awards.
A Vision of Excellence: Pomperaug Woods Celebrates 30 Years
It was a sunny day in May 30 years ago when the first residents walked through the doors of Pomperaug Woods to begin enjoying their new lifestyle. They could smell the fresh paint, and see the finest finishings in their new apartments and throughout the common areas. It was a community all looked forward to calling home. Since that time, Pomperaug Woods has become a wonderful community that offers reassurance and security through the LifeCare® option for hundreds of residents.
“Pomperaug Woods is home to intelligent, positive, creative people who define the art of living,” said Kevin Moshier, executive director of Pomperaug Woods. “Since we opened our doors, our community has improved the lives of seniors and their families.”
Pomperaug Woods was the vision of its “founding mother,” Dr. Elizabeth Avery Wilson. Dr. Wilson had extensive background in establishing higher education institutes that offered health education programs. She served on several national organizations, including the American Medication Association.
In 1979, she presented the idea of a senior living community in Southbury to the Life Care Services® development team. She sought approvals for 30 skilled nursing beds located on 22 acres of pristine land in New Haven County. The vision became a reality nine years later during a dedication ceremony on October 16, 1988. Dr. Wilson was recognized for her work to better the lives of Connecticut seniors.
“Dr. Wilson was an advocate for senior living,” said Moshier. “She saw the importance of staying physically and intellectually active as you age.”
Pomperaug Woods and Southbury have seen many changes in the 30 years since the development was first envisioned. Connecticut, along with the rest of the country, has undergone a historic transformation with the aging Baby Boomer population. The state is currently the seventh oldest in the country, in terms of percentage of adults age 65 or older.
“There’s a tremendous need for engaging senior living options in the area because of this growing population,” said Moshier. “Older adults are yearning for a location where they can grow, and that’s what we offer to every resident. We believe there’s a need to educate the older population about senior living options and planning ahead for the future.”
According to the latest U.S. Census reports, nearly 5,300 people or 27% of the Southbury population, is 65 or older. That’s triple the percentage of older adults living in neighboring New Haven and double that of nearby Waterbury. By the year 2020, census reports project 40% of Southbury’s population will be over the age of 65.
These growing numbers of seniors are looking for quality living options with amenities and wellness services.
The community attributes its success to embracing the art of living, the experience of its staff, its financial stability, and its position as Southbury’s only not-for-profit LifeCare® community. The campus provides a variety of amenities and maintenance-free lifestyle options ideal for today’s active seniors. Residents enjoy sharing experiences that bring purpose and joy to the life they live.
Recent studies show when a person becomes part of an independent living retirement community like Pomperaug Woods, they’re more likely to make new friends and try new things, and most report a better experience than they expected.
Pomperaug Woods has a local commitment that started 30 years ago with a vision. The community plans to continue its unwavering commitment to resident satisfaction for the next 30 years and beyond.
Pomperaug Woods Honored with Great Place to Work Distinction
Pomperaug Woods earned certification as a great workplace this spring by independent analysts at Great Place to Work®. The distinction is based on extensive ratings provided by Pomperaug Woods’ employees in anonymous surveys.
“It’s truly rewarding to make the 2018 national list as a Great Place to Work,” says Kevin Moshier, executive director of Pomperaug Woods. “Creating an engaging culture for our team members is very important to us, as well as for the residents we serve.”
“According to our study, 91 percent of Pomperaug Woods employees say it’s a great workplace,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of Great Place to Work Certification & List Production.
The institute is known internationally as an authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools and certification programs, Great Place to Work provides benchmarks, framework and expertise to recognize outstanding workplace cultures. The institute also produces Fortune magazine’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” and a series of Best Workplaces lists.
Pomperaug Woods employees completed 120 surveys, resulting in a 90 percent confidence level and a margin of error less than 4 percent.
Survey results from Pomperaug Woods employees that scored in the top tier include:
- I’m proud to tell others I work at the community.
- People celebrate special events around here.
- I feel good about the ways we contribute.
- The community’s physical features contribute to a good working environment.
- Management is honest and ethical in its business practices.
Specific programs recognized at Pomperaug Woods include Shoot for the Stars, where employees are nominated and receive monetary awards for going over and above normal job duties. Perks also include longevity bonuses, employee appreciation events, recognition on special occasions, and an employee highlight each month in the community’s newsletter. On a quarterly basis, Pomperaug Woods’ Hospitality Hero recognizes an employee nominated by peers for demonstrating exceptional hospitality qualities.
“To succeed in the marketplace, we must first succeed in the workplace,” says Moshier. “Engaged and satisfied team members are key factors for our success over the past 30 years.
A great workplace drives the customer experience, and in our case that’s helping seniors live an enjoyable lifestyle and delivering high-quality health and wellness services.”
For additional details on the Great Place to Work survey results, visit this link.
To learn about opportunities to join the Pomperaug Woods team, visit our Careers page.
