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
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.
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.
Ballet Revives Love For Dancing at Pomperaug Woods
Seniors Discovering New Ways to Stay Active
When 24-year-old Cassie Haley joined the staff at Pomperaug Woods senior living community in Southbury, she knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of the residents. In the three years since joining Pomperaug Woods as the administrator of the Health Center, she’s met hundreds of residents. She’s also made many other connections as the ballet instructor at the community, a passion she’s had since she was a child.
“Through my studies, I know the difference dance can make in the lives of residents in terms of physical health, as well as those experiencing dementia,” said Haley, who’s a classically trained ballerina. “Ballet is a total mind and body workout.”
Every month, Cassie demonstrates the ballet positions to groups of residents, ready to learn new skills and enhance old ones. Cassie instructs two different ballet classes – a standing and sitting – with classical music.
Recent studies show clear mental and physical health benefits of playing music and dancing for seniors, including those suffering from dementia. Resident Debby Cornwell has been taking the class since it started. She says she’s benefited from the exercise and it brings back memories from her childhood.
“I enjoy moving to the music,” said Debby. “Dancing has always come easy to me. It brings back memories of when I learned to dance with my father when I was a child.”
While Debby has been taking dance lessons most of her life, other residents are beginning to learn the different ballet positions.
“That’s what so great about this class,” Haley said. “Everyone can be at a different skill level, but get a good workout. Ballet works not only your arms and legs, but also your mind.”
The class is so unique to the area that the Connecticut Post published an article about the popular Pomperaug Woods activity. The ballet classes offered at the community are just one of the many activities and amenities provided at Pomperaug Woods. Debby says this ballet class and the different wellness activities, along with LifeCare®, helped her make the decision to move into the community.
“I looked at several senior living communities around the area,” Debby said. “Pomperaug Woods was a great fit for me. I wish I would have done this sooner.”
Cassie Haley leads a ballet class for Pomperaug Woods residents Joseph Longo, 79, and Debby Cornwell, 78.
Photo: Carol Kaliff, News-Times.
10th Anniversary of Pomperaug Woods Art Show Celebrates Impact Across the State
What started as a simple idea to showcase artwork of adults age 70+ and encourage artistic endeavors by seniors has become an annual staple across the state. Over its 10 years as Connecticut’s only senior juried art show, “The Art of Experience” at Pomperaug Woods has seen more than 500 seniors from 100+ towns submit more than 2,200 pieces of artwork.
“It’s more than tripled in size from the first year,” says Lisa Huebenthal, director of community life services at Pomperaug Woods senior living community. “It’s extraordinary and heartwarming to see how far it’s come, and level of prestige it has reached, from the entries all the way to the judges we have.”
More than 120 seniors from 45 towns submitted 229 pieces of artwork in the four categories for this year’s show: painting, drawing, photography and sculpture. Judging takes place in late August, then the exhibit open to the public from September 22-24 at Pomperaug Woods. Award-winning pieces will then be displayed at the Mattatuck Museum from October 8 – November 19.
Judges at the “The Art of Experience” 2017 include notable artists Zufar Bikbov, David Merrill, Michele Murelli and John Rohlfing.
Zufar Bikbov was born in Russia and his interest in painting came early in life. Influenced by his father, Bikbov excelled at plein air painting and landscapes. After graduating cum laude from Zelenodolsk Art School, he decided to support his love of painting and answer his calling to help people by pursuing a medical career. After earning his degree in medicine and moving to the United States, Bikbov has continued his artwork in national level competitions, winning numerous awards. Recent honors include the Founders’ Award / Best in Show at the 2017 Spring Juried Show at Kent Art Association in Kent, CT; Irvine Museum Award at the 2017 Laguna Plein Air Invitational XVIII in Laguna Beach, CA; and the Atlanta History Center Insiders Plein Air Award at Atlanta-Olmsted Plein Air 2017, in Atlanta, GA.
David Merrill was born and raised in rural Connecticut, and received his art training at the Famous Artist School in Westport, CT, and Western Connecticut State College in Danbury, CT. His paintings are inspired by his love for New England, the rapidly changing scenery and preserving links with the past. Merrill’s mural work is featured in town halls, libraries, museums, schools, historical societies and private residences, including the home of celebrity Robert Redford. Numerous awards include The Medal of Merit, Arthur Hooten Memorial Award, 7 Best in Shows, 8 First Prizes, and 5 Audience Choice Awards in exhibitions throughout New England.
Michele Murelli, a Torrington native, showed her affinity for art at an early age. Earning a B.A. in psychology from Albertus Magnus College, she went on to earn a M.A. in expressive art therapy from Lesley College in Cambridge, MA. She balances her time as an art therapist and certified teacher for the Wellspring Foundation, while working as an oil painter and mixed media artist. Her paintings express her passion for the countryside of her native Litchfield County, the Cape and travels abroad. Murelli’s mixed media reflect stories from her nine years teaching art to at-risk youth. In 2011, she received the Golden Apple Award for Teaching from the Connecticut Association of Special Education Facilities.
John Rohlfing is an art professor at Post University in Waterbury, CT, and an award-winning artist. His ceramic vessels have shown and won awards nationally and internationally, including competitions in Korea and Japan. His work has been on exhibit at dozens of notable galleries across the United States. Rohlfing’s ceramics use hand-building methods and explore the idea of the container as a metaphor. His vessels and painting express an interest in landscape, organic abstraction, Cubism and Constructivism.
“The judges are tremendous artists and have a keen eye for creative and beautiful artwork,” says Huebenthal. “It’s an honor to have them at our competition.”
Among various activities offered to residents at Pomperaug Woods, art-related classes and events are a significant part of the culture. “All the art, performing arts and engaging activities at our community are a big draw for older adults in the area to move here,” says Tara Justus, marketing director at the senior living community. “And the health benefits of art for older adults are extraordinary.”
A 2015 study from the Mayo Clinic on older adults’ involvement in social, physical and intellectual activities found that older adults involved in artistic activity had the greatest protective effect against cognitive impairment later in life.
From health benefits to the pure beauty of the artwork itself, the 10th Annual Senior Juried Art Show is sure to draw a crowd. Pomperaug Woods looks forward to seeing you and who will take home this year’s Tommie Davis Award for Best in Show.
Following a VIP reception and opening on September 22, the public exhibit will take place September 23 and 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Pomperaug Woods.
Click here to learn more about the activities and lifestyle at Pomperaug Woods.