Blaise Bookis loved the home he and his wife, Judith, shared, and he didn’t want to leave it. But Judith couldn’t do the stairs anymore, so changes needed to be made. “The only way I could get Dad to agree to downsize was to remind him that he was doing it for Mom,” said Mary Louise Bond, Blaise’s daughter. “While he may have initially moved there for her health issues, it turned out that he was the one who has progressed through the full spectrum of care available at Pomperaug Woods. Living here has truly been a blessing for him.”

Blaise and Judith moved into Independent Living in November 2018. “They really loved it here. It’s classy,” said Mary Louise. “As Mom’s heart condition progressed, Dad started showing signs of dementia. We had aids come into the apartment to help care for Mom and moved Dad into the Memory Care neighborhood in June 2022. That made it so easy for her to see him every day. Eventually, Mom’s health required a care team, so she moved into the Health Center in March 2023. The caregivers there were wonderful. Mom grew so close to them that she considered them part of our family. Dad’s health needs evolved so that he required more medical care, so he was moved to the Health Center in June 2023. My mom passed away a month later. While we were all focused on Mom, it was such a relief to know that Dad was being cared for properly. And now that Dad is on his own, I never have to worry about him. He is genuinely happy here and is receiving the best care possible.”

 

Courtney Hall, Director of Social Services & Admissions in the Health Center, knows Blaise and his family well. “We worked diligently to get to know Blaise and anticipate his needs,” said Courtney. “But he has improved so much since he first moved to the Health Center. Our whole approach to care is to treat him as we would a family member while applying the best medical practices for his condition. We love him. We want the best for him. And his family is our family. We work together, and Blaise is all the better for it.”

Mary Louise notes that her father’s big personality has mellowed over his 89-year life. “My parents were married for 63 years,” said Mary Louise. “I wasn’t sure how dad would adjust after Mom passed. The Care Team has been great in making sure Dad stays engaged. Dad used to love painting, but he doesn’t show an interest in that anymore, so they have him doing pottery now. It’s amazing. Music really speaks to him, so the Care Team also makes that a priority. The Care Team is brilliant at meeting each resident wherever they need to be met.”

Mary Louise and the rest of the family are grateful for the guidance they have received from Pomperaug Woods. “As the Executor and Health Agent for both my parents, Pomperaug Woods helped me get their affairs in order. They walked me through all of it. There is no way my parents would have done that on their own. Pomperaug Woods didn’t just relieve me of caregiving. They also guided me through the paperwork associated with managing an estate. Their support has been invaluable.”