Community ConnectionA Newsletter for the Family and Friends of the Masonic Care Community

2018 Quarter 4

Our Mission: To support, nurture, and educate those whose lives we touch by providing exceptional care and services with compassion and pride guided by the Masonic Principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, Truth, and Integrity.

The Masonic Care Community is home to many proud U.S. Veterans. On November 9th, we held our annual campus-wide Veterans Day program, where we saluted our resident and staff vets who have served in every conflict since WWII.

Photos and service resumes of our veterans were on display throughout the Veterans Day weekend.

This year, marking the 100th Anniversary of the end of WWI, we also looked at the MCC connection to the “Great War.” The Soldiers and Sailors Hospital Building became a reality thanks to a Masonic WWI Relief fund. The statue entitled “The Spirit of Masony” that stands in front of the Health Pavilion depicting a soldier and sailor, protected by masonry, and the statue of Lt. Orville Parker Johnson, who was killed in France in July of 1918, is a symbol of honor to all veterans.

MCC Veterans Day Celebration!

~ Caring for people since 1893 ~

Learn more about our services:

Independent Living Adult Residential Care Full-Time Skilled Nursing Care Respite, Palliative, & Alzheimer’s Care Short & Long-Term Rehabilitation Home Care Child Care

Trustees of the Masonic Hall & Home

G. Stephen Getman - President Keith Heinrich Christopher Hough Nathan Lipper G. Michael Morris Kurt Ott Joseph J. Saglimbene Michael J. SiegelDavid P. Spencer

Development Advisory Committee Ed BarroneAnthony Battaglia Christopher Bray, Esq. Iris Buczkowski Kirk EvansWilliam C. Gaetano Judith Gorman Joan Grande Hedy Ann Hage Keith Heinrich John J. Livingston, Esq. Christopher Powers, M.D. Eve VandeWal

Contact us at:Website: www.mccny.com

Email: info@mccny.com Phone: (315) 798-4800

Address: 2150 Bleecker Street Utica, NY 13501

A Message from Our Executive Director

Robert Raffle Executive Director

The Masonic Care Community is located on 440 acres of beautiful grounds on the eastern edge of Oneida County. This year, we celebrated our 125th year of caring for people.

This year, we welcomed a variety of groups to our campus. At this festive time of year, we extend the invitation to stop by and say hello. The holiday spirit is alive and well. There will be a variety of entertainment from dancers to music groups, and special programs. Visit our website for a complete list of upcoming programs.

We are looking forward to 2019, and the new and exciting expansions and oportunities coming to campus, as well as continuing on as a leading force in health care. On behalf of the residents, staff, and Board of Trustees, we wish you Happy Holidays!

“Follow” us on Instagram @masoniccarecommunityny

“Like” us on Facebook facebook.com/MasonicCareCommunity

On September 28th, Masonic Care Community’s Child Care Center held its annual “Kids and Senior Fashion Show!”

The kids from the program were able to walk the “runway” with a senior friend and show off their best outfits.

This event is a great representation of what MCC stands for, care throughout all stages of life.

It also gives the seniors involved a chance to release their inner child and enjoy the company of the kids from the Child Care Center!

Fashion and Fun at MCC!

MCC Resident Wish ListIf you would like to contribute to or purchase one or more of these items, please contact Victoria Cataldo, Director of Philanthropy, at 315-798-4703 or email cataldov@mccny.com, for more information on how to do so.

32 Whiteboards- $251 Rocker Glide for Rose Garden- $6,00020 Medium Lift Chairs- $7752 Bowling Tables- $5001 Jolly Trolly- Indoor Resident Transport- $10,0006 Steel Greenhouse Benches- $6753 Purple Marin Bird House- $225Welcome home bag for all residents- $2,500

MCC Awarded Additional Honors!The Masonic Care Community added to its list of honors this fall.

The Central New York Business Journal honored the Masonic Care Community as the Outstanding Health Care Facility at its annual banquet held in Syracuse in October.

Administrator Tamara Wheeler and Assistant Administrator Andrea Fox accepted the award, that recognized our 125 years of service.

Home Care AwardsNovember was National Home Healthcare month! Our Acacia Home Care Team was once again recognized as one of the top 500 Certified Home Care Agencies in the United States!

This means Acacia Home Care is an established agency that is leading in the country, we are in the top 5% of home care agencies in the U.S.

If you need home care services in Central New York, you need Acacia Home Care! Contact us at info@AcaciaHomeCare.org or (315) 266-0614.

The Oneida County Tourism recognized MCC for its 125th Anniversary.

This has been a wonderful year for the Masonic Care Community and we look forward to wonderful new projects that will make our campus even better for the people we serve.

Legion RidersOn October 28th, the Sons of the American Legion Post 1376 came to campus to honor our veterans.

They held a beautiful ceremony, and presented them with lap blankets that had the American Legion emblem on them.

Thank you to the Sons of the American Legion Post 1376 for your kindness and generosity!

Recognize a mcc Staff memberThe Triple E program at the Masonic Care Community recognizes the efforts of our outstanding staff. Nominations can be made by residents, family members, visitors and staff.

Nomination forms can be found in the kiosks throughout the campus, and a Triple E recipient is chosen each quarter.

At the end of the year, one of the Triple E winners is selected to be Employee of the Year. That announcement is made at the annual Employee Recognition Dinner.

If you would like to nominate an outstanding employee, pick up a nomination form or stop by Human Resources.

Resident and Staff Art ShowThere are wonderful artists among us at the Masonic Care Community. Thanks to the program that started 4 years ago by dedicated volunteer Elizabeth Herr, residents displayed their work during the last two weeks of November. Staff were also encouraged to join in the fun and show off their art talents.

The art show caps off a year of wonderful success for our MCC artists. Ten pieces were honored by Leading Age New York, selected from 291 submitted by 71 senior facilities across the state.

For several months, our MCC resident art pieces were traveling throughout New York State, showcasing the talent of our senior population.

The “Expressions Through Art” program meets twice a week in our atrium and has more than 30 of our seniors involved and engaged.

This program is funded through donations which help purchase canvas, paint and other supplies. This holiday season, you can give the gift of art to an MCC senior by donating to this program.

Contact our Director of Philanthropy, Victoria Cataldo, at cataldov@mccny.com or by calling her at 315 798 4703.

A Bright Future Ahead!In April, Masonic Care Community held a news conference with ground breaking announcements about an upcoming expansion and other developments on our campus.

We are excited about Grand Master William Sardone’s vision for a year round campus greenhouse.

Initial phases of the project have started, and the goal date for completion is April of 2020.

Acacia Village will be a direct recipient of the fresh greens, herbs, and other select items for a farm to table experience for our residents.

In addition to the greenhouse project, the Masonic Care Community Board of Trustees is committed to updating our existing Acaia Village Communty Center and expanding our independent living options.

They are currently proposing another connecting villa style apartment wing, cottages, and garden homes.

The Board has enlisted the help of Sawgrass Partners, a Senior Living consultant group, to complete a comprehensive market study and work with us on the various phases of the project.

There is not a timeline yet for the renovations or additional buildings; the project will need to be phased over the course of several years based on the

architectural plans, sound financial planning, and working with local entities throughout the project.

The Trustees along with key management members of the Masonic Care Community and Acacia Village have been working with SFCS, an architectural firm that specializes in Senior Living Communities.

SFCS has the proven engineering, planning, and interior design experience needed, and are working collaboratively with our team and a variety of consultants.

Soon, SFCS will be bringing their plans and pricing to the Board of Trustees to examine the financial feasibility of each piece moving forward.

We are excited about our future here and will post progress updates on our websites MCCNY.com and AcaciaVillageNY.org.

Talking About What MattersThe Conversation Project (www.theconversationproject.org) helps encourage people to talk about the final life wishes of our loved ones and ourselves. Without some guidance, having this conversation can be uncomfortable.

There is also some belief that talking about death will somehow encourage it. However, not talking about death and our beliefs and wishes around it, make it more likely that ourselves and our loved ones will not receive what is most important to us at the end of life.

The Supportive Care team at Masonic Care Community uses the model for conversations created in the Conversation project. Thinking about these questions can help when the time comes for a conversation with your family.

The Supportive Care team at Masonic Care Community encourages families to think about these kinds of questions well before a health crisis. Beginning the conversation can ensure we know as much as possible about the end of life wishes for our loved ones and ourselves.

As the Conversation Project motto states: “It’s always too soon until it’s too late.”

What matters to me at the end of life?

What do you want to know about your condition?

How involved do you want to be in planning your care?

How much do I want to know about my prognosis?

How long do you want to receive medical care?

What are your concerns about treatment?

What are your preferences about where you want to be?

How involved do you want your loved ones to be?

Who do you want to be with in this final journey?

How much information are you comfortable sharing with others?

Some questions to considerWhile having the conversation:

97%Of people say that talking

with their loved ones about end of life care is important.

27%Have actually done so.

Consider the Conversation

The first of our 2019 community forums will be held on Thursday, February 28th in the Health Pavilion Atrium with Dr. Olteanu.

We will be discussing end of life issues. We will show the documentary “Consider the Conversation” at 6pm, with a panel discussion involving a variety of health care representatives from the community to follow.

If you would like to watch the video at home, and then come at 7pm for

the panel discussion, you can find it at considertheconversation.org.

This program is free and open to the public.

We urge anyone who would like to learn more about a subject that affects us all but is rarely discussed.

When:Thursday, February 28thWhere:Health Pavillion AtriumWhat Time:Documentary screening at 6pmDiscussion at 7pmRSVP:contact Kathy Contino- Turner at 315 798

Gifts Made to Masonic Care Community In Memory and In Honor of Loved Ones

Robert C. Billsin memory of Myron L. Bills

Kim Conleyin memory of Victoria Schiller

Louise Daley in memory of Robert A. Daley

Louis D. Denato Sr in memory of Bro. David G. Eberley

Marcia Emmerich in memory of Victoria Schiller

Frederick Fibiger in memory of Mary L. Fibiger

Irene Fluty in memory of Florence Ostrowski

Christine C. Klauser in memory of Charlotte Coaphan

Allan Koehler in memory Of: Louis G. Koehler

Kay Krulin memory of Victoria Schiller

Gail Langdon in memory of Alan L. Langdon

Joan H. Neufang in memory of Helen Steele

Mary Lourdes Petrone in memory of Angela Mitchell

Dominick Pitrel in memory of Gaetana and Madeline

Angela Schultz in memory of Victoria Schiller

Christine Sweeny in memory of Virgina Bleecker

June Sweeny in memory of Victoria Schiller

Thomas and Sharon Wheatin memory of Marguerite Edmonds

Joseph Vespasiano in memory of Lawrence Bonanni

Jared Voos in memory of Victoria Schiller

Jean Schillerin memory of Victoria Schiller

Jean Whitford in memory of John E. Krauss

Tips For Visiting Loved OnesWith the holidays fast approaching, we know that many of our residents’ family members will be visiting our grounds.

For the health and safety of our residents, if you do not receive a flu shot for the 2018-2019 flu season, we encourage our visitors to wear a mask when entering our facilities.

If you feel a cold coming on, please wear a mask or wait to visit your resident until you’re feeling better.

If you are an employee or a volunteer, you are required to wear a mask.

If you did not receive a flu shot when the flu is declared prevalent

Giving Tuesday

We celebrated Giving Tuesday on November 27th.

Due to your generosity, MCC was able to raise over $2500 towards a variety of programs.

If you didnt get a chance to make a donation,head over to mccny.com/give!

by the New York State Health Department.

If you have questions about flu guidelines, you can call the Neighbohood Manager or Infection Prevention Nurse at the main desk.

Don’t forget about your furry friends! MCC is happy to allow visitors to bring well-mannered pets to visit residents.

Please review our pet policy and adhere to its guidelines on our website. Go to www.mccny.com and search “Visiting Pet Policy”.

A Newsletter for the Family and Friends of the Masonic Care Community

Community Connection

Save the DateFebruary 1st Wear Red for Women

February 20th Senior Walk for Heart at MCC

March 15th Ribbon Cutting for the new Rehabilitation addition

DID YOU KNOW?At MCC, “double rooms” are really semi-private rooms, meaning that each resident has their own private living space to decorate as they wish. Check out a semi-private room on our new viritual tour!

Visit: mccny.com/senior-care/long-term-care