Check it out!

(Thank you Mr. Gross, for the idea, concept and direction)

http://njnursing.com/regency-faqs/

We will be implementing this on all of our websites.

Regency Nursing Centers has a well deserved reputation for being particular about perfection(like the rhyme? I thought of it myself).

One of the things we are sticklers for, is that all Regency Employees be tagged with their readily visible Regency badges identifying them by name and job description. This is for the benefit of the families and residents so that they know who is who and feel like there is always somebody available to help them.

We don’t want any “Where is Waldo” moments.

My Regency Badge: A badge of honor!

Speaking of “Where is Waldo,” I’m sure all of you folks remember this iconic figure conjured up by llustrator Martin Handford and published in his beloved series of Where’s Waldo books over 25 years ago. The books challenge readers to find the titular cartoon man, clad in his trusty red-striped shirt and red-striped hat, as he hides in a landscape of red-striped red herrings.

“Where’s Waldo?”

Well, would you believe that Ben Blatt writing for Slate magazine on November 18, figured out a whole complex system (replete with diagrams) to quickly find Waldo in any image! (I know what you’re thinking and I concur; Ben had far too much time on his hands!)

It’s actually pretty funny.

Check it out

Today, I introduced our new Administrator, Paula Burroughs, to Dr. Perkari!

We met with Dr Perkari in her Holmdel NJ office.

Take a look:

Left to Right: Dr. Perkari with Paula Burroughs

So we hosted a ‘Wine and Cheese’ party last night at Regency Park to introduce our new Administrator to our families.

Where I come from, I’ve got more of a personal affinity towards coffee and cake, but I guess wine and cheese is more Avant-garde so I was certainly game.

Turned out to be a beautiful and classy affair and I actually learned a few things too!

Did you know that a real wine aficionado never holds a glass of wine anywhere other than by the stem?

That’s right. Heaven forbid anyone to show their amateurish lack of sophistication by gripping a glass of wine like you would a cup of soda! You wouldn’t want to unduly influence the required temperature of the wine with the warmth of your fingers around the glass.

After all, the succulent aroma of the wine, coupled with the “hint of berries and birchwood (who the heck puts together these wood with wine references anyway; a lumberjack?!), along with the strong smooth finish” would be irrevocably altered by doing a dastardly thing such as this!

I learned the hard way last night.

In any event, now that I’ve become a true wine connoisseur, my life is much better! Lol!

Take a look at some pictures from last night’s event!

Left to right: Family member, Angel Salerno with our very own Lisa Merritt

Our very own Al Morris who ‘thinks’ he is a wine expert!

Happy family members!

Left to right: Regency Grande Administrator, Joe O, Judah G, Regency Park, Regency Park Housekeeping, David H. Regency Park Rehab Director, Jose C.

Regency Grande Administrator, Joe O, Regency Gardens Administrator, Mark B, Regency Park Administrator, Paula B

Left to right: ADON, Regency Park, Marylin S. DON, Regency Park, Beverly S., Nurse Mgr, Regency Park, Lisa M., MDS Coordinator, Regency Park, Marybeth H.

On behalf of our beloved Founder and President, we are excited to report the launch of a (second) BRAND NEW REGENCY BLOG to all of you faithful readers and followers!!

The new blog will be structured differently than our blog right here at http://www.njnursing.com.

For one thing, our new blog is hosted right on our corporate Regency Website!

Whereas on this blog we post compelling newsworthy items, but also engage in awesome, light and funny ‘Regency banter’, the new blog will be more of an informational venue and industry resource.

Of course, we invite you to continue following us in both places

Check out our new blog at www.RegencyNursing.com/blog

I extend a personal thank you to MDU and also to the awesome and brilliant Tzvi Gross, for his help.

Hey Tzvi, as a token of my appreciation, please allow everyone else to get a kick out of your picture below!!!

:-):-):-)

Tzvi Gross of our Administration!

In the wake of the recent devastating Typhoon Haiyan which slammed into the Philippines causing tragic death and devastation to lives and property, there has been an outpouring of global support for the victims and their families.

At Regency Nursing and Postacute Centers, where many of our wonderful caregivers and staff are originally from the Philippines (and still have family living there who were no doubt impacted by the tragic destruction), we acutely feel the pain and loss in the wake of this tragedy.

We are always at the forefront of supplying aid and comfort whenever, wherever and however it is needed.

We stepped up to the challenge during Hurricane Sandy and we are doing it again today.

As I write these lines, we are in the recreation room putting together massive boxes of essential food and clothing for shipping overseas to the survivors and their families!

This project and others like it, is done of our own initiative and with purity of heart. It is a great source of pride for our beloved President to see and oversee Regency’s involvement in every worthy cause and charitable endeavor!!

I’ll let the picture and text speak for me in this posting.

I just received this a few moments ago from a family member and it brought tears to my eyes.

First the pictures and then the text beneath it.

The inside of the card with photo of Albert

Face of the card

Here is the text inside of the card:

“3rd floor staff and Judah

The wonderful and compassionate care you gave my dad, Al S___, means so much more than words can ever say.

My Dad passed peacefully on Sunday night, 11/24/13. I will never forget the kindness and care he received from you and your staff.

With gratitude!

Sincerely,

Patti S.

You were great!”

Happy Holiday Everyone!!!

Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or both, there is so much to be thankful for!

At Regency Postacute Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers, we are thankful for so very much!

We are thankful for our wonderful residents and their families. We are thankful that they are thriving in our warm and caring environments. We are thankful that they will enjoy our superb slate of activities, concerts and festive meals today.

On a personal and professional level, I am thankful for so much.

I am thankful for my wonderful family, for our health and for the fantastic community we live in.

I’m thankful to you all for reading this blog, which has become a true source of industry information and Regency feedback in a relatively short period of time. Our traffic is increasing by leaps and more and more folks are engaging with us to our great delight!

I am thankful to our beloved Founder, Mr. Gross, who has created Nursing Centers which are the envy of the Healthcare industry. With impeccable integrity, inspiring leadership, grace and passionate compassion, he has fashioned an oasis of tranquility and senior care in every City lucky enough to have a Regency center in its midst.

Mr. David Gross; Founder and President

I cannot think of a better place to work, where “the caring literally comes to life, every single day!”

I am thankful to my colleagues in all of our facilities and to our admissions teams which I am a part of, for treating our residents as we would wish for our own loved ones to be treated.

I am thankful to Mr. Tzvi Gross and Mr. Al Morris of our administration for their exceptional talents and tactical support in all Regency facilities Statewide.

Tzvi Gross of our Administration!

Right to Left: Al Morris, Joshua Craven

I am thankful to the families of our residents who work with us in good faith and mutual collaboration everyday for the sake and wellbeing of our shared loved ones!

Finally, I am thankful to our hundreds of patients and residents who love us as we love them and make up the most precious component that is the very fabric of our Regency family!

Oh…..and if I could digress for just a second..

Did you know that today is a big day for running and races in general! There are a plethora of “Turkey Trots” and events across the country.

Eat the turkey, but don’t run like a turkey!!

I’m here in our admissions department today, so I wont be participating in any races (although I did run 5 miles solo this morning), but I did come up with our own version of the “Turkey Trot” in honor of the Holiday, which I’d like to label, “The Regency Trot!”

Here is my inaugural logo!

REGENCY NURSING CENTERS: AN OASIS IN EVERY COMMUNITY!

We are incredibly busy these days at Regency Nursing Centers with the many postacute rehabilitation patients who are coming to us in droves from the local hospitals.

Our dedicated staff works incredibly hard to ensure a smooth welcome and acclimation period for all of our incoming residents. There are a myriad number of things to address, like bed allocation, assigning doctors, making sure the patient is comfortable, etc.

I had to run an errand a bit earlier, so I stopped off at the local Dunkin Donuts to buy our staff some pastries as a small token of thanks for their unceasing and tireless efforts!!

THEY ARE ALL AWESOME AND INSPIRATIONAL!!

I’VE NEVER SEEN SUCH COMPASSION ANYWHERE ELSE!

Take a look:

I am on 3 west with Emerson on my left and Jay on my right! Two Regency superstars!

Dr. Tsai is in the building now to look after a new patient!

He’s a great doctor and a great friend of Regency, so I gave him one of our cute and fuzzy Regency Teddy Bears to brighten his office!

I told him he could give it to any of his patients to brighten their day!

Take a look:

Dr. Tsai with one of our Regency Teddy Bears!

This is part of what we do to express our appreciation to our awesome staff after achieving our consistent 5 star ratings of excellence on our yearly State Survey!

(Regency Park just achieved a deficiency free survey, but we are used to it, it was the same story last year!)

Staff Appreciation at Regency!

Regency Jewish Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 380 DeMott Lane, Somerset, celebrate the lighting of the menorah candles with residents, patients and family members, each year commemorating Hanukkah.  The distinctive event was held in the lobby of the facility with a special presentation offered by Cardiologist, Dr. Aaron Feingold.  Dr. Feingold houses his antique menorah collection at the facility for all to appreciate.  The collectible menorahs are displayed in a special glassed area directly in the lobby area at the facility for all that enter the building to observe and enjoy the extraordinary and historic collection.

Rabbi Reichman, one of the two Rabbis at the Center, is an integral part of the Regency family, and participated in the ceremony.  While Rabbi Reichman provides many services at the facility on a regular basis, he offers daily Mincha services in the synagogue at the facility, as well as lively discussions amongst the residents and patients, provides counsel to those who may need a kind ear, or just a hand to hold.

A wonderful array of food was offered at the ceremony, along with all the festivities.  Dr. Feingold is pictured giving his presentation regarding the menorahs and celebrates with the residents and patients.  Also pictured is Rabbi Reichman and resident, Moe Wineberg join together in lighting the menorah candle.

For further information about the facility, call 732-873-2000, or visit www.regencynursing.com.

Take a look at a few pictures:

Dr. Feingold

Rabbi Reichman helps a Regency Resident Light The Menorah!

Submitted for publication by Marie Barnes, Corporate Marketing Director.

The members of Faith Fellowship donate their time the second Sunday of each month to entertain our residents. This past Sunday Darlene and her group sang Christmas carols. Darlene’s nephew brought the audience to tears with his beautiful voice.

Take a look:

This morning I left the house early for a brisk 3 mile run. Lo and behold about a mile into the run it started to snow! Blessed snow! The first such storm of the winter! By the time I got home, I was coated and my glasses were rendered useless.

I was energized and pumped for another day at our splendid Regency Nursing Homes!

The snow really has a way of bringing out the Holiday spirit!

Our very own Frank D. of Regency Park in Hazlet certainly agrees!

Here he is knee deep in the joyous task of applying the finishing touches to the 2 west dayroom tree.

He looks enthused and so are we!

Frank D. looks pretty happy about the tree on 2 west!

You know, last winter I posted a blog and picture of Regency Park during the first snow of the winter.

That was right here.

Well, here we are in the thick of the first storm of this winter and I’ve got an identical photo for you!

Take a look:

Snow at Regency!!

I am so very proud to inform you all that Regency feels a special connection to the recent Hanukkah celebration at the White House!!

At the White House’s recent annual Hanukkah celebration – attended by more than 400 people – officials used a Hanukkah Menorah from the collection of our esteemed Cardiologist, Dr. Aaron Feingold, who is credentialed at our Regency Jewish Heritage Postacute Center in Somerset, NJ!

Dr. Feingold is a dear friend of Regency Nursing Centers and actually houses a portion of his magnificent Menorah collection in a dedicated Museum located in the lobby of our facility and visible to all who wish to enjoy it!

President Obama noted “[America is] a place where no matter who you are you can always celebrate your faith. And that same spirit is reflected in the menorah that we’re about to light. It was designed by Manfred Anson who was born in Germany in 1922. And as a child he lived through the horrors of Kristallnacht, and later lost a brother to the Holocaust. But Manfred escaped…he sought a place where he could live his life and practice his religion free from fear. So for Manfred and millions like him, that place was ultimately America. And Manfred passed away last year, but during his life he designed this special menorah, with a model of the Statue of Liberty at the base of each candle…a reminder that our country endures as a beacon of hope and of freedom wherever you come from, whatever your faith.”

Anson created this Hanukkah menorah in 1986 in honor of his adopted home. The Statues of Liberties that top this ritual object are each marked with important dates in Jewish history from the Exodus from Egypt to the founding of Israel. The statuettes were case from a souvenir that Anson, an avid collector of Americana, had acquired.

To see the lighting of the Anson Hanukkah menorah and the ceremony, please view this film.

This Hanukkah menorah was donated by Dr. Aaron Feingold in honor of Zara Feingold and Rachel Feingold and can be found in the Museum’s permanent exhibition again on Dec 20.

And now some photos!

THE PRESIDENT HELPING OUT WITH THE CANDLE LIGHTING

THE INVITATION

OUR DEAR FRIEMD, DR. FEINGOLD

HISTORY OF THE MENORAH USED IN THE CEREMONY

THE BEAUTIFUL MENORAH AFTER THE LIGHTING!

PRESIDENT AND FAMILY LOOKING ON…

Keyport’s First Baptist Church arranged for a group of carolers to come to Regency Park to sing Christmas carols for our residents. To our surprise 30 singers showed up!
Our awesome Recreation Staff escorted them througout the facility where they conducted traditional carols and received applause and, surprisingly, reactions from
residents who seldom react! Thank you, First Baptist Church!!

Here are a few additional photos of our great Regency Holiday Party 2013!

The ‘crew’ Left to right: Susan Foster, Marybeth Hynes, Beverly Sevellino, Lisa Meritt, Marilyn Soriano, Maribel Restrepo

Happy Monday!

With the snow and inclement weather over the weekend, I was forced to run a total of 20 miles on my treadmill at home. The treadmill is reserved for the really cold days of winter otherwise I try to stay away from it as much as possible.

Running on a treadmill is probably a tad more enjoyable than watching paint dry. The monotony and repetition is enough to make you crazy.

chasing our tails on the treadmill

I well remember as a child, having a friend who kept a pet mouse in his bedroom. He lived in a large aquarium that contained the usual mouse furnishings. The highlight for the mouse was a running wheel—the mouse version of a treadmill. When I’d visit my friend, I’d often see the mouse running round and round the wheel in what seemed like blissful joy.

I used to wonder why he did it. Did he really think he was getting somewhere? I doubted it. He’d run for a short while, stick his head out of the wheel and look around, then go back to work. He never got anywhere, but it never seemed to bother him. He just kept running and running.

Incredibly, he never once complained. If he felt any boredom while he logged his miles, he kept it to himself. Why can’t we humans be more like mice, running happily in place? Why do we get so bored running on treadmills?

I think the answer is that we spend so much time ignoring ourselves nowadays that we require constant (external) distractions. This is why we are busy texting rather than interacting with the people sitting right there next to us. Whether at the dinner table or at the office, we are living vicariously through our smartphones.

Many of us no longer realize that there is a lot going on inside us and right across from us with our potential for personal enrichment and the social interaction we can experience with those who we love and care for. This interior and exterior world is a natural antidote to the boredom we experience on the treadmill. But it requires us to plug into ourselves and others to reap the benefits.

The beauty of my job (at least one of the amazing aspects of it) is that where I work at Regency Nursing Centers, we are always “plugged in.”

We are not plugged in to our smartphones, but to the people and residents who surround us and who we care for.

You won’t find staff at our facilities involved with their smartphones during business hours. They are not texting or talking on their cellphones, oblivious to everything around them. This is one of the first things we are in-serviced on; cellphones go away and our residents are front and center.

Dear readers,

You might think that what I’m talking about here is a small nuance and “no big deal.”

In actuality, it is a VERY big deal.

Don’t kid yourself, as I’ve visited at least several nursing homes and rehab centers and observed staff members on shift yapping and texting on their smartphones while their flummoxed residents sat just yards away waiting for help.

Engaging with our smartphones is natural for us and doesn’t require pro-active intent. We do this all day when we are NOT at work and it is perfectly ok. Therefore, in the workplace, this type of stuff needs to be curtailed through a committed and concerted effort.

Regency Nursing Centers makes this effort – and with success.

Not everyone does, so the next time you visit one of our competitors, tell the nurse to put the phone down.

Dr. Kucuk sponsored a holiday party for the Regency Gardens Staff. He got them 30 FEET of Hero Sub Sandwiches. Attached are pics of the party including Chris Segro and Vilma Aspril, ADON at Gardens, setting up.

Dr. Kucuk is a fantastic Medical Director and we deeply appreciate our close affiliation with him and thank him for his hospitality.

His practice is located at www.wayneprimarycare.com

You’re never too old to be enthused about Santa and our seniors are no different!! The parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church once again had their Giving Tree as they do every year. Each resident’s name is sent to them and they pick a name and shop shop shop!!! Our own Santa (aka Jerico Carreon) and his elf (aka Richie Canete) delivered a gift to each resident. The response was wonderful to see! Smiles and even a few tears as one resident said, “I’m 95 years old and Santa found me!!!” Thank you, Holy Family and your Giving Tree angels!!!

Thank you Denise!

Angela D

Carmen R

Charlotte M

Elizabeth L

Italia M