When moving to a new community, making relationships and connections can seem daunting. For Brightview Randolph newcomers, residents Ann Alieto and Lucille Knapp are ready to give you a welcome tour and invite you to dinner.
Ann and Lucille are both members of Brightview Randolph’s Resident Ambassador program. Every Brightview Senior Living community uses Resident Ambassadors to help new neighbors transition to their new homes. The ambassadors give newcomers a tour of the building and eat dinner with them for a few nights.
“We take them through the building and show them the beauty salon, the gym, the mailroom,” Ann said. “We show them all the things that are important for any resident to know.”
Both ladies know just how important it is to welcome residents during their transition. Ann was living in California when she and her doctors decided it would be better for her to move closer to family.
“When I moved in, I was a bucket of tears,” Ann said. “It was difficult at first for me to adjust to the community. I thought, good God! They dropped me off in an old age home. I no longer feel that way. It’s a very active, caring community.”
Lucille, who admits she makes it her business to know everyone, was more proactive when she first moved to Brightview Randolph. “I was by myself and went to happy hour and asked if I could sit down with a group of ladies,” she said.
Reflecting on their own experiences, Ann and Lucille wanted to add more to the standard ambassador procedures. “We decided to take residents to breakfast to introduce them to more people,” Lucille said. They also invite their residents to join them for happy hour. Lucille also makes sure to add a few veteran tips, such as knowing what to expect during a fire drill.
After working together to make the ambassador program successful, Ann and Lucille are best friends. The pair first met at happy hour and started eating dinner and attending movies together more frequently. They attend mass together and participate in most of the community’s other programming. As Lucille put it, “we do everything together.”
In their community, both ladies enjoy the vibrant programming and events available to residents. “I do practically everything,” Lucille said. “I believe in being busy. I’m 89, and I believe in being active.”
They also love the compassionate and friendly associates. “The staff makes it great – from dining to maintenance to the events,” Ann said. “They make this community what it is, and with our help, we will keep it going.”
Another important feature of Brightview communities is the open feedback between residents and associates. Ann encourages all residents to attend the resident council, dining committee, and programming committee meetings. “Every resident is welcome, and the staff wants to hear your opinions,” Ann said.
Although our communities are still following some coronavirus safety protocols, new residents are moving in, and Ann and Lucille are there to welcome them. “We still take them to breakfast in the morning and introduce them to people,” Lucille said. “We still have dinner together.”
For seniors preparing to make the move to a Brightview community, Ann recommends to “take a deep breath and hold on. Stay connected with your family and give us a chance.”
“Just hang in there,” Lucille agreed. “Try to do as much as you can; don’t stay in your room all the time, and you’ll get acclimated.”
Overall, both ladies are thrilled to have met each other in this fulfilling new chapter of their lives at Brightview.
“It’s a great place – we’re like one big, happy family, even the staff,” Lucille said.
“If I lived by myself, as I had before, I would not have these opportunities,” Ann added. “I cannot think of a better place to live at this time in my life.”
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
