We are very pleased and honored to announce that Southgate at Shrewsbury has been awarded the 2015 Central Massachusetts Better Business Bureau Torch Award. What are the BBB Torch Awards? Well, the mission of the BBB is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence. In this spirit, the BBB conducts an annual awards program to gain public recognition for businesses and organizations that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business practices in an ethical fashion. The Torch Awards are designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the willingness and efforts made by businesses to ensure that our marketplace remains fair and honorable. We here at Southgate are so appreciative of this recognition, and feel fortunate to be able to provide this level of excellence to our clients, our employees, and our community.
About Southgate at Shrewsbury
East Building Parking Lot Renovation
At Southgate, we take pride in our beautiful park-like grounds. Every detail is painstakingly maintained to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of our residents. We’re proud to announce the complete renovation of our East Building Parking Lot. The replacement of the parking lot was part of Southgate’s ongoing efforts to maintain the upkeep of our community. Whenever possible, it is important to us to take extra measures to be environmentally friendly, and with this in mind, the existing lot was pulverized, reclaimed, and reused for the construction of the new “base” layers on which the new parking lot was laid. The safety of our residents is our number one concern. Just another reason why “living well” has been the definition of life here at Southgate since 1989.
Click below to view pictures of the process!
[EasyGallery key=’2′]8 Reasons Why Many Seniors Prefer Senior Living Communities To Living Alone
1. The end of yard work and home maintenance
Keeping up a home is hard, especially for those of us who have developed physical ailments. Mowing the lawn, climbing a ladder to change light bulbs, shoveling snow, pulling weeds, vacuuming- these become things of the past. You can enjoy the beautiful New England seasons without having to rake a leaf or pick up a shovel. At Southgate at Shrewsbury, our dedicated staff is here to ensure those worries are a thing of the past. But don’t worry green thumbs: residents are more than welcome to adopt a garden.
2. Vanquishing boredom
Residents need never be bored at a senior community. There’s something for everyone. All kinds of entertainment and activities are offered, both on-site and out in the local community. Entertainment can range from visiting musicians and performers, to day trips that might include local landmarks, forays into nature, or just an outing to the local art museum. Southgate offers countless amenities to allow you to pursue your hobbies and explore new interests, including a health club and spa, indoor swimming pool, candlepin bowling alley, woodworking shop, arts and crafts studio, billiard and card rooms, fireplaced library, and much, much more!
3. Better family relationships
Older folks frequently become dependent on their grown children, or other close family members, for help of all kinds. Unnatural role reversals can strain relationships and foster unhealthy feelings of resentment, both by parents and their sons and daughters. Younger family members are liberated from the role of full-time caregivers, and are able to assure that time with their older loved one is meaningful and high-quality. Older residents are glad to return to the role of family matriarch or patriarch and often pleased that their grown children no longer have to “parent the parent”.
4. Better food
There are many residents at senior communities who used to live alone, and were not eating right. Some skipped meals, some were living on ice-cream alone, and one lady would put cat-litter in the coffee brewer. At Southgate, residents don’t have to worry about grocery shopping, meal preparation, or even coffee brewing, if they don’t want to. In addition to fully-equipped kitchens in every apartment, you can enjoy a fine dining experience every day of the week at the Fountain Cafe, the Atrium Dining Room, or the Saratoga Cocktail Lounge. A full menu offers you a selection of entrees, as well as a variety of seasonally-inspired dishes to satisfy the pallet. Alternative meals are almost always offered and special diet needs can be accommodated. It’s common for new residents, who had been eating poorly before they moved in, to experience breathtaking improvements in their health and well-being just from three square meals per day.
5. No more stressful driving
Driving can be a tense and stressful as we age, and our driving abilities may not be what they once were either. For these reasons, most residents prefer to take advantage of the free transportation that’s provided by Southgate at Shrewsbury. There’s no need to rely on a car any longer, although parking is available for residents who still drive.
6. Feeling like myself again
Living alone, we may not be able to participate in games and activities we enjoyed, that were both fun, and helped keep us sharp. But senior communities offer a wealth of opportunities to keep engaged. This can include favorite games like chess, bridge and poker, engaging reading groups and discussion groups, and fascinating classes and lectures on every conceivable topic. Southgate at Shrewsbury offers a variety of activities like our summer concert series, lobster bakes in the park, and our legendary Southgate Olympics for all to enjoy. In addition, our diverse program calendar includes oil painting, jewelry-making, bowling, bocci, woodworking, language arts & more.
7. Making new friends
Older adults who live alone often become isolated, which is unhealthy at any age. At senior communities we can make friends, share a meal, and enjoy festive occasions with one another. On the other hand, those of us who are more introverted appreciate that our privacy is respected, but are still glad to have folks around.
8. Finally feeling safe
Residents can rest easy knowing that they are secured from thieves, con-men and ne’er-do-wells. Furthermore, residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes from the emergency response systems that are in each apartment, or sometimes on the resident’s person as a pendant. This alleviates fears about falling and becoming trapped for hours or even days, a scenario that’s all too common for senior’s residing alone. Southgate at Shrewsbury provides unparalleled 24-hour staff, security, and emergency response systems to each and every resident.
If you are interested in learning more about Southgate at Shrewsbury’s unsurpassed amenities or would like to schedule a tour, please call us toll-free at 1-800-492-8331. It’s not too early to start living your ideal retirement lifestyle!
Don’t Take the “Now What?” Approach On Where to Live
Where will you live as you age? That’s a question that Kathleen Pritchard CRPC®, CHFC®, CLU®, CFS®, the managing director and head of advisor business development at Legg Mason Global Asset Management, posed in a recent article on WealthManagement.com, a resource for financial planning professionals.
The answer should not be, “I don’t know.” Pritchard noted that taking what she called the “now what?” approach is a bad idea for financial professionals tasked with helping their clients address issues related to where they’ll live as they age.
And, her practical advice should resonate with the masses: It’s important to understand the options available to you now, so that you’re well prepared to plan for the future you want and need. “[B]efore it becomes an emergency; before fate and circumstances force the decision” is when to act, she stated.
If you’re in the early stages of retirement or are nearing retirement age, now is the perfect time to check out what independent senior living has to offer! Here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, we offer our residents an environment where their active and healthy lifestyles can flourish. For instance, our residents enjoy a wide array of dining options, fitness classes, cultural activities—the list goes on. Plus, they have the peace of mind in knowing that if something in their home breaks, we’ll fix it. Southgate at Shrewsbury offers maintenance-free living at its best.
Pritchard also pointed out the different among senior living communities. For instance, there are independent senior living facilities, such as those offered here at Southgate at Shrewsbury, as well as continuing care retirement and assisted living communities. The best part about Southgate at Shrewsbury is that we offer all three! As a continuum of care provider, our residents can rest assured that assisted living and long-term care, which is ideal for proper healing and rehabilitation, are available to them if they ever need it.
And, here’s something else to consider: Among the many living options Southgate at Shrewsbury offers there is a consistent theme. We are dedicated to providing all of our residents with an uncompromised senior living experience featuring unsurpassed amenities and a sophisticated, active lifestyle.
“Now what?” You may ask! Why, contact us today to learn more about how Southgate at Shrewsbury can meet your active senior living community desires. We urge you, too, to take our pop quiz to evaluate whether senior living is right for you!