Author: Caroline Chan

TARBORO, NC—During the week, residents at The Fountains at Albemarle can be seen pulling up a chair, tapping their toes or humming along to a tune outside of Tom and Barbara Kane’s apartment. The couple, both 76 years old, turned their second bedroom at the Watermark Retirement Community into a music studio—and they often practice before their Saturday night concerts held in the community’s auditorium, giving their neighbors a sneak peek of what’s to come.

The Kanes are a musical duo known as “The Sweet Loves,” a nickname they were given by friends during their time studying at Florida State University. Their musical love story now has a new chapter at The Fountains at Albemarle, where they have lived since last June.

Every Saturday at 6:30 p.m., they play for a crowd of about 50. Their neighbors stop by to hear their favorite tunes from the 1930s to 1960s. Barbara plays the piano, while Tom handles percussion instruments such as the vibraphone, xylophone and marimba.

“We started to let our friends and neighbors know we were going to have a concert,” said Tom. “Now, it’s become a little bit of a thing. We have made a lot of friends through our music; there is a real sense of community here.”

Music has always been a big part of the Kanes’ lives. They even met through music; Tom was in the college marching band and Barbara was in the orchestra. According to Tom, after “making eyes with each other” while practicing music for school, a joint friend finally introduced them under the stage during their sophomore year. They were married in their senior year.

“Music has been a part of every experience we have together,” said Tom. “We want to share our love for music with others who enjoy it. We just love what we do and feel as though we are getting more out of our concerts than what we are giving.”

Although married for 55 years, the couple never played music together until fairly recently. Barbara earned a master’s degree in music education and taught music and orchestra at schools. Tom graduated with a master’s in city planning and, after working as a city planner for many years, became a software engineer. But, during the pandemic, they turned the extra time together into an opportunity to start playing music.

“We got tired of listening to ourselves, so we moved to Albemarle and now have others listen to us,” said Tom. He and Barbara moved to the community last June. Previously, Barbara’s parents were residents, and she would visit every day and play the piano for the memory care unit. She even donated her piano to the community. Now, a second piano of Barbara’s and Tom’s xylophone sit in the auditorium.

“We were afraid our music would be too loud for our neighbors when we moved here,” said Tom. “But people walk down the hall and stop to tell us how good the music sounds. There’s a lady on the other side of the wall next to us, and she loves hearing our music and has become best friends with Barbara.”

“Tom and Barbara have brought new energy to our community, creating a standing event on Saturday nights that so many of our residents look forward to attending,” said Julie Daugherty, executive director of The Fountains at Albemarle. “We feel like we have the hottest ticket in town, right here in our retirement community.”

OCEANSIDE, CA—Watermark Retirement Communities has appointed Mariano Perez as executive director at The Hacienda Mission San Luis Rey, a new luxury senior living community set to open in September 2023.

“The Hacienda is an extraordinary senior living community like no other that captures the laid-back coastal lifestyle of Oceanside. We are pleased to attract industry leaders like Mariano, who brings a wealth of experience and vision to guide us through the opening and into the community’s future success,” said David Freshwater, chairman of Watermark Retirement Communities. “We have seen an enthusiastic response from the community for the vibrant lifestyle offered at The Hacienda, which reaffirms our position as an innovator and leader in the future of senior living.”

Prior to joining The Hacienda, Perez had led top luxury senior living communities across the U.S. as general manager and executive director, including Merrill Gardens, Meridian Senior Living, Sunrise Senior Living and Aegis Living.

“As we offer future residents a community where they can thrive in a lifestyle of choice with best-in-class care, we are committed to continuing the welcoming tradition of the historic Mission San Luis Rey,” said Perez. “I am honored and excited to lead this incredible community.”

The Hacienda is unique among other Watermark communities in that it is nestled on the campus of the historic Mission Luis Rey itself, allowing residents to soak in the serenity, history and natural beauty of the area.

Future members will enjoy a service- and amenity-rich community. Private studio and one- and two-bedroom residences in a brand-new building architecturally inspired by the Mission in the Spanish Revival style are available on a monthly rental basis with no long-term commitment. Apartments feature modern kitchenettes or full kitchens, high-end appliances and upscale finishes.

Watermark will bring its highly-trained associates to provide custom care, personal assistance and its award-winning programs—such as Watermark University, where residents can continue learning, growing and achieving wellness. Other unique programs include EngageVR, a virtual reality program that uses computer technology to create interactive virtual experiences that transport you to another place and time and allows you to see the world in a completely new way.

HEALDSBURG, CA—Enso Village, a Zen-inspired senior living community developed by The Kendal Corporation and San Francisco Zen Center, recently welcomed Erin Partridge as the community’s head of inspirement. This position will serve a critical role on the resident experience team, with accountability for whole-life engagement oversight. Partridge will focus on coordinating research programs and relationships with external educational and research institutions—including the internship and fellowship programs—in order to further develop resident programming.

“I am beyond excited to step forward as head of inspirement for Enso Village,” shared Partridge. “I am eager to support residents in this next chapter as they explore their intellectual, physical, creative, environmental and social well-being through lived experiences at Enso Village.”

Partridge is an artist as well as a board-certified registered art therapist who teaches and supervises research in several art therapy programs. Additionally, she is a forest therapy guide certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Her clinical experience includes work in community, pediatric, forensic and geriatric settings. She is published in art therapy, arts access, elder care, gender, research methods, professional development and technology. Her research interests incorporate lived experience and focus on participatory, ethnographic and art-based approaches.

“Erin’s role as head of inspirement will ensure focus on spiritual and physical well-being for the residents of Enso Village,” said Rosemary Jordan, CEO of Enso Village. “We are confident that Erin’s experience directly reflects her compatibility with our mission to provide an engaging community by following the teachings of wisdom and contemplative care.”

A seasoned professional with over 16 years spent working with individuals through art therapy, Partridge earned her master’s degree from New York University. She continued her education and graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University with a doctor of philosophy in art therapy.

Enso Village is presently under construction in Healdsburg, CA and will open to residents in the fall of 2023.

Committed to finding creative ways to increase resident engagement and inclusivity in a variety of on-campus events and activities, Charter Senior Living and Eversound have teamed up to support 46 silent discos across the country the week of March 24th through the 31st.  Our silent disco is an amazing opportunity to not only host a unique event that showcases the power of this technology, but also an excuse to throw a party!

Our theme this month, Living Life Out Loud, not only brings awareness to hearing loss and what happens to our brains cognitively when we ignore it, but also brings an opportunity for our community teams to facilitate programs utilizing Eversound’s incredible technology that enhances the resident’s ability to hear and actively participate. Eversound’s advanced listening systems use proprietary audio technology to help residents hear clearly in activity programming and conversations. Designed specifically for seniors, their systems provide an enhanced listening experience for residents, while improving outcomes in care, satisfaction and engagement.

“Whether it’s cooking demonstrations, music programs, exercising or taking a virtual tour, Eversound has opened exciting ways for our seniors to be captivated with a whole new world around them that enhances creativity, provides encouragement and boosts inspiration,” shared Dawn Irvine, memory care director at Chart of Oak Openings. “Eversound has [also] allowed our residents to feel heard and included during their interactions with family members (not just programming). The families praise the addition to their one-on-one visits, allowing elevated meaningful moments (#Evermoments) that keep us all connected!”

At Charter, we continue to build daily activities and programming that focuses on all aspects of our resident’s wellness—cognitive, creative, community, motivation, physical, social and spiritual. Life at Charter is active, friendly and supportive. Residents enjoy a sense of purpose and belonging—along with fun, personalized care—and a focus on well-being.

Laura Lopez has been named community relations director for The Hampton, an Anthem Memory Care community in Tumwater, WA. In this position, she will be responsible for community outreach and marketing.

Lopez previously was a hospice liaison for Bristol Hospice Thurston in Lacey, WA. She was also marketing director and admissions coordinator for Roo-Lan Health and Rehab in Olympia, WA. She brings over five years of health care marketing experience to this position.

The Hampton is located at 1400 Trosper Rd. SW, Tumwater, WA.

NEWARK, DE—The Kendal Corporation is pleased to announce Jessica Buhler as the corporate director of communications and public relations. Buhler’s role will contribute to providing a wide range of communication services to the corporate office and Kendal affiliates. This involves contributing to the public awareness of the organization through leading public relations efforts, written communications, website support, social media strategy, crisis communications and more.

Buhler is a seasoned professional with deep roots in the fields of senior living and aging services, with over 20 years of career experience in communications and marketing management. Previously, she worked for over eight years as the director of marketing, sales and public relations for Kendal at Lexington, an affiliate of Kendal in Virginia. In that role, Buhler managed all aspects of the community’s marketing, sales and public relations efforts.

Prior to joining the Kendal team, Buhler worked for state and national organizations in public policy, communications, membership development, training and research on issues affecting older adults. She primarily focused on issues concerning affordable housing and options for long-term care. She holds a master’s degree in management and organizational leadership from Antioch University.

“The Kendal Corporation is excited to welcome Jessica into her new position,” shared Amy Harrison, the interim chief executive officer of Kendal. “Kendal is dedicated to advancing our mission of serving older adults. We carry confidence knowing that Jessica’s leadership will contribute to how deeply our mission resonates with our audiences and to the success of the communication initiatives led by affiliates.”