Mrs. Mary Afrookteh (center) receives flowers from her caregiver, Kelly Berge (right), and Stephanie Nilson, Community Relations Director for Right-at- Home, In-Home Care & Assistance.

Mary was born in Lossiemouth, Scotland (home of the Loch Ness Monster). While her Mom was visiting her grandmother, Mary was born. Six weeks later, they returned to their home in Brooklyn, NY. Since Mary was born in Scotland, she has dual citizenship. She has enjoyed going back to visit her homeland over the years.

Mary met her husband while interning as a dietician at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, where he worked as an Associate Professor of Surgery. Following her internship, she got a job at the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue. “I got to meet all kinds of people,” said Mary. “I remember meeting Dodge MacArthur and Ronald Reagan, who was governor of California at the time.”

After marrying, Mary and Dr. Afrookteh went on to have four children and now have five grandchildren. The couple moved to Catonsville, Md., in 1962 when Dr. Afrookteh was offered a heart surgeon position at the University of MD. Years later, Dr. Afrookteh opened his own practice in Catonsville.

When Mary and her family realized she needed some extra help to remain in her home, they turned to Right at Home. Mary chose the company based largely on the recommendation of her trusted financial advisor, Carol Chaney. Carol has known and worked with the owner of Right at Home, Carole Luber, for many years and knows the importance of referring clients to trustworthy providers.

“Carol said they were top-notch and very involved with all of their clients,” explained Mary. “My daughter, also Carol, an attorney, felt comfortable after interviewing the owner, and my son, Ali, a doctor, was also familiar with the company.”

After over a year of using Right at Home, Mary has only positive feedback. “My caregiver, Kelly, has been like my daughter. We are joined at the hip, and I couldn’t get along without her,” Mary said. “She knows all my likes and dislikes.”

Ultimately, Mary is thrilled that she has been able to remain in her family home. She explained, “I don’t want to live with strangers. I have everything I want right here, including my kitties, Mo and Garfield”.

She was born in Chester, South Carolina on January 4,1917, to Thomas and Dora Buckson. Her mother was a teacher, while her father commuted to Baltimore to work at Sparrows Point.

Following several brief hospitalizations, Mrs. Ardis Watkins has enlisted the services of P-B Health Home Care Agency to remain in her home while recuperating.

As a young woman, Miss Ardis Buckson moved to Baltimore City to start her adult life. Here, she met and married Mr. Norbon Watkins, and from this union three children were born.

“We had a wonderful life together until his death in October of 2005,” stated Mrs. Watkins.

Throughout her adult life, Mrs. Watkins worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital and then the old City Hospital. After retiring from City, she volunteered at Bon Secours Hospital for seven years, earning many awards for her service.

Additionally, Mrs. Watkins has been a long time member of The Village Baptist Church and retains her membership today.

After so many years of caring for others, the time came when Mrs. Watkins needed care for herself. Through the Department of Aging, the family was put in touch with P-B Health Home Care Agency.

Following a thorough evaluation of her needs, P-B Health began providing personal care and chore services to Mrs. Watkins. Olivia Cross, a CNA and home health aide, was assigned to her care.

“Olivia has been very courteous, caring and helpful in assisting with my personal needs,” said Mrs. Watkins. “Ms. Cross is a fine representative for P-B Health, and my family and I have become very fond of her.”

In her later years, Mrs. Watkins has had several brief hospitalizations, after which skilled home health services were prescribed. These services have provided Mrs. Watkins with the benefits of nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, and nutritional counseling in the comfort of her own home.

“Each [staff member I have worked with] was skilled and provided exceptionally good service,” reported Mrs. Watkins.

Mrs. Ardis Watkins continues to do well and to live in her home. If she ever needs services again following a hospitalization or illness, she will not hesitate to call P-B Health to help her recuperate.

Merrill and Judy Skolnik were overwhelmed by the thought of moving until they enlisted the help of a moving coordinator.

The Skolniks began looking at continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), and after a lengthy search, they selected Roland Park Place in Baltimore, Md. The two native Baltimoreans have a long history in the area and were relieved to find a place in the city and close to their children.

After raising their four children, Judy launched a career as an advisor at Towson University. An electrical engineer, Merrill earned his degree from Johns Hopkins University and worked for nearly 40 years for the U.S. government. When he retired, he was the Superintendent of the Radar Division of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., and a widely renowned author and expert in radar technology.

After living in the same home for decades, the Skolniks were overwhelmed by the thought of moving. Even after finding the right retirement community, they had no idea of where or how to start the transition.

The staff at Roland Park Place suggested that the Skolniks enlist the help of Senior Transitions, Inc., a moving coordinating company owned and operated by Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA. Senior Transitions assists seniors and their families with every aspect of the moving process from planning and downsizing to packing and unpacking.

“We are not a one-size-fits-all company. Each client is unique,” Charna explained. “Our services are tailored to relieve the stress of moving, and our first goal is to determine the exact needs of the client.”

When Charna started helping the Skolniks, relocating began to seem manageable. “She just took the whole burden off; she was in charge,” recalled Judy. “Thank goodness for Charna.”

Instead of worrying about home maintenance or feeling isolated, the Skolniks now enjoy a wide range of activities with new friends and
neighbors.

Charna helped Judy and Merrill make key decisions about what to take with them and what to leave behind. “She’s very decisive,” Judy recalled of Charna. “She knows what should be done and just does it.” She also enlisted help to do the packing and unpacking, so the couple did not have to worry about the physical tasks of the move.

“They were just wonderful,” Judy said of Senior Transitions. “They pack you up, and they bring you here, and they unpack you. They even make up your bed, and you’re ready to begin your new life.”

In addition to being efficient and professional, Charna and her staff also formed a personal relationship with the Skolniks. It was almost a year after they moved that Judy recalled seeing some of Senior Transitions’ staff members in the lobby of Roland Park Place. “A new resident was moving in upstairs with Charna’s help. I recognized the movers, and, to my surprise, they greeted me by name. They remembered everything about us. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Since moving, the Skolniks have enjoyed a much-improved lifestyle. Merrill stopped driving and Judy only drives during the day, so the couple rarely ventured out in the evenings while living in their house. Now, they take the community bus to the opera, theater, concerts and dinners. “There’s something to do here all the time,” Judy said. “I try to take advantage of everything, and it’s been very stimulating.”

Finding a community close to home and the professionals to help them make the move has helped the Skolniks transition to their ideal retirement. From living an isolated life in their increasingly burdensome house to enjoying activities and events with new friends and neighbors, the Skolniks have certainly made a move in the right direction.

A 78-year-old newlywed, Martha
Moore Wooldridge recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary.

A native of Pennsylvania, Martha attended college in Vermont before marrying and moving to the Philadelphia suburbs. An English major, Martha worked at several nearby college libraries before leaving work to raise her two children.When her children were older, Martha returned to the workforce and discovered a passion for desktop publishing. “I was working at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, and I learned desktop publishing, and I really loved the computer; I love what the computer can do,” recalled Martha.

Martha’s passion for computers continued after retirement, and she found a new outlet for it when she moved to Ginger Cove. She is now editor-in-chief of the residents’ monthly newsletter. In addition to editing and laying out the articles submitted by her fellow residents, Martha also contributes original articles about her peers. “The people here are just really interesting, so I try to interview them and share their stories,” she said.

One of the many interesting stories at Ginger Cove belongs to Martha herself. A second-generation CCRC resident, she knew early that she wanted to plan ahead for retirement. Martha’s mother was living in a CCRC in Western Pennsylvania when she suffered a stroke. “We were 300 miles away and so relieved that we didn’t have to find nursing care when she got sick because the health center was part of her community. We decided then that we would move to a CCRC too,” Martha remembered.

Martha may have decided to move to a retirement community early, but she found her ideal community quite unexpectedly. “We looked at lots of communities around Philadelphia,” Martha said. “They were O.K., but none of them seemed exactly right.”

Martha and her husband Ken were visiting a nearby family cottage when they decided on a whim to check out Ginger Cove. Martha recalled, “They invited us to visit. It didn’t matter that we only had shorts to wear.” After their initial visit, they returned to the community for dinner and quickly decided they had found their new home.

Shortly thereafter, Martha and Ken made the move to a spacious apartment at Ginger Cove overlooking pretty Gingerville Creek. Unfortunately, they were just beginning to settle in when tragedy struck. “Six weeks after we moved in, my husband died,” Martha recalled. “We knew he was sick, but we thought it was going to work out, but it just didn’t.”

In addition to writing and outdoor activities, Martha’s busy
schedule also includes water aerobics.

After Ken’s sudden passing, Martha found support in her new community. “Even though I didn‘t really know anybody here, they all rallied around, and I got to know so many people so quickly,” she said. With the help of her new friends at Ginger Cove and at the nearby First Presbyterian Church in Annapolis, Martha began to heal. “I cannot imagine what it would have been like if I had been alone in that big house. It would have been so lonely,” she said.

Just over a year later, Martha and her family suffered another tragedy when she lost her daughter. “Again, these two new families — my Ginger Cove family and my church family — were there for me,” Martha remembered. “I didn’t have to be alone with my grief, so that part was wonderful.”

One of the friends who offered support to Martha was Tim Wooldridge. Much like Martha, Tim lost his wife just a few months after moving to Ginger Cove. The two became friends, and a relationship grew out of their friendship. “I don’t know quite how it happened,” Martha smiled as she recalled. “It just sort of evolved very naturally.”

On March 24, 2012, Martha and Tim were married. Their reception was held at Ginger Cove and was truly a community affair. To celebrate their first milestone as a couple, Martha and Tim had the help of many of the community’s residents and staff. Martha laughs as she recalls all the friends who wanted to be her ‘flower girls.’ “In the end I had four ‘flower girls,’ and it was really hysterical, but I gave them all little duties and called them ‘flower girls,’” she said.Beyond the major milestones, moving to Ginger Cove has dramatically improved Martha’s everyday life. “They take such good care of us here, and I think that lengthens our lives,” she said. “I also think all the socialization this community provides helps us live longer and better.”

From carefree entertaining to the 35 resident committees and countless activities, Martha and her peers can always find something stimulating to do. Martha’s busy schedule includes water aerobics, kayaking on the nearby creek, and participating in the creative writing group, as well as her work on the community’s newsletter.

In addition to all her regular activities, Martha is also thrilled to be serving on the Planning Committee for Ginger Cove’s 25th anniversary celebration in August 2013. The group is already busy coordinating an old-fashioned picnic complete with a parade. “It will be a fun day, and a great chance to celebrate this wonderful community,” she said.

Martha is preparing to help Ginger Cove celebrate its 25th
anniversary in August. She is a part of the Planning Committee that is coordinating an old-fashioned picnic complete with a parade.

During the past 25 years, Ginger Cove has continually expanded and improved its facilities to serve its diverse and active group of residents. Most recently, the community completed a major renovation and construction project, which added a casual dining room with an outdoor deck, a large indoor aquatics center, a Wellness Center, a spa and a business center. The project also included total renovation of the 61-bed skilled nursing and rehab center to include all-private rooms, airy family rooms and a beautiful 5,000 square foot open-air garden.

Whether you are celebrating a second anniversary or a 25th anniversary, the occasion provides an opportunity to think back and to look forward — to appreciate where you have been and anticipate where you are going. As the residents of Ginger Cove plan for the community’s upcoming anniversary, they are grateful to have found a home that is adapting to meet their needs while maintaining its dedication to quality care and strong connections. Those connections are perhaps best exemplified by newlyweds Martha and Tim Wooldridge, who both suffered great losses, but who, with the help of their friends and neighbors, are making new memories and marking new milestones.

Janet has always been close to her aunt, and when Gloria asked her to serve as power of attorney, she was happy to do it. Since that time, Gloria has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

When the family decided that it was time for Gloria to move from her large apartment to a community that offered independent and assisted living, Janet knew she needed help. “The people at the community highly recommended Felco Packing & Moving,” recalled Janet.

From day one, Jeff Feldman and his staff have made Gloria’s many moves as seamless as possible. “That first move was the biggest move I’ve ever made in my life,” explained Janet. “She had as much furniture as a house in that big apartment, but Mr. Feldman was always accommodating.”

While the professionals handled all the heavy lifting, Janet was able to help her aunt prepare for the transition. “They packed up anything and everything that I asked and moved it out. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do,” she said. After moving all the furniture out, Felco also helped the family set up the new apartment, relocate furniture to several different family members, and donate unwanted items.

As Gloria’s condition has worsened, Janet has called on Felco two additional times for packing and moving assistance. The first was when her aunt moved to a new assisted living community closer to her sister. Here, she initially had two adjoining rooms, so she had plenty of space to spread out. Recently, Janet decided that her aunt would be more comfortable in a single room.

During both moves, Janet has been relieved to have the help of Felco. “Just to know that when you call, they are ready and able to help whatever day and time you need them is amazing,” she said.

Janet continues to be a dedicated caregiver for her beloved aunt Gloria, who is safe and well cared for in her new community. While Janet admits that caregiving has its challenges, she now knows that having the right professionals on your team can help turn awesome tasks into remarkable success stories.

Robert Maroncelli has been able to remain in his home with the help of live-in care from Visiting Angels.

Bob and his wife, “Mickey,” moved to their home in Buckingham Springs retirement community several decades ago after they retired. An accountant, who worked most of his career for the Internal Revenue Service, Bob continued to be active in his community and his church. However, as the years passed, several health problems started to cause mobility issues. As Bob became less mobile, his wife began acting as his primary caregiver.

When Mickey was admitted to the hospital because of worsening heart disease, Ann and her sister quickly realized that their father was going to need some additional help. “I knew of Visiting Angels already, and knew the woman across the street was using them,” Ann recalled. “I called around to a couple of home care agencies and Visiting Angels was the most accommodating and the easiest to work with.”

Visiting Angels began helping Bob periodically, whenever Mickey had to be hospitalized. The family was always satisfied with the care and companionship he received. When Mickey passed away, Ann turned to Visiting Angels once again. The agency found permanent, live-in assistance for Bob within several days.

“Tina moved in immediately, and my father has really taken to her,” Ann said. “She provides personal care and helps him with ambulating, and she also does some meal preparation and generally just makes sure he is well taken care of.”

Since Ann is busy with her own demanding career and her sister lives in Connecticut, the family feels incredibly fortunate to have a quality caregiver with Bob at all times. “There is an enormous sense of reassurance knowing that he is very well taken care of; that gives us a real peace of mind,” said Ann. With the assistance of Visiting Angels, Bob continues to live in his comfortable and spacious home, where he receives frequent visits from neighbors and friends from his church.

“It was pretty evident that my father-in-law wasn’t taking care of himself,” recalled Susan Ward. “We didn’t know what doctors he was going to or not, and what they were saying.”

After spending a week caring for her father-in-law, Susan quickly realized how bad the situation had become. “I started to call different agencies to see what could be done,” she said.

Susan’s frantic phone calls eventually led her to Vikki Dargenio and her medical case management company, A Nurse in the Family. “Vikki really came right at the nick of time,” Susan said. “When we hired Vikki, she knew immediately what needed to be done, and she was able to talk to the doctors and get the right care for Frank.”

Vikki started accompanying Frank to all his doctor’s appointments, helping to eliminate any confusion and ensure that he always had an advocate present. “When I take a patient on, I really become part of their family,” Vikki explained. “I am the quarterback of the healthcare team and my goals are to keep people at home and make sure they get the medical care they need.”

After caring for four of her own family members, Vikki realized that every patient needs an advocate, especially senior patients who are often referred to multiple specialists with limited explanations. “Dr. John Sabatini actually recommended that I start this business after seeing what I had done for my family. He told me that it was amazing and that there was really a need for this,” Vikki recalled.

As a registered nurse with a background in long-term care, Vikki is uniquely positioned to help ailing seniors receive better medical care and remain in their homes longer. Since the initial recommendation that started her business, she has had several medical professionals acknowledge the importance of her services.

“It is very helpful that you come to these appointments. And on top of that, I can tell you really care,” Dr. Daniel LeBovic, a hematologist, told Vikki during one of her many visits to his office with a patient.

For Frank and his family, Vikki’s care and compassion changed everything. The family no longer had to worry about whether Frank was receiving the best possible medical treatment or if he was correctly following the doctor’s orders. By managing all of Frank’s medical appointments and helping the in-home companion caregivers better serve his needs, Vikki made it possible for Frank to continue living at home until he passed away in May of 2012.

“Frank remained in his home, and Vikki was with him until the very end,” Susan remembered. “She was very competent and always knew what needed to be done. She was there whenever we needed her, and she was so good to him.”

“When my father decided it was time for a move, I was pretty stressed about how I was going to get him moved,” recalled June Jacobs, Mr. DeBois’ daughter.

June and her family quickly settled on North Oaks, a nearby independent living community, as her father’s new home. The community suggested she contact a moving coordinator to help with the details of the large move. “I called Senior Transitions, and that was the best call I ever made,” June said. Senior Transitions, Inc. is a moving coordination company owned by Charna Kinneberg, RN, MBA.

Following their initial phone consultation, Charna started working on a floor plan for Mr. DeBois’ new home. She brought her computer to the family home, measured the furniture and quickly ascertained what would fit in the new apartment. June said, “By the time she was done, we knew exactly what furniture we were taking. That was a major help.”

When moving day arrived, Senior Transition’s expertise again proved invaluable. Charna and her staff packed the entire house in just a few days and then enlisted a top-quality mover to handle the complex move. “Throughout the process, every time I would panic, she would assure me that everything would be all right, and she was right,” explained June.

On the day of the move, Mr. DeBois went out to lunch with his caregiver and returned to an apartment that was ready to live in: complete with pictures on the wall, clothes in the closet, food in the fridge, and linens on the bed. After the move was finished, Charna arranged to have people remove the remaining junk and trash from the home.

“I really can’t recommend Charna’s services enough,” June concluded. “She took so much off my plate and made the whole process just amazing. I call her and her staff angels.”

A mere six weeks after deciding he was ready to move, Mr. DeBois was settled into his new home at North Oaks. Today, he is enjoying all that community living has to offer.

The medical and companionship services Mildred Bachman receives from Personal Touch Home Care allow her to continue to live with her son Michael.

Mildred’s fall was the first of several health problems that resulted in her moving into Michael’s home. “It’s nearly impossible to envision the amount of stress and upheaval bringing an elderly parent into one’s home can be—especially when it was a sudden, unexpected event with multiple layers of health issues involved,” he said.

After his mother started living with him, Michael realized that other health problems and her diminishing memory were going to prevent her from returning home. Unsure where to turn, he started researching home care agencies. His research led him to Personal Touch Home Care. “They really just seemed to have their act together,” he said. Personal Touch offered a unique blend of medical services and companionship. “So many of the other agencies were just focused on medical needs, and that wasn’t really what I was looking for,” Michael recalled. “I needed some degree of health services, but I really also wanted social and companionship services.”

Personal Touch assessed Mildred’s needs and devised a care plan that focuses on improving her quality of life. “They have helped her maintain her independence and continue doing the things she was already doing.” Michael said. With the help of her aide, Andrietta Allen, Mildred does puzzles, sketches and takes regular walks. She also received physical therapy and has regained full use of her wrist.

“After Personal Touch started helping us, things got so much better,” Michael said. “So many of my biggest fears about my mother living with me turned out to be non-issues.” He added, “Something that seemed insurmountable and impossible became a routine, then actually enjoyable.”

Today, Michael and Mildred are both comfortable and happy with their living situation. It still requires a lot of work from Michael and his partner Jerome, but with the help they receive from Personal Touch, they are able to maintain busy work schedules while Mildred enjoys the hobbies and activities she has always loved.

Executive Chef Frank Leake (left) and Dietary Aide Kory Lewis display FutureCare CherryWood’s Taste of the Town Award.

FutureCare CherryWood recently won the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Chamber of Commerce’s 9th Annual Taste of the Town Competition. The winning dish – fiesta herb-encrusted chicken and chocolate bread pudding – was judged against gourmet dishes from several nearby restaurants. The dish took first place thanks to the hard work of quite a few staff members, who took on this competition in addition to their daily duties.

“Our entire dietary team did an excellent job of planning, preparing and serving our winning entry,” said Marla Bosley, FutureCare CherryWood’s director of admissions. “We were pleasantly surprised that we won, especially since this was our first year entering the event.”

FutureCare CherryWood became involved with Taste of the Town as a result of their ongoing support for the local Chamber of Commerce. This year, the community decided to enter a dish and participate in the event they had sponsored for years.

The fiesta chicken dish is one of CherryWood’s signature dishes and one of the most popular among residents. In addition to satisfying a wide array of palates, the community’s chefs also have to fulfill a variety of dietary needs for the short-term rehabilitation patients and long-term care residents.

“Our goal is to meet and exceed our patients’ and residents’ dining needs,” said Bosley. “We hope this win will let the community know that our residents are able to enjoy great food along with excellent nursing and rehab care.”

While one of CherryWood’s primary goals is to ensure that patients get the care they need to enjoy their best possible quality of life, they also know that simple pleasures like social activities and delicious meals go a long way toward creating a positive experience for their residents. After all, a good meal is one of life’s greatest pleasures.