On December 12, residents of McPeak’s Assisted Living and their family members celebrated the holiday season at McPeak’s Annual Christmas Party, which took place in the establishment’s dining area. Families and residents enjoyed a delicious lunch featuring sandwiches, salads and beverages.

While families enjoyed their meals and each other’s company, Santa Claus arrived with presents for each resident. Live musical entertainment was provided, featuring holiday tunes and songs from yesteryear.

For more information, call (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

Residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living gathered together to celebrate their Italian heritage in honor of the upcoming Patchogue Italian Festival of St. Liberata, which will take place on September 27th. The festival will feature a day of Italian music and food, and celebrate Italian culture. Some of the McPeak’s residents attended the original St. Liberata Italian Festival, which began in 1923.

The event is a precursor to the Feast of San Gennaro, which was first held in New York City in 1926 — three years after the Italian Festival of St. Liberata.

For more information, call (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

On April 18, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living celebrated the Easter holiday by rolling eggs down the hallway and decorating hard-boiled ones, which took place in the establishment’s dining area.

Residents competed in the egg roll to win Easter baskets for throwing the furthest egg. Each basket included goodies, such as chocolates, and essential items, like moisturizer and deodorant. After that, each resident was given hard-boiled eggs with egg coloring kits to decorate the eggs to their liking.

The top three winners of the egg roll — William Judson, Joseph Gold, and Bettie Smith — were awarded with the Easter baskets at the end of the event.

For more information, call (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

On December 11, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living celebrated the holidays by trimming the Christmas tree inside the facility’s lounge area. As residents took turns decorating the tree, they enjoyed eggnog and cookies, listened to holiday music and sang Christmas carols.

The ornaments featured on the tree were a variety of different ones that residents have made over the years. Angels, McPoodles, and bells were among some of the traditional decorations that were placed on the branches. McPeak’s staff saw to it that each resident helped decorate or had a say in the placement of the ornaments on the large tree.

On December 13, residents and their family members commemorated the holiday season by attending McPeak’s Annual Christmas Party, which took place in the establishment’s dining area. Families and residents enjoyed a fresh, delicious lunch that included a variety of traditional holiday dishes.

While families reunited and indulged in their meals, Santa arrived with presents for each resident. Endearing smiles and contagious laughs filled the room as Santa Claus greeted every family at a different table. In addition, live musical entertainment was provided for all to enjoy. Many Christmas tunes were played to get residents and their families in the holiday spirit.

On October 9, McPeak’s Assisted Living welcomed The Poetry Connection’s Founder/CEO, Stacy Santini, to teach its residents how to express themselves by writing poetry, using music and singing.

Residents learned about the American poet Robert Frost and listened to Ms. Santini’s recitation of his famous poem “The Road Not Taken” and listened to music. The residents were later asked about the emotions they felt and the memories they had while listening to music.

With the help of Ms. Santini, the residents created a poem called “Musical Memories.” The poem is scheduled to be published in a collection of other poems that were created by residents at other local assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

The Poetry Connection combines poetry with the arts to create an educational yet entertaining experience for the elderly. Prior to founding The Poetry Connection, Ms. Santini performed poetry readings to the Port Jefferson Rehabilitation Clinic’s residents. After discovering that she enjoyed visiting the residents and reading poetry to them, she decided to design a program that would encourage creativity and mental stimulation among rehabilitation and nursing home residents.

For more information, call (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

September Is Declared Assisted Living Month in New York State

James McPeak, Owner, McPeak’s Assisted Living, says New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s recognition of assisted living facilities through a proclamation he issued will help more people understand the benefits of assisted living and the amenities it offers the elderly.

On August 27, Cuomo issued a proclamation to make the month of September Assisted Living Month. The purpose of the proclamation was to encourage all New York residents to learn more about assisted living facilities and how they benefit both the state’s citizens and its communities.

According to the Empire State Association of Assisted Living, more than 39,000 New York State residents live in 485 assisted living residences statewide. Governor Cuomo said that, by 2015, more than 2 million New Yorkers will be in need long-term care.

McPeak’s Assisted Living, located in the Village of Patchogue, is a viable option for the elderly who need a better option than living alone. Assisted living has become the more financially responsible option for those in need of assisted care. McPeak’s has a base price of $2,900 — which includes everything and is approximately half the cost of living at home.

McPeak’s offers residents and their families all of the amenities for comfortable living at reasonable costs. In addition, McPeak’s gives residents the option of either having their own rooms or sharing a room with someone else. Trained, experienced staff members are on-hand to provide medications for residents when needed. Meals are served daily, and staff can prepare meals for those who have certain dietary restrictions. McPeak’s also offers recreational activities to give residents a chance to socialize and spend time with each other.

“We wish to thank Governor Cuomo for proclaiming September as Assisted Living Month, and recognizing the work that we do,” Mr. McPeak said. “At McPeak’s Assisted Living, we understand the needs of the elderly and offer a friendly, affordable alternative to living alone by providing a safe, warm and relaxing environment in a homelike setting.”

Northport resident Marc Salmin recently donated a painting he made to McPeak’s Assisted Living to show the facility’s staff members his appreciation of the way they care for his father, Alex. Mr. Salmin’s father has been a resident of McPeak’s since 2011.

Mr. Salmin recreated “Louisa in the Outside Studio,” which was originally done by William Starkweather, an American Impressionist painter. Mr. Starkweather started his artistic career in the late 1890s as a student at the Art Students League in New York City. He frequently took painting trips through the Northeast, including New York; Eastport, Maine; and Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, Canada. His artwork can be seen today in the Metropolitan Museum, the Brooklyn Museum and the Hickory (N.C.) Museum of Art.

“I recreated this painting because I admire William Starkweather’s work. He is not a very well-known artist, but he was influenced by other famous Impressionist painters the same way I was influenced by him,” Mr. Salmin said. “I donated this painting to show my appreciation to the McPeak’s staff. I could not have asked for a better assisted living facility to take care of my father.”

Mr. Salmin studied computer graphics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After graduation, he worked as a professional airbrush artist in Colorado. He is currently an art teacher at St. Francis Preparatory High School in Queens.

“We are so grateful for Mr. Salmin’s generous gift,” said James McPeak, Owner, McPeak’s Assisted Living. “We strive to provide outstanding services with our residents’ health, safety, comfort and general welfare in mind. This beautiful painting will also brighten the facility’s rec room, where it can be viewed by the residents, as well as the staff.”

For more information, call McPeak’s Assisted Living at (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

Work on a new roof for McPeak’s began today. We lost many tiles during Superstorm Sandy; however, none of the residents were impacted and neither was the resident care. The new roof will be Hunter Green in color. Hopefully, work should be completed by the end of the week.

More than one hundred people came out for McPeak’s Assisted Living’s annual Christmas party on December 14. Residents and their families enjoyed lunch, dessert and live music. Santa Claus also stopped by to hand out presents to all of McPeak’s residents. It was one of the largest turnouts the facility has ever had for the event.

“The Christmas party this year was spectacular. It brought joy to the residents and to their families,” stated Linda Ohlsen, Activities Director, McPeak’s Assisted Living. “We were delighted to see the residents in such high spirits this holiday season.”

For more information, call McPeak’s Assisted Living at (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

On December 7, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living celebrated the holidays by trimming two of the Christmas trees inside the facility’s lounge area and TV room. As residents took turn decorating the trees, they enjoyed egg nog and holiday cookies, listened to holiday music and sang Christmas carols.

This year’s tree trimming was very special for Linda Ohlsen, Activities Director, McPeak’s Assisted Living, as she marked her 25th year in joining the residents in decorating the trees.

For more information, call McPeak’s Assisted Living at (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

Due to its “outstanding service” and “safe, clean environment,” McPeak’s Assisted Living was named one of Long Island Business News’ “Health Care Heroes” of 2012 in the Assisted Living Facility category.

McPeak’s Assisted Living was founded in 1956 by two registered nurses, James and Katherine McPeak. The licensed facility is devoted to caring for the elderly and the disabled, while obtaining the most modern safety features and updates. McPeak’s Assisted Living offers many amenities run by its efficient and compassionate staff.

“The goal of the Health Care Heroes awards is to recognize excellence, promote innovation, contribute to the enhancement of the value and quality of health care and, ultimately, recognize the people and organizations whose tireless work, contributions and dedication to healing and caring ensure the well-being of everyone on Long Island,” a representative from LIBN stated.

“We’re very grateful to be recognized by LIBN as a Health Care Hero this year,” said James McPeak, Owner/Operator, McPeak’s. “We truly feel quality care at an affordable cost is something of utmost importance to Long Island, particularly in this climate of economic uncertainty and we are proud to be able to offer that to our community.”

For more information, call McPeak’s Assisted Living at (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

On January 26, Maria Teresa “Tess” Brana celebrated her 100th birthday with fellow residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living. After lunch, the residents sang “Happy Birthday” to Ms. Brana and were treated to birthday cake.

Ms. Brana was born on January 26, 1912 in Italy. When she was eight years old, her family came to the United States and moved to the New York City area. She worked at her family’s candy store before becoming a retailer at Macy’s, where she worked for 30 years. She said her strong work ethic helped to contribute to her longevity.

On January 15, 2009, Ms. Brana came to McPeak’s. She became one of the more active residents as she helps decorating the facility for holidays and special occasions. She also enjoys the pet therapy sessions at McPeak’s and, whenever she sees a dog, likes to pet and talk to them.

CAPTION:
McPeak’s Assisted Living resident Maria Teresa Brana (right) blows out the candles on her birthday cake that was brought over by Linda Ohlsen (left), Activities Director, McPeak’s, during Ms. Brana’s 100th birthday celebration on January 26.

PRESS:
The Long Island Advance | Her Work Ethic Got Her to 100 | February 2, 2012

On December 16, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living were joined by their loved ones during McPeak’s Christmas party. Residents and their family members were served a delicious lunch and enjoyed live musical entertainment. James McPeak, Owner, McPeak’s Assisted Living, offered a champagne toast to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

On June 28, members of the Patchogue-Medford High School Key Club put on a fashion show for the residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living.

In this blend of “old meets new,” fifteen students modeled the latest fashions from their senior prom and from years past while a student DJ played music from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and the 1980s. After the show, students asked the residents which decade was their favorite and asked them to share their memories from that decade.

These students have volunteered their free time at McPeak’s by playing games and taking part in intergenerational activities with the residents. Intergenerational programs allow seniors and young adults to share talents and resources to create a unified group identity. Older adults benefit greatly from these programs because they enhance socialization, increase interaction with the youth and prevent isolation and boredom in their later years.

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Betty Smith, 83, loves to dance and play the piano. And Alex Salmin, 87, who always wanted to play, is learning it. And Nick Mazzillo, 89, who is president of the residents council, is a big bingo winner.

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McPeak’s Assisted Living has been voted by Long Island Press readers as “Best of Long Island 2011” Best Assisted Living Facility.

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Last year’s Grand Marshal for the Greater Patchogue Foundation’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Kevin McGiff passes the sash… Friends include…James McPeak.

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On December 10, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living celebrated the holidays by trimming two of the Christmas trees inside the facility’s lounge area and TV room. As residents took turn decorating the trees, they enjoyed egg nog and holiday cookies and sang Christmas carols.

On December 17, residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living were joined by their loved ones during McPeak’s Christmas party. Residents and their family members were served a delicious lunch and enjoyed live musical entertainment. James McPeak, Owner, McPeak’s Assisted Living, offered a champagne toast to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Assisted Living Facility Sees More Inquiries as Families Get Together

James McPeak, Owner, McPeak’s Assisted Living, says assisted living for senior citizens proves to be more economical than staying in the home or renting an apartment. Assisted living still provides the independence that many senior citizens desire, but at a fraction of the cost.

The Assisted Living Federation of America reports that the median cost of a private one-bedroom apartment in an assisted living facility in 2010 is $2,575 per month. Prices can range from $800 to more than $4,000 a month, depending on the size of the unit, the location and services offered. More often than not, senior citizens or their families pay the cost of having the assisted living facility, although some facilities offer financial assistance programs. Medicare currently does not cover assisted living care and few states are authorized to utilize Medicaid waivers to help families pay for care.

Assisted living can be a great solution for people who do not require the full services of a nursing home and offer a less expensive alternative to home health care. They also allow seniors to save on the expense and hassle of owning and maintaining a home.

When figuring out the numbers, the cost of an assisted living facility is favorable compared to living at home. Seniors who live at home must buy their own food and pay the mortgage or rent, utilities (phone, cable, heat, electricity) and, if applicable, home health care. For those living in a condominium, the cost may be higher because of maintenance fees. In order to save money, many seniors living at home have to cut back on social activities and entertainment.

One expenditure that gets overlooked in the equation is food. According to the U.S. Labor Consumer Expenditure Survey, in 2008, adults ages 65 and over spent $4,682 annually on food. In addition, with the price of wheat and milk having gone up over the past few years, many seniors have restricted their purchases to food at home rather than going out to a restaurant.

For assisted living facilities such as McPeak’s, the monthly cost includes food, utilities, housekeeping and on-site personal care. There are no additional out-of-pocket expenses for the residents or their families to pay.

“McPeak’s Assisted Living is a great value because you, the resident, or your loved one receives the benefit of the optimal level of healthcare in this setting,” Mr. McPeak said. “Combined with the attention and personal care given by the trained staff and the heartfelt empathy of the administration, McPeak’s is an unparalleled choice as an assisted living residence in a boutique-style setting.”

For more information, call McPeak’s Assisted Living at (631) 475-0445 or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

On February 14, as part of their community service, Emily Antos, a Junior Girl Scout from Troop 137, and Victoria Mercouris, a Cadette Girl Scout from Troop 3030, distributed handmade Valentine’s Day cards to residents at McPeak’s Assisted Living. Both girls are from Bay Area Service Unit #32, which consists of Girl Scouts from Bayport, Blue Point, Sayville and West Sayville. The cards that Emily and Victoria gave out put a smile on the residents’ faces and made this year’s Valentine’s Day a happier one for them as well.