Benchmark Founder & CEO Tom Grape participated in a panel discussion regarding how assisted living communities navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lessons learned. Hosted by Mass-ALA, the panel was part of a two-day conference during which Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Elder Affairs Secretary Elizabeth Chen spoke. #MassALA #GovernorBaker #SecretaryChen
Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/33hvREi
We are pleased to announce that Benchmark has been recognized by the Hartford Business Journal as one of the Healthiest Employers in CT for the 3rd straight year! We’d like to thank the associates in all 17 of our CT communities for their hard work and dedication toward promoting healthy living! #CalledtoCare #HBJ
Read more in the link below:
https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/event-honorees/2020-healthiest-employers-of-connecticut
"I could not have chosen a better place for (my Mom). Benchmark has made me feel secure. They care... period."
Click on the link below to learn more about what residents and families value most at Benchmark, as we celebrate National Assisted Living Week.
https://hubs.la/H0whXpm0
We would like to wish everyone a Happy Grandparents Day in celebration of National Assisted Living Week! This is an important day to cherish grandparents and the lifelong memories that we have created with them. Whether it is in person or virtually, we hope that you are able to spend some special time with your loved ones. #CalledtoCare #GrandparentsDay2020 #NALW
Benchmark Senior Living Chairman & CEO Tom Grape shared his thoughts on Benchmark’s commitment to human connections and the results of a recent survey taken by our residents and families. Click below to read. #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/3b3lBBV
We are proud to announce that we have received a Best of the Best award for our innovative "Connect First" program from Argentum. This Mind & Memory program teaches associates how to discern what their memory care residents are trying to communicate and effective response techniques.
Thank you to all of our associates who contribute toward the success of the Mind & Memory program! Read more about the award below. #CalledtoCare #Argentum #memorycare
https://hubs.ly/H0tTc4H0
Benchmark Chairman and CEO Tom Grape was honored today by Boston Real Estate Times for his outstanding contribution and service to the senior housing industry. The award was presented by Upendra Mishra, the publication’s publisher, during Boston Real Estate Times’ virtual Senior Living Real Estate Summit.
Read more about the summit below! #CalledtoCare #BostonRETimes
BOSTONREALESTATETIMES.COM
Real Estate Times Senior Housing Virtual Summit Set for Oct. 16, Benchmark Founder Tom Grape to Be Honored
Benchmark IT Manager John Wenerowicz was only 8 years old when his grandmothers took turns teaching him to knit, sew and cross-stitch. Now, he is using his talents to help support Benchmark’s One Company Fund by creating and selling masks!
John has created masks that feature a variety of designs, including the Benchmark logo and many other logos! All mask proceeds go to the One Company Fund, an organization within Benchmark that provides support to associates who are facing hardships. #CalledtoCare #OneCompanyFund
Read the full story below:
https://bit.ly/314siQs
Michelle Tristani, Benchmark’s Corporate Director of Memory Care, recently authored a column on fall prevention, offering important tips aimed at helping keep older adults safe in their homes. #CalledtoCare #FallPreventionWeek
Read the full story below:
https://bit.ly/3ok6quk
Congratulations to 10 of our Massachusetts Benchmark communities on yet another WickedLocal Readers’ Choice award win. Thank you for continuing to set the standard of excellence for which Benchmark is known! Read more about these awards below. #CalledtoCare #wickedlocal
https://bit.ly/3eU6T1T
Benchmark Founder and CEO Tom Grape reflected on the amazing veterans in our communities, from our residents to associates. Benchmark would like to sincerely thank all veterans for their service and wish them the very best today, Veterans Day, as well as every day. Read Tom Grape's letter below. #CalledtoCare #VeteransDay
https://bit.ly/36qLmKr
When Amy Griswold, Programming Director at Benchmark Senior Living at Hamden, heard that her community’s veterans wouldn’t be able to share their stories in-person at schools this Veterans Day she leaped into action. Working with their residents, she created and shared a video with much appreciation from students and teachers throughout Hamden Public Schools. Check out their amazing stories! #CalledtoCare #VeteransDay
Guy Hemond, VP of Culinary & Dining Experience with Benchmark, was featured in a piece by Senior Dining Association about Benchmark's Memory Care Dining Program.
Guy discusses how Benchmark communities improve memory care dining for residents, including how to create a home-like dining experience, visual stimulation in food and kitchenware, and creative ways to make food easier to eat. We are proud of Guy and our dining associates who strive toward creating a positive dining experience for residents! #CalledtoCare #memorycare #seniordining
Read the full story below:
https://seniordining.org/senior-dining-news/f/ways-to-improve-food-intake-and-dining-in-memory-care
As we begin the holiday season, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services provided recommendations on how to celebrate the holidays safely with loved ones who reside in assisted living communities or other senior residential settings. Benchmark and the Commonwealth encourage everyone to be considerate and assess risk of the spread of COVID-19. #CalledtoCare #thanksgiving
Read more about the Commonwealth’s recommendations and considerations below:
https://bit.ly/32TMW6G
Planning for Thanksgiving? Benchmark is encouraging all of our residents to stay home this year, and instead connect and celebrate with family virtually – via ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, etc. Residents and families can schedule a time for a virtual gathering, to share recipes and enjoy each other’s company. #Thanksgiving
Read more about the CDC’s tips for taking part in a safe Thanksgiving below:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/thanksgiving.html
This year, you can make baking a virtual intergenerational activity. Set up your computer right on the kitchen counter and let your loved one walk you through baking cookies, pie and other family recipes. Make sure your speaker is loud enough so you can hear over the mixer! For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
Whether your movie is It’s a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation or A Christmas Story, it’s just not the same watching it by yourself. This year, use an app like Teleparty (https://www.netflixparty.com/) to watch those Christmas movies apart but together!
For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit more than singing some favorite seasonal songs! This year, consider scheduling a virtual caroling event with family members. Make sure that everyone is using headphones to cut down on the background noise (and to make it easier to mute tone-deaf Aunt Betty!).
For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
When gathering and opening presents during the holidays, families can use Microsoft Teams, Facetime, or Zoom to capture these scenes. From the chaos of kids opening presents to heartfelt reactions to the most personal gifts, this is a great way to share holiday moments and memories with loved ones. For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
Just because you can’t be there in person doesn’t mean you can’t decorate the tree together this year! If your loved one isn’t able to join you this year, consider buying them a small artificial tree and send them a few treasured family ornaments with it. Then, schedule some time for a virtual meeting to decorate your trees together. For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
Family holiday dinner isn’t canceled, it will just be a little different this year! Consider making a to-go plate for your loved one and dropping it off at his or her community. Then set up a computer at the head of the table so that they can eat the same food while still having a seat at your family dinner. For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
Another activity that’s easy to involve family members via video chat is building gingerbread houses. Put the camera at the end of the table and let the kids build their gingerbread houses while your loved one watches! For more virtual celebration ideas, click below. #CalledtoCare #Holidays2020
https://bit.ly/3aEi2nF
WED, JAN 13 AND 11 MORE
Virtual Alzheimer’s & Dementia Caregiver Support
Benchmark Founder, Chairman and CEO Tom Grape was featured in a Senior Housing News article this week about the Benchmark Coronavirus Advisory Council. SHN also took the opportunity to get Tom’s thoughts on the short- and long-term impact COVID-19 has had on the senior living industry. Read more below! #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/3oQLV8c
As part of Benchmark Senior Living’s commitment to improve and personalize the resident experience, we are thrilled to be the first senior living provider in the Northeast to implement a digital platform that pinpoints residents’ interests to better match them to community programs and activities, and build relationships with neighbors.
The “Something in Common” program, developed using TSOLife technology, is being launched across all of Benchmark’s 63 communities.
“Creating and enhancing human connections in our communities is at the heart of Benchmark’s mission and something each of our staff members strive to achieve each day. ‘Something in Common’ is a tremendous resource that helps forge cherished relationships between new and longtime residents, as well as staff,” said Tom Grape, Benchmark's founder, Chairman and CEO.
Read more about the program below! #CalledtoCare #TSOLife
https://bit.ly/3t7XpXt
The Wall Street Journal today put a spotlight on Benchmark Senior Living’s innovative and creative efforts to educate and encourage our associates to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Benchmark Founder, CEO and Chairman Tom Grape was asked for his insights on how to inspire employees to get vaccinated. Read the story below. #CalledtoCare #WSJ
https://bit.ly/2Yev1os
We are pleased to announce that Adelaide of Newton Centre has been awarded a Healthcare Facilities Design Award for 2020! The Boston Society for Architecture presents these awards each year, and recognizes excellence in architecture and design. We’d like to thank Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects for their great work in designing Adelaide! #CalledtoCare
Today, Benchmark CEO Tom Grape received his first COVID-19 vaccine at Cabot Park Village, an Independent Living community in Newton, Mass. Tom waited until all residents and associates throughout Benchmark’s 63 communities had a chance to receive their initial dose before rolling up his own sleeve. Tom and the entire Benchmark team are working hard to promote the importance of getting vaccinated.
Through Town Halls with medical experts, associate and resident videos and daily myth-buster emails, Benchmark is ramping up associate vaccine promotion as the second round of clinics begin. Read more below about our efforts to put an end to this terrible virus. #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/2Mu48uj
The Benchmark Coronavirus Advisory Council was featured in Providence Business News over the weekend. The Council consists of renowned public health and medical experts. Tom Grape, Benchmark’s founder, chairman and CEO, said of the group: “By formalizing additional relationships with a larger group of experts that includes some of the nation’s top public health minds, we can ensure that our infectious disease prevention and containment protocols are consistent with leading-edge thinking on COVID-19.”
Read more about the Council below. #CalledtoCare #PBN
https://bit.ly/3r8JmPK
Academy Point at Mystic’s Tashara Leaky, a Resident Care Director, delayed her summer wedding plans in order to care for her residents during her community’s COVID-19 response. Tashara and her fiancé will be finally tying the knot on Valentine’s Day! Learn more about Tashara’s love and sacrifice for the residents she cares for at Academy Point. #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/3qeQV7z
Benchmark is thrilled to announce several key executive team changes. Jerry Liang has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and John Hartmayer has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Benchmark’s Chief Marketing Officer, Heather Frahm, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. We’d like to welcome Jerry and John to the Benchmark family, and congratulate Heather.
Read the full story below! #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/3psChbB
Lionel Porter, a resident at Cabot Park Village, a Benchmark independent living community in Newtonville, MA, has dedicated his life and career to fighting racism. His story was featured last night on Boston 25 News! Learn more below. #BHM
https://bit.ly/3bGTtVZ
At a time when men ruled the science field, Virginia Whitcomb, a resident of Hamden, was only welcomed into the lab when her male counterparts were away at war. Virginia seized the moment and never looked back, enjoying a fulfilling career as a chemist.
This Women’s History Month, we salute Virginia and all of the women who played a pivotal role in American history. Read the full story below. #WomensHistoryMonth
https://bit.ly/30cSGGL
In an era where it was unusual for women to hold high powered jobs, Phyllis was on the frontline breaking this stereotype. She started working at her local bank straight out of high school. Starting as an office employee and working her way up until she reached the ranks of bank vice president. Phyllis loved her job. She was responsible for over 200 employees and while working in the fraud department helped fight corruption. Thank you Phyllis for helping open corporate doors for women! #WomensHistoryMonth
Benchmark is pleased to announce that our VP of Revenue Operations, Barb Solomon, will be a featured speaker at the Senior Living Transformation Summit next month. Barb, along with other leaders in the industry, will be discussing how technology is driving better outcomes in senior living. If you’re a senior living provider you can attend for free! If interested, please register in the link below.
https://bit.ly/38hTn5Z
At Benchmark, creating meaningful moments with our mind and memory care residents is at the heart of our culture of caring. To celebrate Brain Awareness Week, Michelle Tristani, Corporate Director of Memory Care, outlines proven techniques that help foster meaningful communication with people with dementia. Click below to read more about our award-winning program, Connect First. #BrainAwarenessWeek #CalledtoCare
https://bit.ly/3eHVjsH
