A record number of Cliffs residents ventured outdoors to dine, some with family, outside in the sunshine at the Cliffs outdoor dining patio in the interior garden area.
The day was a testimony to the renewal of life as we knew it in our pre-pandemic era!
Cliffs dining staff, along with dining manager, Lee Whitaker, grilled up a special menu that was enjoyed by all.
Prior to their barbecue, Major Bill Horn lead a moving Memorial Service to honor the men and women who defended our country, often at great peril and sacrifice. Major Horn shared moving stories of his dangerous missions as a special ops helicopter pilot taking soldiers behind enemy lines to save many.
So many Cliffs residents cheered all those who made their holiday so special and happy.
We hope this is the start of a very enjoyable summer for residents and for the community.
Three cheers for our Cliffs Residents who voted in favor of taking on their first charity project since the pandemic began. They chose Wounded Warrior Project and organized ways for residents to raise funds besides making charitable contributions in the charity box.
For about 6 weeks, residents donated their winnings from Bings, Badminton, Laps around the Cliffs, and shuffleboard games to help raise $300. The cash prizes were supplemented by donations dropped in the Charity Box left at the front reception desk. To their credit, the resident’s final tally was a total of $307.00! A check has been mailed in their Name,
Wounded Warrior Project is a direct service organization. 100% of donation supports wounded warriors. About 72% — nearly $250 million in the fiscal year 2022 – was spent directly on programs and services for wounded warriors, families, and caregivers. The balance paid to support the delivery of this life-changing support.
More than 220,000 warriors, family members, and caregivers were registered with Wounded Warrior Project as of September 30, 2022. The need is great and growing. Every month in 2022, more than 1,780 warriors and family members registered with Wounded Warrior Project to receive our free programs and services.
Advanced Standing is a voluntary program for assisted living residences. Since its inception in 2012, The Cliffs at Eagle Rock’s Administrative staff recognized the program as a step toward assuring families the Cliffs was a residence where residents would receive quality care endorsed by New Jersey’s Healthcare Association and recognized as fully equipped for successful self-governance. Thus, The Cliffs was one of the first to apply and be awarded the 2012 Advance Standing Award.
The Department of Health, the government agency that inspects and licenses assisted living facilities in New Jersey has collaborated with the Health Care Association of New Jersey Foundation to expand oversight of facilities and ensure that all state licensing regulations and quality benchmarks are met. Residences that are found to provide more than the minimum and strive for excellence are awarded the special designation of Advanced Standing.
It is a recognition of compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, the designation reflects a commitment to quality through participation in the National Center for Assisted Living Quality Performance Survey and meeting all benchmarks for quality indicators chosen by the Peer Review Panel of the Health Care Association of New Jersey Foundation.
The Cliffs is proud of its staff, their dedication, and commitment to “go the extra mile” to care for our residents, and to see themselves as healthcare professionals who deserve to be recognized.
Our first set of residents enjoyed a scenic trip to enjoy the Fall foliage and to stop by the boardwalk at Lake Mohawk last week.
And for all it was a true breath of fresh air to enjoy another taste of normalcy post pandemic.
As one resident described it, “what joy to bask in the sunshine of the Mohawk valley!” “Who knew such beauty was so close by”, said another.
With those rave reviews a second trip is planned for Nov. 19th to take another group of our residents to enjoy it too.
It isn’t hard to smile when Rev. Dawn gathers residents together to be reminded of a loving God who cares for them; and how they too can uplift each other by caring for those in their midst.
Despite being the newest addition to The Cliffs Family, she has found a welcomed community ready to enjoy her energy and wisdom, as part of our Spiritual Enrichment Support Team.
Rev. Dawn has a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate in Metro Urban Ministry. She worked as a full-time Social Justice Minister and Clergy for her congregation in Perth Amboy, N J for 5 years. After that, she was called into chaplaincy. Presently, Rev. Dawn divides her time as the Primary Chaplain of Heritage Mano, which offers her the opportunity to minister to hospice, dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as our Cliffs residents.
As Rev. Dawn establishes relationships with our staff and residents, her goal is to “present ministry through bringing the presence of God in a way that is familiar and comfortable to the community”.
Rev. Dawn will be at The Cliffs weekly on Thursdays to be a support to both residents and staff members.