Living well, with assistance: Millview at Latham offers seniors right-sized comforts

What’s your vision of a great assisted living facility? Comfortable, homey rooms and common areas? Good food? Plenty to do? Caring staff who honor each resident as an individual with tastes, needs and rights?

If that sounds good, you need to know about Millview at Latham, where about 50 residents enjoy the conveniences and amenities, with expert, attentive help when it’s needed, free from the burdens of everyday chores

“It’s very homey,” says administrator Alica Dooris. “Families and prospective residents are always surprised the first time they visit our quaint community. It’s not the traditional institutionalized facility that most people expect. Due to our smaller size, we are able to stay tuned to each residents’ individual needs and really get to know them and they become FAMILY to us.”

Unlike many other local Assisted Living Facilities, Millview is not a tiered facility which means as your loved one requires more assistance, they do not increase their monthly rent or add on fees to assist your loved one. “Everything is covered by your room and board including WiFi and Cable, we have no hidden fees,” said Dooris. Along with housekeeping, laundry, Millview handles medication management, case management, appointment coordination and transportation; residents continue to be cared for by their personal physicians, and Millview partners with several local healthcare providers to offer on-site laboratory services, podiatry care, portable x-ray, physical, occupational and speech therapies.

Millview offers three different sized rooms that have recently been renovated and can be furnished with facility furniture, however they strongly encourage residents to bring their favorite pieces of furniture and make it their own. Common areas include a spacious library with cozy fireplace, a beauty salon, a recreation room, puzzle room and a large community room with billiard and air hockey tables, a 70-inch TV with a popcorn machine, cornhole and more. The landscaped grounds include a big shady patio where residents love to sit and chat, a manicured courtyard, walking path, and resident flower and vegetable gardens.

Breakfasts are cooked to order daily and Dooris says there are always choices. “Residents always have a choice of the alternative if they do not like what is the main dish for lunch or dinner. We also do several food socials throughout the month and at least one themed meal, as we’ve found our residents enjoy anything that food related.”

The activity calendar is filled with exercise classes, gardening, paint-and-sip, games, movie matinees, pet therapy; education, spiritual programs, entertainment and much more. Destinations for outings to shops, restaurants and local events, like many of the activities, are chosen by residents. “It’s all about getting to know the residents and accommodating to their individual wants and needs — we encourage people to participate, but we don’t push,” Dooris says. “And family and friends are welcome 24/7 — you can absolutely visit as much as you like.”

Wednesday mornings are set aside for fun with the students from the on-premises Montessori school. “Our residents love it and the kids love it too,” says Dooris. “We play bingo, do art, do puzzles, and the interactions that happen are so wonderful to see. The intergenerational programming makes for lots of happiness, and happiness is a key to wellness.”

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