friendly adjective friend·ly | \ ˈfren(d)-lē 1 : of, relating to, or befitting a friend 2 : serving a beneficial or helpful purpose   Over the course of this next year, I will be contributing some thoughts and observations to our blog.  One thing that really interested me about coming to St. John’s was the companywide…

“I came directly from home by my own decision.” George Dunn’s move to the Hawthorne at St. John’s Meadows over two years ago immediately dispels a couple of common misconceptions about moving to an assisted living community. While such a move often does involve a transition directly from the hospital or a skilled nursing rehabilitation…

Written by Berdjouhi Esmerian, Brickstone Resident As the years go by, from birth to where we are in the present moment, our bodies change. This is taken for granted. Yet, one change I have difficulty understanding is our physical appearance, specifically our faces, even after we reach adulthood. Our bodies change, but our best identifying…

Dear friends, family, residents, and staff, My name is Nate Sweeney and I recently joined the St. John’s team as vice president of skilled services. I look forward to overseeing St. John’s nursing home, our fantastic adult medical day program, and our lovely Green House Homes in Penfield. I am thrilled to have joined the…

For a long time, the goal was to create a home-like environment. My vision is to get rid of the word ‘like’ and make it home. Because home-like is never really home.” -Diane Bogaczyk The profession of nursing has drastically changed through the years. Just ask Diane Bogaczyk, St. John’s Director of Nursing. As a…

If you find yourself near the auditorium at St. John’s Home on a Friday afternoon, chances are you will hear the undeniable sounds of hand drums, specifically djembes and congas. You will also hear an array of other instruments ranging from tambourines and shakers to wooden blocks and bells. This is not just any kind of music – this music is special, partly because it is our very own residents leading the show. Known by staff, residents, and family members alike, the Now We Drum! group meets every Friday afternoon. Led by therapeutic recreation specialists, Ed Keegan and Alicia Montalvo, the group brings in anywhere from 30 – 40 residents depending on the week – and of course anyone and everyone is welcome to join.

The courtyard at St. John’s Home was transformed into a shoreline with real sand and small pools for residents to enjoy. Exotic cocktails were served from the tiki bar as residents, family members, and staff enjoyed the summer sun and great food. The day long celebration incorporated games and activities for all to enjoy. 13WHAM…

“Women have been formative and essential throughout the history of toys,” explained Christopher Bensch, chief curator at the Strong National Museum of Play. Bensch, who also serves at the museum’s vice president for collections, presented to over three dozen residents at St. John’s Meadows on the topic of “The Wonder Women of Toys.” The July…

June is the start of my favorite season of the year: Farmer’s Market season! Although the Rochester Public Market is open year-round and I often go to the indoor Brighton Winter Farm Market—it’s seeing local produce, local farmers, and my neighbors out on a sunny day that really makes my heart—and taste buds—sing. Many farmer’s…

In honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, staff at St. John’s Home hosted Game Show Week 2.0 from June 4 – June 9. Residents teamed up with staff members from various departments to participate a variety of interactive games based on famous game shows. Contestants were challenged to use their brains and work collaboratively with teammates to win…