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Editor’s Note: Ourania R. is a computer science major at Fairleigh Dickinson University who performed 60 hours of community service over the course of 3 weeks this spring at Bright Side Manor, supervised by Social Worker Michelle Madonna. As a tech wiz, Ourania was initially tasked with helping our residents troubleshoot problems they were having with their phones and computers, but she also enjoyed conversing with residents about her dreams and aspirations, with one resident

By Alexandra Valdivia More than 35 community members gathered June 9 at The Bright Side Family’s Age Friendly Teaneck Community Room for the first installment of our two-part legal planning series featuring elder law attorney, Jaqueline Yarmo. The workshop, Estate Planning Basics, was part of our Secure Futures Workshop Series, a free educational initiative offered through the Senior Checks Program. Now entering our fifth year, both Senior Checks and Secure Futures continue

Partnerships are the lifeblood of age-friendly work, and this past spring our Age-Friendly Teaneck team cemented some old collaborations and fostered some new ones while playing a central role in co-hosting the Township’s first-ever “Super Senior Prom.” Age-Friendly Teaneck Coordinator Janice Dorman, along with Director of Senior Programs EJ Vizzi, were part of the planning committee for the May 14th event held at the Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe, an event that was more tha

By Ellen Rand The late Rosalynn Carter once said that there are four kinds of people: those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers now, those who will be caregivers in the future, and those who will need caregiving. That insight from a former First Lady, coupled with May being Older Americans Month, prompted The Bright Side Family and Age Friendly Teaneck to present a discussion on “Caregiving: A Labor of Love” at the Teaneck Public Library on May 26. The eveni

By Devan O’Sullivan As a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) student at Ramapo College, my internship with The Bright Side Family afforded me the opportunity to work with the Senior Checks money-management program. It was a humbling and gratifying experience that I will take with me throughout the rest of my social work career. In my months working with three older adults I saw firsthand how the challenges of living on a fixed income, managing chronic illness and navigating new t

By Colleen Diskin Home safety modifications. Vision and hearing supports. Transportation options. Assistive devices. Financial benefits. These were among the topics covered at our Community Begins at Home Resource & Connections Fair on April 16. More than 60 residents strolled from table display to table display at the Redmond Center at St. Anastasia Catholic Church, collecting informational materials, getting their questions answered and learning about strategies for aging i

Our PALS (Portable Assisted Living Services) program recently hosted a St. Patrick's Day celebration for residents of Westwood House. The party featured cupcakes and other refreshments, and staff organized several games in which the residents had the chance to win prizes. All residents in the building, those in PALS and those who are not on the program, were able to connect with another thus strengthening existing relationships and providing the opportunity to form new on

By Colleen Diskin Class is in session at the 1425 Teaneck Road Community Room, and seven older adults are tuning in, workbooks open, as Rosemary Marchetto walks them through some of the common causes of medication misuse. This is Session 4 of a six-week prevention and wellness workshop course being offered through a new partnership between Age-Friendly Teaneck, The Bright Side Family and The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources , a Division of Children’s Aid and Family Servi

By Colleen Diskin A dozen family caregivers are seated in a circle inside the 1425 Teaneck Road Community Room, each sharing some of the struggles and joys they’ve experienced during the past month as they navigate life with a loved one experiencing dementia. Whether the anecdotes are about caregiving successes or difficulties, heads nod in understanding. Suggestions flow. Try attaching a tracking device to an item of clothing if you’re worried about getting separated from a

Artistic inspiration has been flowing freely at Bright Side Manor these past few months, thanks to a new partnership that brought a series of visual arts and musical programs to our residents. Arts Horizons was provided with a grant from The Henry & Marilyn Taub Foundation to bring to Bright Side its “Creative Spirits for Seniors Program,” which features a series of visual arts and musical workshops. The project began in January with four weekly visual arts workshops le

The Bright Side Family, in keeping with its mission to help connect older adults to the resources they need to safely and comfortably age in place, has recently become a provider of care management services for a state-funded in-home care program. Social Worker Nicole Torres, who divides her time between PALS clients in Westwood and our community-based programs, is newly trained as a care manager for Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC), a program that helps o

By Devan O’Sullivan Few informational events will tempt people to venture outside after an epic snowstorm, unless the topic is “affordable housing” and the attendees are desperately seeking it. On Jan. 27, just 48 hours after a historic snowstorm idled the region, older residents and aging services professionals made their way to the Age-Friendly Teaneck Community Room at 1425 Teaneck Road for advice on how to navigate a different kind of whirlwind – the search for an aff

The following is an article originally posted by Fortune in July 2022: Fran Seeley, 81, doesn’t see herself as living on the edge of a...

The following article originally appeared on Ready Set Care: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) describe the basic activities of daily...

Do you have a loved one at Bright Side Manor, or another assisted living facility? Here's an article with tips for celebrating the...

Are you looking for the perfect gift for an older adult in your life? We've come up with a list of options that your friend or family...

Check out this article about how walking can keep your mind healthy and reduce the risk of developing dementia.

Click here to read more about the COLA adjustment coming in 2023.

Far too many older adults fall prey to scammers who are looking to make a quick buck. Here are 22 tips that can help you steer clear of...

Check out this article from the Kaiser Family Foundation about the ins-and-outs of how the Inflation Reduction Act impacts healthcare...