The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
RECONNECTING TO WHAT MATTERS MOST AT CARRIAGE GREEN AT MILFORD
Ernie and Mary Roberto’s love for one another was as sweet as their former soda fountain, Ernie’s Grocery. Ernie’s was across from the GE Plant in Bridgeport Conn.’s East End. For over three decades, the pair would get up at four am and work together all day long, preparing and serving lunch and treats for Bridgeport’s finest.
“When we first met, he was working for a pharmacy and delivered medications for kids I was babysitting for,” said Mary. “After that we were never apart. We were always together.” After Ernie served in the Navy during World War II, the couple went on to have a son, David and were active in their church. As they got older and Ernie’s health began to decline, there was no question that they wouldn’t remain together. So, they sold their condo and moved into an assisted living community in Stratford, Conn. However, the care and the connections weren’t what the Roberto’s wanted, so David ended up finding out about Carriage Green at Milford, a Benchmark assisted living and Mind & Memory Care community in Milford, Conn.
At Carriage Green, associates are hired for heart and trained for skill. They continually pursue excellence and are always seeking new ways to evolve and exceed expectations. They also stay a step ahead with personalized care plans for each resident, supportive services, so residents remain empowered as they age and provide experiences that nurture passions, connections and enhance quality of life. According to Mary, “Carriage Green helped with Ernie’s medical care. They went overboard for him, arranging for medical services and more.” Although Ernie succumbed to cancer a year and a half ago, at 90 years old, Mary continues to pursue her own individual passions. She remains an avid reader and enjoys community activities like the live entertainment and resident council meetings. “It is such a blessing here; I have peace of mind. Everyone is beyond wonderful,” said Mary.
Chris Brennan of Norwalk, Conn., concurs that the people at Carriage Green are extraordinary. She is the daughter of Carriage Green Mind & Memory Care resident Vicki Brennan and knows how difficult it is to navigate the complexities of managing aging parents.
In 2013, her dad’s health was declining, so she and her siblings moved their parents from their Mount Vernon, New York home of over 43 years to Connecticut
to be closer to them. Then, in 2016, dad passed away and Vicki had a stroke not long after. They hired a 24/7, live-in caregiver for Vicki, but soon realized she needed more than just physical care.
“We were concerned about the lack of socialization. Mom had always been very active and social, and she had worked her whole life. She kept saying she didn’t like just staying home and not doing anything,” said Chris.
Like the Roberto’s, Carriage Green came along at precisely the right time.
“Mom became a totally different person when she moved to Carriage Green in 2016. She participates in every single thing that’s going on—each day, circling the programs she wants to go to. She starts with exercise and keeps busy all day, enjoying live music several times a week, Bingo and more. She loves the interaction and people like her because she has such a great sense of humor,” said Chris. In the five years that Vicki has lived at Carriage Green, the community has worked with them through the many health and financial challenges that life can bring. The dining services team continually works with the family to ensure adherence to a gluten-free diet to help manage Vicki’s Celiac disease. They have provided her with additional one-on-one support through Benchmark’s Signature Services program. They also managed the transition from traditional assisted living to Mind & Memory Care when Vicki’s memory became compromised.
“It’s all about trust. We really trust everyone at Carriage Green, from the maintenance to the housekeeping to the programming team,” said Chris. We are a very involved family, and they’ve handled every step of our journey in the best way possible with the highest levels of care, communication and honesty.”
“People want their loved one to feel cared for, and that’s what Carriage Green does. It’s an outstanding community, and we are grateful to be part of it,” said Chris.
For more information about Carriage Green at Milford, call 203.433.6215 or visit CarriageGreenAtMilford.com.