Have Sippy Will Travel

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With its miles and miles of beautiful beaches, the East Coast is one of the most popular targets
for tourists in our country. It is also one of its most historical sections, being the location of the
original thirteen states. Many people make their homes along the coastline so that they can look
at the ocean every day when they wake up. Similarly, there are assisted living facilities (ALFs)
all along the coast for those who need assistance in carrying out the essential activities of daily
living, but who are too young for the old folks’ home. Following are descriptions of some of the
best of them.

Seaside Health Care, Portland, Maine

Seaside Health Care is located close to the sea, overlooking Back Cove, and has six care
options—short stay, long-term care, longer-term rehabilitation, respite care, assisted living and
hospice. In the field of assisted living, they provide “the perfect balance of care when you need it
and dignified independence when you don’t.” Residents have access to nursing care around the
clock. They also have live music and baseball games, and even take their members on cruises
along the bay. Seaside Health Care also has the advantage of being near many of Portland’s best
cultural attractions.

Compass on the Bay (formerly the Bay View), Boston

Compass of the Bay, located along Old Harbor, is especially good for those who are suffering
from Alzheimer’s disease or memory loss. They provide medication management assistance,
meals, housekeeping and other personal care services. Each resident is given a spacious private
apartment of his own with all the care that he needs just outside. Members have praised the
cheerful and helpful nature of the staff.

Emeritus at Plymouth Beach, Massachusetts

Emeritus is one of a line of such residences. The one in Plymouth Beach is not exactly on the
coast, but it is quite close to it, on Warren Avenue, which runs parallel to the beach. The grounds
are beautifully landscaped and the place is considered to be one of the premier facilities of its
kind in the state. It has a public dining room and a TV room, both very attractive—and then there
is the red floral design on the two arm chairs between the bookshelves, the red, blue, green and
yellow coral wallpaper in the bathroom, the design on one of the cupboard chests—this is the
kind of place I would love to live in! Recreational programs are provided, too.

The Shore Retirement, Ocean City, New Jersey

The Shore Retirement, housed in a building called Wesley Manor, is run by United Methodist
Homes of New Jersey. Its bedrooms bear such creative names as the Atlantic, the Cape May and
the Marmora, and there is also a living room and studio called the Absecon. In addition to the
normal assisted living services, the Shore has a more intense program of “assisted living plus”
for those who are exceptionally frail or “medically complex.”

Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Moving on into the South, we come to Westminster-Canterbury, close to Lynnhaven Roads.
Their newly-constructed East Tower is where most of the assisted living members make their
homes, with the floors bearing colorful names like Windsurfer, Heron, Sandpiper, Angler,
Nautilus and Chesapeake. The lobby is excellently placed, giving a matchless view of the ocean.
There is also a shiny black piano in the lobby. This year Westminster-Canterbury won first place
as the best retirement community in Virginia.

Lourdes-Noreen McKeen Residence, West Palm Beach, Florida

This retirement home is situated along the waterfront in the downtown area of West Palm
Beach in a tall white building with a red roof and three chimneys. As with all the communities
discussed here, they have as their goal enabling their residents to be as independent as possible.
Residents can even decorate their private apartments according to their own tastes. Lourdes-
Noreen also performs scheduled transportation to medical and dental appointments, concierge
services and a range of social, recreational and cultural programs, plus religious services. A
beauty salon and barber shop are maintained on the premises. Volunteers entertain residents and
perform other activities.