The Basking Ridge Blog

A Fun and Safe Daytime Place for Our Elderly Friends

11/21/2016

Costs of the program will vary based on the number of days per week a member contracts to attend, usually a minimum of 2 days for continuity and contentment for the member. There are programs that can assist with costs (which are based on the members income - not their family's) and are economical when compared to Assisted Living or Home Health Care arrangements.

When you start to live in the land of "Mom or Dad need some help" you are introduced to a whole host of issues you never considered before. Do you need a break from the anxiety of worrying about falls or dementia or failing eyesight? Having an incredible program like the Adult Day Center located at the VNA of Somerset Hills building on Mount Airy in Basking Ridge is a blessing and a relief!

Members of the day program (open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) are treated to a warm and stimulating environment, with daily activities running the gamut from music therapy to visits from Morristown Museum and the Somerset Country Environmental Center to singers and crafts and more. Local residents and businesses join the members during "Days of Caring" to spend time talking and playing games, and local garden clubs bring floral projects and friendly faces, reinforcing the lively and warm-hearted environment the program staff create. Outdoor activities in the garden complement the bright and cheery interior for seasonal enjoyment.

Conveniently located just off the 287 exit, the program is able to take advantage of the excellent nursing and caregiver staff of the VNA of Somerset Hills. Mid-day medications can be given by a VNA nurse, monthly health monitoring of blood pressure and pulse are provided, and optional services of Home Health Aid-assisted showering and podiatrist services can be added. Unburdening the family of these tasks alone to qualified professionals is a huge stress reliever!

Check out their program and monthly schedule of activities at www.visitingnurse.org or call Maria Keenan at 908-766-6164 ext 207 to see if it will be a good fit for your personal situation.

And consider organizing a group visit from your business or club to help out our older neighbors with a "Day of Caring" of your own!

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From the Garden - November/December Gardening Tips

11/14/2016

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What is there to do in the garden in November or December? Plenty if the weather stays decent and you want to get a jump on next year!

Cleaning up the yard and garden is first on the list for the rest of us! Cut back your shrubs, pull annuals and any lingering weeds, and drop a layer of hay on tender strawberry and vegetable beds. Leave it through the spring - it makes a fine mulch as long as the layer isn't too thick! Protect vulnerable plants and trees from both cold winds and deer with wraps.

If your sprinklers have been off for several weeks, check on trees and shrubs for dryness. You might need to give them one last watering by hose before winter and frozen grounds set in.

Now is the time to clean off and store lawn furniture, pots and garden decor - before the first serious frost damages them. Take note of anything that needs repair or replacement before using next spring, you might get a bargain fixing or replacing it off-season.

If you planted cold weather veggies like kale, spinach or cauliflower in August, you are probably harvesting now. If you didn't - put a note on your calendar for next year! If you have easy access to your vegetable bed, adding a cold frame now will extend the growing season well into winter, particularly if we are lucky enough to have a mild one.

Lastly, take photos and measurements of beds or areas for future planting. You can spend many happy cold winter hours dreaming and planning for next year!

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Basking Ridge - An Amazing Place to Live!

11/3/2016

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I created a video yesterday with our town as the backdrop and hope you enjoy it.

I sell approximately $23MM in sales volume each year, mostly in town, and Zillow ranks me as having the most sales of homes located in Basking Ridge regardless of company as do several other organizations. More importantly, I love our town, and bringing new faces and spreading enthusiasm to help sellers and buyers, being a matchmaker of sorts, is the ultimate measure of why I love what I do!

Please enjoy the video!