Riverview Estates

New rays of sunshine break into our days with the reconstruction of the newly dedicated Mother’s Memorial Garden. The enclosed courtyard has been transformed into a place where residents and staff can sit and enjoy the wildlife, variety of flowers and shrubs, and two water features. Newly planted flowers, colorful birdhouses and carefully placed seating all add an extra area for our residents to enjoy. The flowers are especially attractive to birds and butterflies. A family of six turtles now call this garden home. The garden was financed by recent Mother’s Day appeals as well as a gift from Florence Burkley in memory of her relative Ethel Townsend. A local landscape artist, Jeannie Frances developed the garden. Her husband Jim helped to make this garden possible. This garden is accessible to all our residents. This spot is one of many that residents can enjoy with family and friends.

Our congratulations go to Miriam Dean, whom we are pleased to call a “Ray of Sunshine”. Miriam at age 85, after three months of work with our rehabilitation department has reached the place where she can choose either to go to her home or move into our assisted living unit. According to Maria Knight head of our rehabilitation department, Miriam‘s progress is so rewarding. “Miriam is the type of patient that you live for. There is a lot of personal and professional satisfaction in having someone who has made the progress that Miriam has.”

Miriam Dean’s progress far exceeded everyone’s expectations when it came to her rehabilitation. She arrived here at Riverview Estates after suffering a stroke. In the matter of three months she has progressed from having to have assistance in most of her daily living to being independent and anticipating her next move. Maria Knight and Lindsey O’Malley of our Rehabilitation Department tell how limited her abilities were. Because of her determination and amazing progress the therapy team had to constantly increase her rehabilitation goals. With great enthusiasm and love they talk about her dedication to therapy, and the miraculous progress she has made.

Before her stroke Miriam, a former nurse, was a very active senior. She served her church, the First Baptist Church of Trenton as a trustee and participated in the American Baptist Women’s Ministries organization. She also served the city of Trenton through Mobile Meals. She talks fondly of her participation here as an active member of the Riverview Estates Auxiliary. Because of her determination and her progress, she can now look forward to new possibilities and to resuming her activities.

In just 40 days Virginia Hill, an 84 years old post-polio resident recovered from a hip fracture which required a total hip replacement! According to Maria Knight, physical therapist, "the average rehabilitation time for a hip replacement patient is 70-100 days". Maria attributes Virginia's rapid recovery to her strong faith and supportive family

Virginia says, "I am what I am because I was able to come home to have therapy, Praise the Lord! A large group of residents and employees, whom I call my family, met me at the door when I came back from the hospital and welcomed me home. Even though I was temporarily in a rehabilitation area I was surrounded by familiar faces and cared

for by staff who knew me. I am so grateful I did not have to go to an unfamiliar Nursing Home for rehabilitation."

Virginia had been donating to the Homecoming Campaign Rehabilitation Project by crocheting articles, selling them and giving the profit to the campaign so that Riverview Estates could accomplish their goal of having their own rehabilitation department. Never did she think that she would be one of the first residents to benefit from having rehabilitation in the place that she considers her home.

As Virginia rounded the corner, walking back to her Assisted Living room with many of her belongings draped over her walker she gave a big smile and threw a kiss to the many residents greeting her. She gave Maria, her therapist a hug as Maria thanked Virginia for being such a positive influence on all the therapy residents as she encouraged them to keep working hard.