A Message from our CEO, Lisa Haglund Easter is one of my favorite times of the year. As I reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and what it means to us as Christians, I can’t help but also reflect on the rebirth of our lives at Heritage, and the season we are entering as an organization – a season of HOPE.  1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I know that it has been a year full of challenges for all of us as we have continued to live with the pandemic and all the struggles it has placed in our paths. I want to assure you that when it seems like we are in our darkest moment, as Peter says, there is always hope. We expect, and know, that we will rise above the difficulties we face, continuing to faithfully serve those that God has called us to care for.  We have much to celebrate as we see the light at the end of what seemingly been a very dark tunnel for over two years. Our COVID positivity rates are down in each of the counties we serve, and we continue to see our staff going above and beyond to serve our beloved residents. For over 135 years, our mission has been to promote Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living. Hope is not just a promise for our residents, but for each family we serve. I want you to know that there is hope at Heritage.  I continue to pray and ask you to come alongside us in prayer for all of our staff and residents as we enter this new and exciting time.   Easter Blessings,  Lisa

Administrator's Corner Valerie Johnson Administrator, The Village

HELLO MARCH! May the early spring Awaken your soul and Remind you to Celebrate the season with the Hope and joy it brings (Ourmindfullife.com) Spring is in the air! I hope you all stayed warm and healthy through the winter. January and February of 2021 is when we, as a facility, were hit the hardest by COVID-19. This January brought us another round of COVID in the building but as a whole we fared much better than last year. We had 7 residents who tested positive. We were able to quarantine them at the end of one of our units and most just had mild symptoms. COVID hit our staff in January as well, but again, it was not as bad as it was last year. We are hoping and praying that the worst is now behind us.  I want to again thank all of the residents, family members, and staff for continuing to be supportive in all of our COVID related challenges. I know it is not easy. I know how frustrating these rules and regulations are. We wish we could go back to simpler, pre-COVID times. But instead, we will continue to follow the guidelines and regulations of the CDC and the New York State Department of Health. The goal is to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. Our county rate continues to move in the right direction and as changes come to our community we will be sure to let you all know as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding during these crazy times. I hope you are all able to enjoy the visitation time with your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at any time. Happy spring!

Around The Village

Join us in celebrating Lucybelle, our resident who recently turned 105! A few fun facts about Lucybelle include that she loves embroidering, worked at Fisher-Price, and loved playing with her grandmother's kittens! Her advice for a long, happy life is, "Do what your mother tells you. Always be honest. Be proud of what you do." We wish Lucybelle a wonderful new year of love and laughter!

Sweet treats, visits from furry friends, and fun activities made March extra special at The Village!

Chaplain's Corner Larry Petry, Senior Chaplain We will soon be celebrating the Easter season. For some, this is a celebration of spring, new life and delicious Cadbury Creme Eggs, but Easter also holds a much deeper significance for us.  Easter is the historic, tangible celebration of hope. In his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ demonstrated the power and compassion of God’s work breaking into our world. Jesus had many followers who fully embraced his claims that he was the Son of God. At perhaps the height of his ministry, Jesus was betrayed by one of his followers, handed over to his enemies and suffered a public Roman execution- death on a cross.  His followers, his friends, his family and all people of general good will were shattered. Heartbroken. Disillusioned.  Three days later, Jesus fulfilled prophecies (including his own) by raising from the dead. Not only was this a startling revelation, but it was verified through the credible eyewitness testimony of many. Jesus is alive. As it’s often proclaimed in our churches- “He is risen, indeed!” The crux of the matter is this: If Jesus Christ rose from the dead, there are no hopeless situations. No personal struggle, no corporate complexity, no bad day or terrible experience is beyond the power of God. Easter means that the ripple effects of hope work their way into the everyday fabric of our lives, even today.  Not giving up can be an expression of Easter hope. Learning, growing, and adapting to these ever-changing times can all now be done from a posture of hope.  Jesus rose from the dead. There are no more hopeless situations in our world. This is a powerful mystery we can learn to embrace and experience. May we truly celebrate this Easter by proclaiming hope with our every action in service of others throughout this season.

The Heritage Ministries public policy team advocates on behalf of our residents, their families, and our staff, to enact policies that will address the needs, quality care, and safety that ensures all our communities are beacons of Hope, Dignity, and Purposeful Living. Add your voice to ours! Learn more about how you can continue to advocate for Heritage and our residents by clicking HERE.

Send a FREE Heritage eCard to brighten up your loved one’s day or encourage a staff member! We have a variety of cards to fit the occasion, with your own customized message inside! Click on the photo above to get started or visit www.heritage1886.org/ecards,and we’ll print and deliver your card for free!

Heritage Ministries | www.heritage1886.org