Joe Radner lived in the same house in Jersey City, New Jersey, for over 40 years. Before retiring, he was a guidance counselor, physical education teacher, and weight training instructor. During summer 2019, Joe had some health issues that necessitated a hospital stay and rehabilitation. His niece Tery, who lives locally, recommended he look into Village Point Rehabilitation & Healthcare. When Joe and Tery first met with Tina Hanoman, assistant executive director at Village Point, there was an aha moment—it turns out that Joe had been Tina’s guidance counselor, and the year she graduated was the same year he retired. Joe enjoyed this special connection with his past and chose Village Point for his rehab. When he finished, he decided to look closely into Monroe Village (Village Point and Monroe Village share a campus), and the rest is history. Joe’s advice: “Do what I did: Come and spend some time here—live here for a short while. The best way to see whether Monroe Village is for you is to experience it. That way, when the time comes to make a move, you can make an informed decision. Since I arrived, I’ve participated in a number of things. It’s a new way of life. I enjoy exercising and attending events here. I have my meals at the Village Bistro and the Fireside Restaurant. I like that I have a washer and dryer in my apartment and that I don’t have to worry about cleaning and maintenance. I find the staff here exceptional from top to bottom. Everyone does their job and they do it well. They’re good with people and they’re on top of things. Thanks to my niece who recommended Village Point when I needed rehab, I was able to see what Monroe Village offered and plan my next move. I’m very happy with the way things are going.”

Longtime Monroe Village resident Esther Raiss, who’s served the community in many ways, including as Resident Association president and board resident representative, offered this reflection on the community: “Monroe Village has been my home for the past 18 years. Many things have happened in that time. The caring and kindness of dedicated staff and friendly residents are always here to help aid and comfort me. COVID-19 has tested all of us. We are proceeding to live a slightly different lifestyle but we here in Monroe Village are safe and comfortable in our homes.”

When Eleanor Newell moved out of a nearby 55+ community to Monroe Village in July 2019, she was seeking the safety, security, and peace of mind that comes with living at a Life Plan Community. It was a move that both she and her five children favored, and because Eleanor remained in the same area, she was able to continue patronizing her favorite shops, restaurants, and doctors. Recalling the rhythm of her days before COVID-19 necessitated a pause in community life, Eleanor said, “I enjoy the camaraderie. I eat with different groups on different nights, I do paintings that hang over by the greenhouse, and I sing with the Friday chorus. The people here are very, very pleasant.” Since early spring 2020, as pandemic-related restrictions were put in place, Eleanor has been impressed with the many ways the administration and staff work to keep everyone safe, healthy, and informed. “They’re very cautious and conscientious. They keep a close watch on us. When I speak to other residents, they comment on that, too.” She’s pleased to receive frequent community news bulletins and watch town hall meetings on the in-house television channel. When it comes to dining, Eleanor is all set. She receives a daily menu, makes her selections, and the dining staff prepares and packages her meals. “The young people in the dining room are working extra hard,” she said, “and we all appreciate it.” Living on the first floor, Eleanor takes advantage of being able to step outside her apartment, tend to her potted plants, and “feel human.” She’s also pleased to have her children and grandchildren visit and attend community-sponsored entertainment. “It’s great to get out by the pond and listen to music,” she said. “Being here is a blessing.”

Barry and Marcia Falk moved to Monroe Village in late May 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the fact that it was a challenging time to join a new community, they settled in beautifully. Considering the timing of their move, Barry said, “As far as COVID-19 goes, we were scared, but we decided to bite the bullet and do it. We put our home on the market, sold it in a matter of days, and braced ourselves for the move. Everything went exactly the way it was supposed to. We love our apartment. It’s completely renovated and lovely with a wonderful enclosed balcony. They helped us get set up, took care of any questions we had, and kept us up to date on the latest community news.” Pleased with the food, Barry explained that when they first moved in, their meals were delivered to the apartment. Now they’re able to make reservations to dine at the Fireside Restaurant or have a meal at the Village Bistro. Appreciating that all the safety and social distancing protocols are in place to keep everyone healthy, he’s glad they’ve carefully opened up the community in adherence with state and federal guidelines. Now that they can, he and Marcia enjoy hosting family for visits, attending musical and current event programs, and playing backyard games outside. “People are very friendly here,” he said, prompting those who know him to think “it takes one to know one,” as Barry is a gregarious, generous fellow. A bingo caller from way back (he called bingo in his synagogue and last community), Barry’s happy to once again be able to experience the thrill of the game at Monroe Village. As for the couple they first had dinner with, they now see each other every day. “It’s like we’ve been friends for 100 years,” he said. Pleased that he and Marcia made the move, Barry reflected on the quality of the staff: “They reach out to residents and ask us for our opinions about what they can do to make us feel comfortable, active, and vibrant—we really like that! The staff are caring and go out of the way with little acts of kindness you don’t expect. We’re very happy and look forward to having many wonderful years here.”