GAZETTE – October/November 2024

October/November Gazette front page

 
John Knox Village 101: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

GAZETTE ACE – September/October 2024

Enjoy the latest edition of the Gazette ACE, a digital flipbook that showcases the best of John Knox Village’s Arts, Culture, and Entertainment!

https://heyzine.com/flip-book/5aed1fab21.html

GAZETTE – August/Sept 2024

Law Aimed At Preventing Another Surfside Tragedy Has Hefty Price Tag

JKV Proudly Opens BV’s French Press Coffee & Wine Bar at Westlake

BV’s French Press Coffee & Wine Bar Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting

On April 17, 2024, John Knox Village of Florida (JKV) in Pompano Beach proudly held its grand opening of BV’s French Press Coffee and Wine Bar, located on the lobby level of Westlake, its newest addition to the community. The new luxury apartment towers at JKV include 147 state-of-the-art apartment homes and many spaces on its ground floor where all residents and guests can gather, relax, and enjoy. Courtesy of a generous donation, BV’s was named in honor of its benefactor, JKV resident Bruce Voelkel, who has lived at JKV since 2017 and is an active member of the community.

The John Knox Village Foundation supports the community through innovative, compassionate programming and initiatives. According to the Foundation’s Executive Director Mark Dobosz, “Bruce’s donation to name BV’s French Press Coffee & Wine Bar is a perfect example of his commitment to the lifestyle, well-being, and pleasure for all Village residents to savor the delights of delicious coffee and wine.”

 

L-R: Lance Sanson, VP Dining, JKV Resident Bruce Voelkel, and Steve Turk, Founder Biscayne Coffee

 

JKV’s Dining team member Shala McKenzie proudly serves BV’s first cups of coffee to  what will sure to be many happy residents.

 

BV’s features offerings from Biscayne Coffee, a locally sourced coffee company that donates 10% of its proceeds to ocean conservation. Its founder, Steve Turk, participated in the ribbon cutting and presented Bruce with a gift basket and BV’s French Press apron.

Since 1967, JKV has been providing a fulfilling, engaging, and stress-free environment with an all-inclusive full continuum of care from independent living and assisted living to short and long-term skilled nursing care. As a Life Plan community, the internationally award-winning JKV allows proactive seniors to plan for their future healthcare needs while enjoying first-class amenities, life-long learning programs, and a full range of services that promote wellness of mind, body, and spirit. JKV continues to stay ahead of the curve by emphasizing fitness and overall well-being for each of its residents. Through unwavering commitment to excellence and guiding principles, the team brings the unique JKV experience to life every day for 1,000 residents.

JKV Once Again Receives Distinguished ‘Best in Wellness’ Awards

John Knox Village of Florida in Pompano Beach is thrilled to announce that it has been honored with the 2023 ICAA NuStep Pinnacle and Beacon Awards, solidifying its position among the Top 5 and Top 25 ‘Best in Wellness’ senior living communities in North America. JKV has been recognized annually with these awards since 2019. Once again, the acknowledgments underscore John Knox Village’s commitment to fostering a wellness-centered culture that benefits all residents and staff within the community.

The ICAA NuStep Pinnacle Award and Beacon Award are a joint initiative between the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), an organization at the forefront of leading, connecting, and defining the active-aging industry, and NuStep, LLC, a prominent manufacturer of recumbent cross-trainers widely used in healthcare, senior living, and fitness.

Colin Milner, CEO, and founder of the ICAA, emphasizes the evolving importance of wellness in senior living communities. Milner states, “Wellness has evolved from being a programming option to becoming a way of life. And these communities are setting the pace for the rest of the industry to follow.”

According to Jamisyn Becker, JKV’s Director of Marketing & Innovation, “At John Knox Village, we prioritize programming that embraces wellness as its key focus to nurture physical vitality and maintain a culture of connection. By prioritizing holistic well-being, we cultivate not just healthier bodies but also stronger bonds, fostering a community where every individual thrives.”

As the older adult population continues to grow and individuals seek a better, longer life, the significance of where one chooses to live becomes increasingly essential. John Knox Village inspires the industry, leading the way with its comprehensive wellness culture.

About NuStep, LLC

Visit: https://www.nustep.com/

NuStep, LLC designs, manufactures and distributes recumbent cross-trainer exercise equipment. NuStep products empower users of all functional abilities and fitness levels to engage in exercise that builds strength, enhances independence, and improves health outcomes. NuStep sponsored the Pinnacle and Beacon Awards recognizing senior communities and centers transforming lives through whole-person wellness programming.

About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)

Visit: https://www.icaa.cc/

ICAA leads, connects, and defines the active-aging industry, supporting professionals in developing wellness cultures for adults over 50. The association focuses on active aging, helping older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness.

For more information or questions, contact:

Colin Milner, CEO, ICAA

Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America); Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595

A Sign of the Times: JKV’s Iconic Clock Goes Digital

The iconic red-neon John Knox Village name and clock that faced Interstate 95 from the west side of JKV’s 17-story Cassels Tower apartment building has been taken down after 35 years.

It has been replaced with a glitzy, new, high-tech LED (Light-Emitting Diode) projecting sign, with features including full-colored lighting and programmable customized messaging.

What began in 1988 as an advertising gimmick, which allowed commuters to know exactly how early, on time, or late they were for work or dinner, quickly became a beacon quite literally, as it could be seen from a mile away.

“We’re hoping to create a new landmark,” Bob Milanovich, JKV director of resident relations, told the Miami Herald in an article that ran 35 years ago. “You have 50 million people passing by every year.”

That was then. Now, according to the website AARoads.com, the traffic volume on I-95 in Broward County generally exceeds 200,000 vehicles daily, which translates into some 73 million vehicles annually.

The old clock was the size of a Mazda Miata, standing 10 feet wide, with a four-foot-long big hand and a three-foot-long little hand. The idea to put a clock on the side of Cassels Tower came from Village resident Arleen Ridenour, who also contributed a sizable amount to the $15,000 price tag.

“It really was quite a visionary marketing idea from Ms. Ridenour back in the day,” said Jamisyn Becker, JKV’s current Director of Marketing and Innovation. “And now, with this state-of-the-art digital clock and sign, we are able to utilize the newest technologies available for providing the time of day and purposeful information about JKV to millions of folks traveling the Interstate.”

The old clock’s red neon has been replaced with LED lighting, has been refurbished, and will be installed on the east side of Cassels Tower to be seen by residents, guests, and staff throughout the campus.

“The clock has served us well over the years, and we are delighted we were able to repurpose it for the other side of the Cassels Tower building for all to enjoy,” said Thom Price, JKV’s Vice President of Operations.

Thanks For Asking: A Grateful Resident Shares His Thoughts

By JKV resident, Dave Bayer

My wife, Jackie, and I moved to John Knox Village (JKV) in Pompano Beach, FL some four years ago.

JKV is a relatively large Continuing Care Life-Plan Community with approximately 900 total residents, including 60 in assisted living and almost 200 in skilled nursing.

Previously, we both lived in the local area for over 40 years and are often asked by our friends in town about how things are going at JKV. Before the pandemic, an answer something like, “It has been a good move for us,” would suffice.

Since the pandemic, with all the negative news about the deleterious effects of COVID-19 on retirement communities in general, and skilled nursing facilities (aka nursing homes) in particular, the question now comes with a tinge of concern.

That’s understandable, with the grim COVID-19 related death toll in the United States approaching 450,000 (as of press time) and, according to reliable sources, around 40 percent of those deaths have occurred in a long-term care setting. Also, the negative effects of lockdowns and social isolation on the mental health of the elderly and their relatives are well known. Yikes.

Fortunately for us, in all three phases of living at JKV (i.e., Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing), the experience has been vastly better than those portrayed in the national news.

Every person who enters our campus is appropriately screened (including taking temperatures). In Independent Living, where we live, we are expected to wear masks and observe physical distancing when outside of our residences. We are encouraged to travel only when necessary. Following out-of-state or international travel, KN95 masks are required for 14 days.

Our dining rooms are closed, but we are provided with nicely prepared meals delivered directly to our residences (at no charge). Our menu changes weekly and presents an excellent variety of healthy choices. We are permitted visitors on campus, but they must wear a mask (KN95 if visiting from another state), observe physical distancing, and confine the visit to within the host’s residence. In short, there are restrictions, but they are by no means onerous.

Instituting Necessary Precautions

The limitations for our residents (aka Elders) in Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing are naturally more restrictive, but some visitation by “essential and compassionate visitors” is currently permitted.

Visitors are encouraged to be tested for COVID-19 beforehand. They must be scheduled in advance with only two visitors per visit. All participants must wear full PPE. Some general visitors are allowed depending on local COVID-19 rates at the time, and they must use KN95 masks and observe physical distancing.

Shortly before we moved in, JKV became part of a national movement to change the face of skilled nursing care when they opened The Woodlands. An entirely new facility, it is a trademarked GREEN HOUSE ® Project model of care with 12 homes in the building. Each home has 12 private rooms with private baths. These resident-centered homes are designed and operated specifically to counter the institutional feeling of boredom and isolation.

With a few modifications, some great innovations by our JKV Life Enrichment Team and superb work from the JKV management and staff, the potentially damaging mental effects of COVID-19 among our nursing home Elders have been greatly reduced.

These days, the old adage that “the proof of the pudding is in the eating” comes to mind often, especially in the case of our skilled nursing Elders at JKV. On Dec. 16, 2020, JKV’s The Woodlands and Seaside Cove skilled nursing Elders were the first in Broward County and the state to receive the vaccine. On that day, 90 of our Elders and 80 staff members received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. JKV’s track record played a large part in us being chosen by the Florida Governor as the pilot site for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines.

In my opinion, the residents of our Village have been blessed with management and staff who work hard, are transparent, do their homework and make compassionate, intelligent decisions. As a result, they have kept the residents safe and provided reasonable opportunities for social interaction.

JKV Was Our Choice

When friends ask about a good retirement situation in which to “age in place,” we suggest that they consider a not-for-profit Continuing Care Life-Plan Community that provides independent living, assisted living, provisions for memory care and a skilled nursing facility. Of course, we strongly encourage them to do their due diligence. Each community is different, and often what you get can be far different than what you expected and less than what you are paying for.

As for us, based on our experience at JKV, it is difficult to comprehend the reports about the number of COVID-19 related deaths and the terrible effects from lack of human interaction in retirement communities throughout our country.

That is definitely not the case at JKV. We can’t imagine a better place to be anywhere, other than right where we are.

Dave Bayer and his wife Jackie have been residents of John Knox Village since 2017. Prior to that, they both had lived in Ft. Lauderdale since the mid-1970s. They have been involved in a variety of volunteer activities in the local community and at JKV. Dave is a retired U.S. Navy Captain, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the National Continuing Care Residents Association and the Florida Life Care Residents Association.

To learn more about John Knox Village and the opportunities we provide for a safe, enriching lifestyle, click here or call 954-783-4040 for a private, personalized appointment (in person or virtual).

VILLAGE VOICE – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020



GAZETTE – October 2022

 Check out our Topping Out Ceremony on October 28th!

Love is in the air at JKV.

 

Read more in this issue.

Best Older Adult Philanthropic Support Organization 2022