One of the best parts of life at The Saybrook at Haddam is the dining plan which includes three chef-prepared meals daily, served in an elegant dining room, a private dining room, or outside on one of several patios. The delicious and varied menus provide plenty of options for residents, and they are able to enjoy each meal in a welcoming social setting, dining with friends. This helps ensure residents are eating regularly and nutritiously, which makes a significant difference in their overall health and wellness.
By planning healthy meals that use locally grown ingredients whenever possible, the dining staff at The Saybrook at Haddam makes it easy to eat well. Meals are planned around resident requests, seasonal favorites, and chef-inspired creations. Portions are managed so residents don’t feel overwhelmed with too much food on their plates – but, at the same time, there always seems to be more than enough food for all. Of course, with no shopping, prepping, or clean up, all residents need to do is simply enjoy themselves!
We offer a variety of foods and drinks because seniors often encounter changes and challenges in their eating habits – and we want to remove those barriers for them. In an On-Health article, “Age Related Eating Problems,” Dr. Robert Bargar says it is common for senior citizens to struggle with things like chewing or upset stomachs. This all presents a danger for the overall health and wellness of any senior, especially those living alone. Dr. Bargar suggests seniors keep canned and bottled fruits and vegetables on hand, as well as eggs, ground meats, yogurt, puddings, and juices. These types of foods are available daily at The Saybrook at Haddam, so residents can simply pick what makes most sense for them without any fuss or concern. We also offer mealtime monitoring for assisted living residents who may need that extra attention.
Meals can be a particular frustration for seniors facing dementia or other memory-related illnesses. Many of these folks become indifferent to eating, overeat, or get stressed out with the process of eating. In “5 Solutions for Mealtime Problems Common to Those With Dementia,” Paula Spencer Scott says families sometimes “have to rethink the way the food is presented and served” to be sure their loved ones enjoy meals once again. Some easy changes she suggests include smaller portions, serving finger foods or pre-cut foods, walking before or after a meal, using plain white plates with a contrasting place mat, and keeping noise to a minimum during meals. At Safe Harbor, we agree and follow many of these simple steps to reduce anxiety and increase the willingness of each memory care resident to eat better.
Having said all of this, there are independent residents who are life-long cooks who enjoy preparing meals and baking treats. This is why our fully stocked Country Kitchen is such a popular feature – a place where residents can cook or bake with grandchildren or with friends when the mood strikes. It is fun to see a lot of activity in that room – and who doesn’t enjoy the smells of homemade goodies?
Throughout our lives, we share meals with family and friends as a daily ritual, to celebrate special occasions or achievements, or simply to enjoy time with one another. We view our dining room as a continuation of this tradition where friends gather, enjoy conversation, and get to know each other better. It’s all part of life at The Saybrook at Haddam!
For a private tour of The Saybrook at Haddam or its Safe Harbor memory care neighborhood, please fill out the form below or contact David Downey at 860-345-3779.
Visitors to The Saybrook at Haddam look forward to playing games with elderly relatives and friends. We love when young children grab a game from the library and bring it down the hall to grandma’s home, or when they bring grandpa down to the front parlor to play yet another game of checkers or chess. Sometimes, residents may start a board game (such as Monopoly) and keep it set up in their homes for a few days before they can finish it!
Of course, we must mention Bingo, the perennial favorite among senior citizens. Our community is no different and we love to host frequent games for guaranteed fun and enjoyment. We also enjoy making weekly trips over to the nearby Haddam Senior Center to play a few rounds of Bingo with friends from town. These trips offer a change of scenery, a break from the daily routine, and, yes, a chance to win prizes!
Additionally, we commissioned a local artist, Kristin Haddad, to create our own “Veterans Honor Wall” which is nearly complete. This tribute, titled “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave,” prominently features a painting of the American flag with our national emblem and a soldier standing in salute. The mural will eventually include a plaque from each branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard), each featuring the names of veteran residents from The Saybrook at Haddam. Stay tuned for details on our dedication ceremony!
In the past, one resident was honored at our community by the remarkable 
Our community setting means residents can simply open their doors to find plenty of activity – and many happy faces. Through the community, residents easily create new friendships and take part in many different types of social, cultural and educational events and activities. 
Striking a balance between preserving a sense of independence while providing an increasing level of care is an ongoing pursuit at The Saybrook at Haddam – but it is clearly one of the best reasons we have been so successful over the years. We love when family and friends join us for meals, special events, movies, or for personal visits with residents. And family and friends tell us they love the peace of mind knowing their parents are no longer isolated, receiving wonderful care, eating better, staying active, and making friends. It’s how senior living should be!
anything, families want to know that their mom or dad, grandparent or other relative will be happy living here.Recently, the New York Times published 
We also use daily meals as an opportunity to promote happiness. Residents never dine alone, and they have many choices where they eat: in our beautiful circular main dining room, our elegant private dining rooms, our courtyard, the country kitchen, or in Safe Harbor’s family-style dining room. Residents and guests tell us our meals are delicious, and we know they are also nutritious, a little adventurous, and full of seasonal favorites. Good food goes a long way towards happiness!
The New York Times suggests spending time with seniors will change your perspective and increase your own level of happiness. Looking around at the smiling faces at The Saybrook at Haddam, we couldn’t agree more!
Look for ways to help others. More than 11 million senior citizens engage in volunteerism each year which means there are millions of opportunities for seniors to get involved. They can team with local churches, senior centers or libraries, the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, national homeless or hunger relief organizations, or community-based activities to find a project that fits their interest and availability. By doing this, the true meaning of Christmas can come through and lift seniors’ spirits.
Practice forgiveness. Sometimes people do or say things that hurt us – and we have a hard time looking past those wrongdoings. However, holding on to bad feelings ends up hurting us and can affect our holidays. Forgiving all sorts of people – from our past, our work, or our families – will definitely heal the spirit.
Love, love, love. When we embrace love, we have a much better outlook on life. So, make an extra effort to love your family and friends, your home and environment, and even yourself for the best holiday season ever!
