FISHKILL, N.Y. (Jan. 4, 2012) – Elant at Fishkill brought together people of all ages for recreation, education and communication at the community’s first-ever Intergenerational Camporee on Oct. 8.

The Intergenerational Camporee paired Webelo Scouts No. 1 from Pack 37 in Pine Bush, with 30 residents from Elant at Fishkill’s 160-bed skilled nursing home facility for a day. Twelve Scouts, siblings and family members set up tents, played games, built a camp fire and cooked out, sharing s’mores, memories and music with Elant residents.

Art series for Elant residents, community members to be launched early next year

GOSHEN, N.Y. (Dec. 21, 2011) – Elant, the Hudson Valley’s premier provider of senior health care and housing solutions, announced today the creation of the Jeffrey A. Weiss Memorial Art Series, a program that will provide free art classes and exhibits to residents of Elant at Goshen, as well as to the senior community in early 2012.

The series was made possible through a bequest from the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Weiss. The couple established the fund in memory of their son, Jeffrey, who had a passion for the arts. Participants will have instruction in numerous art forms including painting, sculpture, writing workshops, dance, theatre, poetry, music and more. In addition to twice-monthly formal instruction by local artists who will come to Elant, the series has plans to include monthly art exhibits, performances and presentations which will coincide with the month’s featured art medium. An art show of participants’ work is planned for September.

GOSHEN, N.Y. (Dec. 15, 2011) – Elant recently held a network-wide gingerbread house contest to help get residents in the spirit of the holiday season. The judging took place on Friday, Dec. 9 at Glen Arden and featured dozens of participants, festive piano music (provided by Glen Arden resident Beth Cantline), hot cider and holiday cookies.

The activity staff from each Elant campus helped the residents design and build the houses, which took most residents more than one month to complete. On Dec. 9, the houses were transported from their respective campuses to Glen Arden, where contest participants came to watch the judging and enjoy the festivities. Todd Whitney, Elant’s President and CEO, Nicholas Lanza, Elant’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Kathy Iozzino, Elant’s Senior Director of Marketing, judged the contest.

Holiday Auction opens today for shopping season

GOSHEN, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2011) – Looking for a unique item to give your special someone this holiday season? The Elant Foundation Online Holiday Auction kicks off today, with a number of fun and rare items – including the autographed pilot script from the HBO hit series, “Boardwalk Empire,” as well as memorabilia, travel opportunities, tickets for entertainment events and more – up for bid to raise money for the Elant Foundation.

Users can visit www.biddingforgood.com/elantfoundation and place a bid on the “Boardwalk Empire” script or any of the other auction items. The script features signatures from director Martin Scorsese and actors Steve Buscemi, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kelly Macdonald, Billy Sage, Vincent Piazza, Robert Clohessy, Anthony Laciura, Shea Whigham and Michael Kenneth Williams, among others. The final pilot script is dated July 22, 2009, the date the pilot episode was recorded.

Educational initiative aims to build relationships in local communities

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (Nov.3, 2011) – Elant recently launched a new initiative, the Elant Community Exchange, a breakfast program that aims to educate attendees about Elant’s programs and services, and build relationships in the communities that Elant serves. The first Community Exchange breakfast was held on Oct. 12 at Elant at Newburgh.

The program invites members of the community, as well as local businesses into Elant for breakfast, and provides an opportunity for attendees to network, learn about Elant’s programs and services and take a tour inside Elant’s community. More than 60 people attended the inaugural Community Exchange breakfast; the next breakfast is slated for Nov. 18 at Elant at Goshen.

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2011) – Community members and residents enjoyed a festive, fall afternoon at Elant at Newburgh’s Community Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 15. All proceeds from the event’s activities benefitted the Elant Foundation Newburgh Renewal Committee, which raises funds for Elant at Newburgh residents.

The October 15^th event was a free, family-friendly celebration featuring pumpkin painting, entertainment, vendors, food and an Apple Pie Bake-Off with three prize winners. The Bake-Off winners were: Tiffany Meyer-Bozdaj of Milton, N.Y., who took first prize, a $50 gift card for Adams Fair Acre Farms; Sandy Sutton of Newburgh, who won second place, a gift basket with a $25 gift card from Adams Fair Acre Farms; Ava Sutherland of Walden, N.Y., who won the third place prize of a gift basket with $15 gift card. Pies were graded on appearance, flavor, creativity, crust color, texture, doneness, pie filling consistency and moistness.

NEWBURGH, N.Y. (Oct. 4, 2011) – Elant at Newburgh will host Oktoberfest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 15. The free, family-friendly event will feature pumpkin painting, entertainment, a farmers market, vendors, food and more.

Elant at Newburgh’s Oktoberfest will also feature an apple pie baking contest, with prizes for first, second and third place. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. Pies will be graded on appearance, flavor, creativity, crust color, texture, doneness, pie filling consistency and moistness. Anyone interested in participating in the contest is encouraged to bring a homemade pie between 11 a.m. and noon for an opportunity to showcase their culinary abilities.

Funds raised will enhance resident environments, improve technology resources

GOSHEN, N.Y. (September 28, 2011) – A day of fun, fashion, remembrance and polo under beautiful late-summer skies turned into another wonderful fundraiser that will benefit the Elant Foundation and Elant’s residents.

The Elant Foundation’s 10^th Annual Polo Picnic was held on September 18 at Blue Sky Polo Club. Proceeds will go toward this year’s fundraising campaign “Bridging Generations, Making Connections,” whereby Elant will enhance environments and incorporate technology resources for residents to communicate with distant loved ones. The funds raised from the campaign will also enable Elant to purchase software to enhance the cognition of residents suffering with dementia.

Residents display pride and patriotism in weeklong observance

Goshen, N.Y. (Sept. 22, 2011) – Elant, Inc. celebrated National Assisted Living Week from Sept. 11 through Sept. 17 and marked the occasion with special events and activities designed to bring together residents, families, staff and the community in honor of  this year’s theme, “Forever Proud.”

“We are proud to provide personalized, high quality care and lifestyle options to persons of diverse generations, cultures, needs and means,” said Todd Whitney, CEO of Elant, Inc. “National Assisted Living Week was another opportunity for us to showcase our pride not only in the excellence in care that we provide, but also in the residents we care for.”

GOSHEN, N.Y. (Sept. 21, 2011) – The Elant Foundation has named Michael E. Catania, Esq., to the foundation’s Review Committee for Scholarships and Circle of Excellence.

Catania is an associate with Tarshis, Catania, Liberth, Mahon & Milligram, PLLC, in Newburgh. He concentrates his practice on construction law, commercial litigation, municipal defense and general litigation.

Competition, camaraderie draw residents to engage in activities

Newburgh, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2011) – Residents of Elant at Newburgh experienced the thrill of competition and a lot of camaraderie in the nursing home’s second Olympic games last week.

Events included mop hockey, obstacle course, relay race, target shoot, shot put, beach ball volleyball, cup stacking and basketball shoot. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for each event, and for the overall competition during closing ceremonies. Team spirit and perseverance awards were also given.

Congresswoman pledges support of Medicaid and Medicare programs

Fishkill, N.Y. (September 2, 2011) – U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth visited with residents and toured Elant at Fishkill on Friday, Sept. 2. Hayworth discussed her support for senior citizens and the need for preserving Medicaid and Medicare for people ages 55 and older.

“Elant at Fishkill has been a nursing facility for more than 30 years,” the Congresswoman said. “The residents are well cared for and happy to be here. But the increasing challenge now is that more and more Baby Boomers are entering their senior years. As a legislator and as a doctor I will do everything I can to assure that there are the Medicaid and Medicare resources available to care for these residents and their families.”

Polo Picnic planned for Sept. 11

Goshen, N.Y. (Aug. 31, 2011) – The Elant Foundation will celebrate its 10^th year of hosting its Polo Picnic at the Blue Sky Farms on Sunday, September 11^th. This unique fundraiser is a fashionable departure from the typical black tie gala, from an outdoor setting to an active sporting event taking place at the same time. Guests enjoy fine dining, and hats are all the rage for women and men to be judged. Elant’s annual event bestows honor on local businesses and individuals for their significant roles and contributions to our region.

Polo has become fast growing in popularity amongst Americans in recent years. Polo is prevalent in Dutchess County and Connecticut. Prince William made game-changing moves against his opponents during a fundraising match in Los Angeles and receiving the winning cup from his wife, Catherine. The Greenwich Polo Victory Cup just attracted more than a thousand guests recently. There’s champagne, the fashion scene, Nacho Figueras, hat contests, Polo Ralph Lauren and divot-stomping on the field with the players at halftime. What’s not to like?

Local organizations benefit from members’ hard work and generosity

Goshen, N.Y. (August 29, 2011) – Several residents of the Elant at Goshen Nursing Care Center have taken their usual fundraising activities to another level, deciding to pay it forward. A portion of the funds raised, which usually go toward resident activities, this year are being donated to organizations in the community.

Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, People for People Fund, and Inspire were all presented with $50 on behalf of the residents at Elant. Checks were given to both Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and the People for People Fund in April, and on Thursday, Aug. 18, two Elant at Goshen residents presented a check to Elizabeth Rowley, Community Relations Director, and Mindy Circell, Community Relations Associate, both of Inspire.

Money raised will benefit Elant programs and residents

Goshen, N.Y. (July 20, 2011) – The Elant Foundation’s 4^th annual Elant Golf Open raised more than $50,000. The event, held July 14 at the Dutchess Golf and Country Club in Poughkeepsie, was sold out – with 144 golfers.

The event’s proceeds will go toward enhancing Elant’s environments and incorporating technology resources for residents to communicate with loved ones far away, as well as purchasing software to enhance the cognition of residents suffering with dementia.

Goshen, N.Y. (July 1, 2011) – A unique resident program and four individual employees from Elant at Fishkill and Elant at Wappingers Falls received awards during the New York State Health Facilities Association (NYSHFA) annual awards program held June 28.

The awards honor exemplary programs and employees of skilled nursing facilities in New York State. Some criteria include innovativeness in dealing with residents and staff/peers; use of skills and knowledge to positively affect quality of life and care; positive impact on residents’ health, safety and welfare; and serving as a role model for other staff members.

Goshen, N.Y. (June 7, 2011) – David S. MacFarland, President and CEO of Poughkeepsie-based Riverside Bank, has been named honorary chair of the 2011 Elant Polo Picnic to benefit the Elant Foundation, Elant Inc.’s fundraising arm.

The Elant Polo Picnic, now in its 10^th year, will be held from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Blue Sky Polo Club in Middletown. The event will honor Orange Regional Medical Center with Elant’s Flame of Excellence Award, the Alzheimer’s Association with the Elant Signature Award, and Michael Donnelly, Esq., with the Tree of Life Award.

Occupational Therapy Assistant program will develop programs for Elant residents

Goshen, N.Y. (May 26, 2011) – Elant is proud to become one of the first organizations to partner with SUNY Orange Center for Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology (CART), and will serve as a fieldwork and internship site for Occupational Therapy students as part of the Community Connections program.

Elant President and CEO Todd Whitney said, “I am very proud of the professional synergy Elant and the SUNY Orange OTA program has developed and I look forward to the future new projects that will benefit Elant’s residents.”

Goshen, N.Y. (May 25, 2011) – Elant, Inc. announced today the appointment of Sylvia L. McTigue as Chief Administrative Officer.

McTigue will translate Elant’s short- and long-term strategies by leading organizational culture integration, change management and employee engagement initiatives throughout its vast network. She will also focus on system-wide employee and labor relations integration, service excellence and organizational performance in support of Elant’s mission, vision and values throughout all of the company’s seven campuses. She will also provide personal and professional coaching, performance and leadership development to management staff and their employees.

Performance highlights trends of each decade since 1910

Newburgh, N.Y. (May 25, 2011) – Sixth-grade students learned history first-hand from residents of Elant at Newburgh and used that knowledge to write and choreograph a play that was performed for the residents as the culmination of a year-long research project.

Students from Ms. Jayne Mangieri’s class from Balmville Elementary School, Newburgh, had been paired up with the residents and met with them once a month since September to learn about the life and times during the decades from the 1910s up to the 2000s. On Wednesday, May 18, they performed “Those Were The Days” for 50 Elant at Newburgh residents with songs, skits and costumes from each of the decades. The students will have a public performance at 6:30 p.m., June 9 at Balmville Elementary.