Laura Cobrinik

Review of Fellowship senior living

Living on two acres with my Mother (87) and with m...

Living on two acres with my Mother (87) and with my Dad (93) with a steep driveway which in the winter my Dad could not walk up and down any more, and with most of my friends becoming grandparents and moving closer to their grandchildren, and also being a Single Aunt with two younger brothers, I thought that it was a good time for myself and my parents to make a move that would be practical for the future. After looking at a few other Life Plan Communities we decided on Fellowship Village.

Besides it s beautiful 72 acres, Fellowship Village is everything one can ask for to a 62 3/4- year old resident who has been here for 8 months. Everyone is so friendly: Administration, the Staff, and our fellow residents who are our neighbors.

Both, the Administration and the Staff are so receptive to not only my needs but to all the residents needs. There are so many activities. I love my Water Aerobics Class in which we have 7 days a week. I also enjoy the Photography Club where, as a team we think of themed exhibits. Because I and others are eagerly awaiting the extended walking path across the wetlands that will have a Bird Blind so that we can observe the wide variety of birds that fly above the grounds, one day my Mom and I spoke to the Director of Hospitality about the possibility for a lecture on Birding. The next week on the calendar it was announced that in the new theater there would be a Great Course s Birding lecture every week for a few weeks. We now have about 12-15 residents who all look forward to that lecture each week.

On Sundays in the theater there has been an ongoing game of playing Corn Hole. My Dad (93) and I had never heard of or seen this game before January. It is one of the highlights of our week. Thus far my Dad is the Champion, with Herman (85) running at a close 2nd. And the cheering women, other women who watch us aim the bean bag are very important as they encourage us to keep it up.

There are other lecturers that cover such topics as Electric Cars, Presidents, Italy, the list goes on and on... Musicians give us solo concerts. So far we ve enjoyed a fine pianist, a cellist. & a bagpiper. I could go on and one writing about the activities that are here at Fellowship.

Being at a Life Plan Community with three levels of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing makes me feel secure, in that when my brothers and I get old, I won t have to be that old aunt, who will have to ask my nephew or one of my nieces for help since they will be taking care of my brothers. At the present I m so blessed to be here at Fellowship so that I can still help my parents and be only a hallway away from them. The food is also delicious and the new Wilson Tapas Bar and Patio is good for fine dining."

The most creative example of showing how wonderful Fellowship Senior Living is, was when the Pandemic first arrived, the Staff immediately created an in-house Broadcast TV station so when residents were placed in quarantine they could then continue with their exercise classes, continue with their art lessons, sing songs with Bob as he sits in the studio and strums on his guitar, and adding DVD performances, and Great Courses, lectures. In addition committees met via zoom.

When another resident tells us, Oh, too bad you had to move in during COVID-19, my Mom and I reply, No, we feel it worked for us, we feel that moving in during the pandemic, the friendly greetings have grown into longer discussions and give us a chance to meet our new neighbors in a deeper way always socially distanced, I.e., six feet apart and always wearing masks. And then waiting on the long lines for our two doses of the vaccine gave us another way to bond with our neighbors.

Yes, we feel very protected and loved by the other Residents, the Workers, the Staff, and the Administration. And yes, at Fellowship Senior Living we are all family. We re very happy here at Fellowship Village, in Basking Ridge, NJ.