January 11 ORANJ Zoom Conversation

Residents from 18 communities participated in the January 11 Zoom Conversation: Applewood, Atrium, Cadbury, Cedar Crest, Crestwood Manor, Fellowship Village, Friends Village, Laurel Circle, Lions Gate, Meadow Lakes, Medford Leas, Monroe Village, Oaks at Denville, The Pines, Seabrook, Stonebridge, Wiley & Winchester Gardens.  

Thanks again to Andy Kleppe for preparing the recap.

 I have edited Andy’s recap by adding links to documents that were described by Barbara at the meeting. The address of the DCA is included in the link about the DCA which implements the CCRC Regulation and Financial Disclosure Act.  

Maggie Heineman, Communications Chair, January 25, 2023.  

1. Barbara Trought called the meeting to order at 10 am and noted the absence of Maggie Heineman due to illness, wished her well and thanked Ann Campbell for pinch-hitting for Maggie by setting up this Zoom Meeting. Barbara then discussed that CCRCs (aka Life Plan Communities) are regulated by the NJ Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) and recommended the DCA Guidebook.  Link to the law describing the role of the DCA and Link to the DCA 2018 Guidebook for CCRCs.  (Note: On the website the guidebook link found under Publications whereas the link concerning the law is found under NJ Laws.)
2. There was a spirited discussion was held about buffets. Many communities still have them, are reinstituting them or discontinuing them.  A common problem is that residents with mobility devices need to keep them nearby until their turn at the line.  Traffic and storage are problems addressed by each community according to space available.  Perhaps a community survey project.  One comment by a Springpoint resident was that Morrison, which now runs all SP dining, is a cafeteria company, so do not be surprised if that becomes a trend.
3. Barbara Trought then reminded us that our NJ Members of Congress, which is, 12 House Members and 2 Senators are often involved in legislation affecting our communities. Names, addresses, email contract information are readily available online or through organizations such as League of Women Voters.  Each community should know which Congressional District it is in.
4. A resident at Cadbury at Cherry Hill, an ORANJ member community, painted a less than favorable experience he was having there which is now named Premier Cadbury Continuing Care Retirement Community (Website: Premiercadbury.com) Apparently when the community was sold recently the Mission of its new owners was to concentrate more on Assisted Living than Independent Living.  The result, to him at least, is chaotic.  The moral of his story is for residents to be ever vigilant and know their rights under their respective contracts.
5. Barbara ended the meeting with a sober reminder that as individuals and communities were need to be aware of industry trends locally & nationally, becoming involved to the extent we can and interact with the Board of Trustees of our respective communities to get what our contracts provide.
6. A reminder that that the 2023 Fall Plenary Meeting of ORANJ is on Wednesday October 18, 2023, at Monroe Village.
7. Next Residents Zoom meeting will be on Wednesday February 8, 2023 at 10AM.