Kendal-on-Hudson Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

Kendal on Hudson, the continuing care retirement community in Sleepy Hollow, celebrated its fifth anniversary on Wednesday.

In a ceremony that was at times moving and other times full of pep, elected officials and Kendal-on-Hudson board members and residents paid tribute to the innovative, award-winning facility and its standards of care.

State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins proclaimed May 19, 2010 as Kendal-on-Hudson Day in New York State. Stewart-Cousins congratulated Kendal's residents, staff and board members.

"We celebrate a community of civic minded people," she said.

According to chairperson of the Residents Association, Penny Broome, the planning and development of Kendal-on-Hudson was a painstaking process, so the fifth year anniversary marked a great accomplishment.

Kendal-on-Hudson, an affiliate of the non-profit Kendal Corporation, is founded on the belief that growing older brings new opportunities for development – it is a belief that has come to fruition with the aid of local residents.

Kendal-on-Hudson's Executive Director Pat Doyle has witnessed the active role of residents through the development of numerous resident-run activities. There is a resident-run library, an art committee, a wood shop, as well as on-going fitness, book and craft groups.

"It's the place to be, and I am very lucky to have it," resident Shirley Feldman said.

According to Doyle, Kendal-on-Hudson is a unique community because of its proximity to the Hudson River, Rockwood Hall Park and Phelps Memorial Hospital and its exceptional residents and staff, without whom Kendal would not be the same. 

"Kendal is transforming the experience of aging," board chairman Barry Morris said. "We do what is right and then we ask how much it costs."

Morris said the efforts of all those involved with the retirement community are reflected in the U.S. News & World Report, which gave Kendal-on-Hudson a five star rating for overall performance in health inspections, nurse staffing, and measures of medical-care quality.

During the celebration ceremony President and CEO of the New York Association of Homes & Services for the Aging Dennis Bozzi presented Kendal-on-Hudson residents with the "2010 Innovation of the Year Award" for the Co-Pilot Program. The program consists of volunteer residents who are alerted by cell phone to accompany other residents to the emergency room. 61 residents, who would otherwise not have a friend or spouse to accompany them have already been helped by the Co-Pilot Program. Volunteer residents are even awoken in the middle of the night to be a "co-pilot." The award recognized the exemplary efforts of many residents who have initiated creative problem solving. 

In Mayor Ken Wray's congratulatory speech he remarked that Kendal has proven to be a great neighbor and that its resident's generosity has been felt throughout the community for their contributions to the Sleepy Hollow Fire and Ambulance Corps.

"We have talented people here, who do really amazing things, it is just a pleasure to be a part of this community," said resident Muriel Ressler.