By Xander Belogour, Vermont Maturity correspondent.
BRATTLEBORO — Spring and summer at Garden Path Elder Living’s Bradley House mean a change in pace as folks get ready for the busy season and its many different offerings.
Residents of the Bradley House, nestled in a quiet neighborhood overlooking the Connecticut River, are currently tending to their garden beds and constructing a chicken coop, which will allow them to enjoy fresh produce year-round. Produce from the vegetable garden makes its way into the kitchen, where cooks and residents can come together to make meals for the community.
Executive Director Mike Jones makes it his mission to enrich the lives of the roughly 35 residents he helps care for. About 25 nursing staff are on the premises, and about 15 other staff assist with property management, housekeeping, cooking and maintenance.
Trained aides are on hand around the clock to support residents with their daily needs. This includes help with showering, dressing, grooming, and personal needs. Staff also closely monitor residents’ health by checking blood sugar, taking vital signs, and addressing skin or other medical concerns.
“I’ve been in this position for four months now,” said Jones. “Prior to that, I was the activities director here for five years. I love this position. I love the size of the house. It’s small enough that I have the freedom to get out of the office, take a walk, connect, spend more time personally bonding with the residents, and make sure that all their needs are met.”
Indeed, community response is a core insight to programming at the Bradley House. Chefs, at times, cook recipes handed to them by residents; a baking group is starting due to popular demand, and events like concerts and music classes are tailored to what residents would like to see in their home.
Summer in the gardens at Bradley House is a highlight for residents and staff alike. Six large raised beds and several in-ground plots burst with vegetables, herbs, and flowers— cucumbers, tomatoes, rhubarb, kale, potatoes, dill, and rosemary, to name a few. Residents are encouraged to adopt a garden bed and nurture their own plants throughout the season. This hands-on activity brings a sense of purpose and connection to nature.
The harvest is a central part of summer life. Fresh produce from the gardens is incorporated into daily meals, bringing the vibrant flavors of the season directly to residents’ plates. Cooking together with staff, residents enjoy the satisfaction of eating what they’ve grown, fostering both community spirit and well-being.
Food at the Bradley House has local roots, too. Staff buys salad greens from Little Leaf Farms in Devens, Mass., and cheese is sourced from Grafton Village Cheese Company in Grafton. Occasionally, apples come into the house from Scott Farm in Dummerston and Maple Syrup from Collins Tree Farm in Putney. Chefs also buy produce from Black River Produce in Northern Vermont, and bacon from North Country Smokehouse in Claremont, N.H.
In July, the American Legion Band will have 30 members come and perform in the yard of the house. The Morris Dancers dance troupe will also come later this summer to perform. The summer music series will be followed by jazz, old-time, country, and classical music concerts.
Activities that engage residents are a key factor in the Bradley House‘s success. Jones says that activities and choices make residents feel at home.
“We have a wide variety of music, which is very important to the residents. Music is a big part of their lives, and art is important too. We encourage our residents to participate in all aspects of art. We had a painting session the other day with about 15 residents, painting on canvas, enjoying wine or ginger ale as music played in the background, and we all painted the same landscape. We exercise regularly, which is very important. We have Tai Chi, chair yoga and other meditation groups; we try to encourage all things that enrich life to provide to residents here.”
A robust activities calendar guides residents for programming throughout the year. Summer favorites include hiking trips around the area and trips to Marlboro College for their annual classical music camp.
For Jones, taking residents out of the house allows community bonding in the greater Brattleboro area, fostering a sense of belonging and fellowship in the broader community.
“We’re out in the community, and we’re bringing the local community in here as well,” said Jones. “That’s a big part of our mission here— to be an active member of the community. We go to the library every week to do art projects with folks here, and we also bring in community members from outside to be part of our programming. In a couple of weeks, folks from the library will come to Bradley House to teach.”
From planning events to providing personal care, Jones says that personalization is what makes the Bradley House so unique.
“I love the freedom this place offers,” said Jones. “We all have the time to really connect with the residents and make sure that they have everything that they need.”
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