People of Wake Robin

Judy C moved with her husband to Wake Robin in 2016. Besides enjoying walking the trails, knitting, and hanging with friends on campus, Judy still follows her lifelong passion every week: caring for people in her social work job at UVM Medical Center.

She’s among a group of Wake Robin residents who continue their careers while living at Vermont’s only Life Plan Community. While other residents work as editors, author novels, and even repair bicycles at a local camp, Judy considers herself “a jack of all trades,” as a social work case manager who helps patients transition from hospital to home life. “It’s very much a team effort,” she says. “I collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, speech language and medical psychology therapists, all who give insight from their disciplines to ensure a safe transition.”

 Judy enjoys the Wake Robin community and her professional one

Judy began her career at the University of Vermont Medical Center in 1992, and soon knew rehab social work was her calling. Her job requires tact, empathy, and great communication skills. “I need to meet the patient and their family where they are,” she says. Within her neurological and orthopedic inpatient unit, Judy serves as emotional support as well as logistics liaison for her patients. “Ultimately, it’s about making sure each patient has the optimal resources for when they continue their rehab at home. Transitioning from the hospital is just the beginning, and we educate and prepare each patient for them to have a successful and full recovery at home.”

Judy expresses gratitude for her ability to continue to work while thriving at Wake Robin. “It’s the best of both worlds for me. I’m able to tap into and enjoy the rich social network at Wake Robin. At UVMMC, I’m able to utilize my skills in my professional network.” Reflecting on what makes her job rewarding, Judy sums it up: “When we get someone home safely, that’s the best part, making sure patient and caretaker are ready to succeed with the challenges before them.”

Wake Robin includes residents from all sorts of professional backgrounds. The Community welcomes people with a diverse range of interests and wide lens of life experiences. If you or someone you know would like to make an inquiry, please reach out to the Marketing Department by emailing info@wakerobin.com or calling 802-264-5100.

Andrea Longe knows Wake Robin well. She’s worked here for 19 years and started out as a receptionist at the front desk for 3 years. After earning her degree in social work, she moved on to the health services team. Now, as the Recreation Service Coordinator who manages programs for the Linden Health Center, she takes a person-centered approach in implementing ways to inspire and engage residents. Andrea curates the quality and experience of resident engagement, builds out calendar programing, and monitors the psycho-social-spiritual wellness of each resident. “I look at my job as collaborating with residents,” Andrea reflected. “What interests them? What’s something new they want to try? It’s important to really know our community in order to best serve them.”

 Andrea loves her job!

The variety of events ongoing in the Health Center certainly reflect the diverse pursuits of residents. More than half of all Linden residents participate in daily exercises classes, which are offered both in person and through televised routines featured on WRTV, Wake Robins internal channel. Especially during the pandemic, Andrea noted that “fitness has been the most common outlet for residents.” Andrea and her recreation services team found ways to incentive cardio, too. A recent “Walking Challenge” prompted many residents to take part in an expedition in which over 300,000 steps were counted, and the winner was awarded a prize.

While day trips for Linden residents were paused during the pandemic, trips to restaurants, museums, and parks – just among a few examples – are a major part of the Linden experience, and fortunately they can soon resume. All Linden residents are vaccinated, and the first trip will be to the Shelburne Beach for a classic summer barbeque!

It comes down to relationships for Andrea and the rest of the Recreation Services Team. Relationships with fellow staff, residents, and residents’ families. The pandemic was a challenging time when families could not physically visit Linden residents, and Andrea recognizes the deep trust and support she and her team had from resident families. “Our relationships with families really strengthened because they relied on us to take care of their loved ones and we took that as our greatest responsibility.”

He supervises dining servers and welcomes residents to lunch and dinner, but many residents believe Dennis DeSimone, Dining Services Floor Manager, is the primary “cheerer-upper of Wake Robin.” Dennis sees his role in similar terms. “My main job is making sure residents are happy and all their dining needs are met.”

 Dennis brings smiles to residents!

44 years in the restaurant industry, Dennis once owned and operated his own Italian restaurant and pizzeria. He’s worked in every role in the kitchen, from dishwasher, to cook, to server. The thing that makes him love his job is the interaction. He’s often the first point of contact when residents arrive for their meal. He makes sure to say hello and goodbye to everyone, and he personalizes every interaction. Approaching residents with a smile and good humor, Dennis is able to put residents at ease and make them feel included in a social environment.

Dennis plays a major part on the Dining Services team and collaborates well with chefs, servers, and the Director of Dining, Kate Hays. “He brings such great energy to the floor and a real personal touch,” Kate said. “The residents really respond to his cheerful demeanor and how he runs things.”

As he monitors the dining floor, Dennis sees how delighted residents are when eating fresh cooked meals. “I can’t emphasize enough the high quality of our food and the professionalism of our kitchen. Each recipe is prepared by experienced chefs.” Choosing a favorite meal at Wake Robin is hard because there are so many flavorful options, but if he had to pick one it would be the shrimp bake. “The fettucine mixing with the seafood is just unbelievable!”

Like a handful of other residents, Pat and Bill made Wake Robin their new home during the pandemic. They relocated from California and were eager to begin a new chapter of their lives in a quintessential four-season New England setting by Lake Champlain. “We fell in love with the environment,” Bill, a former public defender, said. “Wake Robin is our ideal place to be active both in our cultural pursuits, as well as in our exercise interests like swimming and hiking.”

L to R: Pat and Bill arrived to Wake Robin from California during the pandemic

While still living in California, Pat and Bill enjoyed the support from Wake Robin as they made their transition. The Marketing Team helped them finalize home choices through Zoom and FaceTime, and Wake Robin coordinated travel and lodging plans with them. “I’m so grateful to be here,” Pat, a career social worker, said. “When we arrived at Wake Robin and had to quarantine, we found the kitchen stocked with ‘Welcome Home’ food and gifts. The entire staff made our trip from California to Wake Robin possible because of their stellar communication, care, and dedicated manner to helping us settle in.”

Pat and Bill dove right into the Wake Robin lifestyle. They frequent the new fitness center often and swim laps in the Aquatics Center. They’ve also taken advantage of the one-on-one trainings offered by Wake Robin’s physical therapists. They’ve explored Wake Robin’s four miles of wooded trails, which is a great way to know the campus

Reflecting on the adventure he and Pat took, Bill was clear on how they’re doing at Wake Robin. “We know that this was the best decision we have ever made in coming to live here!”

Sondra Brooker is a woman of many talents. She bakes, cuts hair, and may even be a dog whisperer.

Beloved by the Wake Robin community, Sondra just started her 23rd year as an employee: 22 years in dining services, and this her first year as Wake Robin’s salon hair stylist.

Wake Robin’s multi-talented hair stylist Sondra Brooker

Hospitality runs in Sondra’s family. Her grandparents owned and operated a summer restaurant in Ticonderoga for years; Sondra would often help out.

At Wake Robin, she worked her way up from dining server to floor manager, and oversaw lunch and dinner, which usually served over a 120 people a day. “I just loved the fast pace of it. Interacting with the residents and making them happy.”

When Wake Robin needed a new hair stylist, Sondra jumped at the opportunity. She earned her hair dressing license at O’Brien’s College of Cosmetology, and has been cutting hair for family, friends, and private clients ever since high school. Sondra’s part of a longstanding tradition: her grandfather was a barber in Italy!

Sondra’s passion for hair cutting relates to her love of baking. “They’re both a precision thing,” she said.

Now Sondra enjoys a lakeside window view and gets to know and appreciate residents better. The salon will soon have a makeover and feature new flooring and seating.

Once the renovations are completed, the salon will be open every Tuesday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Walk by during this time and you’ll usually hear laughter or good conversation!

Summing it up, Sondra said, “You always need to eat and you always need a haircut.” She’s provided both, which is why she’s such a valued member of the Wake Robin family.

Wake Robin is part of the Vermont Fresh Network. “We source as much local food as possible,” says Tim, chef. The resident Pyramids group – which advises the dining staff – enthusiastically supports this philosophy.

“We also contract with two local farmers. They set aside acreage for us; we tell them what our needs are, and they raise produce for our kitchens.”

Wake Robin residents designed and built three and a half miles of walking trails, and make Vermont maple syrup each spring in a sugarhouse built by local high school students. Residents compost, plant gardens, harvest honey from hives they brought to Wake Robin, and serve together on the Green Team. The Team, made up of residents, staff and Board, has developed a strategic energy plan. With input and active resident involvement, the Community reduced its electricity use 6.4% in the past year.