Bizza Milliken and Jim Williams were well educated about the many positives of St. John’s communities long before they ever decided to make a move of their own.
For Milliken it started with her work as the director of social work at nearby Highland Hospital, where she served from 1971 until 1988. “One of our primary jobs was discharge planning,” says Milliken. “I got to know St. John’s very well,” she says, citing the close proximity of the hospital on South Avenue and noting that she was consistently impressed with St. John’s Home through her work.
In fact, during her career Milliken frequently joined forces with a long-time St. John’s President and CEO. “Vince Parks and I worked very closely together,” she says, describing the early days of the critical collaboration between hospitals and nursing homes across the Rochester, New York region.
However, it was not until later on — when Williams’ sister-in-law Isabel moved to St. John’s—that they decided that St. John’s Meadows would eventually be their home.
Or rather, the decision was made for them, as Jim explains it. “There was no decision, really,” says Williams from the Market Café where the couple shares a meal once a day, usually at dinnertime. “We had seen enough over time.”
“We didn’t even consider looking at any other place.”
Milliken and Williams had a firsthand look at the resident experience through the many years Isabel spent living in communities across the St. John’s continuum of care. “She wanted a cottage, but there weren’t any available,” says Williams. “So she moved into an apartment and stayed on the waitlist for a cottage.”
As often happens, Isabel decided to stay put in her apartment when her name finally came up on the list for a cottage and she spent years living and thriving at St. John’s Meadows. During that time, her brother-in-law and his wife spent countless hours visiting, dining, and being a part of Isabel’s life in independent living. The couple noticed how the staff interacted with residents, got to know their preferences, and quickly resolved issues when they arose. They saw how much people enjoyed living independently.
Eventually, Isabel’s health declined and she moved to the Hawthorne at St. John’s Meadows for a brief stay. After her time in assisted living, Isabel was in the hospital and was eventually placed in hospice care. Although she was given just a short time to live once discharged from the hospital, Isabel defied the odds and lived nearly five more years. She spent those final years living at St. John’s Home.
Their Own Independent Living Journey
Ever since Milliken and Williams moved into their cottage in January 2016—and seven years later when they downsized to their current Chestnut Court apartment—they have chosen to pay for independent living with a la carte services. Also known as unbundled, this option gives residents access to fine and casual dining along with other services like transportation and housekeeping without the built-in costs.
Milliken still drives, though she admits that if she gets eye drops and cannot see or eventually is not able to drive for one reason or another, they can make a phone call and set up transportation and pay when they use the service. “We have nieces and nephews who can help,” says Milliken, “but why bother them?”
Williams says that Milliken “cooked all of our meals for the first seven years living we lived in the cottage,” though they frequented the Briarwood Dining Room for special occasions, brunches, and other gatherings. Over the past two or three years, they have found that the Market Café located at Chestnut Court best fits their lifestyle and taste buds. “The service at the Café is excellent,” says Williams. “The food is very good. We have no complaints.”
Milliken agrees. “With the hundreds of people who come in and out of that restaurant—the people who live here and their friends and family—they remember people’s orders. They know what they want to order. That’s always been amazing to me.”
On any given day, Milliken spends time in the Vincent S. Parks, Jr. Room, a large meeting and entertainment space at St. John’s Meadows that commemorates the late President and CEO she collaborated with decades ago. She attends programs, concerts, classes, socials, and meetings several times a week, sometimes with her husband and sometimes by herself.
The move from cottage to apartment puts her and Williams closer to the action and she explains that the nearby proximity to programming locations makes a big difference. “Now that we live closer to everything going on, we do more of it,” Milliken says.
Milliken also recognizes that her volunteer hours have increased since their apartment move. On this particular day, she heads to the Parks Room for a meeting led by volunteer coordinator Marie Kamin. “She’s new to the position,” says Milliken. “So we’re all very willing to help her out.”
The spirit of collaboration at St. John’s continues.