New Van Off To

A Sparkling Start

By Nancy K. Crevier

As a gathering of residents looked on Wednesday morning, June 1, Maplewood at Newtown Executive director Marcie Albanesi let loose a shower of Champagne over the assisted living residence’s newest acquisition: a 2011 Ford E-350 passenger van.

“We are very excited about this,” said Activities Director Tracy Brady. “It will replace an older van and allow us to take the residents on outings, to go shopping, and on mini-trips,” she said.

The custom-made 12 plus 2-passenger van arrived at the Mt Pleasant facility two weeks ago, said Tom Gaston, executive vice president of development. A 12 plus 2 van, he explained, means that in addition to 12 regular passenger seats, the van can accommodate two wheelchairs, or two additional passengers in fold-down seats at the rear of the van.

“We are really pleased that this van has a fully automated lift to bring residents in wheelchairs directly into it,” said Mr Gaston, a feature that is not common on many other buses used to transport the elderly and infirm in the area. The wheelchairs are buckled securely into place once they are lifted, he said. Residents with walkers will find the new bus accommodating, as well. The rear section of the van provides ample space to store walkers on board.

“The ‘plus 2’ option allows for greater dignity for our residents,” added Shane Herlet, executive vice president of operations.

The christening of the van on June 1 highlighted the many improvements that have taken place at Maplewood at Newtown, said Mr Gaston. “This bus is the crowning glory of all the new building we’ve been doing,” he said, “and it will be a great way to get the residents into the community.”

The van’s post-christening voyage, said Ms Brady, was to take a dozen lucky riders to join friends from sister residence, Maplewood at Danbury, for a celebratory luncheon at The Hearth in Brookfield.