Category: News

Launching the 2024 spring season of its popular WellSpring Speaker Series, The Osborn will host author and horticulturist Marta McDowell discussing her book, Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers, on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event will be held in The Osborn’s Auditorium at 101 Theall Road in Rye.

From Edgar Allan Poe to Agatha Christie to modern bestsellers, many of our greatest mystery writers have found inspiration in the sinister side of gardens. Gardening Can Be Murder is the first book to explore this genre’s many surprising horticultural connections. Marta McDowell teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden where she has been named Instructor of the Year. The author of five books, she was the 2019 recipient of the Garden Club of America Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for outstanding literary achievement.

“It is highly fitting that this entertaining evening features horticulture since enjoying nature is a perennial focus of our life here at The Osborn,” said Matthew G. Anderson, The Osborn’s President and CEO. “It is also a cornerstone of our WellSpring program, which offers an integrated approach to wellbeing that inspires everyone in our community to enjoy life to the fullest.”

The Osborn’s 56-acre campus is the only private arboretum in Westchester County and has over 1,000 trees and 115 species. Residents, staff, and guests enjoy the beautiful environment daily and The Osborn hosts many outdoor activities, including its annual Jack Miller Easter Egg Hunt, nature walks and Arbor Day Celebration.

The Osborn’s signature WellSpring program engages all the dimensions that enrich fulfilling lives: intellectual, social, physical, environmental, occupational, emotional, and spiritual. Through its WellSpring Speaker Series, The Osborn opens its doors to the wider community to share cultural programs that stimulate the mind and delight the heart.

This spring, in addition to Gardening Can Be Murder by Marta McDowell, the public is invited to enjoy Orchestra Lumos: Around the World in 80 Minutes on April 10, and Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider’s Guide to Jeopardy! by Claire McNeal on May 2. To reserve a seat for these programs, please email RSVP@theosborn.org or call 914-925-8218.

The Osborn has received many accolades for its excellence, including being chosen by readers of Westchester Magazine as “Best of Westchester” in the Senior Residence category in 2023. The Osborn Pavilion skilled nursing center was once again named as a “Best Nursing Home” for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. The Osborn was also named as one of the nation’s “Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities” by Newsweek. It was also awarded its fifth consecutive five-year accreditation by CARF International, which is widely regarded as the highest standard in senior living excellence.

The Osborn in Rye has been recognized as one of the nation’s “Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities” on Newsweek’s inaugural list. It is the only retirement community in Westchester County and one of only ten in New York State to earn this accolade.

“It is very gratifying to receive this recognition as one of the best Continuing Care Retirement Communities in New York and the nation according to Newsweek’s rating process,” said Matthew G. Anderson, President and CEO of The Osborn. “The dedication of our staff, the amazing programs and services we offer, the sense of community fostered by our residents, and the beauty of our magnificent campus attract residents from all over Westchester and Fairfield Counties and beyond,” he added.

According to Newsweek, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are emerging as a desirable option for seniors looking for both the independence they want and the care they may need. There are approximately 2,000 CCRCs in the United States, and that number is expected to continue to increase as the population ages. This year, for the first time, Newsweek partnered with the respected global research firm Statista to identify America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities, a list of 250 nationwide.

The Osborn has also been honored for excellence recently by several other organizations. The Osborn Pavilion skilled nursing center was once again named as a “Best Nursing Home” for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. In March, The Osborn was awarded its fifth consecutive five-year accreditation by CARF International, which is widely regarded as the highest standard in senior living excellence. The Osborn was also chosen by readers of Westchester Magazine as “Best of Westchester” in the Senior Residence category in 2023.

The Osborn Pavilion has been recognized as a “Best Nursing Home” for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report, receiving a 5/5 overall rating. It is one of only four skilled nursing facilities in Westchester County to achieve a High Performing rating in both the Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care categories.

“We are greatly honored that The Osborn Pavilion has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top nursing homes in our region,” said Matthew G. Anderson, President and CEO of The Osborn. “This distinction reflects the admirable dedication and skill of our staff, who are deeply committed to providing highest quality of care to our residents.”

Established in 2009, the U.S. News Best Nursing Homes rating offers information about care, safety, health inspections, staffing, and more for 15,000 nursing homes nationwide. The ratings are based on a detailed analysis of the country’s skilled nursing facilities.

Short-Term Rehabilitation ratings are based on an assessment of 10 quality measures, using data from the federal government’s Care Compare program. Those measures include staffing levels, medical outcomes, and resident complaints. The Long-Term Care ratings are based on an assessment of nine quality measures, including staffing, medical outcomes, resident complaints, vaccinations, and appropriate use of medications.

Launching the fall season of its WellSpring Series, The Osborn will host acclaimed author Fiona Davis discussing and reading from her glamorous new novel, The Spectacular, on Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, this event will be held in The Osborn’s Auditorium at 101 Theall Road in Rye.

“Our WellSpring program offers an integrated approach to well-being that inspires everyone in our community to enjoy life to the fullest,” said The Osborn’s President and CEO, Matthew G. Anderson. “This includes enriching literary and cultural experiences such as the Fiona Davis evening, which we invite everyone to share.”

In The Spectacular, Fiona Davis brings readers behind the shimmering gold curtain of one of the most famous stages in the world, Radio City Music Hall, as a talented young dancer in the 1950s defies society’s (and her family’s) expectations when she joins the Rockettes. Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of seven historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. She first came to New York as an actress but fell in love with writing after getting a master’s degree at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

The Osborn’s WellSpring program engages seven dimensions that enrich our lives: intellectual, social, physical, environmental, occupational, emotional, and spiritual. At The Osborn, residents can stay fit in exercise classes, the fitness center, the indoor pool, or walking on trails through its bucolic 56-acre arboretum campus. They also can participate in traditional religious services and meditation workshops, paint in art studio or browse in the three libraries, see films and live performances, and enjoy an abundance of social and cultural events.

With the fall 2023 WellSpring Series, The Osborn opens its doors to the wider community to share three engaging events. In addition to The Spectacular by Fiona Davis on Oct. 19, The Osborn WellSpring Series will present the Purchase Dance Company on Nov. 18 and Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles, on Dec. 5.

To reserve a seat to see Fiona Davis, please email RSVP@theosborn.org or call 914-925-8218.

The Osborn held a tree planting ceremony in honor of Arbor Day last Friday, April 28th, adding a Bald Cypress tree to our nationally recognized 56-acre arboretum campus.

Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is a deciduous conifer in the family Cupressaceae. The native range extends from southeastern New Jersey south to Florida and west to Central Texas and southeastern Oklahoma, and also inland up the Mississippi River. Bald cypress trees are deciduous conifers that shed their needlelike leaves in the fall.

The Osborn’s arboretum has more than 1,000 trees meticulously mapped and catalogued to keep track of the variety of species. The community has a rich history of tree plantings since it opened in 1908 and the tradition continues today.

The Osborn campus has been designated a Level 1 Arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum recognition program in cooperation with America Public Gardens Association and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

Spring Fashion Comes to The Osborn Catwalk!

To cap off Founders’ Week, J. McLaughlin presented a fashion show to our Sterling Park residents that included both staff and resident models. 

Our models strutted down the “runway” striking their finest pose in the most luxurious spring pieces that would take any dinner or party to the next wardrobe level!  Even better, everyone enjoyed both the fashion show and the delicious lunch that followed!  What a way to finish off the Founds’ Week festivities!  

The Osborn held a special Centenarian Luncheon on April 14th, 2023 to honor our 15 residents who are 100+ years old, even ranging up to 112 years of age. 

This event kicked off our historic Osborn Founders’ Week to recognize the history of The Osborn, which dates back to 1908. 

Words of wisdom and secrets to longevity were shared by all of our amazing Centenarians!

The Osborn has been awarded its fifth consecutive five-year accreditation by CARF International. Widely recognized as the highest standard in senior living excellence, CARF accreditation attests to a community’s resident-centered focus, sound governance, and fiscal strengths.  Finances are reviewed in such areas as policies, evaluation of market trends, and financial ratios. 

The Osborn is one of only two ‘Continuing Care Retirement Communities’ in Westchester County and six in New York State to currently hold the CARF accreditation distinction.

“We are proud to have again earned CARF’s prestigious reaccreditation which demonstrates our high standards in all aspects of senior living,” said Osborn President and CEO Matthew G. Anderson. “Further, it reflects our commitment to person-centered services that enhance the lives of those we serve.”  

The mission of CARF International, formed in 1966, is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvements that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. Continuing care communities that achieve CARF’s stringent standards are among the finest in the country.

The CARF report stated: “The Osborn has a dedicated and talented staff and board that are knowledgeable and passionate about offering person-centered services. Staff and residents noted the high level of communication, which positively impacts the operation. Residents are proud of their personal involvement in and commitment to The Osborn. The transparency of the board and leadership has built a level of trust among staff, residents, and families. The organization shows great financial strength.”

CARF accreditations for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are for five years. The Osborn received its first five-year CARF accreditation in 2002 and has been reaccredited for successive five-year terms.

In a welcome sign of spring, The Osborn announced its Annual Easter Egg Hunt, a much-loved tradition for the community, to be held Saturday, April 8, 2023. The Osborn will host the special springtime morning of Easter fun on its majestic campus in Rye (101 Theall Road). The annual event is held in memory of longtime board member and former Chair, Jack Miller, who personified the spirit of the season.

During the festivities, 6,000 candy-filled Easter eggs will be hidden for children to find, gather and enjoy. The event is split into two groups – one for children under 3 years of age and the other for children over 3, allowing the little ones a head start on the Hunt. 

Residents of The Osborn line the sidelines of the South Lawn and Porch to have a bird’s eye view of the lively fun, allowing seniors and children to interact in a mutually joyful way. For nearly two decades, this event has been drawing hundreds of participants from all over Westchester County as well as southern Fairfield County, Connecticut.                                                                                                          

“What makes our Easter Egg Hunt an especially uplifting event is the gathering of people of all ages on our expansive lawn surrounded by flowering trees,” said Matthew G. Anderson, President and CEO of The Osborn. “From tiny toddlers to our residents, everyone enjoys our picturesque setting during this colorful time of the year.”

The Osborn Easter Egg Hunt is free and open to the public and pre-registration is NOT required. The Hunt begins promptly at 11:15 a.m. with gates opening at 10:45 a.m. Participants should bring their own baskets to gather eggs. 

The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance and be available for photos. The festivities will also feature carnival games and refreshments available for purchase. For information, please call (914) 925-8218 or visit www.theosborn.org/events.