The Osborn, a Wellspring of Resources

By Jamie Jensen

The Osborn is a senior living community sitting on 56 beautiful acres right here in town. Its campus, situated between Theall Road and Boston Post Road, is across from the Rye City School District offices, WESTMED, and next door to Osborn Elementary School. Everyone seems to know of The Osborn, but what many may not realize is that the senior facility is an integral part of Rye community life, and its “WellSpring Program” brings rich resources to more than just the seniors living there.

Launched in 2016, the speaker series is open to the public and the fall lineup is quite impressive. Earlier this month, Peter B. deMenocal, the founding director of Climate and Life at Columbia University, spoke on climate change. On October 23, Greg Carter, a researcher from the Jackson Laboratory, will discuss “New Approaches to Diagnosing Alzheimer’s Disease”, and, in November, Stephen Battaglio, staff writer at the Los Angeles Times will discuss the “Changing Role of Politics in Television”.

The Osborn also often hosts local artists in their gallery, performances of local school groups, and candidates for public office — providing a mature and engaged audience for the creative and civic-minded.

For so many, aging actively is what we all wish for. Research on aging indicates that keeping your brain active improves cognitive functioning, that sharing interests with friends can increase longevity, and that staying active not only increases strength, flexibility, and balance, but improves your mood. It is also well argued that spending time in nature, engaging in creative activity, and caring for the world around you, can help reduce stress. Offering programs that provide an integrated approach to wellness and builds on this research is the goal.

According to Osborn President and CEO Matt Anderson, “There’s an energy to The Osborn’s ‘WellSpring’ program that engages our residents and staff in so many ways. While certainly a natural process, it has measurable results in health, happiness and longevity.”

The Osborn Foundation supports over 40 local nonprofits – transporting residents to events, making donations, volunteering their time, and inviting Rye neighbors young and old into their community life.

The WellSpring Speaker Series, free and open to the public, is held in The Osborn’s handsomely appointed auditorium. RSVP to 925-8218 or RSVP@theosborn.org.

 

Residents of The Osborn:   Dorothy Flower, Marlene DeMartino, Dr. Edward Pasciuti

Climate change scientist Peter deMenocal talking about the economic impact of climate change to visitors from area communities and residents of The Osborn on October 3, 2018.  

Guest speaker Peter deMenocal with his parents, Gay and Dan deMenocal, residents of The Osborn. Dan deMenocal was Vice President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees;  Gay deMenocal was formerly  a member of the Board of Managers.