Known then as the Changebridge Inn, it was operated like a hotel for senior citizens. Residential options for older people back then was limited, it was either live at home or in a nursing home. The Changebridge Inn was a “pioneer,” said Kevin Seidel, executive director of The Chelsea. It bridged the gap between the two kinds of residencies. The typical residents in those early days were in their 70s and no longer wanted to have to cook and clean for themselves. The concept of the Changebridge Inn was so new that consumers had to be educated to it.

The Changebridge Inn, which came under new management in 2000 when it was renamed The Chelsea, was built by a Boonton family. The builder’s son was the architect and his mother was the first resident. Seidel said he likes to joke that the builder made the place for his mother and 100 of her closest friends.

Actually, there are 140 residents at The Chelsea. Most live in studio or one-bedroom apartments. There is also a specialized Alzheimer and dementia care area, called the Country Cottage, which was designed for people with memory impairments.

While 20 years is not a particularly long time, many changes have occurred. It is not just the technological advances, but also the way we approach old age.  According to Seidel, the definitions for old age are constantly being revised: there is old age and old-old age, which currently is applied to those 85 and over. However, as Seidel pointed out, some 85-year-olds need assistance and some are active and involved and very much like 65-year-olds.

In fact, it has become increasingly common for people to live to be 100 as was evidenced this winter, when the Montville Township Committee honored centenarians on two separate occasions.

Today, numerous options for senior citizens exist. Besides nursing homes, they can live in retirement communities or assisted living places. In New Jersey, there are over 200 assisted living places, with 20 of them in Morris County alone. As for educating people on the concept, it is no longer an issue because today’s senior citizens are knowledgeable of their choices.

Another alternative is “aging in place,” the term used to refer to living in one’s home for as long as possible. Thanks to improvements in home-care services, people are remaining in their homes well past age 80, making the typical new Chelsea resident an 80something-year-old.

Activities have had to adapt to keep pace with the needs of older citizens. Seidel noted that there used to be 10 parking spots designated for residents, but now, only one still drives. Therefore, a Chelsea bus is available to provide transportation. It is not used just for medical appointments, but takes residents to restaurants, shopping, the theater, and museums.

There are also opportunities to learn new skills.  Take for example a quilting class offered by a resident’s daughter, who is a nationally recognized quilter. There, women who never quilted before, are now doing so. According to Seidel, besides assisting with fine motor skills, it recalls the origin of quilting, where women got together and talked.

“It has been a great artistic expression and social outlet,” said Seidel.

If she had been facing her current situation 20 years ago, things would have been much grimmer for Rose Barone. She has lived at The Chelsea for three years, since suffering a miniature stroke and a heart attack. Living at home was no longer an option for the former Long Beach Island resident nor was living in her daughter’s house where she would be alone most of the day. The Chelsea filled the need

 For one thing, it is near her daughter, who was already familiar with the place because of visits she made with her own daughter’s Girl Scout troop, years ago.

Barone has heard terrible things about nursing homes and strongly believes that such places would never have been an option for her. She got a brief glimpse into that world during a stay in a rehabilitation facility.

“This is much nicer. I have my own bathroom and my own space,” she said.

It took some time to adapt to living at The Chelsea, but as Barone said, “You do the best you can and get used to it. The people are cordial.”

Barone tries to stay active, participating in cooking classes, bingo, and the day before this interview, she joined the Red Hat Society, a club for women over the age of 50. She has also found new interests, such as horseracing, and during a recent casino night, she played blackjack for the first time.

“That was a fun night,” she said.

Prior to talking with Neighbor News, Barone attended a meeting with other residents who were making plans for future activities as well as offering suggestions on how to make life at The Chelsea better.

“Each day we improve on something,” she noted.

Living at The Chelsea has also meant making new friends. “We are like one family, everybody’s worried about each other,” said Barone.

For Al Sierchio, having the staff and residents of The Chelsea around means support at a difficult time, the loss of his beloved wife Lucille, who passed away a couple of weeks ago. The couple had been married for 62 years.

The Sierchios moved to The Chelsea more than two years ago, after Sierchio fell and fractured his neck. Normally an active man, the retired electrician from Belleville, said, “Right now I’m not taking part in many things because I miss her, but I’ll be OK.”

When he and his wife first arrived at The Chelsea, a period of adjustment was needed. “We had to get used to institutional food. My wife was a wonderful cook and baker, but we managed,” said Sierchio.

The situation was eased thanks to a garden he keeps on his apartment’s balcony, where he has grown flowers and Italian peppers, and over the past couple of years, yielded a good crop of basil.

“So, I kept myself pretty busy. Lucille helped me,” he said.

Sierchio said of living at The Chelsea, “I like it here, the staff is very helpful. The residents are congenial. I get along with everybody. I have a hobby; I make birdhouses. It keeps me busy and I read a lot.”

Besides the community feeling within The Chelsea, the residents also maintain a connection with Montville Township. Local schools and houses of worship, and organizations include the Chelsea residents in activities.

Seidel said, “We are trying to give our residents a greater sense of community, not just in the building, but in the community of Montville and not just on the receiving end, but volunteering. No matter what your age is, you can be a viable part of the community.”

Sierchio has found this out first hand. A Pearl Harbor survivor who was in the service for five years, he has been honored at the past few Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies held by the Montville VFW.

“I like Montville. I’m only a resident for two and a half years and they have been very nice to me.”

Despite being relatively new to the township, he is familiar with the place and has fond memories of trips with his wife and children to Pine Brook when there was a weekly flea market. He recalled that on Saturdays there was also a farmer’s market that sold meat and produce and even had children’s rides.

Thomas Carew, who is in his 70s, has been at The Chelsea for more than 15 years, making him the resident living there for the longest amount of time. From Lake Hiawatha, Carew was not getting along well in life when he moved in, but living here “keeps me on the upswing” he said.

The biggest benefit to living at The Chelsea, said Carew, is that it has been a help to his wife, who still lives in Lake Hiawatha and comes to visit him every day.

Just as things have changed over the past 20 years, The Chelsea must prepare itself for the changes to come in the next 20 years. During that time, the baby-boom generation, those born between the years 1946 and 1964, will enter their so-called golden years.

A report prepared by the Center for Health Statistics - located in the Office of the State Epidemiologist, Public Health Services Branch of the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, states: “New Jersey population aged 60 years and over grew by 3.5 percent since 1990 to a total of 1,443,782 in 2000. The largest population growth is among people aged 85 years and over (42.3 percent), followed by the age group between 80-84 years (30 percent). ”

The report also stated that the number of people aged 60 and over is expected to grow to be 25.7 percent of the population by 2030.

Seidel said, “Our industry will have to become more competitive, it already is competitive. And will also have to find a niche to attract people. The place needs to think about keeping the residents it has and being ready for a changing population.”

The Chelsea will celebrate its 20th anniversary on April 17 with an open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There will be music, food, and gifts. The public is welcome to attend.