Why We Love Wayne

This friendly and welcoming community in Passaic County has endless things to offer.

A Perfect Place to Call Home

Wayne boasts many benefits for the town’s residents, from picturesque lakeside neighborhoods to diverse recreational options to bustling shopping centers.

• A Safe and Friendly Community: Wayne Township’s low crime rate makes it perfect for those looking for a peaceful, secure community to call home.
• Parks and Recreation: Wayne features a wide range of beautiful parks and outdoor recreation, like High Mountain Park Preserve for hiking and picnics and the Laurelwood Arboretum for enjoying beautiful botanical gardens.
• Arts and Culture: William Paterson University is home to the Shea Performing Arts center, which features musical performances, theatre, and lectures, and the Ben Shahn Center for Visual Arts.
• Diverse Dining and Shopping: Wayne’s diverse dining and shopping opportunities ensure residents never have to go far to get what they need. At Willowbrook Mall, you can shop everything from popular retail chains to unique boutiques and shops, and the vast range of available restaurants in town offer something to satisfy any palate.
• Health and Wellness: Wayne is home to many gyms that participate in Silver Sneakers, a Medicare program that provides eligible older adults with a free membership. At Wayne ShopRite, an on-site dietician provides free consultations, shopping assistance, tips for those with dietary needs, coupons, and even samples. Wayne Health Department even hosts health clinics that provide services such as vaccines and dental care.

Resources for Older Adults

The peaceful and beautiful community offers many resources and programs for older adults, including fun social events, health education, and various types of helpful assistance.

• Wayne for all Ages: This town-run, age-friendly initiative provides older adults with access to variety of resources, including an Alzheimer’s support group, blood pressure screenings, legal services, health educational workshops, and social events.
• Senior Resource Group: This group of dedicated health care and business professionals provide education, guidance, and referrals for older adults in northern New Jersey.
• Wayne Adult Community Center: This all-volunteer organization gives adults age 55 and older the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and join a variety of organized recreational and educational activities, such as BBQs and picnics, book club, card games, and painting classes
• Golden Age Circle: This social club for adults age 50 and older provides opportunities to gather and enjoy crafts, bingo, coffee socials, and bus excursions to casinos, theaters, and holiday luncheons.
• Wayne Recreation Department: The Wayne Recreation Department provides bus day trips to places of interest, like a nearby winery and outlets, and runs a senior bus from Monday through Friday that takes residents from Siena Village and Summer Hill (Christian Health’s two independent-living communities) to places like Willowbrook Mall and the grocery store.
• Wayne Township Pool: The Wayne community pool hosts fun special events just for older adults, including thesenior picnic (a full day of entertainment that includes breakfast and lunch, swimming, and a DJ) and a senior Olympics event.

Our Wayne Communities: Siena Village and Summer Hill of Wayne

Our independent-living communities in Wayne, Siena Village (62 and older) and Summer Hill (55 and over), offer residents an enriching environment filled with welcoming friends and neighbors, engaging social activities, and helpful support services to connect them with many resources.

Support and Guidance

Our service and activity coordinators at Summer Hill and Siena Village are resident advocates who work hard to ensure their residents can find the assistance and services they need.

"Whenever you need help, they're there for you,” said Leona Conti, a Summer Hill resident.

• Health care assistance: Residents receive support with physician referrals, Medicare paperwork, and mental health resources.

• Financial assistance: Our service and activity coordinators can help put residents in touch with services such as Meals on Wheels, county energy assistance programs, and free seasonal cleaning through Home Care Options, a Christian Health service.
• Legal aid: A lawyer provides free on-site legal services residents to assist with the development of important documents, such as wills and power of attorney, through regular workshops and one-on-one appointments.
• Other support: Referrals for other services, such as cleaning, laundry, or repairperson services, are provided upon request.

Fun and Engagement

Siena Village and Summer Hill both boast a robust calendar of diverse activities, including wellness programs and lunch-and-learn workshops, exercise classes, crafts, movie nights, lectures, live music, and games.

Residents also enjoy many seasonal celebrations, such as a Mardi Gras bash, St. Patrick’s Day luncheon, Oktoberfest, festive Christmas party, and a joint summer BBQ with both communities.

"Our events bring our residents together, fostering friendships and a true sense of community," said Laura Koblitz, Resident Director of Summer Hill and Siena Village. "It’s so enjoyable to watch our residents laugh, dance, and truly enjoy themselves -- it’s what makes our community so special."

"I make a lot of friends here,” said Ewa Jurasz, a Siena Village resident. “And I'm still making new friends today!"

Residents are welcome to provide suggestions and share ideas for activities directly with the team or through the activity surveys.

“We really try to offer a lot of different programs and get feedback from the residents to find out what they’re interested in and what they’d like to see us do that we’re not doing,” said Susan. “We really try to incorporate their ideas.”

"The staff here is outstanding,” said Ewa. “They’re so friendly and responsive."

A Close-Knit Community

Siena Village and Summer Hill both provide a cozy, home-like environment for residents to enjoy one another’s company.

Both communities have an on-site salon where a hairdresser provides weekly services, a community room for events and recreation, a cozy library filled with books, and gathering spaces such as Siena Village’s beautiful courtyard and Summer Hill’s cozy cafe. Residents use the communal areas to meet, socialize, and form meaningful bonds that span generations.

“My favorite thing here is the support they give one another,” said Susan. “It’s such a diverse population, but they all look out for and genuinely like one another. You come here and feel welcomed by the residents. It’s nice to see the relationships bloom: I love seeing a 55-year-old sitting and spending time with a 95-year-old. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.”

Learn More About Siena Village and Summer Hill of Wayne

To learn more about life at our independent-living communities in Wayne, please visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/IndependentLiving or call contact Stacy Swarts-Carver at (201) 897-5401 or SSwarts-Carver@ChristianHealthNJ.org.