Mar 14, 2024

After Four Years of Letters, Pen Pals Meet at United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care

CANTON - During the COVID-19 pandemic when the whole world went into isolation, Myrtle Butterfield, then a resident in the Assisted Living Program at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton made a new friend with whom she would communicate for years before meeting each other face to face for the first time earlier this week.

At the time Brianne Printup worked at Clarkson University. She thought it would be fun to write letters to residents at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

Since that time Ms. Printup and Mrs. Butterfield continued writing and have done so on a regular basis for the past four years. Today, Mrs. Butterfield remains a resident at Rehabilitation and Senior Care, now residing in the skilled nursing wing. Ms. Printup no longer works at Clarkson and lives downstate, but her connection to the North Country remains through family in the Massena area and her relationship with Mrs. Butterfield.

United Helpers Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek has also been involved since the beginning, serving as Mrs. Butterfield's "secretary" and helping her write the letters which would form the backbone of this unique friendship.

"When they were chatting today, I don't think I have ever seen Myrtle so happy," Ms. Martinchek said. "And Mrytle is usually a pretty happy lady."

Brianne Printup began writing letters to Myrtle Butterfield four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic when resident at the nursing home were having little to no contact with the outside world. Earlier this week, after exchanging letters for four years, they met for the first time. From left, Ms. Printup. Mrs. Butterfield, and Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek. Mrs. Butterfield credits Ms. Martinchek with helping her write the letters, jokingly calling her, "my secretary."


Mar 11, 2024

United Helpers Hosting Defensive Driving Course; Employees May Attend Free of Charge

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers will be hosting a New York DMV approved National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 in the large staff development classroom at the former United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care (RiverLedge), 8101 State Highway 68, Ogdensburg. 

The class serves as a refresher course for drivers of all ages and includes safe driving tips and an overview of today’s vehicle and traffic laws.

Successful completion of the class makes attendees eligible for a mandatory insurance premium reduction of up to 10% for three years on the base rate for their automobile or motorcycle insurance premiums, provided you are listed as the principal operator. Participants may also be eligible to have up to a four points removed reduction with the NYS DMV. The class may be taken once every 18 months for point reduction.

The cost of the class is $40, payable in cash, check or money order made out to United Helpers Care, Inc. Classes may be paid for on the day of the class. United Helpers employees may attend the class free of charge.

Please bring your driver’s license with you to class. It is a requirement that you have it with you for documentation purposes.

Advanced registration is required. To register please contact Mark Darou at (315) 394-6702 ext. 303 or madarou@unitedhelpers.org.

Mar 7, 2024

Tonya Bassett Honored with Wayne N. Ladouceur Award

Tonya Bassett, an LPN with United Helpers for more than 15 years was honored with this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award. The award is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur, including, giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life. From left, Jason and Grayson Ladouceur, Mrs. Bassett, Cheryl Ladouceuer, and Cristen (Ladouceur) Halladay.


OGDENSBURG – A LPN known for her “Always Caring” nature both in and out of the facility has been recognized as the winner of this year’s Wayne N. Ladoucuer Award.

Tonya Bassett, of Canton, has been an LPN with the organization for more than 15 years.

A colleague of Mrs. Bassett’s, Amber Curtis, a RN who works with Mrs. Bassett at Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton nominated her for the award. A letter of support was provided by Pam Sherburne, whose husband is a resident who receives care from both Mrs. Bassett and Mrs. Curtis.

The Ladouceur family chose the criteria for the award, picking traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg. That criteria includes giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.

Those are all areas where Mrs. Bassett excels, both at work and at home.

Giving a specific example, Mrs. Curtis wrote about how Mrs. Bassett temporarily took on care of some children from a family member in need.

 “Tonya went above and beyond caring for those kids as if they were her own,” Mrs. Curtis wrote. “She bought their school clothes and supplies, took them to doctors and dentist appointments, threw big birthday parties for them and even went to their parent teacher conferences. She did all of this without even batting an eye.”

Mrs. Sherburne highlighted several examples of Mrs. Bassett’s dedication to the residents, including coming in on “days off,” staying late on shifts when they’re short staffed, or even providing assistance to families after hours.

“After working an overnight shift she volunteered to help me take my husband to have a test done at the hospital. Anyone else would have taken their exhausted body home to get some sleep,” Mrs. Sherburne wrote. “Since the very first day my spouse moved into United Helpers, Tonya has provided me with the confidence that he would be in good hands and well cared for.”

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.

Each year at the award’s presentation Cheryl Ladouceur, who was married to Wayne for more than 50 years, talks about the relationship Mr. Ladouceuer had with United Helpers and its residents.”

“From what I can tell, Mrs. Bassett is very much like my husband in the way that she often puts those in need ahead of themselves,” she said. “If Wayne ever had the opportunity to meet her, I’m sure he would have liked her very much.”

Mrs. Bassett was chosen for this year’s award from a group of nominees that also included Housing Specialist Diana Dancause and ACT Program Assistant Nora Hance.

“I know for a fact that this year we had three very strong candidates for this award,” said COO Stacey Cannizzo. “Being nominated for this award is an honor in and of itself.”

Among this year’s nominees for the Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was United Helpers Housing Specialist Diana Dancause, of Russell. She was nominated for the honor by Housing Manager Tara Beckstead and Admissions Coordinator Macaula Drake. From left, Ms. Beckstead, Housing Director Beth Snyder, Mrs. Dancause, and Ms. Drake.


This year’s nominees for the Wayne N. Ladouceur Award included ACT Program Assistant Nora Hance, of Ogdensburg. She was nominated for the award by ACT Team Leader Amy Chisolm and Director of Behavioral Health Services David Nelson. Front row, Mrs. Hance; back row, from left, Ms. Chisolm, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Services Breanne Snyder, and Mr. Nelson. 






Mar 4, 2024

Welcome New Hires

  

United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care

Peggy Charlton - Home Health Aide
Casey Rocker - Food Service Attendant
Kara Walrath - Food Service Attendant
Victoria Bolliver - Food Service Attendant
Erica Mumbolo - Food Service Attendant
Theodore Yeddo - Cook
Dona Bassett - CNA

Sparx

Blake Kinch - Laundry Aide

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
Riverwood IRA

LisaAnn Tyler - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
Gateway Apartments/ACT Team/Supportive Housing

Gary Lewis - Care Manager
Bryant Robinson - Vocational Specialist
Alison Thornhill - Community Housing Manager (Transfer)


United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
Spruce Street IRA

Zachary Bjork - DSP
Brook Duprey - Behavioral Support Technician

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
Rensselaer Falls IRA

Sara VanBrocklin - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
 Flackville IRA

Kolby Farrell - DSP
Dakota Mouthorp - DSP
Brandie Matott - Residential Supervisor

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills
Irish Settlement Road IRA

Hannah Garber - DSP
Kristina Norman - DSP