Potsdam Couple Enjoying Transition to Independent Senior Living

CANTON - A pair of retired educators is learning that the transition from owning a home to living in a smaller space doesn’t have to be as difficult as one may think.

“We just moved out of our home in Potsdam where we lived for more than 60 years,” said Neil Johnson. “I’m not going to say there hasn’t been a period of adjustment, but everyone here has made it easier than we thought it would be.

Mr. Johnson and his wife, Marilyn moved into United Helpers Independent Senior Living in April, although Mr. and Mrs. Johnson said they’re still doing quite a bit of travel back and forth between Canton and Potsdam.

The couple’s home is currently for sale and Mr. Johnson said they’re looking forward to selling their house and really becoming a part of the ISL family.

“We’re really looking forward to getting settled in and becoming more involved with things,” he said. 

Neil and Marilyn Johnson

When asked why they decided to move to United Helpers Independent Senior Living, Mrs. Johnson said they were living in a three-story home. “Our laundry was in the basement and our bedroom was on the second floor. It was just getting to be too much. We already knew some people here and we know some more who are planning to move in.”

The couple’s two children also encouraged them to make the move.

“Our children told us if we didn’t pay the application fee, they would do it for us,” Mr. Johnson said.

The Johnsons said they knew they wanted to stay in the North Country.

“We met in college in Pennsylvania and have been together ever since,” he said. “There’s really nothing of this sort in the area and we really wanted to stay here.”

Mr. Johnson retired as a member of the Physical Education Department at SUNY Potsdam. Mrs. Johnson retired as a member of the Physical Education Department at Clarkson. She even holds the distinction of being the first woman on staff in that department.

As for their favorite thing about living at United Helpers Independent Senior Living, Mr. Johnson only half-jokingly replied, “The evening meal.”

“There has been a couple of times when we’ve had guests and they’ve handled everything perfectly,” Mrs. Johnson said.

On a more serious note, Mr. Johnson said they both really appreciate Community Manager Jennifer Dean and everything she does for all of the members there.

A captain though is only as good as the members of their team, and the Johnsons say that’s part of what makes United Helpers so great.

“They’re very attentive to detail. When you put in a work order for something, you don’t have to wait very long for it to get done and get done right,” Marilyn said. “The staff are all very great about looking after everyone, but the best part about being here is the people who live here do that too.”

If you or a loved one are looking to downsize, perhaps United Helpers Independent Senior Living could be for you. An open house will be held there on Friday, June 13 from 1 to 3 pm. Come and meet Mrs. Dean, tour the property, meet a few members, and even enjoy some cookies and lemonade.

United Helpers Independent Senior Living is located at 30 Sullivan Drive in Canton. To learn more, please call (315) 379-1428 or visit www.unitedhelpers.org. 

North Country Pickleball Group to Host Always Caring Pickleball Tournament

POTSDAM – Pickleball, pizza, pastries and more will be served up on Saturday, June 14^th when the North Country Pickleball Group hosts the Always Caring Mixed-Doubles Pickleball Tournament.

Proceeds from this year’s tournament, which includes four division to accommodate different talent levels, will benefit United Helpers. Registration for the tournament is $40 per team with a discount if your team enters more than one division of play. 

Food trucks from Italian Affair and Rosie's Hawg Dogs will be on site, as well as a bake sale with a variety of cookies, muffins, pies and more. There will also be a basket drawing with more than 40 gift baskets and other prizes to award.

Prizes for the basket drawing including a children’s bike and helmet, dining packages, golf packages, season tickets for St. Lawrence and Clarkson hockey, and several themed gift baskets with grilling, summer fun, fishing, Harry Potter and even campfire fun among the themes.

The fun will get underway at 8 am at the Pine Street Arena in Potsdam and last late into the afternoon with music playing all day long. There will be free balloons and teddy bears for the kids, so come on out and enjoy this fun, family event!

To register for the tournament, please use the Playtime Scheduler app or email nocopickleball136@gmail.com.

Madrid Man Credits Learning to Parachute Jump for Saving His Life

CANTON – The arrival of spring means we’re all spending more time outside and in some instances that involves climbing on ladders, using dangerous tools or even possibly using dangerous tools while climbing on ladders.

It was while trimming a tree when Craig Ballard, of Madrid took a fall that could have cost him his life. He said a limb from the tree he was cutting fell and inadvertently kicked the ladder out from under him.

“I went down while holding the chainsaw,” he said. “I was fortunate enough that I had my wits about me and enough to do what I needed to do to still be here.”

He attributes knowing what to do in that situation to something he learned while sport parachute jumping. 

“I was able to position my body and fall in a way that helped minimize the damage," he said. “I really think that helped save my life.”

Even though he was able to ditch the chainsaw, Mr. Ballard did not escape uninjured. He broke both of his legs, as well as his left arm. The accident led to a lengthy hospital stay prior to another long stay at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care, where he was admitted into the rehabilitation unit.

“They certainly know what they’re doing,” he said referring to the therapy staff at United Helpers in Canton. “They were able to take a pretty big problem and make it a little more manageable.”

Mr. Ballard, who spent almost 45 years as a member of the Madrid Volunteer Rescue Squad, and another 13 years as a volunteer firefighter in Madrid, said he is not used to being the one on the receiving end of assistance.

“I’m thankful for everyone who helped me out along the way. The first responders who came to the scene, the nurses and the doctors at the hospital, and the nurses and therapy staff here who have helped me get as close to where I would like to be as they could,” he said.

Mr. Ballard’s stay at United Helpers was 100 days, the most his insurance would cover. “While I do wish, I could have stayed a bit longer, I am certainly in a better spot now than I was when I got here.”

When Mr. Ballard arrived in Canton, he wasn’t going anywhere unless it was in his wheelchair. By the time he was discharged this past winter, Mr. Ballard was using a walker.

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton offers both short-term rehabilitation stays and long-term skilled nursing care. To learn more, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org or call (315) 386-4541.

Craig Ballard, of Madrid credit his time at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton for helping to get him back on track following a serious accident that occurred while he was trimming a tree. He is seen here working with Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsie Denner.

Clarkson Partners with United Helpers Independent Senior Living for Fall Prevention Program

CANTON – Occupational Therapy students from Clarkson University have teamed up with United Helpers Independent Senior Living to introduce a fall prevention program.

According to the National Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of injuries amongst people 65 and older, with one in four reporting at least one fall each year.

The program began with a fall prevention presentation a few weeks ago and concluded last week when students returned to the building to perform a series of balance assessments with members interested in participating in the program.

Seven first-year students participated with approximately 10 members from the building taking part.

“For our students this is almost like a final exam for them,” said Brittany DiSalvo, who is a professor in the Occupational Therapy Department. “We’re finishing up our year with some hands-on learning.”

One of those students was Lauren Engel, of Charlotte, NC. 

Occupational therapy student Jordyn Whitton works
with Professor Brittany DiSalvo and United Helpers
 Independent Senior Living member Jane Daby. 

“This is our first time getting to work with people from the community,” she said. “Earlier in the spring we did a fall prevention program and this is kind of piggybacking off of that. I feel like we’re teaching them something, but they’re also teaching us too.”

“We’re hoping to come back in the fall with a new group of students,” Mrs. DiSalvo said. “There’s so much we could do and we’d like to explore other areas of functional performance for this group while focusing on keeping them safe, strong, and independent. We are looking to enhance this partnership and become more of a familiar face in the facility.”

While Mrs. DiSalvo said she’s not sure what next year’s students will do with the members, she did say she’s looking forward to working with the people at United Helpers Independent Senior Living again.

“Projects like this are great,” she said. “Working with individuals in the community provide the students with hands-on experiences, things that a textbook just cannot teach.”

Linda Buchanan, a long-time ISL member said she very much enjoyed having the students come in. She attended both their verbal presentation, as well as the hands-on session, where she completed each of the balance assessments.

“I was very impressed with their presentation. The students all did a great job. As we get a little bit older this is very important information to have,” she said.

Some of the assessments included reaching forward, both while sitting and standing, standing up from a seated position, standing with their eyes closed, picking an object up off of the floor, and stepping onto and off of a stool.

“The assessments completed in this experience serve as an indicator for assessing fall risk among this population. Our students can use the results and the information gathered today to address the individual’s deficits while overall focusing on keeping everyone safe,” Mrs. DiSalvo said.

Martinchek Honored with Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award

CANTON – When the newly appointed United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Activities Director was promoted to her new position, she knew exactly who she wanted to step into her old role as Activities Leader – this year’s Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award winner Lauren Martinchek. 

Ms. Martinchek, of Canton, began her career with United Helpers in 2017 as a task aide before becoming a CNA and then transitioning into a role with the Activities Department in 2018, a department in which she thrived in for five years before the promotion.

“Lauren is very organized and willing to help whenever or wherever. She also has the ability to learn almost anything related to her position,” said Activities Director Patience Boswell. “But what really separated Lauren from others is her compassion for her residents.”

Talking about the relationship Ms. Martincheck has with her residents, Ms. Boswell said, “It is clear from her interactions with residents that she truly cares for them. When she talks about residents, you can tell she knows them intimately like a relative would. When she shares a laugh or even a cry with a resident, you can tell it is a genuine shared emotion.”

Rehabilitation and Senior Care Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons has heard many such stories from employees, as well as family members of residents and in some instances, residents themselves.

“Lauren has a huge heart and appears to love what she does,” he said. “She is the type of employee you wish you could replicate over and over again.”

While United Helpers has many different employee honors, most of those awards are for people working in direct care. The Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award gives Mr. Parsons an opportunity to recognize an outstanding employee even if they do not work in direct care.

“She was an easy choice for this honor,” he said. “We are proud she is a part of the United Helpers team.”

The Fannie Frank Award was established in 2019 by Dr. Gordon and his wife, Barbara, who are both former United Helpers volunteers and board members. Dr. Gordon grew up in New York City in close proximity to his grandmother and credits her with instilling in him a love of animals that would eventually lead to his career as a veterinarian.

The award was created as a way to pay tribute to his grandmother, a Polish immigrant who moved to the U.S. prior to World War I with her parents and six of her nine siblings.

The award includes a cash bonus and is awarded based on the following criteria:

• A remarkably caring demeanor
• Currently employed at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care
• Continuous employment with United Helpers for two or more years

Holding a picture of his beloved grandmother, Dr. Edward Gordon calls the Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award presentation “one of my favorite things each year.” This year, Dr. Gordon presented the award to United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek, of Canton. From left, Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons, Dr. Gordon, Ms. Martinchek, Activities Director Patience Boswell and Barbara Gordon.

UH Rocks Bringing the Entertainment to One Lucky Person This Summer!

OGDENSBURG – Bands and musicians like Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Creed, Shania Twain, Rod Stewart and Chicago are all traveling to Upstate New York for shows this summer and if you’re the lucky winner of our UH Rocks ticket drawing, you could be enjoying the show from one of the best seats in the house.

The winner of this drawing will receive a $500 Ticketmaster gift card. Not a fan of live music, comedians like Kevin Hart, Jeff Dunham and Brad Williams will all be coming to the area too. Tickets to events like the WWE, monster trucks and even many theatrical productions could be at your fingertips.

“Following the success of the NFL Fan’s Choice Drawing held this past summer, we wanted to once again do something different, something that would appeal to the masses and something that could once again attract interest from people who may not be our stereotypical fundraising demographic,” said United Helpers Marketing Manager Benny Fairchild. “With the wide range of entertainment options available through Ticketmaster, we feel like this does just that.”

Tickets for this will be $10 each. Bundles are also available with three tickets for $25 or seven tickets for $50.

“While not everyone enjoys football, most people do enjoy live entertainment, whether it’s music, comedy, theatre or something else,” said Assistant Director of Corporate Services Jordan Downing-Duke. “The winner of this drawing really has a ton of options; they could buy one amazing seat to a show of their choice or maybe even enjoy lawn seats for several shows at the amphitheater in Syracuse. The choice is theirs.”

Tickets will be available online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ticketmasterdrawing/event/uhrocks/. Tickets will also be available during regular business hours at the United Helpers RiverLedge Campus reception desk, located at 8101 State Hwy 68 in Ogdensburg.

Only 1,000 tickets will be printed, with sales continuing until all tickets are sold or 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 30. The drawing will be held on Tuesday, April 1 giving the winner plenty of time to pick out which show or shows they would like to attend.

Transportation, meals, and lodging are not included with the prize.

Whether you like rock, rap, country, comedy or even theatre, the UH Rocks ticket drawing has a prize for you. The winner of this drawing will receive a $500 Ticketmaster gift card, which they may use to purchase ticket(s) to the show or shows of their choice. Tickets are available for $10 each, three for $25 or seven for $50. Tickets will be available online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/ticketmasterdrawing/event/uhrocks/. Tickets may be purchased in person (cash only) at the United Helpers RiverLedge Campus reception desk, 8101 State Hwy 68, in Ogdensburg, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. The drawing will be held on Tuesday, April 1 giving the winner plenty of time to pick out what show or shows they would like to attend.

Home for the Holidays Thanks to United Helpers

CANTON – A stay at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care helped two local women regain the strength they needed to return home for the holidays and the start of the new year.

Elizabeth Ayer, of Massena Center spent 20 days at the facility for her short-term rehabilitation stay which followed surgery on a foot and ankle, which had previously been broken and repaired in 1975.

“It just got worn out,” Mrs. Ayer said, the hardware in foot and ankle was replaced during the procedure. 

Elizabeth Ayer

When Mrs. Ayer arrived at the facility she was in a wheel chair and unable to walk on her own. Now she is using a walker and looking forward to her cast coming off this month.

“My daughter said I’ll be in a walking boot, but it’s another step forward,” she said.

Mrs. Ayer said she’s appreciative of the support and help she received during her stay in Canton.

“If I ever have to go to physical therapy again, this is where I will be coming,” she said. “The staff were all so very positive and here to help, right from the cleaning ladies all the way to the top.”

Patricia Goolden, of Hannawa Falls came to United Helpers following a hospital stay for pneumonia. She also has congestive heart failure.

When it came time for her to be discharged from the hospital, Mrs. Goolden said her children were not comfortable with her going home alone.

“I couldn’t walk and my kids wouldn’t let me go home alone,” she said, noting when she arrived she could only ride the exercise bike for 5 minutes before becoming exhausted and having to stop.

Patricia Goolden with Physical Therapist Trent Worden

“I’m up to 15 minutes now.” “I’ve toned up my body quite a bit. I’ve even gotten to the point where I can walk without my walker. I’m supposed to use it, but sometimes I try to sneak around without it.” she said.

Mrs. Goolden said she owes United Helpers Director of Therapy Trent Worden a big thank you.

“Therapy was hard at first. He would come in and ask if I was ready, and I would say, ‘no,’ but by the end I was looking forward to it.  My stamina is better than it has been in years.”

If you feel like you could benefit from a short-term rehabilitation stay at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton, please reach out to Admissions Coordinator Tanya Trotter at (315) 590-2040 or via email at tltrotter@unitedhelpers.org.

You may also visit www.unitedhelpers.org to learn more about this and the other services we offer.