Maplewood Celebrates 2016's Successes

Kim McFadden and Terry Ames serve up ice cream sundaes at a recent ice cream party held to celebrate the year's accomplishments at Maplewood.

CANTON - In 2015 close to 600 days were lost to work-related injuries at Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.

That fact was shared with people attending an ice cream party at Maplewood earlier this month by Administrator Kim McFadden. She then followed up by asking people to guess how many days have been lost to injury in the building this year.

"This year we have only lost 29 days to injury," she would then say proudly, often eliciting a surprised result from whomever she was sharing that fact with.

When asked how the building was able to reduce lost time by such a dramatic amount, Ms. McFadden said there were a number of factors involved.

"This year, we had a safety slogan and each resident's room is now equipped with slide sheets," she said. "I by no means attribute everything to that, but it certainly helped create better overall safety awareness."

Staff Development Assistant Robin Leonard said the purchase of several new shower chairs and ceiling lifts may have also helped reduce the number of injuries.

"Those purchases helped to create a safer environment for both employees and residents," Ms. Leonard said, as she joined Ms. McFadden in greeting employees at the ice cream party.

In addition to celebrating the reduction in time lost to injury, Ms. McFadden said the building was also celebrating "a great survey."

Employees attending the party were each served an ice cream sundae and presented with a Maplewood t-shirt. They were also given a glimpse at even more new safety equipment, including four shower chairs, two hoyer lifts and 17 slings which Ms. McFadden said were purchased using funds saved as a result of the reduced injury time.

Welcome New Hires

Please welcome the following new employees to the United Helpers family.

RiverLedge

Heidi-Hitchman-Hartman - LPN

Samantha Seguin - CNA

Shelby Adams - Task Aide

Maplewood

Nina Young - RN

Casey Hammil - CNA

Alyssa Anson - Food Service Attendant

Brittany Landoll - Food Service Attendant

RiverLedge

Heidi-Hitchman-Hartman - LPN

Samantha Seguin - CNA

Shelby Adams - Task Aide

Home Health Services

Kim McDonald - Personal Care Assistant

Jacklynne Durham - Home Health Aide

Jessica Moore - Home Health Aide

Basta's

Larry Hardy - Delivery Driver/Laborer

Luke Miller - Delivery Driver/Laborer

Pleasant Valley IRA

Jordan Bronson - DSP

Irish Settlement Road IRA
Destiny Jo Hart - DSP
Cody Wiggins - DSP

Beulah Meloche Celebrates 110th Birthday

OGDENSBURG – When Beulah Meloche was born in 1906 Teddy Roosevelt was president, the average life expectancy was only 47 years old and there were only 144 miles of road in the entire United States.

Now, 110 years later, the world is clearly a different place. Donald Trump will be the 20^th president of her lifetime, life expectancy has increased significantly, and the U.S., according to the Federal Highway Administration, now has more than 4 million miles of roadway

Ms. Meloche, who turned 110 on Wednesday, celebrated her birthday with a party that included the presentation of a proclamation declaring the day Beulah Meloche Day in Ogdensburg, a citation from the State Senate and the opening of presents. There was also a cake adorned with the words, “Happy 110^th Birthday Beulah.”

Marie Woods works as the nurse manager in the Milligan Neighborhood, where Ms. Meloche resides. “I’ve known Beulah for about six years. She’s an amazing woman and very independent,” she said. “We have staff who care for her, but a lot of times when they go in to help her she’s already taken care of herself.”

Brook Duprey has been a CNA with United Helpers for 5 years. “I knew my job would entail caring for the elderly, but I never imagined I would meet someone who is 110.” she said, echoing what Ms. Woods said about her independence.

“She dresses herself and comes out to the dining room for meals on her own,” Ms. Duprey said.

When asked how Ms. Meloche likes to spend her days, Ms. Duprey said she especially enjoys her view of the St. Lawrence River and coming to coffee hour every Wednesday.

Ms. Meloche was born in Chazy, NY and grew up in Plattsburgh. She has lived at RiverLedge since 2011 and lived in Lisbon prior to that. She never had any children of her own. In addition to Milligan Neighborhood Staff, her lone known family member is a niece who lives outside the area.

Welcome New Hires

Please welcome the following new employees to the United Helpers family.

RiverLedge

Sabrina Baker - Task Aide

Makenna Hawk - Task Aide

Dylan Hoover - Task Aide

Candy Pratt - Task Aide

Rileigh Mee - LPN

William Bongo - LPN

Emma Heydens - LPN

Maplewood

Aimee Rosato - CNA

Clarissa Gurrola Task Aide

Melissa Fink - RN

UH Home Health Services

Emily Dawley - Task Aide

United Helpers Management Company
Andrew Ashlaw - Maintenance II

Tod Flanagan - Maintenance II

Mosaic Behavioral Health Clinic

Shawn Henry - Licensed Master of Social Worker

Spruce Street IRA
Susan Joanette - DSP

Rensselaer Falls IRA
Caitlin Cameron - DSP

Lisbon IRA
Brianna Cameron - DSP

Irish Settlement Road IRA

Tiffany Bartlett - DSP

United Helpers Hosts Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon

OGDENSBURG - Nearly 75 employees from United Helpers were honored at the company's annual Employee Recognition Luncheon held at the Gran View in Ogdensburg.

Employees with 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30-plus years of service were all recognized, as were this year's Margaret Spies Award winners, Desiree Bartlett, Lori Chilton and Susan Thoms.

Honored for 10 years of service were, from left, Denise Cadrette, Stacy Beldock, Julia Brown, Patrick Flagg, Colleen Stark, Crystal Phelps, Debaorah Aldrich, Crystal Teneyck and Tammy Kelley. Absent from photo, Brett Amo, Linda Bevins, Patricia Key, Jason Cameron, Carrie Amo and Michael Fraser.

Honored for 15 or 20 years of service were Holly Simmons, Mary Jane Burke, Sharlene Love, Mary Ashley, Brenda Brien, Tammy Bertrand, Diana Dancause, Cinderella Middlemiss, Sara Stelzel, Lori Smithers, Tim Parsons, Lisa Wright and Jean Rowe. Absent from photo, Bonnie Chapin, Amy Morgan, Shanon Wing, Kristen Gilson, Cinnamon Alberto, Johanna Newcombe and Pandora Hutt.

Honored for 25 or 30 years of service were Randy Adams, Barry Berghaus, Linda Whitton, Victoria Kiah, Helen Paquette, Brenda Jones, Sara Ashley, Renee Nichols, Melissa Fuller, Gisele Groulx and Tammie Ethridge. 

Honored for 30 plus years of service were Terry Ames, Deborah Middlemiss, Sherry Schmidt, Sheri Sharpe, Bernie Bezio, Gloria Bezio, Cindy Lawrence, Sue English, Bob Ethridge, Deborah Polniak, Robin Hamilton, Rick Pirie, Winifred Delorenzo, Reny Bice & Joyce Gladle. Absent from photo, Cynthia Cota, Debra Farrand, Linda Wert, Larita Flanagan, Jeanne Narrow, Julia Guminiak, Venitia Wood and Terry Hooper.

Welcome New Hires

RiverLedge

Walter Bracy - Maintenance 2

Maplewood

Christie Gay - CNA
Robert Gay - CNA
Claire Jarrett - Task Aide
Erin LaRue-Rice - Task Aide
Sandra Snyder - Food Service Attendant

UH Home Health Services

Emily Dawley - Task Aide

United Helpers Management Company
Kristin Finley - Housekeeper

Spruce Street IRA

Brooke Wood - DSP

Rensselaer Falls IRA
Caitlyn Kilbourn - DSP

Flackville Road IRA
Brooke Foster - DSP

Irish Settlement Road IRA
Bethany Garvey - DSP

Ogdensburg Man "Amazed" With the Care He Received at United Helpers

Mike Ripa works with Donna Donnelly, PTA.

OGDENSBURG - Earlier this summer Michael Ripa, of Ogdensburg had hip replacement surgery. While he didn't really know what to expect, one of the things that surprised him most was his time spent at the RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center.

"I was totally amazed with the care I received," he said. "I didn't really want to come here, but they have treated me tremendously and I have no complaints."

Following a one week stay at RiverLedge this past August, Mr. Ripa has been receiving outpatient therapy twice a week.

"It was tough at first, but little by little it's getting better," he said. "I've had improvements every time I come."

Bailey Stickney, a physical therapy assistant who worked with Mr. Ripa during his inpatient stay, said Mr. Ripa's attitude and willingness to work helped him progress quickly.

"Mr. Ripa had the perfect attitude to be successful with his rehabilitation at RiverLedge. He never gave up and was willing to go the distance each and every therapy session," she said. "He didn't let his previous injury hinder his success and looked at everything as a milestone, even the smallest victory."

While Mr. Ripa only stayed on campus for a week, Ms. Stickney said more often than not someone who has hip replacement surgery is going to be in inpatient therapy for roughly two weeks.

"Normally, you're looking at a 2 week stay for a total hip replacement, but he was very motivated and it allowed him to be in and out in a week," she said, adding, "That isn't very common."

Mr. Ripa said one of the things he appreciated the most was the flexibility afforded to him by the staff.

"I didn't work around them. They worked around me," he said, noting he was even able to sign out to go to lunch with a friend of grab ice cream with his wife.

"I've had therapy at other places and it's not like this.On a scale of 1 to 10 this place is a 12," he said. "If you need any kind of therapy this is the place to come. I had other options, but I'm glad I chose this one."