OGDENSBURG
– For only the third time in the history of the awards, a winner of United
Helpers’ most prestigious employee honor, the Margaret R. Spies Award has
received the honor for a second time.
Each
year the Spies
Awards is presented to three employees — one from RiverLedge, one from
Maplewood, and one from Mosaic — who embody the most desirable qualities in
direct care staff: dedication to the people they care for and a willingness to
go above and beyond expectations.
This year’s awards went to Minnie
Flanagan, who works as an activities aide, CNA, and home health aide at Maplewood
Health Care & Rehabilitation Center; Allison Richard, a medication-certified
direct support professional and evening supervisor from Mosaic; and Alisha
Baker, a certified nursing assistant at RiverLedge Health Care &
Rehabilitation Center.
“We’re here today to celebrate
the best of the best,” said United Helpers CEO Stephen E. Knight as he
introduced Ann Spies, who created the award in memory of her mother, a former
resident of RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center and longtime
teacher in the Hammond Central School District.
“My mother was the best of the
best. She was treated so well by people like you who took such great care of
her,” Ms. Spies said addressing the recipients. “I could never express enough
gratitude for what all of you, not just the three being honored here today, do
each and every day with such great heart and spirit.”
Maplewood Vice President of
Operations Kimberly Blair praised Ms. Flanagan, who joined her late sister,
Loretta, as one of a select few employees to receive the award for a second
time.
“Minnie has been a devoted
employee of United Helpers 30 years. She always places others’ needs before her
own, and selflessness is one of her greatest attributes,” Ms. Blair said,
reading from a nomination submitted by Maplewood Activities Director Dawn
Kimble. “She is a full-time employee in the activities department, but she will
often start her day at 1:30 a.m., providing direct care assistance where it’s
needed.”
Ms. Blair continued, “There are
times when she has worked in all three departments in one day. She may come in
at 1:30 a.m. and work until 6 a.m. in the SNF (skilled nursing facility) and
then assist from 6 to 7 a.m. as a home health aide in the ALP (assisted living
program) before beginning her shift as an activities aide.”
Making this year’s honor even
more impressive are the trials that Ms. Flanagan has endured this year
including the deaths of both her husband and sister.
“Despite all of this, she was
always here with a smile on her face and her running shoes on to work for the
residents,” wrote Activities Leader Patience Boswell in another nomination.
“Her heart is the biggest I have ever seen in the 13 years I have worked here.”
Mosaic Vice President of
Operations Michele M. Montroy introduced Allison Richard, who has worked at the
Morristown, Rensselaer Falls and Lisbon IRAs.
Reading from a nomination
submitted by Rensselaer Falls IRA LPN Sheri Sharpe, Ms. Montroy said, “She
shows exceptional skills in the medication room in her role as a MDSP. She
always makes sure our residents’ needs were taken care of. These skills and her
commitment to the residents led her to apply for an evening supervisory
position at the Lisbon IRA, which she deservedly received.”
She continued, “Being successful
means being kind, genuine, good hearted and open minded. These are all
qualities which Allison has shown. She has always been dependable and comes to
work with a smile on her face. She is loved by her residents and co-workers.”
RiverLedge Vice President of
Operations Timothy J. Parsons commended Alisha Baker, noting that her impact on
the facility and its residents has come in only in a short amount of time.
“After only a few months, she
was selected to be one of our CNA mentors as part of a program to welcome new
staff,” Mr. Parsons said. “Our mentors are crucial to the success of our new
CNAs, and only our top CNAs are selected.”
Mr. Parsons also noted that in
addition to her regular nursing duties, Ms. Baker also serves on the facility’s
recruitment and retention committee and is actively involved with the planning
of upcoming employee recognition events.
“Her impact on the workforce is
huge, but even more important is her impact on the residents she cares for,” he
said, before reading several comments that came straight from the people she
serves.
One resident, who called Ms.
Baker one of their favorites, said, “She is so kind and gentle and is
incredibly deserving of this award. She is missed even when she is off only for
a day.”
Recipients of the Margaret R.
Spies Awards are nominated for the honor by their administrative team and their
peers. A plaque that lists the names of all the Spies Awards recipients hangs at
RiverLedge.
