Potsdam Man Able to be Closer to His Wife After Moving Into ISL

CANTON – Two years ago Lynn Warden’s wife, Shirley moved into the skilled nursing wing at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton. The move left Mr. Warden alone in the home the couple had shared for more than 50 years.

Lynn Warden

Following his wife’s move, Mr. Warden, a retired state trooper, said his children began encouraging him to find a smaller place closer to their mother where he wouldn’t have to be alone most of the time, and have to worry about everyday things like mowing the lawn, preparing meals or clearing the driveway.

“I had heard about this place (United Helpers Independent Senior Living, formerly Partridge Knoll), and if I ever had to go somewhere this is where I wanted to go, but honestly I didn’t want to leave my home,” he said. 

Looking back though on his move, Mr. Warden acknowledges now that his children were correct. “When you’re here you don’t have to worry about mowing the lawn or snow blowing the driveway. It means a lot to have that stuff taken care of. It’s nice to have a break from those things that you’ve been doing your whole life.”

Mr. Warden also said he enjoys having dinner prepared for him each night.

“I never enjoyed preparing my own meals and the dinners here are fantastic,” he said, adding he also enjoys coffee hour each morning with a group of “15 or so” other members.

Mostly though, Mr. Warden said he enjoys being closer to his wife and once again having an active social life.

“I was driving 30 miles round trip each day, almost every day, so having her next door is very convenient,” he said, noting that while he usually goes to visit her, there have even been times when his wife has been able to come visit him.

Mr. Warden resides in a one-bedroom apartment at United Helpers Independent Senior Living, but amongst the building’s 38 apartments are a variety of both one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment styles, which he said are all very nice.

“These rooms are really nice, but the people really are something else, and that starts right at the top with Cindy (Community Housing Manager Cindy Lawrence) and Jenn (Housing Assistant Jennifer Dean). When you see them or any of the other employees here in the hall, it’s not just a “hello,” they actually stop and have a conversation with you.”

The building’s other residents have also made him feel at home.

“The people who live here are very nice,” he said. “It’s like a family. These people are my family now.”

Mr. Warden has been busy preparing his home in Potsdam to be sold, so he said he hasn’t yet had the opportunity to participate in a lot of the activities held at the building, but he said once his home is sold and he has more free time that’s something he’s hoping to do.

“I do look at the activities calendar every month, and if there isn’t something on that list you enjoy, I don’t know what to tell you. The activities here are really unlimited,” he said. Activities each month range from musical entertainment to shopping trips, card games, educational presentations, community outings and more.

“Anyone would be fortunate to get in here. The place really sells itself,” he said.

Mr. Warden also said he would like to caution people against getting sticker shock when advised of the monthly rates.

“I was paying property taxes, utilities and having to prepare my own meals,” he said. “When you look at all of that, it isn’t too bad, and that doesn’t even include not having to worry about maintenance anymore,” he said. “You certainly are getting what you pay for.”

To schedule a tour or learn more about United Helpers Independent Senior Living, including how you can get on the waiting list, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org or give them a call at (315) 379-1428. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook by visiting www.facebook.com/unitedhelpers.

City Man Comes Out Ahead After Battling Insurance Company To Cover Inpatient Therapy

OGDENSBURG – This past summer William O’Brien had knee replacement surgery for the second time and given his difficult recovery the first time, he knew he wanted to do things differently.

After receiving physical therapy from another provider following surgery on his right knee, he opted to come to United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care following the operation on his left.

“There are a lot of choices out there for therapy and I am really glad I came here,” Mr. O’Brien said. “I was blown away by their knowledge and attention to detail.” 

His therapy began with a six-day inpatient stay, something that Mr. O’Brien said he had to fight with his insurance company for. 

United Helpers Physical Therapist Brett Amo uses a goniometer (similar to
 a protractor) to help measure the flexion in William O’Brien’s knee. Mr.
O’Brien, who has been receiving therapy for just over a month said his progress
is well ahead of where it was at the same time following his last surgery.

“My insurance company didn’t want to approve an inpatient stay, but it’s worth fighting for,” he said. “If I would have gone home I would have had therapy three times per week as an outpatient, but with an inpatient stay you receive therapy two or three times per day and that is a game changer.”

Following his first procedure, Mr. O’Brien said he had swelling in his knee for eight weeks.

“Now, it’s almost gone,” he said. “I’m so much further along this time than I was last time at this stage.’

Part of the reason, Mr. O’Brien said is the attention to detail paid by the staff at United Helpers.

William O’Brien works on stretching out his left knee 

with United Helpers Physical Therapist Brett Amo. 

Mr. O’Brien, who has been receiving therapy for 

just over a month said his progress is well ahead of 

where it was at the same time following his last surgery.

“With other providers a leg press is a leg press. You just put your feet up and push,” he said. “At United Helpers they work with you to make sure your feet are positioned properly and the right distance apart. That’s made a major difference.”

While Mr. O’Brien said everyone he has dealt with at United Helpers has been great, he wanted to especially thank physical therapist assistants Breanna Clement and Adam Soller for their assistance to him during his inpatient stay.

Now that he is receiving outpatient therapy, Mr. O’Brien is meeting three times per week with Physical Therapist Brett Amo.

“When I heard Brett was at United Helpers, that’s when I decided I wanted to go there. His reputation really does precede him,” he said. “Donna and Joe (Physical Therapist Assistants Donna Donnelly and Joseph Longshore) have been great too.”

When asked if he would recommend United Helpers to others, Mr. O’Brien replied, “There’s not a question in my mind.” 

For more information regarding therapy services in Canton, please call (315) 386-4541 ext. 3217. For information regarding therapy services in Ogdensburg, please call (315) 393-0730 ext. 2156. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Northern Lights Experiences Second Baby Boom in as Many Years

It was déjà vu all over again for the staff at Northern Lights in Canton with the home health care agency experiencing its second baby boom in as many years. During the spring and summer of 2018, six Northern Lights employees welcomed babies. This time around, five employees welcomed new babies into their families, with a sixth welcoming twins into her family as a grandmother. All of the babies range in age from three to seven months old. From left, Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsea Reed and her four-month-old daughter Briar, Registered Nurse Kim Salton with her six-month-old grandchildren, Quinn and Dalton, Registered Nurse Tiffany Mitchell with her seven-month-old daughter Madelyn, Registered Nurse Courtney Perry with her six-month-old son Wyatt, and Licensed Practical Nurse Alexis Porter with her three-month-old daughter Rory. Absent from photo, Registered Nurse Jaclyn Pernice and her son Declan, who is five-months-old.