Applicants sought for Helen S. Randles Scholarship

OGDENSBURG - The Society of the United Helpers is seeking scholarship applications for graduating seniors in St. Lawrence County that are pursuing higher education in the health care fields of nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, clinical psychology and physician assistant.  

This year there will be three scholarships awarded in the amount of $750 each.  These scholarships were made available through a generous endowment donation from Helen S. Randles, who was a firm believer in the importance of education and, in particular, the education preparation of individuals for service in health care.

Applications are available at your local guidance office or on-line at www.unitedhelpers.org/scholarship.

All applications and required supporting documents are due back to the Society Office by Tuesday, April 7.

Regular Visitor to United Helpers in Ogdensburg Comes for In-patient Therapy Stay

OGDENSBURG - After visiting United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care regularly to deliver communion to residents, Sister Bernadette Collins recently spent just over two weeks there for an inpatient therapy stay.

As part of her mission work with the Diocese of Ogdensburg, Sister Bernadette has been visiting the facility on a weekly basis for more than three years.

Sister Bernadette Collins works with Chelsie Brenno, PTA.

“I knew the place and I had heard great things about the therapy here,” she said, adding she knew she wanted to do an inpatient stay following knee replacement surgery on her right leg.

The surgery took place on Dec. 30 and on Jan. 1 she checked into United Helpers. On Jan. 17 she was discharged back home. 

“I knew I wanted to do inpatient therapy because it would help me get better faster and I knew this was the place I wanted to do it,” Sister Bernadette said. “I’m glad I was able to get my therapy here, where I wanted.”

During her stay at United Helpers, Sister Bernadette said she’s received therapy twice a day, six days a week, with roughly 90 minutes of physical therapy and 30 minutes of occupational therapy each day.

While she says she’s happy with her progress, she said the road to recovery hasn’t been easy.

“The first week I was here, I said never again, but now looking back on it, I say, ‘if I have to do it again, it’s not so bad,’” she joked.

Physical Therapist Megan Morrison and Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsie Brenno worked with her during her stay, and Sister Bernadette said they were both great, as were the nurses, occupational therapy staff and everyone else she came into contact with during her stay.

“My therapists have been great. Megan is very good and so is Chelsie. The nurses have been great, and the food isn’t bad either,” she said.

Sister Bernadette said she can now walk short distances with a cane, while using a walker for longer distances. It is her goal to again walk unassisted, and Ms. Brenno said that should be achievable.

“She’s doing great and I try to remind her of that every day,” she said.

As Sister Bernadette continues working towards her goal, she will continue receiving physical therapy at United Helpers on an outpatient basis three times per week.

Thanks in part to the work she’s already put in with inpatient therapy, Ms. Morrison said Sister Bernadette now finds herself ahead of the game.

“Her range of motion is already ahead of where most people are when they start outpatient therapy,” Ms. Morrison said.

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

Defensive Driving Course Offered Free to UH Employees

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 Wednesday, January 29, 2020 in the Staff Development Training Room at the Behavioral Health/Life Skills (formerly Mosaic) Complex, 100 Ford St. in 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 $30, payable in cash, check or money order made out to United Helpers Care, Inc.  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.

LaRock Honored With Inaugural Fannie Frank Distinguished CNA Award

CANTON – Longtime United Helpers CNA Deborah LaRock was recently honored as the winner of the organization’s first “Fannie Frank Distinguished CNA Award.”

United Helpers volunteers and donors Dr. Edward I. and Barbara K. Gordon, who created the award as a tribute to Mr. Gordon’s grandmother, recently met with Ms. LaRock and presented her with the honor. 

From left, Barbara "Bobbie" Gordon, Deborah LaRock and
Dr. Edward Gordon

Ms. LaRock, of Gouverneur, has been a United Helpers employee caring for residents at the company’s facilities in Canton for more than 27 years.

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Canton’s Vice President of Operations Kimberly Blair nominated her.

In her written nomination, Mrs. Blair highly commended Ms. LaRock.

“She treats the residents as she would her own family and gives them the care and respect they deserve. Deb does not think that she is special or deserves any recognition,” she wrote. “In her mind, she is doing what she must do to take care of her residents. In my mind, she is a gem. She is the type of CNA that makes a nursing home a home.”

The Fannie Frank Award, which is $1,000, is awarded based on the following criteria:

• A remarkably caring demeanor
• Remarkably competent care
• Continuous employment with UH for five or more years
• Nomination by the Vice President of Operations at her respective facility

According to Dr. Gordon, Ms. Frank was a Polish immigrant who moved to the U.S. prior to World War I with her parents and six of her nine siblings. Three of her older siblings were already married and stayed behind, he said. They perished in World War II.

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, noting that he and his grandmother were the only “animal lovers” in his family.

In addition to paying tribute to his grandmother, Dr. Gordon said the award will serve as a way to honor his family’s legacy.

“Now, her name will live on forever,” he said.