For all things United Helpers
OGDENSBURG – Much the same way donors can gift cash, stocks, bonds, real estate or other assets, those looking to support the United Helpers mission can now contribute to the organization using cryptocurrency.
United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll said donations in the form of Bitcoin, Dogecoin, or dozens of other popular cryptocurrencies can be made online at www.unitedhelpers.org/crypto.
Once on the crypto giving page, Ms. Carroll said donors will complete a simple online form, much the same way they would if they were making a traditional gift with their debit or credit card.
“If you happen to be one of the millions of people who have invested in cryptocurrencies, we wanted to make it as simple as possible for you to contribute to our cause,” Ms. Carroll said, citing a report from CNBC that states one in in five Americans has invested in, traded, or used cryptocurrency.
“We are excited to become one of the first non-profits in our area to have this capability,” she said.
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| This screenshot shows the form potential donors would see upon visiting www.unitedhelpers.org/crypto. Visitors to the page from a desktop will find this form in the middle of their screen, while those visiting the page from a phone or other mobile device may have to scroll down to find the form. |
CANTON – For the past 15 years skilled nursing facilities across New York
State have not seen an increase in their Medicaid reimbursement rates, leading
to the creation of a coalition that is bringing the fight to Albany with the
intent of receiving a 20% increase in the state’s 2023-2024 budget.
Local media coverage of the coalition and its efforts recently prompted
newly elected Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) to state he would like to see
the state’s efforts focused on home health care, and allowing people to “age in
place.”
Northern Lights Home Health Care Vice President of Operations Katherine
A. Race said that while home health care is important, it’s not for everyone,
making skilled nursing care an important part of the health care continuum.
“In order to be signed on for home health care there are federal
guidelines you have to meet,” she said.
One of those guidelines is you have to be able to exit your home safely.
“A lot of times we will meet with people seeking home health care, but
they can’t be home alone for any period of time. That will disqualify them from
qualifying for our services,” she said.
Another issue Ms. Race said is insurance policies which will not pay for
home health care, but will cover skilled nursing care.
“There are a lot of people who do not qualify for Medicaid, but cannot
afford to pay for home health services out of pocket if their insurance will
not cover them,” she said. “These people need a place to go where they can
receive the care they need and deserve.”
A shift to home health care for more people also assumes there are enough
providers to give that care – something that Ms. Race says is not the case.
“Like hospitals and nursing homes, we too are facing staffing
difficulties,” she said. “It takes a special kind of person to work in home
health care. We are going into people’s homes and working with whatever they
have available. Many of these people don’t have lift chairs or hospital-style
beds.”
That doesn’t even take into account precautionary measures, as a result
of COVID-19, which is still active in the community, and something home health
care providers are dealing with on a near daily basis.
“Our staff is doffing and donning PPE (personal protective equipment) on
people’s porches, in hallways, or in some instances while standing outside of
their vehicles,” she said. “It’s very hard to recruit people who are willing to
do all of this.”
Ms. Race said she is pleased that Assemblyman Gray recognizes the
importance of home health care, but she said their funding should not come at
the expense of skilled nursing facilities.
“It’s great to see the state wanting to put money in the community, but
at the end of the day these folks are going to age out and need a place to go.
We need options,” she said.
Those
wishing to support the coalition’s efforts may send an automatically generated
message to Gov. Hochul by visiting https://p2a.co/Q2wLwJZ.
People may also reach out to Mr. Gray, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, Senator
Mark Walczyk, and Senator Dan Stec.
Mr.
Gray, Mr. Blankenbusg, Mr. Walczyk, and Mr. Stec all represent portions of St.
Lawrence County in the state legislature.
On
the web:
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/mark-walczyk
https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/daniel-g-stec
https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=116
(Mr. Gray)
OGDENSBURG – Following comments from newly elected Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown), that he would rather see the state focus its funding efforts on people “aging in place” than skilled nursing care, several people who served as caregivers for loved ones are speaking out to let him and the state’s other elected leaders know that home health care isn’t for everyone.
Janet
Geddes served as a caregiver to her mother for 18 months. Sheree Trainham
managed home care for her grandfather for two years, and Susan Denesha provided
and managed care for both her father and stepmother for roughly two-and-a-half
years.
Ms.
Geddes said the 18 months she was providing care to her mother were easily the
most difficult of her life.
“I
was providing 24/7 care for my mother,” she said. “I could barely sleep. The
sleep deprivation took a big emotional toll on me.”
Ms.
Geddes said she did have family who provided some relief, but she was hesitant
to ask them for too much help, in case the time came when they would have to
step in and take over the 24/7 care.
“I
had to keep something in the reserves,” she said, explaining that her mother
had dementia, which eventually lead to her mother not recognizing her as her
daughter, but rather as her caregiver.
“I
had enough savings that I could give up my work, but most people can’t do
that,” she said. “I feel like my experience shows that not ever senior is
appropriate for home care.”
Ms.
Geddes said she doesn’t understand how someone could feel like home care is the
only answer.
“It’s
going to become an even bigger challenge with all the baby boomers,” she said.
“There are already nursing shortages and CNA shortages, where do they think
they’re going to find the staffing to care for everyone at a 1:1 ratio, and
isn’t it going to cost more to do that? We already have a system in place to
care for our seniors, starving it out just doesn’t make sense.”
Mrs.
Trainham said the decision to transition from home care to skilled nursing care
provided her family with a gift that allowed them to cherish their time with her
grandfather, rather than constantly struggling to manage his care themselves.
Her
grandfather had dementia, as well as several other health issues, which made
each day a “safety nightmare and pharmaceutical adventure.”
“My
strong, funny, loving Grandpa was at best sad, and more often in tears, because
his body and mind were no longer working as they had before. He was aware of
the decline and felt powerless,” she recalled. “I was at best sad, or more
often on the verge of tears, because even with at home help, I was spending all
of my time sorting through logistical and pharmacological chaos with little or
no progress.”
Her
grandfather’s frustrations soon became her frustrations, and they were
eventually both feeling the same way – powerless.
“As
I sought to organize and balance the demands of full-time at-home care for
Grandpa, family emotional wellness, and a full-time professional career, I too
was completely aware of our family’s decline and we all felt powerless,” she
said. “It was truly not a matter of if, but when a scheduling error, a
medication mix-up, or a fall injured the most vulnerable member of our family.
We needed to act before a crisis occurred.”
So
after two years of managing this process, the family decided to move their
grandfather into a skilled nursing facility.
“Moving
a loved one from home to a long-term living facility is difficult, but may be
the very best solution for the emotional and physical health of the loved one
and his or her family,” Mrs. Trainham said. “The move provided us with time to
cherish our grandfather, and each other, to recall and relive great family
moments, to make new memories, and to say thank you – to him, to each other,
and to the people who supported us. The move allowed us to embrace our
grandfather’s final days, not as an end, but as a loving transition.”
Mrs.
Denesha also juggled a full-time career with providing home care for loved
ones, though her family did contract with a home care agency who provided
assistance four times per day, although she can recall signing a contract that
stated if their paid provider was unable to make it that day, a family member
or someone else who would fill-in in their place.
“I
was always one phone call away from a very long night, before having to go to
work again the next day,” she said.
Mrs.
Denesha said she would wake up in the morning and go to her dad’s house before
going to work and then return to her father’s house at the end of her work day,
often time spending weekends there as well.
“That
went on for two-and-a-half years. It was very difficult, but when you’re in the
middle of it, you don’t realize it and you think you’re doing great,” she said.
Mrs.
Denesha said her ah-ha moment came one day when her father walked outside to
get the mail.
“The
mailbox was on the same side of the road as their house, but I could tell by
the look on his face when he turned around that he had forgotten where the
house was,” she recalled.
It
was at that moment she decided her parents needed more care than she was
capable of providing at home.
“As
soon as they were here (United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care), we
realized we weren’t doing as good of a job as we thought we were,” she said.
All
three ladies said their intent in speaking out is not to bash home health care,
but rather to remind policymakers that in the world of healthcare, there is no
one-size-fits-all solution. Hospitals are important. Home health care is
important, and skilled nursing facilities are important.
“Our
loved ones deserve a place to go where they can receive quality care when they
can no longer care for themselves or stay in their own homes,” Mrs. Denesha
said. “I wouldn’t want to see anything happen to this place (United Helpers
Rehabilitation and Senior Care).
CANTON – The United Helpers organization has more than 30 employees with 20 years of service or more. Only one of them though, began their career with United Helpers at the age of 57.
Gail Butler, of Canton, who was recognized with this year’s Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award, works as the front desk receptionist at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care. She started at United Helpers as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 1993, after spending most of her life working as a full-time mom raising 12 children. This year she will celebrate 30 years with the company.
“She is typically the first person to greet anyone entering or calling our building, and there is no one I would rather have to make that initial welcome,” said Rehabilitation and Senior Care Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons. “Her people skills are impeccable, and her friendliness is infectious and brings comfort to all who interact with her.”
While Mr. Parsons said Mrs. Butler is “considered by all to be a wonderful receptionist and employee,” it is what she does outside of her regular duties that truly set her apart.
“In the mornings, before starting her shift at the front desk, she can often be seen or heard visiting with and singing to our residents in their dining room. She is known to join some of our musical guests, lending both her musical and dancing talents to our Activities Department,” he said.
That’s not all, though, as Mrs. Butler also brings her love of gardening to the building during the spring and summer months.
“She serves as ‘Master Gardener’ for our facility and maintains several large flower beds around the property, giving them daily attention and brightening the moods of all who pass by,” Mr. Parsons said. “She never seeks attention. She does all of these things naturally and never looks for recognition. She does enjoy gardening, but does it here primarily because the residents enjoy her talents. It is her pleasure to serve others. She loves her job and it shows.”
The Fannie Frank Award was established by longtime United Helpers volunteers Dr. Edward and Barbara Gordon in 2019 to pay tribute to Dr. Gordon’s grandmother, a Polish immigrant who moved to the U.S. prior to World War I with her parents and six of her nine siblings.
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.
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| Gail Butler, of Canton, was honored with this year’s Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award. Mrs. Butler, who has been employed by United Helpers since 1993, is known for her singing voice, her dancing shoes, and the smile she uses to greet employees and guests as they enter the building. She is pictured here with Dr. Edward and Mrs. Barbara Gordon, who created the award in 2019 as a tribute to Dr. Gordon’s grandmother. From left, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Butler, and Dr. Gordon |
CANTON – Like many couples or individuals moving into United Helpers Independent Senior Living, Bob and Betty Fraser said it was their children who encouraged them to move into United Helpers Independent Senior Living (ISL).
Mr.
Fraser said that while he and his wife are both happy with the decision now,
Mrs. Fraser took a little more convincing.
“The
decision to move out of your family home is a big one,” she said. “We had lived
there for more than 40 years.”
However,
after the couple, who recently celebrated their 70th wedding
anniversary, moved to the ISL, they said it didn’t take them long to realize
they had made the right decision.
“It’s
nice to be in a place like this where we don’t have to worry about anything,”
Mr. Fraser said. “Plus, being a frugal Scotsman I enjoy having everything taken
care of, and not having to worry about taxes anymore.”
Mrs.
Fraser said she was surprised at how many people they knew who were already living
there once they moved in. As for the people they didn’t know, she said it
didn’t take them long to meet people and make some new friends.
Mr.
Fraser, who spent time on the United Helpers Management Company Board of
Directors in the 1980’s and early 90’s said he can remember discussions about
building what was then known as Partridge Knoll.
Ironically,
he said he can also recall his wife telling former ISL Community Manager Cindy
Lawrence that she didn’t think they would ever live there. She told them they
may one day be surprised. Turns out she was right. Mrs. Lawrence retired in
2021.
United Helpers
Independent Senior Living offers a variety of apartment styles, with both one
and two-bedroom units available. To take a virtual tour of the building, please
visit unitedhelpers.org and click on the link for virtual tours.
An in-person tour
may also be arranged by calling (315) 379-1428.
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| Bob and Betty Fraser share a moment in their apartment at United Helpers Independent Senior Living. Mr. and Mrs. Fraser recently celebrated their 70th anniversary, and are seen here looking through a memory book together. |
