Knowlton Honored with Wayne N. Ladouceur Award

OGDENSBURG – Almost anyone who works in Skilled Nursing Care will tell you one of the most challenging parts of their job is working with people who have dementia, but that’s a challenge that this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award winner welcomes with a smile each time he steps foot into United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care.

This year’s winner, David Knowlton, of Hermon is a CNA in the building’s memory care unit.

“This is not easy work. It’s challenging, demanding and emotionally taxing, yet David shows up every day with a smile on his face,” said Director of Nursing Caitlin Brooks. “What stands out the most to me is his unwavering positivity. It doesn’t matter if we’re fully staffed with five CNAs or if it’s just Dave and me on the unit, that positivity never fades and more importantly, neither does the quality of care he provides.”

Assistant Administrator Alysha Troiano has also had the opportunity to work with Mr. Knowlton.

She recalled one evening when she was helping to put a gentleman a bed. “I told him he could move on to assist others, but he insisted on taking over,” she recalled. “He explained to me that this gentlemen knew David’s schedule and looked forward to their visits each evening. Dave took over and a smile instantly came on the gentleman’s face. That’s who Dave is.”

Each year at the award’s presentation Cheryl Ladouceur, who was married to Wayne for more than 50 years, talks about the relationship Mr. Ladouceuer had with United Helpers and its residents.”

“From what I can tell, Mr. Knowlton is very much like my husband in the way that he often puts those in need ahead of themselves,” she said. “If Wayne ever had the opportunity to meet him, I’m sure he would have liked him very much.”

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.

Mr. Knowlton was chosen for this year’s award from a group of nominees that also included Clinical Support Technician Lisa Hays.

“I know for a fact that we had two very strong candidates for this award,” said United Helpers Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons. “Being nominated for this award is an honor in and of itself.” 

This year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was presented to David Knowlton, of Hermon. Mr. Knowlton is a CNA in the memory care unit at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton. Although, Mr. Knowlton was unable to attend the presentation, his wife and children accepted the award on his behalf. Front row, from left, Karly Gollinger holding a picture of Mr. Knowlton, Kacy Knowlton and Carissa Knowlton; second row, United Helpers Board President Ray Babowicz, Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons, Mr. Knowlton’s wife Sarah Knowlton, Cheryl Ladouceur, Grayson Ladouceuer, Bob Ladouceur and Jason Ladoucur.

 

Also nominated this year was Clinical Support Technician Lisa Hays, of Gouverneur. From left, United Helpers Board President Ray Bobowicz, Behavior Intervention Specialist Jessica Levinson, Mrs. Hays, Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons, Vice President of Corporate Services Michelle Matthews and Cheryl Ladouceuer. 

Barney Honored With Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award

CANTON – When you oversee maintenance for four different buildings, people are used to seeing you when something is wrong. Keshia Barney, this year’s Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award Winner, makes sure those aren’t the only times that people see her.

“In Keshia’s role, when things go wrong, she is often the first one to be called. She also fields any complaints that have to do with cleaning, laundry, temperatures, floors, supplies, or anything else related to environmental services,” said United Helpers Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons. “She is always quick to respond and solve whatever problems she can, often by taking care of them herself.”

Although Ms. Barney doesn’t technically work as a caregiver, Mr. Parsons said it is her goal to take care of others.

“She can be observed wrapping gifts for residents during the holidays, working on the float for the Dairy Festival Parade and even scrubbing floors, sometimes on her hands and knees.” he said. “She is an unspoken example of a true team player who will do anything for anyone and we are honored to be able to recognize her in this manner.

While United Helpers has many different employee honors, most of those awards are for people working in direct care. The Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award gives Mr. Parsons an opportunity to recognize an outstanding employee even if they do not work in direct care.

The Fannie Frank Award was established in 2019 by Dr. Edward Gordon and his wife, Barbara, who are both former United Helpers volunteers and board members.

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.

“We were like clones of each other,” Dr. Gordon said. “Everything she liked I liked.”

Mrs. Frank would spend the final two-and-a-half years of her life in a skilled nursing facility and it’s that time that inspired Dr. Gordon to create this award.

“Unfortunately, the home she was in was so unlike United Helpers. When I saw the quality of care received by people at United Helpers, I was impressed and I wanted to create this award as a way to thank people like you for doing all that you do.” Dr. Gordon said to Ms. Barney when presenting the award.

The award includes a cash bonus and is awarded based on the following criteria:

• A remarkably caring demeanor
• Currently employed at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care
• Continuous employment with United Helpers for two or more years

Holding a picture of his beloved grandmother, Dr. Edward Gordon calls the Fannie Frank Distinguished Employee Award presentation “one of my favorite things each year.” This year, Dr. Gordon presented the award to United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Maintenance Coordinator Keshia Barney, of Hermon. Front row, from left, United Helpers Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons, Rehabilitation and Senior Care Assistant Administrator Alysha Troiano; second row, Dr Gordon, Ms. Barney and Barbara Gordon.