Knowlton Honored with Wayne BN. Ladouceuer 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.