Assisted Living Resident Council Makes Donations

Accepting a check from the United Helpers Assisted Living Program’s resident council on behalf of the American Cancer Society was Carl Seymour. Mr. Seymour accepted the $200 donation from the council’s chairperson Myrtle Butterfield. The group held several fundraisers in order to raise money for community donations. Other organizations receiving a gift from the resident council included the Canton Volunteer Fire Department, Potsdam Humane Society and the Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Activity Department.

Potsdam Humane Society Executive Director Alysia Maynard accepts a $200 check from Myrtle Butterfield, who was making the presentation on behalf of the United Helpers Assisted Living Program’s resident council. The group held several fundraisers in order to raise money for community donations. Other organizations receiving a gift from the resident council included the American Cancer Society, Canton Volunteer Fire Department and the Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Activity Department.

Canton Volunteer Firefighters Alex Cohen, left, and Chief Matthew Kroger accept a $200 check from Myrtle Butterfield, who was making the presentation on behalf of the United Helpers Assisted Living Program’s resident council. The group held several fundraisers in order to raise money for community donations. Other organizations receiving a gift from the resident council included the American Cancer Society, Potsdam Humane Society and the Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Activity Department.

Maplewood Health Care and Rehabilitation Center Activities Coordinator Patience Boswell, left, and Activities Director Dawn Kimble, right, accept a $200 check from Myrtle Butterfield, who was making the presentation on behalf of the United Helpers Assisted Living Program’s resident council. The group held several fundraisers in order to raise money for community donations. Other organizations receiving a gift from the resident council included the American Cancer Society, Potsdam Humane Society and the Canton Volunteer Fire Department.

United Helpers Celebrates Opening of Nursing Education Centers

OGDENSBURG – Both RiverLedge and Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center are now home to state of the art nursing labs, now giving United Helpers three such labs in the county.

Clinical and Diagnostic Educator Elayne Woodcock said the labs are a nice addition, giving the organization’s staff development team tools that can be used not only for training, but for practice.

“Our nurses know their skills, but if there is something they haven’t done or had to do in a while, it’s nice for them to have this facility for them available to practice,” she said. “You can literally see their confidence increase after they spend some time in here.”  

Social Service Assistant Alissa Hawley and Assistant DON Madison Brossoit

The newly opened labs join a third lab, located at the Sparx building in Canton, where the organization’s Home Health Care staff is based.

“These are all tremendous facilities,” she said.

In Ogdensburg, where a house was recently held, Ms. Woodcock said the Nursing Education Center is divided into two parts, a classroom and a hands-on skills lab.

“In the classroom, CNA training, staff education, as well as other classes and meetings will be held,” she said. “The lab includes several different training stations featuring life-like simulation mannequins that allow staff to practice with EKGs, IVs, sutures, feeding tubes, catheters, wound treatments, Doppler readings and more.”

“We are confident that access to these facilities is going to bring the confidence and comfort level of our CNAs and nurses to a whole new level,” she said.

If you are interested in a nursing career with United Helpers, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org/employment. The organization currently has several openings for RNs, LPNs and CNAs with a variety of shifts available.

Clinical & Diagnostic Educator Elayne Woodcock shows Vice President of Development Christa Carroll a nursing cart, while explaining some of the tools inside.

Clarkson Student Living at Maplewood

Editor’s Note: This piece is the first in a short series of articles highlighting the experience of Rebecca Brogan, a student at Clarkson University who is living at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton. This piece, the first in the series, explains how the program, the first of its kind in New York State came to be. In our second installment, Ms. Brogan will speak about her first couple of months at Maplewood and what her experience has been like so far.

CANTON – Like most any other Sunday, Kimberly Blair was sitting at home watching 60 Minutes when a piece came on about college students in Europe volunteering and living in long-term care facilities in exchange for free room and board.

“I had seen the piece on 60 Minutes and I thought, ‘Oh my God, that would be so cool,’” Mrs. Blair said, noting the piece aired more than two years ago. “I never thought though that it could happen here,”

Marilyn Cobb participates in an exercise class led by Rebecca Brogan.

Fast forward now to the spring of 2017. Mrs. Blair was working in her office when Director of Rehabilitation Terry Micelli came into her office with a letter. 

“Terry had come in, set the letter on my desk and said, ‘read this,’” Mrs. Blair recalls. “I asked her what it was, and she said, ‘Just read it.’ I read it and then we both got really excited.”

The letter came from Rebecca Brogan, a 2016 graduate of Rutgers University from Frenchtown, NJ who was planning on attending Clarkson starting in the fall of 2018.

“I am reaching out to you because I feel I can offer a great opportunity that will not only benefit your program and your residents but also assist me during my studies at Clarkson University,” she wrote. “There is a growing trend in Europe that is making its way to the United States where college students live within a nursing or assisted living facility to create an intergenerational living program.”

This was exactly what Mrs. Blair had seen on television a few years ago. After being given clearance to pursue this opportunity by United Helpers CEO Stephen Knight, Mrs. Blair said she reached out to Ms. Brogan and began “jumping through hurdles” to make sure they could be ready for her arrival in August of 2018.

“As you know health care is a very heavily regulated industry, and rightfully so,” Mrs. Blair said, noting she first reached out to Department of Health Officials, who after several discussions said Maplewood could be the first facility in New York State to host such a program.

Mrs. Blair said they then had to find a space in the facility, which they could convert into an apartment for Ms. Brogan. Ultimately an office and a seldom-used men’s locker room conveniently located next door was identified as the space that would become her home for the next two-and-a-half years.

“We had to work with the town’s code enforcement office and there were a couple things we needed to change, but we were able to get her room ready to go in time,” Mrs. Blair said.

Prior to entering into a formal agreement with Ms. Brogan, Mrs. Blair invited her and her mother to visit.

“We were impressed with her and they were both impressed with us,” Mrs. Blair recalls, adding, “Her mother told us Rebecca has always been an old soul.”

In exchange for the free room and board, Ms. Brogan is obligated to provide 20-30 hours of structured volunteer time with the residents each month, but to date, Mrs. Blair said she has gone above and beyond, often spending additional, unstructured time with them as well.

“That time can be even more valuable, as she’s interacting with them one on one and forming relationships with them,” Mrs. Blair said.

Activities Director Dawn Kimble oversees Ms. Brogan’s efforts and said so far she has been impressed.

“Rebecca has forged friendships with many of the residents and has even provided one on one visits to residents who often do not participate in our other activities,” Ms. Kimble said, listing exercise classes, cards, movies, and even manicures as formal activities that she has participated in.

“She is not timid and encourages residents to share their interests and life experiences,” Ms. Kimble said. “Many of the residents have told us that they really enjoy her company.

Mrs. Blair said to the best of her knowledge Maplewood’s Giving, Living and Learning program is only the second of its kind in the country, with the other being located in Cleveland, Ohio at a facility located adjacent to a music school.

“I would really like to see this program continue and maybe even one day we can make it a competitive program,” she said, adding she envisions opening it up to students from Clarkson, St. Lawrence, SUNY Potsdam, and SUNY Canton.

“If they’re interested in working with the elderly, we would love to have them here,” Mrs. Blair said.

Ms. Brogan is seeking a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Clarkson and is slated to graduate after the completion of the fall semester in the year 2020.

“If all goes well, she’ll be here the entire time,” Mrs. Blair said.

The Giving, Living and Learning program is an expansion of Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center’s already existing intergenerational program, as residents from both the skilled nursing and assisted living sides of the facility interact regularly with children from the Canton Day Care Center, which is also housed at Maplewood.

United Helpers Now Offering Stroke Therapy From Region's Only Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists

Alycia Dezell and Stacie Jessmer, Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists

OGDENSBURG – At any given time there can be as many as a dozen or more stroke patients receiving therapy services through United Helpers.

While traditional therapy is certainly better than no therapy at all, United Helpers can now say they employ the region’s only two Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists.

Alycia Dezell, an Occupational Therapist at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabiliation Center in Ogdensburg and Stacie Jessmer, a Physical Therapy Assistant at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton recently earned their certification by completing a series of classes offered by the National Stroke Association over the past several months. 

“There are only 40 Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists in all of New York State and until now the closest one was in Syracuse,” Mrs. Jessmer said. “Being Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialists, we now know the most beneficial ways and latest techniques for treating stroke patients.”

Ms. Dezell said the course included a lot of lab-based work and data analysis.

“They used to say there was a small window of opportunity, usually around a six month window, for someone to be able to reach their maximum potential after a stroke. With new research we now know that fully recovering from a stroke can sometimes take years. In some instances progress can even continue throughout the remainder of their lifetime,” she said.

Mrs. Jessmer said that it is her hopes that with their certifications, insurance companies may be willing to provide additional therapy services for those trying to recover from a stroke.

“Sometimes insurance companies will only approve therapy for someone for up to three or four weeks, but now with our certifications we have evidence-based information, training and skills that we can use to show the insurance companies how beneficial additional therapy could be,” she said.

Director of Rehabilitative Services Terry L. Micelli said that stroke therapy at either location could occur in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Ms. Dezell and Mrs. Jessmer may provide services to those who just recently had a stroke or those who have had a stroke in the past, but need additional therapy in order to reach the highest level of function possible.

“There is evidence out there that people who have had a stroke even three or four years ago, can possibly regain some function with the help of a specialist,” she said.

The key, Mrs. Jessmer said, is constant stimulation in their environment through specific functional-based tasks.

“To be successful with neuro-therapy you have to stimulate the brain,” she said. “Stroke patients need the same amount of sleep as anyone else, as when they’re sleeping their brain can recover and process the information it has learned. Throughout the day the best thing for them is constant stimulation within their environment.”

Ms. Jessmer said that information, which she and Ms. Dezell learned in the course, is a much different approach than what is often taken with traditional therapy, where stroke patients often work in little bursts and are then given “time to recover,” before doing more therapy work.

In addition to having each other to bounce ideas off of, Ms. Dezell said they know have access to the National Stroke Association’s plethora of experts and library of resources. She also said that in order to maintain their certifications, they must recertify every two years and get an additional 16 hours of continuing education credits.

“This will ensure that our patients are always receiving cutting edge treatment and the benefits of the most up-to-date information and research available,” Ms. Dezell said.

To help provide their stroke patients with constant stimulation, Mrs. Jessmer also said they will be relying heavily of the nursing staff at both facilities.

“It’s a total team effort,” she said.

Mrs. Jessmer and Ms. Dezell are also currently working on a presentation where they will share some of what they’ve learned with other members of the therapy team, nursing staff and people in key positions.

If you feel like yourself or a loved one could benefit from therapy services offered by a Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist, please contact Navigator Nicholas Maneely at (315) 714-3110 ext. 504.

United Helpers Now Offering Respiratory Therapy in Canton & Ogdensburg

CANTON – Thanks to a partnership between United Helpers and Canton-Potsdam Hospital, residents of Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center and RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center have access to respiratory therapy as part of their in-patient therapy programs.

The respiratory therapy program, known as Critical Pathways is designed to help reduce the amount of time patients with COPD, respiratory failure or other related illnesses spend in the hospital.

The vision of this program is to establish a continuum of care for COPD patients in St. Lawrence County with United Helpers, as well as other medical service providers and acute care partners also participating. 

“This model has been successful in improving health, quality of life, and reducing hospitalizations in other parts of the country,” said United Helpers Vice-President of Quality Improvement & Clinical Services Stacey Cannizzo. “It is an integral part of providing high quality care in a rural environment.”

Providing those therapy services for patients at RiverLedge and Maplewood is United Helpers Respiratory Navigator Matthew King, CRT.

“I use an evidence-based software program to direct the delivery of care,” Mr. King said, noting that includes assessments, therapeutic treatments and measuring outcomes. “The hospital, as well as local home health care providers are using the same software, which ensures a continuity in care from the hospital to our facility to the patient’s home.”

Referrals to Mr. King come from Canton-Potsdam Hospital, as well as nursing staff at either RiverLedge or Maplewood.

While many of Mr. King’s patients are receiving long-term care, he said that’s not the case for everyone. “I’ve worked with patients as young as 50-years-old who were just here for a temporary rehabilitation stay,” he said.

“What I do is often integrated into a patient’s physical and/or occupational therapy program,” Mr. King said, adding several other staff members from both RiverLedge and Maplewood have received additional training in support of the Critical Pathways program.

“The goal of our program is to reduce the amount of time these people are spending in the hospital and so far, I think it has been a success,” he said.

Mrs. Cannizzo agreed. “This program has been in place since January and I can honestly say it has far exceeded my expectations,” she said.

Both Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton and RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg offer short-term and long-term care. If you think the Critical Pathways Program could benefit you or a loved one, please contact Navigator Nicholas Maneely at (315) 714-3110 ext. 504.

Canton Woman Donates Bench to Honor Memory of Her Mother

Lyn Forbes, of Canton, donated a bench to the United Helpers Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in memory of her mother, who was a resident in the building’s Memory Care unit. The bench now sits outside the entrance to the neighborhood where her mother lived, to be enjoyed by staff and residents. A plaque on the bench reads, “In Memory of Margaret “Peg” Forbes.” Pictured with Ms. Forbes are several caregivers who helped care for her mother at Maplewood. Front row, from left, Ms. Forbes and CNA Lori Chilton; back row, LPN Kristen Autrey and CNA Kerrianne Ames.

Waddington Man Pleased by Service Received at Both RiverLedge and Maplewood

Allen McIntosh

OGDENSBURG – While rehabilitation is often associated with surgery on one’s legs, arms or hips, it can also be used to help make someone stronger and able to return home following any number of medical procedures. 

 Allen McIntosh, of Waddington, recently had an appendectomy after falling ill at home.

Following his discharge from the hospital, Mr. McIntosh spent roughly two weeks at United Helpers’ RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg.

“I knew something was wrong so I went to the hospital,” he said. “My doctor told me he does five of those surgeries (appendectomies) every day, and mine was one of the worst he’s ever seen.”

While an appendectomy will take anyone off their feet for a few days, at the age of 92, the recovery period is a bit longer. Mr. McIntosh said he was unable to get a bed at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, where he has previously spent 19 days following a stroke, but given the success he found there, he knew he wanted to receive his therapy at a United Helpers facility.

“I can now say I’ve been to both places and they were each great,” he said. “I enjoyed my experiences at both.”

In addition to receiving physical and occupational therapy at both locations, Mr. McIntosh has also worked with Respiratory Therapist Matthew King.

A short time prior to his appendectomy, he noticed he was having difficulty breathing and was placed on oxygen by his primary care provider.

Although he is unsure if he’ll be able to stop using oxygen, Mr. McIntosh said his time with Mr. King has made a difference.

“I’m what they call a shallow breather,” Mr. McIntosh said. “Mr. King has taught me a little bit about breathing better and I’ve noticed a difference. I might not ever discontinue oxygen, but I can tell that what they’ve been doing is working.”

For more information on therapy services at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg, contact (315) 393-0730. For information on therapy services at Maplewood, contact (315) 386-4541.  You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Respiratory Therapist Matthew King, Allen McIntosh and Physical Therapist Trent Worden

Maplewood's Outpatient Therapy Receives Rave Reviews

CANTON - According to more than 50 recently completed satisfaction surveys, customers at United Helpers Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center are incredibly satisfied with the therapy and service they received there. 

Over the past few months, a total of 51 anonymous surveys were collected with 49 of the 51 participants rating their overall experience at the facility a 5 out of 5. The two others rated their overall experience 4 out of 5.

"If you need physical therapy this is the place to be," one participant said, with another commenting, "I was very pleased with all areas of the experience."

The survey included several categories in which discharged patients were asked to rate their satisfaction on a scale of 1-5.

Participants were also given the opportunity to leave additional comment for each question.

When asked about the competency of therapy staff 50 of the 51 respondents rated the staff 5 out of 5, with one person rating the staff a 4 out of 5.

"The therapists are all great at their jobs. They're all very knowledgeable," one participant said.

Another who completed the survey said, "The staff is wonderful and the time I spent here was well worth it."

When asked to rate the department's ability to see them in a timely manner and accommodate their personal schedules, each of the 51 respondents rated Maplewood 5 out of 5.

Physical therapy, of course can't happen without exercise equipment, and 50 of the survey's 51 respondents rated the facility 5 out of 5 in this category as well. One respondent gave a score of 4 out of 5.

Regardless of what brings patients to Maplewood, physical therapy is a lot of hard work, but according to survey participants therapy staff helped make the process as easy as possible.

"Everyone called you by name and treated you like they were your friend," one respondent said.

Another even called her therapy, "a pleasant experience with positive results."

For more information on outpatient therapy services at Maplewood, please call (315) 386-4541, visit www.unitedhelpers.org or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com.unitedhelpers.

United Helpers Aids Canton Woman in Returning to Her Feet

Leslie Clark works with United Helpers Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center Physical Therapy Assistant Jena Cryderman during a recent therapy appointment. 

CANTON – It was a typical autumn day in the horse barns. People were feeding horses and cleaning stalls when suddenly one of the women working in the barn fell while going over a fence inside the barn.

Leslie Clark, a retired school psychologist said she cleared the fence without any problem, the problems came on her landing.

“The jump was great, but then I hit the ground, and said, “This is bad, somebody call 911,” Ms. Clark recalled as she was wrapping up a recent physical therapy appointment at United Helpers Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton. 

The bad landing resulted in a fracture of her tibial plateau. Ms. Clark explained that the tibial plateau is the flat part on the top of your shin bone and an essential part of how your knees operate.

She then spent the next month and a half recovering from her injury and waiting to be well enough to begin attending physical therapy.

“I came here as soon as I could,” Ms. Clark said. “When I first came in I was non-weight bearing. I couldn’t even lift my leg. I really had to start from ground zero.”

Physical Therapist Megan Morrison conducted an initial assessment of her injuries, and Ms. Clark said that proved to be an eye opening experience.

“Megan first assessed me when I came in and that was a real revelation as to how far I had to go,” she said.

Progress came quickly though, and Physical Therapy Assistant Jena Cryderman said that’s thanks in large part to Ms. Clark’s work ethic and approach to therapy.

 “I definitely don’t have to worry about her cheating on her exercises,” Ms. Cryderman said, to which Ms. Clark replied, “When you can’t walk for 12 weeks, that’s plenty incentive to get better.”

When Ms. Clark began physical therapy in November she was coming three days a week, but eventually the number of appointments was reduced to twice per week.

“I’ve been trying to think of some words to describe my experience here and the one that keeps coming to mind is encouragement,” Ms. Clark said. “When you first come in, it’s kind of like a deer in the headlights moment, but they make therapy fun, which is important, because it can be kind of scary.”

When asked if she would recommend Maplewood to others in need physical therapy, she said she would, noting it’s important for people to know they have a choice of where to go for physical therapy.

“Every week I have been here I have seen progress, both physically and emotionally,” she said. “If you need therapy this is where you want to be.”

Another selling point for Ms. Clark was the fact she can return to use the exercise equipment at Maplewood, even when her therapy is complete.

For more information on therapy services at Maplewood, contact (315) 386-4541. For therapy services at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg, contact (315) 393-0730. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Maplewood Residents Enjoy Visit with Dogs

CANTON – Each day dozens of visitors stop by to see their loved ones at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center. Most of those visitors are coming to visit with a resident or two, but last week Maplewood welcomed a pair of guests who were there to visit with anyone willing to give them a pat on the head. 

Mildred Remington pets Ben, a six-year-old Great Pyrenees
during his recent visit to Maplewood.

 Ben, a 150-pound Great Pyrenees and Lilly, an 80-pound Great Pyrenees/Lab mix were accompanied on their visit by their owners, Joseph and Debra Finnegan of Madrid, who have brought the dogs to Maplewood several times since this past summer.

“We started this back in July after Joe had his knee replacement,” Mrs. Finnegan said. “The residents absolutely loved them.”

Mr. Finnegan, who spent a week at Maplewood following his surgery, said the first time his wife brought Ben in for a visit, he could see that people really enjoyed having an animal around.

“There was one gentleman who wasn’t doing so well, but as soon as he saw Ben, he perked right up,” Mr. Finnegan said.

Ben and Lilly made their most recent visit to Maplewood on Wednesday, visiting residents in both the rehab and skilled nursing units.

“The joy dogs bring us is a wonderful thing,” said Karen Gonyea. “This is pretty good therapy.”

Another woman who spent some time with Ben and Lilly was Sandra Davis. “This has made my whole day,” she said.

Rita O’Connor enjoys a moment with Lilly, a three-year-old Great Pyrenees/Lab mix who visited Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center last week. The dog’s owners, Joseph and Debra Finnegan began bringing Lilly and another dog, Ben to Maplewood when Mr. Finnegan was there following knee replacement surgery.

Retired Nurse Pleased With Care At United Helpers Maplewood Campus

CANTON – As a retired nurse and someone who spent most of her adult life working in health care, RoseMary Crupi, of Canton knows a thing or two about quality health care, and she said that’s exactly what she received at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center. 

RoseMary Crupi

In 2016 Ms. Crupi had her right knee replaced. She spent two weeks in the rehab unit and continued with outpatient physical therapy for “several months.”

After recovering fully from that surgery, she then had, in 2017, her right hip replaced spending five more weeks in the rehab unit.

“If someone asked me for an opinion, I would say, “go there,’” she said. “They were not only competent, but they were kind and caring. They impressed me with their kindness and empathy. A lot of people who work in health care don’t always do that.”

Admittedly Ms. Crupi can get emotional at times, but she said through her whole time at Maplewood, she was never made to feel embarrassed or like she was in the wrong.

“I’m a bit of a wuss but whenever I would cry from the pain someone would be right there,” she said, mentioning specifically physical therapy assistants Jenna Cryderman and Stacie Jessmer, as well as physical therapists Brittany Wieszczyk and Elizabeth Foster.

Ms. Crupi’s second stay at Maplewood included some medical complications, which she said weren’t anyone’s fault.

“You know your own body better than anyone and when I told them something wasn’t right, they listened,” she said, surmising that may not always be the case elsewhere.

“When a patient says this is not normal and there is something wrong, people need to listen and they did,” she said.

In addition to being pleased with the therapy staff, Ms. Crupi said the nursing care she received during her two stays was also impressive.

“I met some really terrific aides,” she said. “There was one young woman, “Trish” (Patricia Kerr) who would literally give you the shirt off your back. What she does for patients is amazing.”

Ms. Crupi then talked about the Nancy Delorme, a nurse who worked day shifts on the rehab unit.

“On my discharge day I wasn’t able to walk as well as I would have liked and when the ambulette came to pick me up they only brought one guy,” she recalled, realizing she was going to need the assistance of two people to get out of the vehicle and into her home.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to go home and I started to cry,” she said. “Nancy very calmly told me, ‘Hold on, I’ll take care of this.’ She then went and grabbed Curtis (Legault). He’s one of the maintenance guys now, but he used to be a CNA. They made sure I was able to go home that day and he made sure I was able to get settled at home.”

Looking back at her own career, Ms. Crupi said the staff at Maplewood acted just as she would have wanted her own employees too.

“I used to train LPNs and I always taught them to act as if the person in that bed was their own mother or father,” she said. “The staff there cares about you as a person and not just a room number and that matters.”

For more information on therapy services at Maplewood, contact (315) 386-451. For therapy services at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg, contact (315) 393-0730. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Great Gardeners!

Maplewood gardeners were among the winners of the 2017 United Helpers Sustainability Garden Contest. Pictured from right to left: Brenda Jones, representing the Sustainability Committee, with gardeners Gail Butler and Linda Whitton. Maplewood took second place honors in the Most Bountiful Garden category.

Maplewood Allows Potsdam Couple to Grow Old Together

CANTON – Over the past 70 plus years there has only been a few times that Carl and Evelyn Seymour have been away from each other for more than a few hours at a time.

One of those instances came while Mr. Seymour was in the Navy and another came more recently as Mrs. Seymour began battling health problems that led to hospitalizations and a move to Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center.

According to the couple’s son Glenn, Mrs. Seymour first came to Maplewood in November of 2016 for physical therapy. She then returned in January of 2017 for a rehabilitation stay before moving into building’s Assisted Living wing in March.

Mr. Seymour would then join his wife in Assisted Living in April where they were together until health problems forced Mrs. Seymour into the hospital and the skilled nursing wing upon her release.

“When mom went into the hospital one of our big worries was that she would have to go to a different facility and that was not a happy thought,” Glenn said.

The couple’s other son, Murray Seymour agreed.

“How do you describe it? After 74 years together they still have the ability to sit on the couch and fall asleep in each other’s arms,” Murray said. “At this point in their lives they couldn’t ask for anything better.”

While their time together in the Assisted Living wing was brief, the fact that their mother and father still reside under the same roof despite needing different levels of care isn’t lost on anyone in the family.

 “United Helpers went out of their way to put them together in Assisted Living,” Murray said. “If it wasn’t for mom falling, I believe they would still be together in the same room.”

Glenn and Murray both reside in Potsdam and said they’re fortunate to have a facility such as Maplewood just a short drive away.

“Eleven miles is nothing,” Glenn said. “Having mom and dad together just a short drive a way has allowed us to continue being a family.”

When asked what it means for them to still be together, both Carl and Evelyn had a difficult time putting it into words.

“It means everything,” Mrs. Seymour said, to which Carl replied, “You can’t put into words what it means.”

Glenn even called their family’s situation, “the ultimate success story in the aging process.”

Maplewood currently offers accommodations for those in need of Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Memory Care and Inpatient Physical and/or Occupational Therapy. Outpatient therapy is also offered.

To schedule a tour or to learn more, please call (315) 386-4541 or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Carl jokingly shows off a shirt that says, “Will Work for Bacon,” which he received as a gift from an employee at Arby’s in Potsdam. “I’ve been working for Bacon for more than 70 years,” he said, noting his wife Evelyn’s maiden name is Bacon.

Order of Eastern Star Host Lunch to Honor UH Veterans

Ogdensburg – Veterans from United Helpers’ Maplewood and RiverLedge campuses came together Monday afternoon for a luncheon in their honor hosted at the Dobisky Visitor’s Center by the St. Lawrence District Order of the Eastern Star.

District Grand Lecturer Mark Ginn said one of the tasks given to the grand lecturer each year is to do something for veterans in their district.

“I approached the area nursing homes and asked them what we could do,” Mr. Ginn said.

Once it was decided that the Order of the Eastern Star would host a picnic to pay their respects and say thank you to veterans from United Helpers’ two skilled nursing facilities, Mr. Ginn said he then had to come up with money to pay for the picnic.

That’s where the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union came into play.

St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union President/CEO Todd Mashaw, himself a veteran, authorized a $1,000 contribution from the credit union to fund the event.

As lunch was wrapping up each veteran in attendance was introduced with one, Carl Seymour, a Navy Veteran now residing at Maplewood speaking on behalf of the group.

“On behalf of all us veterans here from both Maplewood and RiverLedge I want to say thank you,” Mr. Seymour said. “This means more to us than you will ever know.”