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.

Welcome New Hires

Please welcome the following new employees to the United Helpers family.

RiverLedge

Shianne Bouchey - Task Aide
Joleen LaFlair - Task Aide
Miranda LaFave - Task Aide
Macalla Roberts - Task Aide

Maplewood
Hailey LaRock - Task Aide
Michele Smith - Task Aide

Maplewood Assisted Living Program (ALP)
Heidi Perez - RN

Pleasant Valley IRA
Caleb Billings - DSP

High Street IRA
Jillian Dailey - DSP

Flackville Road IRA
Leillah White - DSP

Welcome New Hires

Please welcome the following new employees to the United Helpers family.

RiverLedge

Jennifer Micciche - Task Aide
Jessica Brown - Task Aide
Miranda LaFave - Task Aide
Karle McCormick - Task Aide
Alisha Trickey - Task Aide
Christina Fifield - CNA
Jody Richardson - CNA
Lizabeth Troiano - Office Tech
Kristine Mims - RN
Jessica Poore - Social Service Assistant


Maplewood
Amy DeShane - Housekeeper
Brianna Alexis Flanagan - Food Service Attendant
June Marie Woodward - Food Service Attendant
Ticia Yerdon - Task Aide
Mallory Fraker - Task Aide
Makayley Miller - Task Aide
Megan Heber - CNA
Maria Summer - CNA
Elayne Woodcock - RN
Alison Greene - Physical Therapy Assistant


Maplewood
James Almasy - Home Health Aide


United Helpers Management Company
Lisa LaRock - Office Tech
James Lavair - Maintenance II (Housing)

Bernard Avenue IRA

Jamie Barkley - DSP

Potsdam Day Hab

Jamie Manning - DSP

High Street IRA

Collin Burns - DSP

Spruce Street IRA

Briana Cota - DSP
Shelley Larve - DSP

Rensseleaer Falls IRA

Mackenzie Sharpe - DSP

Lisbon IRA

Hunter Lovely - DSP
Savanna Youngs - DSP

Flackville Road IRA

Nicole Bell - DSP
Brittany Fifield - DSP

Local Photographer Overcomes Many Obstacles on Way to Recognizing She is an Artist

GOUVERNEUR – The walls of Maria Mantia’s home look like that of any photographer and are covered with beautiful framed images taken from her surroundings in St. Lawrence County.

Maria Mantia

The difference between Ms. Mantia though and most other photographers is she is legally blind.

While not completely blind, Ms. Mantia cannot drive and relies on her daughter Anita and brother Frank to bring her to the places where she’ll find the next image to frame and hang on her walls.

Photography is also a relatively new passion for Ms. Mantia, who until 2013 lived in Brooklyn.

Her move to St. Lawrence County came as a result of the borough’s gentrification — a legal, but controversial practice where landlords will pay low-income tenants to move elsewhere, allowing them to renovate properties and then charge significantly more for rent.

“When we were living there we paid $750 a month for a roach-infested, railroad apartment,” Ms. Mantia said. “Now he’s charging $2,500 a month.”

If given the opportunity to move back to the city though, Ms. Mantia said she would decline.

“I don’t ever want to go back, even for a visit,” she said. “Here the people are 90% good and 10% bad. There it’s the opposite.”

When she was younger and living in the city, she did help her brother, who also dabbles in photography, develop pictures in a dark room, but until moving to St. Lawrence County, she says she never really considered photography a serious hobby of her own.

“After I moved up here I saw how beautiful everything was and I wanted to take pictures,” she said, explaining either her daughter or brother will take her for a ride. When she sees something she likes, she then asks them to stop the car so she can get out and take pictures.

In addition to being legally blind, Ms. Mantia is also a cancer survivor, who deals with mental health issues and receives Care Coordination Services through United Helpers Mosaic.

In fact it was her care coordinator, Trina Bedford, who encouraged her to submit one of her pieces in the annual Mosaic Art Show. 

After much consideration, Ms. Mantia decided to enter a piece she titled, “A Better Place.” That picture shows the reflection of trees and clouds on a still river.

When asked where she took the photo, she said she cannot recall for sure. “I’ve visited so many places up here and they’re all so beautiful,” she said, adding though she is sure that the picture, like all of her pieces, was taken in St. Lawrence County.

On the day of the Mosaic Show, Ms. Mantia said she was shocked when it was announced her photo was selected as the best in the show.

That selection earned her piece a trip to the annual New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies (NYSACRA) Art Show, which was held this past spring at the Sagamore Hotel & Resort in Lake George — a show which features hundreds of pieces from artists all across the state.

When her piece was selected for an honorable mention at that show, Ms. Mantia said she was “flabbergasted.”

Now, she said she considers herself a true artist, noting that the recent recognition her work has received has given her a much needed boost of confidence.

“It felt really good winning and being recognized,” she said. “A few years ago I wanted to enter one of my pictures in another art show, but was told maybe I should consider entering one of my brother’s sticks (her brother carves walking sticks) instead. That made me think, ‘what, am I not good enough?’ Now I know I am.”

Ms. Bedford said that’s exactly what Mosaic staff was striving for when they decided to host their first art show several years ago.

“One of the reasons we do the art show is to help boost people’s confidence,” she said. “It’s clearly working.”

Trio Honored With Helen S. Randles Scholarships

OGDENSBURG – Three high school seniors from a field of more than 25 applicants were honored with Helen S. Randles Scholarships.

The scholarships are presented by the Society of the United Helpers using funds from an endowment created by the late Ms. Randles. 

For the first time, each of the scholarship winners came from the same school — Massena Central School.

Emily Vierno will be attending Nazareth College in Rochester. She is the daughter of Kim and Joseph Vierno. Ms. Vierno is planning to become a physical therapist.

Matthew Derouchie will be attending St. Lawrence University in Canton. He is the son of Patty and Marc Derouchie. Mr. Derouchie is planning to become a physician assistant.

Olivia Todd will be also attending Nazareth College. She is the daughter of Cathy and Bob Todd. Ms. Todd is planning to become a music therapist.

Scholarship Committee Chair Ed Gordon said the decision this year was a difficult one.

“We had 25 very qualified applicants,” he said. “You guys should be proud of yourselves. Your folks certainly are and we are too.”

Also speaking at the presentation was scholarship committee member Cheryl Ladouceur.

“Your road is just starting,” she said. “Make sure you take the time to look at what is in front of you and always be your own best cheerleader.”

Dr. Gordon also spoke briefly about Mrs. Randles.

“Education was very important to her,” he said, adding she served as a volunteer with United Helpers for 46 years.

The scholarships are awarded each year to students from St. Lawrence County who are furthering their education and planning to enter the health care field.

Welcome New Hires

Please welcome the following new employees to the United Helpers family.

RiverLedge

Adriania Fanelli - LPN
Amy Jones - LPN
Amy Nicorvo - LPN
Keylee Halpin - RN
Rebecca Compo - RN
Chayton Massic - Food Service Attendant
Destiny Rouselle - CNA
Kristen LeFleur - Task Aide
Heather Spears - Task Aide

RiverLedge Residence

Brittany Gage - Home Health Aide
Shannon Wilson - Home Health Aide

Maplewood
Ann Bristol - Task Aide
Noel Iannacone - Task Aide
Carolyn Winters - Task Aide
Rebecca Gonyea - CNA
Jasmine Duvall - Food Service Attendant
Kassie Hutton - Food Service Attendant
Melissa Price - Food Service Attendnat
Matthew Butler - Food Service Attendant
Joel Cosores - RN
Emily Johnson - RN
Paula Whitney - LPN

Maplewood Assisted Living
Dae Sha Brossoit - Home Health Aide

United Helpers Management Company
Kenneth Morrow - Maintenance II (Housing)
Bruce Lebeau - Maintenance II (Housing)

A.C.T. Team

David Fortin - Vocational Specialist

Sparx

Arryn Baker - Office Tech

Basta's

Joshua Barkley - Laborer
John Barrett - Laborer

Pleasant Valley IRA

Raven Anderson - DSP

Bernard Avenue IRA

Mark Lepone - DSP

High Street IRA

Mariah Simons - DSP

Spruce Street IRA

Patricia Brothers - DSP

Rensselaer Falls IRA

Tiffany Allen - DSP

Lisbon IRA

Kasondra Baker - DSP

Flackville Road IRA

Scott McKAy - DSP
Melissa MacKay - DSP