Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Kimberly Clough - Housekeeper

Wendy Ryan - RN

Roxanne Saber - Task Aide

Kelly Tresidder - Task Aide

Paige Sweet - Office Tech

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Karen Martin - Housekeeper

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Pleasant Valley IRA

Amanda Bisnett - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Rensselaer Falls IRA

Heather Worden - Program Leader (Promotion)

Amanda Bisnett - DSP

Melinda Hall - DSP

Grace Snyder - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Flackville Road IRA

Whitney Atkins - Program Leader (Promotion)

Halloween Costume Leads to Special Gift for Officer Danny

LISBON – A Halloween costume crafted from a large cardboard box led to a Christmas to remember for Danny Adams, who resides at the Lisbon IRA, operated by United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills. 

The costume, a police car, was crafted from the box in order to fit over Mr. Adams’ wheel chair. It was created by Jordan Downing-Duke, who serves as program manager at the IRA.

Mrs. Downing-Duke’s father-in-law, Terry Downing serves as a police officer in Taunton, Mass., and was inspired by a picture of a smiling Mr. Adams in his “police car.” He mentioned the photo to some of his fellow officers and what came next is enough to put a smile on the face of even the most hardened criminal.

Mr. Adams is now the proud owner of an official officer’s uniform shirt, hat, toque, and reflective vest from the Taunton Police Department.

“He loved how excited Danny was to be a police officer,” Mrs. Downing-Duke said, referring to Mr. Downing’s reaction to the photo of Mr. Adams in his costume.

Earlier this week Mr. Adams was presented with his new police gear and the Halloween smiles returned. Mrs. Downing-Duke then took some photos to share with her father-in-law.

“We brought a smile to someone's face and made his day a little brighter. It doesn't get any better than that,” Mr. Downing said after seeing photos of Officer Danny. “Unfortunately, in my job I seldom see smiles or happy people. So, spreading a little sunshine is a thrill."

Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Sennior Care

Makayla House - CNA

Chelsea Martin - PT

Jaylin Massia - Food Service Attendant

Mark Massia - Food Service Attendant

United Helpers Management Company

Shelby Boland - HR Office Tech

Jason St. Germain - Maintenance 2 (housing)

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Centennial Manor IRA

Molly Wright - DSP

Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Sennior Care

Tiffany Perry - Food Service Attendant

Linda Bevins - CNA

Brittney Carnicelli - LPN

Mellissa Kent - LPN

Tanya Bolia - Admissions Coordinator

United Helpers Management Company

Jeremy Hall - Maintenance II (Housing)

Melilnda Snyder - Maintenance II (Housing)

Thomas Bassett - Maintenance II (Housing)

Darrel Cole - Maintenance II (Housing)

Richard Davis - Maintenance II (Housing)

Mindy Ross - Housing Assistant

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

High Street IRA

Traci Showers - Direct Support Professional (DSP)

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Centennial Manor IRA

Kaitlin McCarthy - Direct Support Professional (DSP)

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Pleasant Valley IRA

Michelle Peacock - Direct Support Professional (DSP)

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Flackville Road IRA

April Streeter - Direct Support Professional (DSP)

United Helpers Behavioral Health & Life Skills

Rensselaer Falls IRA

Sommer Yates - Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Scozzafava Right at Home at United Helpers ISL

CANTON – The decision to move out of one’s family home and into an apartment is never an easy one to make, but for most people the time comes when it’s a decision that has to be made.

Marilyn Scozzafava, of Gouverneur, made that decision earlier this year when she moved into United Helpers Independent Senior Living (ISL) in Canton. She said she has no regrets. Her daughter, Dierdre “Dede” Scozzafava said the same thing.

“I am very pleased,” Mrs. Scozzafava said, as she sat in a recliner in the living room of her new home. After only spending a few weeks at the ISL, Mrs. Scozzafava said she realized she was right where she needed to be following a visit back to her home in Gouverneur, where she had lived for the past 50 years. 

Marilyn Scozzafava and her daughter, Diedre "Dede."

“It was difficult to watch people doing things there differently than how I would have done them,” she said. “Then when Dede brought me back here, it felt like I was returning home.”

Ms. Scozzafava said knowing that her mother was happy provided a great deal of relief, both for her and her siblings.

“When she walked in that night and said she felt like she was at home, I was relieved,” Ms. Scozzafava recalled. “As children you’re happy when you’re parents are happy.”

Mrs. Scozzafava said the decision to move to the ISL came as she realized that she could no longer do many of the things she used to enjoy.

“My husband had passed away and I had developed arthritis. And here I was living in a three story home,” she said. “I love gardening and I love flowers, but I realized, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I said, ‘The time has come for me to give up this home I love.’”

One of the first things she noticed upon moving into her new home was several raised garden beds around the property, including one that she can see from the windows in her living room.

“I saw those flower beds and said, ‘that’s going to be my first project,’” she said.

As for the other perks of residing at United Helpers Independent Senior Living, Mrs. Scozzafava said she’s really enjoying the restaurant-style dining.

“The food here is excellent,” she said. “I never really ate soup before, but now I won’t go a day without it.”

Mrs. Scozzafava also said she has enjoyed the monthly wine and cheese tasting event.

“I won’t be missing too many of those,” she said with a laugh.

She said she is looking forward to participating in more of the building’s activities once she “gets settled in.”

Events held on a regular basis include games, craft projects, outings, and even on-site musical events.

“Everyone I’ve met so far has been really nice,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting settled in, participating in more of what the building has to offer, and meeting some more great people.”

United Helpers Independent Senior Living is located at 30 Sullivan Drive in Canton, offering a variety of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment styles, with some units currently available.

A virtual tour of the building is available on the Independent Senior Living section of the United Helpers website. Visit, www.unitedhelpers.org or call (315) 379-1428 to learn more.

United Helpers Receives Grant to Train More than 70 CNAs for Careers with UH

CANTON – Thanks to funding from the Workforce Development Board’s Rural Healthcare Grant program, dozens of students will be able to enroll in United Helpers’ Certified Nursing Assistant training program tuition-free. 

The grant, which totals $144,000, will cover the $2,000 tuition cost for up to 72 students who enroll in the program through 2023. The classes are offered on a regular basis at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton, with a new class starting soon. 

CNA students can be hired as United Helpers employees before their training begins. Students often work as Task Aides while enrolled in the CNA class, meaning they are earning income while working to earn their CNA Certification. 

The benefit of this tuition-free training on site at United Helpers is that CNA students learn and train right in the facility where they will be working—becoming comfortable finding locations and services within the building, familiar with the residents and their families, and thoroughly ready to “hit the ground running” upon earning their CNA Certification. 

Once certified, they always have the benefit of being able to circle back to their CNA instructor, who is a fellow UH employee, with any questions. 

United Helpers CNAs start out earning $15 per hour. 

“It’s no secret that making time for career training isn’t an easy thing to do, and sometimes due to financial constraints, it’s not even possible,” said United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons. “This program, though, allows students to further their education and earn income to support their families at the same time.” 

United Helpers Vice President of Human Resources, Michelle Matthews, who herself began her career as a CNA, said that becoming a CNA can be a lifelong career or the first stepping stone in a career with nearly endless possibilities.

“I was still in high school when I became a CNA,” she said. “Now more than 25 years later, I am still working for United Helpers. Although no longer providing patient care, I would not be where I am professionally today if it weren’t for those years of working as a CNA.” 

Students interested in enrolling in this tuition-free course, may fill out an application online at www.unitedhelpers.org/employment or contact human resources at (315) 276-6413 for further information. 

To qualify for this train-on-the-job opportunity, aspiring CNAs must: 

• be at least 18

• have a minimum of 6 months of full-time work experience 

• be vaccinated against COVID-19 and show proof, or have a legitimate medical exemption with appropriate documentation 

• be unemployed or underemployed in a low-wage or part-time job 

“We are grateful to the Workforce Development Board for this grant, which will not only help to better the lives of those who take the class, but also the people in our care,” said United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll. “By greatly reducing training costs for our new CNAs, we are able to provide this opportunity to dozens of people from around St. Lawrence County who will see their lives enhanced because of it.”

United Helpers to Develop 27 Acres along Waterfront in Ogdensburg

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers has owned what used to be the city’s Pythian beach for nearly 40 years and is excited to announce it will be giving access to that property back to the community. 

Clearing of the parcel began in October and will continue throughout the next several months.

The 27-acre property includes 1,600 feet of water frontage along the St. Lawrence River.

Although it is too early to provide specific details, the property will become a mixed use development which officials say will fully take advantage of the beautiful St. Lawrence River and grant access to everyone, from the people United Helpers serves and employs, to boaters and community members alike. 

A request has been filed with the city of Ogdensburg to extend water and sewer service to the property, which sits just outside the city limits.

United Helpers CEO Todd Amo said the development will tie into the soon to be renovated Adult Home, which closed in 2018. Plans for that building include the creation of several one and two bedroom market-rate apartments, which will be available to people of all ages. Both long-term and short-term leases will be available.

The views from these new apartments will be second to none.

To inquire on the availability of these units, please contact the United Helpers Management Company at (315) 393-3074, ext. 4254.