United Helpers Independent Senior Living to Hold Open House

CANTON - United Helpers Independent Senior Living will hold an open house on Friday, June 24th from 1-3 pm. 

If you or a loved one is thinking about retirement living, you owe it to yourself to call United Helpers Independent Senior Living today to schedule your tour time. Staff will be on hand to provide scheduled tours and free refreshments will be served.

Retirement living means something different to everyone. Whatever your definition, the best place to retire remains the same. 

At United Helpers Independent Senior Living, members enjoy the luxury of a private home while nestled within a safe community. Your freedom is all your own. We’re just here to lend a hand.

For more information, or to schedule a private tour, please call 315-379-1428 or visit United Helpers Independent Senior Living virtually online at www.unitedhelpers.org.  

Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Lauren Anson - CNA

Robert Checke - Food Service Attendnant

Matthew Smith - Food Service Attendant

Sterling Johnson - Maintenance II

James Labaw - Housekeeper

Taiz Valenzuela - Housekeeper

Kiely Mattice - Laundry Aide

United Helpers Independent Senior Living

Brian LaPage - Assistant Chef

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Spruce Street IRA

Cassandra Hunter - DSP

Caleb Peabody - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Flackville Road IRA

Natalie Howie - DSP

Welcome New Hires

 

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Jessica Beaudoin - Task Aide

Tamara Bedard - Housekeeper

Jennifer House - Housekeeper

Jannell Hoyt - Housekeeper

Shania Kerr - Housekeeper

Abagail Drake - Food Service Attendant

United Helpers Management Company

John Ashley - Maintenance Supervisor

Brigett Ritchie - Office Tech

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Centennial Manor IRA

Carrie Butterfield - DSP

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Pleasant Valley IRA

Brianna MaCaulay - DSP

Past United Helpers Board Member Enjoying Life at Independent Senior Living

CANTON – Charlie Owens remembers when United Helpers Independent Senior Living (ISL) was nothing more than a set of blue prints laid out on a table before the Management Company Board of Directors.

The facility, originally known as Partridge Knoll, was built in 1999 and to this day remains St. Lawrence County’s only retirement home for seniors. Mr. Owens, who has resided at ISL since 2019, was on the board of directors during the project’s planning stages. 

Charlie Owens

“We wanted to fill a need in the community for quality senior housing in a setting where seniors could feel both safe and comfortable while enjoying their golden years,” he said.

While Mr. Owens was supportive of the project, at that time he never quite envisioned himself living there. “I’ve lived in Gouverneur most of my life, and my wife and I had a beautiful camp on the St. Lawrence River. To be honest, I never really gave it much thought,” he said.

However in 2019 his wife Hi passed away, and his children suggested that he sell his home and find a place where could live without being by himself most of the time.

“They really pushed me to not stay alone,” he said. “So I made the decision to sell the house and our camp. I knew a number of people who were living there, so that helped quite a bit with the transition.”

Mr. Owens said he enjoys his independence, while also having the opportunity to dine with friends each night.

“It’s a very relaxed atmosphere. We’re free during the day to pretty much to what we please. Then at night we all gather together for dinner,” he said. “The people are nice and the food is great.”

In addition to dining together each night, Mr. Owens said many of building’s members also get together for coffee each morning. “This really is a pretty unique place. I don’t know of any other operation quite like it,” he said. “It’s like living in an apartment building full of your friends.”

United Helpers Independent Senior Living offers a variety of apartment styles, with both one and two bedroom units available. To take a virtual tour of the building, please visit unitedhelpers.org and click on the link for virtual tours.

An in-person tour may also be arranged by calling (315) 379-1428.

Welcome New Hires

   

United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care

Taylor Scheening - Task Aide

United Helpers Management Company

Leonard Coffey - Maintenance II

Patrick Parmeter - Maintenance I

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skill

Rensselaer Falls IRA

Maddison Proulx - DSP

Nikita Smith - DSP

Gerald Sovie - Maintenance II

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills

Lisbon IRA

Hilary Brothers - DSP

United Helpers Hosts Celebration for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

HEUVELTON – Holding signs that said things like, “The only disability is a bad attitude,” “My ability is stronger than my disability,” and “Keep staring, I might do a trick,” a group of nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers took to the streets of Heuvelton for a walk to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills operates 10 Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) across St. Lawrence County, providing employment to more than 250 individuals, while also caring for nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities.

One of those IRAs is located in the village of Heuvelton, with two more scheduled to open later this year. Whitney Atkins organized the event and serves as program leader at the Flackville IRA located in Heuvelton. 

Jen Davison, Whitney Atkins, Brook Duprey & April Streeter

“The people we care for in these IRAs are just that, people – just like you and me,” she said. “An IRA is a home – their home. IRAs have a kitchen, a living room, a dining room, and each individual who resides there has their own personalized bedroom.”

Ms. Atkins explained, “The primary responsibilities for those of us who work in their home, are centered on supporting the individuals in leading self-directed lives. We do this by working with them to maximize their potential by assisting with maintaining and/or developing skills and abilities.  These skills are what helps the individuals interact in their community to the maximum degree that they are interested.”

Prior to the walk program members and IRA staff from across the organization gathered for a barbecue at the Heuvelton Fire Hall with those present signing a large, tie-dyed banner with the words “Developmental Disability Awareness 2022” on it.

Developmental Disability Awareness Month is celebrated each year in March. According to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), activities during the month of March are designed to “highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.”

“United Helpers has been caring for individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 30 years,” said United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Director of Residential Services Colleen Aldridge. “It always has been and always will be our mission to provide the people we care for with the highest quality of life possible. Whether it be helping them find jobs in the community, trips to concerts, fairs, and amusement parks, or simply being there for them with a hug or words of encouragement, we really are, as our tagline says, “Always Caring.”

While not everyone who attended the Developmental Disabilities Awareness Barbecue participated in the walk, a group of nearly 50 heary souls took off on a walk from the fire hall across the State Street Bridge and back to promote developmental disability awareness. The walk and barbecue were organized by United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Program Leader Whitney Atkins, who oversees the Flackville Road IRA in Heuvelton.

United Helpers Enhancing Residential Opportunities for People with Developmental Disabilities

HEUVELTON – The vacant Individual Residential Alternative (IRA), located on the Irish Settlement Road in Heuvelton will soon be reopening its doors as two, six-bedroom IRAs.

Renovations at the property, which has been used periodically as a quarantine site during the COVID-19 pandemic, began earlier this month and are scheduled to be completed by mid-summer.

“Each home will have its own entrance, kitchen, dining area, and six single bedrooms,” said United Helpers Director of Buildings and Grounds Rick Pirie. “The homes will share a common gathering that includes another full kitchen, with that space being used for parties, meetings, educational events, and other large gatherings.”

United Helpers Behavioral Health and Life Skills Director of Residential Services Colleen Aldridge said the opening of the new house will allow increased flexibility both for staffing and residential placements.

“This is being done to better serve our community and to meet the needs for people with developmental disabilities and their families,” she said. “Our leadership team is currently working on a plan for allocating these new beds, as well as a plan for any restructuring that may take place.”

United Helpers currently operates 10 IRAs which employ 260 people and provide residential services to nearly 50 individuals with developmental disabilities across St. Lawrence County.

For more information on Behavioral Health and Life Skills or any of United Helpers programs, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org.