GALILEE – After spending more than a year of her life unable to walk and going back and forth between a recliner and a wheelchair, Sharon Nichols is thankful to once again be back on her feet.

The difficult stretch began with a broken hip in 2021 that was followed by knee replacement surgery this past spring.

Northern Lights Home Health Care Physical Therapist Natalie King has known Mrs. Nichols going back to the broken hip, which she suspects may have contributed to Mrs. Nichols’ knee problems.

Given the combination of her left hip and right knee, which was once “her good leg,” Mrs. King said as Mrs. Nichols’ knee would buckle due to bearing most of her weight following hip surgery, her good leg actually became “her bad leg.” 

Physical Therapist Natalie King walks with Sharon Nichols.

Mrs. Nichols was discharged home on May 21 following knee replacement surgery. Initially she was seeing Mrs. King three days per week. Those therapy appointments were eventually reduced down to twice a week, and as of Sept. 1 Mrs. Nichols is no longer in need of therapy.

When asked if she ever considered the possibility she may not walk again, she said she never considered that an option.

As soon as her physical therapy began, she knew it was time to get to work.

“I do my home exercises all the time and I’m not planning to stop,” she said, adding she would even do exercises in her husband’s truck while on the way to medical appointments.

As she was able to stand, Mrs. Nichols said she began walking with the use of a “platform-style” walker, eventually graduating to a traditional walker, which she now uses to move around her home.

“I was afraid of falling, but I knew I had to get over it, and I did,” she said, adding though that it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Northern Lights.

In fact, her husband, Alfred “Bud” Nichols has also received physical therapy at home through Northern Lights.

“My friend, Linda told us about Northern Lights, and I said, ‘We’ll get them too. We’ve both had nothing but a great experience. You couldn’t ask for anything better,” she said.

For more information on Northern Lights Home Health Care, please call (315) 714-3135 or visit www.mynorthernlights.org. Northern Lights offers skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and assistance from personal care aides.

Northern Lights is owned and operated through a partnership that includes United Helpers, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center.

 

 CANTON – It was love at first sight for Frank Carter and Jeanette Rose when they visited United Helpers Independent Senior Living (ISL) in Canton for a tour earlier this year.

“We were talking about our future and we wanted to take a look at it (ISL) to see if it was affordable, if we liked it, and what was available,” Mr. Carter said. “We figured we were still two or three years out, but we took a tour and fell in love with the place. They had an opening and we took it.”

Upon moving into the ISL in May, Mrs. Rose said she was surprised at how many people lived in the building that she already knew. “It was amazing,” she said. “We’ve only been here a short time, but we already feel very much at home.”

Mr. Carter said part of what makes the adjustment so easy is the socialization with other members.

“It’s very smart what they do with dinner here seven nights a week,” he said, referring to the restaurant-style dining offered at the ISL each night. “It gets everyone out of their rooms and gives us all a chance to get to know each other.”

Mr. Carter and Mrs. Rose also said they have enjoyed many of the building’s other activities including, bingo, corn hole, wine and cheese gatherings, or simply enjoying some fresh air from the new gazebo located on the property’s impressive back yard.

Mrs. Rose also said she had enjoyed decorating the entryway to their apartment, something that many other members also do. “I love decorating, so I’ve really enjoyed decorating our entryway, as well as seeing what everybody else does with theirs,” she said.

Before making a decision on whether or not the ISL is right for you, Mr. Carter said people should compare their expenses now to what they would be upon moving into the ISL. “It may not be as far off as you think,” he said.

“We are certainly not extravagant people,” he said, explaining that while rent at the ISL is a “little more” than what they were paying in expenses before, the convenience of one monthly payment, along with the property’s other benefits make it well worthwhile.

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.

Frank Carter and his wife, Jeanette Rose enjoy the outdoors from the new gazebo located in the back yard at United Helpers Independent Senior Living. A virtual tour of the facility is available online at unitedhelpers.org or an in-person tour may be scheduled by calling (315) 379-1428.

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers will be hosting a New York DMV approved National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 in the large staff development classroom at the former United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care (RiverLedge), 8101 State Highway 68, Ogdensburg.

The class serves as a refresher course for drivers of all ages and includes safe driving tips and an overview of today’s vehicle and traffic laws. 

Successful completion of the class makes attendees eligible for a mandatory insurance premium reduction of up to 10% for three years on the base rate for their automobile or motorcycle insurance premiums, provided you are listed as the principal operator. Participants may also be eligible to have up to a four points removed reduction with the NYS DMV. The class may be taken once every 18 months for point reduction.

The cost of the class is $35, payable in cash, check or money order made out to United Helpers Care, Inc. Classes may be paid for on the day of the class.

A free class for United Helpers employees is being held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 19 in the same location.

Please bring your driver’s license with you to class.  It is a requirement that you have it with you for documentation purposes.

Advanced registration is required. To register please contact Mark Darou at (315) 394-6702 ext. 303 or madarou@unitedhelpers.org.

OGDENSBURG – A $10,000 grant from the United Way of Northern New York has paved the way for more than 20 United Helpers employees to receive training allowing them progress in their careers with the organization.

Interested employees were able to shift from employment at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care to the Assisted Living Program to work as home health aides or in leadership positions at Assisted Living.

A small group of employees also received OSHA certification, allowing them to work in maintenance or other non-direct care positions.

“We are grateful for the continued support of the United Way of Northern New York,” said United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll. “This is our second consecutive year receiving a grant from the United Way, which we have used for employee development. Our employees, as well as the people we care for will benefit from these funds, whether it be through employment retention or enhanced training for our caregivers.”

United Helpers currently employs roughly 800 individuals in a variety of roles, including nurses, CNAs, direct support professionals, home health aides, social workers, food service, housekeeping, maintenance, and more. For more information on available positions or how you can join the United Helpers team, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org/employment or call (315) 276-6413.

One of the many individuals to benefit from this United Way grant is Darcy Kerr, who now works as a med-certified home health aide, after spending the first several years of her career as a CNA.