UH Puts Hub on Hold

For nearly one hundred and twenty years United Helpers has risen to meet the emerging health and human service needs of St. Lawrence County. Our priority as a company has been to create a strong and unique network of community services for the people of the North Country. We are proud to contribute to more than 1800 lives every day.

St. Lawrence County is one the poorest counties in NYS and our economic challenges are many. One of the most significant issues facing our county is the lack of employment opportunities. In response to this issue, United Helpers created Sparx, a for-profit company focused on improving our local economy and in turn, preserving and creating new jobs. 

In 2012, United Helpers purchased and renovated the current Sparx headquarters located at 91 Main Street in Canton; a formerly empty building on Main Street, Sparx now houses over thirty employees and is driving revenue back into the local economy. 

To date, Sparx has focused on providing a unique package of back office services to small businesses and community organizations (human resources, information technology, payroll and accounting), renting professional office space, and researching job opportunities that play to our County’s strengths. Local innovation and collaboration are the focus of our efforts. 

One of the opportunities Sparx investigated is a food HUB and meat-processing center. The idea being that St. Lawrence County produces the “raw material”, but does not reap the value-added benefits (jobs) of processing. Significant time and resources was devoted to researching the HUB and we have concluded that the idea does present a “transformational” opportunity for our community’s economy.

However, Health Care Reform, and the many initiatives that are connected with Health Care Reform, call for an “All Hands-On Deck” effort and require United Helpers to focus on our long-term health care strategy. While disappointing for many reasons, continued exploration into the food HUB and processing center have been postponed while we address Health Care Reform. 

As always, United Helpers looks forward to continuing its partnerships with community agencies and working with others to help St. Lawrence County reach its economic potential.  

Society Honors Spies Award Recipients

OGDENSBURG – The Society of the United Helpers gave out this year’s Margaret R. Spies Awards to three employees who embody the qualities looked for in direct care staff: dedication to the people they care for and a willingness to go above and beyond expectations.

This year’s awards went to Patricia Kerr, a certified nursing assistant at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, Debra Bice, a direct support professional from Mosaic and Brook Duprey, a certified nursing assistant at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center.

The Spies Award was created in 2001 when Ann Spies made a generous gift to the Society of the United Helpers that created an endowment in memory of her mother, Margaret R. Spies, former resident of RiverLedge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and longtime Hammond school teacher. Margaret Spies appreciated hard work and the ability to give from the heart.

 “My mom was a really great generous lady,” Ms. Spies said. “When she came here the staff recognized how delightful she was, and I was always very pleased with the care, concern and love that she received. I thought something ought to be done to honor this wonderful staff.”

Addressing the three award winners, Ms. Spies told them they are each blessed with a special gift.

“The ability to care for others the way you do is a gift and it’s a gift that the people who make millions of dollars on Wall Street don’t have,” she said.

Mosaic Administrator Michele Montroy introduced Ms. Bice and said all you need to know about her comes from the fact that both her co-workers and the participants at Day Hab lovingly refer to her as “Momma.”

She worked for us a while ago and the moved away, but when she moved back and reapplied we were all very excited,” Ms. Montory said. “She has a never faltering positive attitude and is always willing to whatever needs to be done and then some.”

Maplewood Administrator Kimberly McFaddin introduced Ms. Kerr, noting her co-workers often refer to her as an “interdepartmental liaison.”

“A big part of what they do is taking care of the residents, but they must also take care of each other,” Ms. McFaddin said, noting she recently spent a shift working as a CNA alongside Ms. Kerr.

While Ms. Kerr said working alongside the building administrator for a day was nerve-wrecking, Ms. McFaddin said the day for her served as a learning experience.

Brook Duprey was introduced by RiverLedge Director of Nursing Brittany Thornton.

“She is always positive, frequently has a smile on her face and you can tell she loves her job,” Ms. Thornton said before giving several examples that showed she truly cares about the residents on the memory care unit where she works.

She also read a quote that came from one of those residents.

“Brooke is a beautiful person, inside and out.”

Recipients of the Margret R. Spies Awards are nominated for the honor by their administrative team and their peers. A plaque that lists the names of all the Spies Awards recipients hangs at RiverLedge.

Welcome New Hires

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

RiverLedge

Emily Dishaw - PT Office Tech

Lindsey Martin - RN

Catherine West - LPN

Anthoni Pope - Task Aide/Food Service Attendant

Andrea Rivas - Task Aide

Cory Scarlett - Task Aide

Maplewood

Brandy Capron - RN

Cortne Hendrick - Task Aide

Casey Stark-Ennis - Task Aide

Chelsea TenEyck - Task Aide

United Helpers Home Health Services

Alisabeth Furnace - Task Aide

Lisbon IRA

Jessica Eckel - DSP

United Helpers Aids in WWII Vet’s Recovery from Broken Hip

Jack Regan, 91, of Canton credits physical therapy at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center for helping him regain his independence after breaking his hip earlier this year. Looking on is Physical Therapy Assistant Jena Cryderman.

CANTON - A broken hip is a devastating injury for anyone, but when you're 91 years old, such an injury

usually means the end of your independence. 

Jack Regan, of Canton suffered a broken hip earlier this year following a fall, not on the ice, but inside his own home.

“All winter long I walked slowly like a duck with little steps so I wouldn’t fall,” he said. “Then one day, I just stood up a little too fast, got light headed and went down.”

While Mr. Regan initially declined treatment following the fall, he said the pain quickly became too much to bear. When the time came to be released from the hospital, Mr. Regan said he knew exactly where he wanted to go.

“I’ve heard a lot of good comments about Maplewood and United Helpers in general,” he said, adding his stay at Maplewood was just over four weeks.

Initially upon his arrival, Mr. Regan admitted he wasn’t feeling the best.

“I was raised to never give up and I brought my children up that way too,” he said. “However, after breaking my hip I discovered I don’t do well with pain. Then one of my girls reminded me about what I taught them growing up, and I said, ‘You did listen.’”

After graduating from a wheelchair to a walker, Mr. Regan was allowed to return home. After several weeks of twice weekly outpatient therapy Mr. Regan has even began walking with the use of the cane.

“Thanks to this lady and the other people here I’ve gone from not being able to stand to walking with a cane,” he said referring to Physical Therapy Assistant Jena Cryderman. “Canton is very fortunate to have a place like Maplewood. A lot of communities don’t have a facility like this.”

While Mr. Regan is quick to credit Maplewood for his success, Ms. Cryderman said no physical therapy patient can succeed without doing their own part.

“Eighty percent of their success is up to them,” she said. “He certainly does what he has to do and puts in the work at home.”

For more information on United Helpers Therapy Services contact Maplewood in Canton at (315) 386-4541 or RiverLedge in Ogdensburg at (315) 393-0730. Visit us online at www.unitedhelpers.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unitedhelpers.

Three Honored With Helen S. Randles Scholarships

Seated, from left, Margaret “Maggie” Peo, Adriania Fanelli, Colden Richards; second row, Scholarship Committee members, Myrna O’Neil, Darlene Liscum, Board of Directors member Bill Amoriell, Scholarship Committee Chair Ed Gordon, Scholarship Committee member Cheryl Ladouceur, Board of Directors member Marti MacArthur and Board President Nancy Rehse.

OGDENSBURG – Three high school seniors from a field of more than 30 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.

This year’s winners included students from Ogdensburg, Morristown and Norwood.

Margaret “Maggie” Peo, of Ogdensburg will be attending the University of Rochester this fall. She is the daughter of Michael and Sheila Peo. She is planning to become a physician assistant.

Adriania Fanelli, of Morristown will be attending North Country Community College in the fall. She is the daughter of Tracy Hefferon and is planning to become either a geriatric or pediatric nurse.

Colden Richards, of Norwood will be attending Clarkson in the fall. He is the son of Mark and Kelli Richards. He is planning to become a physician assistant.

Scholarship Committee Chair Ed Gordon said the decision on who to select this year was harder than ever.

“This year we had 36 very, highly qualified applicants,” he said before telling the students a little about Ms. Randles, for whom the scholarship they just received was named.

“Education was very important to her,” he said, adding Ms. Randles 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

Garrett Villeneuve - Food Service Attendant
Nicholas Deon - Task Aide

Maplewood

Sarah Richer - Task Aide

United Helpers Home Health Services

Ashlee Saumier - Home Health Aide/Task Aide

Irish Settlement Road IRA

GJennifer Hardy - Assistant Program Manager
Shannon Mahoney - Residence Supervisor

Health Home (Supportive Case Management)

Kyle Backus - Specialty Care Coordinator

Therapy Helps Ogdensburg Man Return to the Dance Floor

OGDENSBURG – When Frank Howie, of Ogdensburg was admitted to RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center he was prepared to stay there for the rest of his life. 

 However, just over three months later Mr. Howie was free to return home after completing a short-term rehabilitation stay.

“When I got here, I couldn’t even walk. My left leg would just give out on me all the time,” he said. “My wife and I never thought I was coming back home. That’s how bad it was when I first got here.”

While his stay at RiverLedge was interrupted by a brief hospitalization, Mr. Howie said returning to RiverLedge was like going home.

“When I got back here the nurses were right here waiting for me,” he said. “It was like coming back home.”

His wife, Terri said that one of the things that upset him the most about being in the hospital was while he was not being able to receive therapy while there.

“When he was in the hospital, he was angry, because he was missing therapy,” she said.

Mr. Howie said he was initially treated for back pain, but eventually doctors would discover the problem was with his leg, as a result of complications with diabetes.

During his inpatient stay, therapy was held two or three times per day, but now that he’s home and progressed to the point of walking with a cane, Mr. Howie said his therapy has been reduced to twice per week.

“I can’t believe how well they got me,” he said. “If you need therapy, this is the place to go.”

Given that Mr. and Mrs. Howie didn’t think he would ever come back home from his stay at RiverLedge, the thought of dancing together again was something that didn’t even cross their minds up until the day it happened.

“The thing I’m most proud of is being able to dance with my wife again,” Mr. Howie said. “It was a short dance, and a slow dance, but it meant the world to me. I never thought I would be able to do it again.”

Mrs. Howie agreed.

“I’ve always enjoyed dancing, but we both thought it was never going to happen again,” she said. “But it did, and it was amazing. They made a new man out of him.”

In addition to physical therapy and occupational therapy, RiverLedge staff also assisted Mr. Howie with diabetes management.

“Mr. Howie had many changes to his diabetes regimen while he was at RiverLedge,” said Kara Pharoah, who serves as the nurse manager in the Newell Neighborhood where Mr. Howie stayed. “Diabetes management is important for people with diabetes because it helps to keep their blood sugars within normal limits. When blood sugars are consistently high it leads to extended healing times, neuropathic pain, neuropathic organ failure and other serious conditions which can be life threatening.”

Ms. Pharoah said staff worked with Mr. Howie to show him ways to check his blood sugar, administer insulin, manage pain connected to diabetic neuropathy, check his feet and legs for symptoms of other complications and monitor symptoms of hypoglycemia.

When asked if he would recommend therapy at RiverLedge to others, Mr. Howie said without a doubt that he would, adding that if he ever ends up needing skilled nursing services he knows exactly where he wants to go.

“If I ever need permanent placement, this is where I want to go,” he said.

For more information on United Helpers Therapy Services contact RiverLedge in Ogdensburg at (315) 393-0730 or Maplewood in Canton at (315) 386-4541. Visit us online at www.unitedhelpers.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/unitedhelpers.