NBT Bank Serves as Lead Sponsor for Party With a Purpose

OGDENSBURG - Recently, representatives from NBT Bank in northern New York presented United Helpers with a generous gift for NBT Bank’s Lead Sponsorship of United Helpers’ Party with a Purpose, to take place in Potsdam on Feb. 28, 2019. From left, NBT Bank Vice President and Retail Market Manager Dallas P. Sutton, NBT Banks Ogdensburg Branch Manager Craig Chevalier, United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll, and NBT Bank Vice President and Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Heather A. Couture. United Helpers’ Party with a Purpose can still accept online reservations via www.unitedhelpers.org/calendar.

Welcome New Hires

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

RiverLedge

Natalie Boland - Task Aide
Christopher Cole - Task Aide
Hailey LaRock - Task Aide
Angel Miller - Task Aide
Tyler Raso - Task Aide

Maplewood

Tiffany Carr - QI Assistant
Kendall DeSantis - Food Service Attendant
Alexa Luther - Food Service Attendant
Cassidy Rubin - Cook

United Helpers Management Company

Shannon Boprey - Maintenance II
Robert Curtis - Maintenance II

Mosaic

Shauna Sears - QA Assistant 

McIntyre Road IRA

Gary Lutz - DSP

Pleasant Valley IRA

Dakota Henry-Simpson - DSP

 Potsdam Day Hab

Angela Orologio - DSP

Spruce Street IRA

Wendy Baker - Assistant Program Leader

Rensselaer Falls IRA

Gabriel Latimer - DSP

Lisbon IRA

Crystal Richer - DSP

Flackville Road IRA

Lynsey Parody - DSP

Irish Settlement Road IRA

Ashley Parks - DSP 

Stroke Recovery Support Groups in Canton & Ogdensburg

Second Thursday of each month

CANTON – United Helpers will be hosting a stroke recovery support group at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton at 6 p.m. The group is free for all stroke patients and/or their caregivers. Topics will vary from month to month and some meetings will include a guest speaker. The group is led by Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist Stacie Jessmer. For more information, please contact Mrs. Jessmer at smjessmer@unitedhelpers.org or (315) 386-4541 ext. 3341.

Third Tuesday of each month

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers will be hosting a stroke recovery support group at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg at 6 p.m. The group is free for all stroke patients and/or their caregivers. Topics will vary from month to month and some meetings will include a guest speaker. The group is led by Certified Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist Alycia Dezell. For more information, please contact Ms. Dezell at amdezell@unitedhelpers.org or (315) 393-0730 ext. 2432.

United Helpers Offering Defensive Driving Course

OGDENSBURG – United Helpers will be hosting a New York DMV approved National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 in the Staff Development Training Room at the Mosaic Complex, 100 Ford St.

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 $30, payable in cash, check or money order made out to United Helpers Care, Inc.

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.

Free Skating Event Feb. 16

Pinkerton Wraps Up Rehab, Resumes Baseball Career

OGDENSBURG – After just over three months of physical therapy at RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg, Seth Pinkerton has returned to Fort Meyers, Florida to prepare for spring training with the Minnesota Twins organization.

Seth Pinkerton

Mr. Pinkerton was drafted by the Twins in the 2018 Major League Baseball Amateur draft, beginning his career last spring. However, his first season of professional ball came to an abrupt halt when he suffered a serious injury while fielding a ball hit back to him. 

“I ended up with a grade two MCL and LCL sprain, as well as a complete tear of both my medial and lateral menisci and a complete tear of my ACL,” he said, noting his injury was so severe that Dr. James Andrews “had to go fishing” in order to find his meniscus while trying to repair his leg.

Prior to departing for Florida, Mr. Pinkerton agreed to discuss his rehabilitation and experience at RiverLedge.

“When I first came in I had two crutches. Then I was using one crutch and eventually a cane. Now I’m able to walk and even run on my own,” he said.

The focus on rehabilitating his leg though did take a toll on his preparations for the season, but Mr. Pinkerton said he’s confident that when the season starts he’ll be ready to go.

“I’m not 100% pitching-wise, there’s still two months left on the time frame I was given for that, but I am ready to get down there and resume my baseball career,” he said.

United Helpers Physical Therapist Brett Amo has been working with Mr. Pinkerton and the two have developed a relationship that has helped make his recovery easier than it could have been.

“Brett and I are both competitive and he has really pushed me the extra little bit that has helped my therapy be so successful,” he said. Also adding to the mix is Seth’s sister, Kelsey, who is also recovering from a torn ACL and doing physical therapy with Mr. Amo.

 “We’re all pretty competitive, so we’ve been pushing each other too,” he said. “The whole process has been great and Brett has helped me, both physically and mentally. It’s been encouraging to see my progress.”

Mr. Amo said Mr. Pinkerton’s success is a result of his hard work and an eagerness to come back even stronger than he was before the injury.

“He has done extremely well,” Mr. Amo said. “He has consistently been ahead of where his doctors expected him to be. That’s a testament to his hard work and dedication.”

Prior to wrapping up his time at Riveredge, Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Amo had a FaceTime conversation with Dr. Andrews where they discussed Mr. Pinkerton’s therapy and his path to recover.

“He has been very pleased with my progress and everything Brett has done,” Mr. Pinkerton said.

Dr. Andrews is a world-renowned orthopedic surgeon, who is best known for his work with Major League Baseball pitchers, including the likes of Mariano Rivera and Roger Clemens. He has also operated on other legends in the world of sports like Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, and Peyton Manning among others.

Also pleased with Mr. Pinkerton’s therapy was the Minnesota Twins training staff and team doctor. Mr. Amo said he received a text message from Mr. Pinkerton following his initial meeting with the team’s medical staff.

“They said that everything looks great and they’re impressed with how much strength and size I’ve gained back in my leg since my surgery,” Mr. Pinkerton wrote.

For more information on therapy services at RiverLedge in Ogdensburg, contact (315) 393-0730. For more information on therapy services at Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Canton, contact (315) 386-4541. You may also like United Helpers on Facebook or visit www.unitedhelpers.org.

Welcome New Hires

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

RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center
Ian Bailey - CNA

Faith Compo - CNA

Eden Lowery - Task Aide

Sabrina Castro - RN

Chelsie Brenno - Physical Therapy Assistant

Maplewood Health Care & Rehabilitation Ceter

Gaile Wilson - RN

Krista Bickford - Food Service Attendant

Tonya Parmeter - Task Aide

Elizabeth Payne - Task Aide

United Helpers Home Health Services

Heather Kazek - Home Health Aide

United Helpers Mosaic

Brianna Pallas - Speech Language Pathologist

Behavioral Health Clinic

Brandy Baillargeon - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Lisbon IRA

Skye Sharp - DSP

Irish Settlement Road IRA

Anna Lenga - RN Nurse Manager