Administrator’s AccentsEstablished by the National Center for Assisted Living

(NCAL) in 1995, National Assisted Living Week® provides an opportunity for residents, their loved ones, staff, volunteers, and the surrounding communities to recognize the role of assisted living in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. This year, NALW will take place Sept. 13-19, 2020. The theme, “Caring is EssentiAL,” is more relevant today than in recent years and highlights the incredible care provided by essential caregivers in assisted living communities across the country. Heathwood is busy putting together a variety of activities for this week-long observance.

Personality ProfileWe recently requested

families share an accomplishment, talent or unknown detail about their dad in honor of Father’s Day. The results were unique, interesting, even comical! We hope you enjoy them as much as we did. Frank Suozzi used to sing Mona Lisa most mornings while getting ready for work. Fran Evans grew up on a farm in Illinois and earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Michigan State. When Sal Cardinale’s daughter said that he looked like a famous overweight Italian actor, he started jogging and eating healthy and today maintains a healthy weight. John Lent won many awards with his life-like bird carvings. Louie Galatioto used to listen to soccer games from Italy on shortwave radio, since no one played soccer in the U.S. Michael Justinger is an avid stamp and coin collector, and a person who loves puzzles. Thomas Rivers played the accordion. Ron Richey took his daughter on rides in the country and stopped at old abandoned houses and barns. They would enjoy walking through them and finding things. Cliff Jackson met and had his picture taken with Harry Belafonte and Gladys Knight. Anthony Frank was a great mechanic. When one of his kids graduated from high school, he would buy a used car and fix it up to make sure they had a good, safe and reliable car. John Knerr was a volunteer firefighter and president of Harris Hill Fire Hall for many years. During Joe Tillman’s 44 years as a truck driver, he saved two people’s lives. He pulled a man from a burning car and rescued a woman who had been assaulted and thrown from a car. Ken Amann has always been creative in coming up with solutions to fix things. Once he rigged a flashlight on his cane so he could see at night. Robert Bulger served in the Air Force and served in Morocco above a mountain as a radio operator. Finally, Larry Lubick is a sucker for fried bologna and onion sandwiches, turkey surprise and playing with dogs.

Heathwood EmphasisWe have been allowed to “reopen” and allow

visitors, but per NYSDOH, we are required to follow their protocols. These include allowing no more than 12 visitors each day, identifying visitor hours daily and limiting visits to 45 minutes to allow time for cleaning. All visits must be made by calling the front desk to make an appointment and are only allowed outside or at a designated area. Everyone must wear a mask, practice social distancing and wash their hands. We are excited to allow residents to see their loved ones once again and appreciate your partnership in managing this difficult situation. Happy visiting!

23 Residents attended this month’s meeting. Michele Ladouceur updated everyone regarding Heathewood’s actions pertaining to the coronavirus. Recently we returned to serving meals in the dining room. A memo will be going out with information regarding our revised visitation policy.

August 2020

Resident Recognition

WelcomeMary Novakowski

Mark Wudyka Lawrence Graner

Robert O’Neill

Happy Birthday1st

Mary Benz

6thBarbara Bucci

7thJoseph Tillman

17thJean Lubick

20thEdwin Zon

22ndJeannette Travis

23rdPat McGahan

24thBetty Molnar

26thJoyce Lisman

27thMary Novakowski

29thKen Amann

Antonina Rindenello

Resident Council Review

Michele A. Ladouceur, Administrator

Music by Michael Dennehy in our backyard

Carla Suero, President

Wellness Corner A schedule of activities that meets

the criteria of social distancing has proven to be a formidable challenge, and we have been doing our best to provide a variety of activities. We have been able to schedule some entertainers to perform outside in the beautiful backyard. We will continue this practice whenever the weather is cooperative. We have been in contact with our Volunteers, and they are anxious to return and extend their best wishes to all of you.

The lung’s main functions are to get oxygen into the body and to remove carbon dioxide. We need oxygen to work properly. Aging changes in your body affect your lungs. Bones become thinner and change shape. This can change the shape of your rib cage. As a result, your ribs cannot expand and contract as well during breathing. The muscle that supports your breathing, the diaphragm, becomes weakened. As a result of these changes, older people are at risk for infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, shortness of breath, low oxygen levels and abnormal breathing patterns, resulting in problems such as sleep apnea. To decrease the effects of aging on the lungs, do not smoke. Do physical exercise to improve lung function. Get up and move. Lying in bed or sitting for long periods allows mucus to collect in the lungs. This puts you at risk of lung infections.

Our “Most Accurate” walker slingshotter Pat

Jennie was our longest “walker slingshotter”!

health cornerAugust 2020

Healthy LivingStaff

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday!8th

Shannon McCarty11th

Fantasia Edwards13th

Latoya Anderson Husna Raheem

14thCiera McDow

16thLeonna Caudle Shatia McDade

29thDella Sawyer

Happy Anniversary!32 years

Della Sawyer16 years

Sandra Peterson6 years

Precious Moore Daniel Young

2 yearsMadeylnn Arquette

Husna Raheem1 year

Anthony Consola

staff spotlightAUGUST 2020

Employee ProfileA recent addition

to Heathwood’s staff is Betsy Rinker, who works as Administrative Receptionist. Betsy has lived in Alden since March 2020 after moving back from Deland, Fla., where she lived for 21 years. She was born and raised in Alden. She enjoys spending time with her family. She has worked in the clerical field for over 30 years. Her fondest childhood memories involves going for Sunday drives with her family to random unknown destinations and camping at Darien State Park was always fun. Recently, Betsy and her siblings hosted a 50th Anniversary Party for their parents and it was a huge surprise for them. When not at work, Betsy likes to read and do crafts. She says that it relaxes her and takes her mind off the real world. Meeting new people and interacting with the residents is what Betsy enjoys most about working at Heathwood. She claims that she is an open book; guess time will tell. So far, she seems to be a good fit and a welcomed addition to the Heathwood Family.

Betsy Rinker

health corner staff spotlight