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Director or Respiratory Therapy: Jean Labidou, RRT/NPS

This week as part of our Getting-to-Know-You series, we would like to introduce you to Jean Labidou, RRT/NPS, Adira’s Director of Respiratory Therapy. Jean is the lead clinician on our critically acclaimed Vent Unit and he brings three decades of healthcare experience with him.
Prior to joining this facility three years ago, Jean worked as the Assistant Director of Respiratory Care at St. John’s Hospital and has experience with all across the spectrum, from infants to the elderly. He then moved on to become the Assistant Director of Respiratory Care at this facility when it was called Michel Molotz. However, once the new owners took over, and it became Adira at Riverside, Jean was promoted to Director of Respiratory Care.
Many changes have taken place since the new owners took over in 2016, not the least of which is the 5 Star status from CMS.GOV. When I asked Jean what improvements he’s noticed first hand, he said, “There’s been more volume, more residents with ventilators and those using non-invasive ventilation. We also are much better equipped. The supplies are very accessible now. We get everything we need for patient care.”
Jean went on to say, “The care that respiratory therapy provides here is second to none. I would also say that we have a lot of professionals working here. Clinically we are all astute and there’s a lot of experience here…a tremendous amount of experience.”
When asked what he enjoys best about working at Adira, he responded, “I enjoy relating to the residents and the family members and staff members of course.”
As for why he has chosen to work in senior care….” Well, we’re all going that way!”
When you come to Adira, be sure to come by and say hello to Jean.

 

Director of Rehabilitation: Phillip Rallis

In this week’s installment of our Getting to Know You Series, we would like you to meet our Director of Rehabilitation, Phillip Rallis.

 Phillip received his B.S. in Occupational Therapy in 2001 from CUNY York College. He went on to work in several different settings, including ten years with V.N.S. Phil came here four years ago, when it was still Michael Malotz, so he’s seen a lot of changes, including the leap to making Adira at Riverside a 5 Star rated facility.

 Getting new equipment and the right supplies is no longer a struggle, thanks to the new ownership and management. He sees firsthand that patient care is the top priority.  “They’ve gone above and beyond what I expected. Eric, our administrator, is much more involved and he has a pulse of the whole facility…They (Malotz) had 2.5 stars and now we (Adira) have 5 stars. They’re always striving to make it better.”

 As the Director of Rehab, Phil assures our facility is properly staffed and supplied so that our patients and residents receive the best care possible. He loves working with the seniors and hearing about their lives and where they come from. “If you take the time to talk to them, there’s so much there. You get a lot of good advice from them too because they’ve been through everything.”

 FUN FACT: After selling his two restaurant businesses in NYC, Phillip was uncertain what his next steps would be. His sister in law, who works as an occupational therapist, suggested he come to the hospital with her to check it out and from that day on, he was hooked.

Director of Maintenance: John Borelli

This week, as part of our Getting to Know You series, we would like you to meet our Director of Maintenance, John Borelli.

As a lifelong resident of Yonkers, John shares many common memories with our older residents. Whether it’s taking a moment to reminisce about a diner from days gone by or recalling the Yonkers of yesterday, John adds that extra personal touch to life at Adira.

Administrator Eric Fischbein and John Borelli during John’s birthday celebration at Adira.

1. I hear that you’ve been with the facility since the transition?

I came in 2001 when it was Michael Molotz. I just completed 20 years at St. John’s Hospital in the maintenance department. I was an electrician there and here, I’m no-frills general maintenance mechanic.

2. What changes have you seen since Adira took ownership?

I’ve seen actual improvements in the building. The new administration is trying to give the building a more appealing look. I see a change in the way the residents are cared for…a good change. Our administrator is incredible. Eric has literally tucked his tie in and rolled his sleeves up and worked side by side with me. I’ve never seen that before.  And a lot of recognition which not something I’m accustomed to. The change has been wonderful.

3. What do you like best about working with the senior community?

I get to take my years of experience and try to comfort people, keep them content in their environment. This is their home. I have a love of working here. I take great pride in it and it’s important to me to do a good job.

4. Happy Birthday! It was this week and it looks like there was a celebration.

Yes! I turned 61. I started at St. John’s in 1981. I never thought I’d last in this profession…but two years came and went…I’m in it over 37 years now. In the beginning, I didn’t feel any allegiance but now it’s the complete opposite. I’m very dedicated to what I do. In some small way, maybe I’m making somebody feel more comfortable….we become their extended family.

5. If you could choose three words or phrases to describe Adira, what would you choose?

Local Community: Because everybody pretty comes from this area.

Excellent therapy.

Companionship.

 

Play Ball!

It may be snowing outside today but over the weekend we celebrated the official opening of major league baseball season. Our residents and patients love to watch a good ball game. As you can see from the pictures and video below, Eric, our administrator, is partial to games that include the New York Mets!

 

Televised sports programs, like MLB, can be a wonderful way to build friendships and be a part of community, especially while rehabilitating away from home.

All of us at Adira, look forward to cheering on our favorite teams over the coming months and providing our patients and residents with a fun, engaging community.

PLAY BALL!

March Employee of the Month: Dan Maloney

Each month at Adira, we select one of our hard working individuals to be recognized as Employee of the Month. We are lucky in that all of our staff is wonderful but we like to take the time to recognize those who go above and beyond.

This month we’ve selected Recreation Leader, Dan Maloney.

Dan has been working with our recreation department for eight months but has been working with seniors for over thirty years. His favorite activity is active games and he always carries activities in his trunk–we love a man who is prepared!

Helen O’Brien, the Director of Volunteer & Recreation services, said it best, ” Dan was chosen because, although he works part time, his presence is felt throughout the facility. He has a warm smile and a positive attitude that puts everyone at ease. Dan is a genuinely nice person, an exemplary employee and we are lucky to have him.”

Thank you, Dan for being a part of the Adira family!

 

100 Years and Counting

We have a plethora of activities that take place every week here at Adira at Riverside but our favorite events are those that celebrate our residents.

Residents like Gladys Ricketts who recently turned 100 years young!

We celebrate all of our patient and resident birthdays with monthly parties but milestones of this magnitude call for an extra special shout out.

Gladys came to our facility in 2015 and has been a vibrant member of the community ever since. We know that she enjoys helping others, loves a good cup of coffee (or two) and she really loves dancing. However, with one hundred years of life under her belt, there is obviously more to Gladys’ story.

I had an opportunity to speak with Rev. Hynes, Gladys’ guardian and one of the ministers at the Church of God in Yonkers, where Gladys has been an active parishioner for many years. He gave us a look at more of Gladys’ story.

Gladys was born on December 24, 1917, in Jamaica, West Indes and immigrated to the United States in the early 1960’s. Over the years, she became a U.S. Citizen and spent decades working in the healthcare field as a Certified Nursing Assistant. As a retiree and widow of Christian faith, she remained a dedicated and active member of the Church of God in Yonkers, serving in many offices of the church. In addition to being church secretary, she sang in the choir and was a devoted prayer group leader.

We were lucky to celebrate her 100th birthday with her but we weren’t the only ones.

On December 23rd, along with a dozen friends from her church, Gladys was awarded a proclamation from the City of Yonkers Mayor’s office.

Congratulations, Gladys! We are lucky to have you with us and look forward to celebrating 101!

 

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Retirement Outside the Box

If you were to walk the halls of Adira at Riverside Rehabilitation on any given Tuesday, you would likely see the smiling face of Tony Martelli. Given the pep in his step and the warm welcome, you might mistake him for the family member of a patient, an administrator or even a member of the nursing staff. It would be an understandable assumption given his friendly, welcome to our home demeanor but he falls into none of those categories.

 

Tony is Adira’s most dedicated volunteer.

 

Adira may not be Tony’s home but he considers it a home away from home and has volunteered here every week for the past several years. When I asked why he chose to dedicate so much of his precious retirement time to volunteering, his answer was rooted in personal experience. Both of Tony’s parents spent their last days in nursing homes and, to put it simply, Tony wanted to give back.

 

A Yonkers resident for 42 of his 64 years, Tony is a retired Teamster and Labor Supervisor with the Yonkers Sanitation Department. Although, calling him ‘retired’ seems like a misnomer. In addition to volunteering at Adira, he works at Costco three days a week and is heavily involved with the Holy Name Men’s Society at St. Bartholomew’s church, his local parish. No moss grows here. Tony is more active than many non-retired individuals.

 

When asked what he enjoys the most when volunteering at Adira, he said, “Spending time one on one with the residents…. In fact, there are four people I have to call when I go on vacation. I get the international plan!”

 

If he’s not giving his friends one on one attention or making them laugh with his stories, he participates in many of the activities that Adira provides our residents. In addition to music, the balloon/ball toss is his favorite because sometimes he likes to sneak in a second balloon to keep things interesting. “I like to go outside the box.”

 

The positive impact Tony has at Adira is evident in the warm welcome he receives from the residents, patients, and staff. His energy, smile, and dedication are infectious. However, Tony admits that it benefits him too and he’s not alone. According to a report from the Corporation for National Community Service, older Americans who volunteer, frequently live longer and report less disability.

 

Tony sees his time spent with the patients as not only helpful for them but also for their families. Many people are unable to visit their loved ones as often as they would like and knowing that people like Tony spend time with them is a priceless comfort. A staunch Catholic, Tony makes it a point to attend the wake of any resident he has befriended and the hugs he gives out at Adira, are shared there as well.

 

When Tony isn’t engaged in one of his many “retirement” activities, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife of 39 years, Ann Marie, and his beautiful daughter, Laura Ann.

 

 

While Tony has received many honors and recognitions during his career, his is most proud of the Home Town Hero Award which was given to him by the City of Yonkers, naming August 3rd Tony Martelli Day.

 

Tony may be a City of Yonkers Home Town Hero but he is a hero to many at Adira as well.

 

If you’d like to join Tony and volunteer at Adira or at our sister facility, Sprain Brook Manor Rehab, please email Sara Humphreys, Director of Marketing and Communications at shumphreys.sprainbrook@gmail.com or call 914-721-3954.

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