Family Matters
April 2015 · Volume 10
www.njmasonic.org
Congratulations!
Congratulations are in order for several of our Masonic Home team members who have been recognized by
their respective professional associations.
Cindy receives award from
James Zauner, NJACHCA Awards
Chair
Our Assistant Executive Director and Administrator, Cindy
Shemansky, MEd, RN-BC, LNHA, FNGNA, CDP, received the New
Administrator Award from the New Jersey Chapter of the American
College of Health Care Administrators, (NJACHCA), at their annual
meeting on March 3, 2015. This award is given to an Administrator
that has been practicing for 5 years or less who characterizes
professionalism and leadership among his or her peers. Cindy has
been serving as our Administrator since June of 2012. Cindy began her
career working as a nursing assistant in our community while attending
nursing school. She has served in many positions at the Masonic Home
during the past 29 years and oversees the Keystone Center (skilled
nursing area) and Cedar Commons, (comprehensive personal care
home). An advocate for our residents, Cindy strives to ensure our
residents experience the highest quality of care and live their lives with
a high level of satisfaction.
Our Director of Nursing, Cheryl Rahilly, MSN, RN, has been selected as
the Director of Nursing of the Year by the New Jersey Association of
Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care, (NJADONA/LTC).
Cheryl began her career at our community in 2003 as a Charge Nurse on
our 11-7 shift. Cheryl had previously worked in acute care in various
management positions and decided to embark upon a new career
direction. Fortunately for us she chose our community! Cheryl has
served in the following roles in our community: Preceptor, Education
Instructor, Assistant Director of Nursing, and was promoted to Director
of Nursing for our Keystone Center in December 2007. As Director Of
Cheryl Rahilly
Nursing, Cheryl is passionate about providing quality care and services
to our residents.
Monica Diehl
Our Education Manager and Employee Health Nurse, Monica
Diehl, RN-BC, CHPC, has been selected as the Specialty R.N. of the
Year by the New Jersey Association of Directors of Nursing
Administration in Long Term Care. Monica brings a wealth of
clinical knowledge and expertise to our community having worked
in a variety of settings – homecare, hospice, long term care,
assisted living, and acute care. She began her career in our
community working first as a nursing assistant and nurse extern
while attending nursing school and then as a Charge Nurse
following graduation. In her role as Education Manager, Monica is
responsible for the training, education, and employee health for
500+ employees. She is enthusiastic about teaching and is very
dedicated to the long term care profession and care of the older
adults.
Both Cheryl and Monica will be receiving their respective awards at the NJADONA/LTC convention
in Atlantic City on April 20, 2015. Please be sure to congratulate all these Team Members when
you see them!
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April 2015 · Volume 10
Masonic Charity Foundation of NJ
CONTACTS:
Len Weiser, Jr.
Executive Director
Cindy Shemansky
Assistant Executive Director
Administrator Keystone Center
Cheryl Rahilly
Director of Nursing, Keystone
Center
Kathleen Leypoldt
Director of Cedar Commons
Yeong Bae
Hospice Administrator
In this Issue:
Team Recognition
1-2
Message from Executive Director
4
Compass Pointe
5
Upcoming Community Events
6
Community Photos
7
National Nursing Home Week
8
Rothamel Bratton Life Planning Event
9
Estate Planning Event - Masonic Charity Foundation
10
Alzheimer’s Support Group
11
St. Patty’s Day Photos
12
Wellness Center Grand Opening Photos
13
National Healthcare Decision Day
14
Interdisciplinary Care Team Meetings
15
Tammy George
Director of Activities
Karla Lippincott
Director of Administrative
Services
Linda Andress
Director of Community Relations
Chris Abbott
Director of Development Services
Andy Churney
Director of Facility Services
Patricia Grieco
Director of Finance
Sue Koneschusky
Director of Human Resources
Kevin Smyth
Director of Maintenance
Family Matters is a newsletter that is designed to keep families and significant
others abreast of important information and events happening at our Home. We
believe families truly matter. This publication is published quarterly.
Write to us anytime if you have questions or concerns on any topic. Send your email to: [email protected]
A link to
[email protected] can be found on our website homepage
www.njmasonic.org
Page 3
Tonya Costley-Stilts
Director of Resident Services
Lou Craig
Director of Environmental
Services
Dawna Sivills
Social Services Manager
April 2015 · Volume 10
A message from
Len Weiser, Jr.
Executive Director
Greetings Friends of the Masonic Home of NJ
Happy Spring!!
Spring time symbolizes new life and new beginnings!
There are so many new things happening at the Masonic Home of NJ and it's an exciting (and
busy!) time to be part of this amazing community!!
Just a few weeks ago, we opened up our final phase of our retirement living project. All 85
apartments are opened and we have we have welcomed over 25 new residents to our Compass
Pointe neighborhood. Our new wellness center (fitness center) will open to Compass Pointe
residents on Wednesday, April 1st (no kidding!). Once we "iron out the kinks" of operating a fitness
center, we will open up the gym to team members as well and residents of Cedar Commons as
well.
And while construction on retirement living has ended, construction has just begun on Cafe' 902
and the Cornerstone Restaurant. Thank you to all of you for your patience with this and for your
flexibility with moving cafe operations into the restaurant. We expect construction to end sometime
late summer. If you aren't aware, we moved the vending machines and some tables to the terrace
level outside of the Treasure Trove.
Plans are also underway for renovating the hair salons, adding a handicap accessible entryway to
the main entrance and renovating a former woodshop on the Terrace Level of Compass Pointe,
turning this space into a small movie theater and general purpose room.
I could go on and on, but alas, I only have a limited amount of space to write my article.
I have moved into my new office (in Compass Pointe) by the main entrance so please stop by and
say hello! If you can't stop by but need to talk with me, please feel free to leave me a message at
extension 3919 or email me at [email protected].
I look forward to seeing you around our community!
With warm regards,
Len Weiser
Executive Director
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January 2015 · Volume 9
Members of Boiling Spring Lodge #152
in Rutherford New Jersey assisted in
moving in new resident, Julia Donohue
into her new unit in Compass Pointe.
Braving snow and icy temperatures, the
Lodge members arrived at her door
step at 7:00 a.m. to pack the truck and
move her down the New Jersey
turnpike to the Masonic Home of New
Jersey. Julia’s husband was a 65 year
member of the Boiling Springs Lodge.
The lodge members helped Julia set up
her new home and enjoyed great
memories while making new ones.
Welcome Julia and a big “Thank You”
to the gentleman from Boiling Spring
Lodge.
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April 2015 · Volume 10
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
April 2nd – Maundy Thursday Service – Chapel - 7 p.m.
April 3rd – Good Friday Church Service – Chapel - 2 p.m.
April 7th – Burlington Entertainers – Chapel - 7 p.m.
April 9th – Resident Town Hall Meeting – Chapel - 2 p.m.
May 4th – Mariachi Band strolling throughout the community – 11a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
May 5th – The Laudate Chorale Group – Chapel - 7 p.m.
May 6th – Trip - Trenton Thunder Evening Baseball Game
May 7th – National Day of Prayer Service – Chapel - 2 p.m.
May 10th – Happy Mother’s Day
May 11th – Annual Prom at the Burlington County Institute of Technology High
School.
May 13th – The Missionettes from Fountain of Life Center – Chapel - 7 p.m.
May 14th – Town Hall Meeting – Chapel - 2 p.m.
June 4th – Outside Concert Front Patio – 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
June 10th – Pet Appreciation Night – Speaker/Refreshments
June 11th – Residents Town Hall Meeting – Chapel - 2 p.m.
June 18th – Outside Concert Front Patio – 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
June 21st – Happy Father’s Day
Page 6
April 2015 · Volume 10
Resident’s enjoying New Year’s celebration
Carla Mcelven at the Trenton Thunder baseball
game.
Betty Jenkins and Leonard Rudnicky enjoying
lunch out.
Wendy and Norman Mallluk at the prom.
Left: Marie Pezza, Mary Gerfin, and Robert Collier on
their way to the prom.
Page 7
January 2015 · Volume 9
May – Older Americans Month
National Nursing Home Week
May 10th through May 16th, 2015
This year’s theme is ―Bring on the Fiesta‖
Calling on everyone to strut their stuff this month. Special entertainment,
fun and food for all will focus on a time of “Familia, Vida and
Amor” (Family, Life, Love). This is a time to appreciate the importance of a
kind word, a personal touch, and being connected to the resident.
So, BRING ON THE FIESTA! Whoop it up! Enjoy the activities, the
comradery and the feelings engendered by Family, Life, Love. Step out of
your fast lane and have some old fashioned FUN!
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January 2015 · Volume 9
MAY 4, 2015
6PM – 7:30PM
Are you confused about
care options?
Do you have no children
or children who live out
of state?
Do you have an aging
family member who has
suffered a traumatic
INFORMATION
SHARING EVENT
SPEAKERS: ROTHAMEL BRATTON – ATTORNEYS
AT LAW
Come to hear how having a life care plan can provide assistance with
removing stress and empowering those who are caring for loved ones.
Charles Bratton and Anne Markel-Crozier will be speaking on what
their team can do to assist you and your family members “navigate
the complicated maze of information.” – Rothamel Bratton
injury?
Do you have a disability
causes mobility issues?
MASONIC HOME
OF NEW JERSEY
South New Orleans Rehab
Neighborhood
2nd floor
Light refreshments will be
served
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April 2015 · Volume 10
Masonic Charity foundation of NJ
Community Speaker Series
Estate Planning:
Plain & simple
Everyone should have an estate plan, since it’s one of the most effective ways to
safeguard your loved ones’ future. Your plan doesn’t have to be complex, but it
should be precise.
Learning the answers to these questions simplifies the estate planning process:
Why is an estate plan important?
What basic information is needed?
What estate planning documents are essential?
DATE: Wednesday, May 6, 2015
TIME: 10:00 am
LOCATION: West Hill Farm
ADDRESS: 1114 Oxmead Road, Burlington, NJ 08016
COST: Free
To attend, please RSVP by April 29 to (609) 239-3999
Page 10
April 2015 · Volume 10
You are not alone!
•
ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP
Help is available…
Experts believe that as many as 5 million Americans 65 or older may
have Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common of the dementias.
Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s carries physical, financial and
emotional costs.
Some people have found that participating in a support group is vital to
their own well-being.
The Masonic Home hosts a support group for friends and family of those caring
for or care for someone with this disease. Please feel free to come and share
or just listen. You are not alone!
Meetings are held at 2 p.m. on the last Sunday of the month in the months of
March, June, September and December.
If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to call Gene
Wallace, Social Worker, at 609-239-3848.
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April 2015 · Volume 10
Left: Claire McCarney and Jean Stackhouse. Center: Elsie Nyiri, Ruth Poole and Ann Hamilton. Right: Jean Krichovitz,
Tonya Costley-Stilts, Vernon Rodgers, and Virgil Keen
St. Patrick’s Day
Right: Nancy Phipps
and Vern McFarland.
apartment crawl
in Compass
Pointe; a fun way
to meet your
neighbors!
Left: Elsie Verner, Mary Merlo, and Phyllis Caparn. Right: Betty Jenkins, Leonard Rudnicky, Gloria Pinto and Ann Soley.
Page 12
April 2015 · Volume 10
GRAND OPENING
Wellness Center
Page 13
January2015 · Volume 9
Celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day by joining
Masonic Home of New Jersey
Thursday, April 16, 2015
10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Open to all residents, volunteers, staff and family.
Join us in the Conference Room on the first floor for valuable information
regarding advance care planning and advance directive forms.
Copies of ―5 Wishes‖ will be available.
Learn more about National Healthcare Decisions Day and get free information at
www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org
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April 2015 · Volume 10
Quarterly Phone
Meetings
The Interdisciplinary Care Team (IDC) is looking to improve communication between our
Keystone Center residents, our families and the team you have entrusted to care for your
loved ones. One of the ways we will be doing this is by having Quarterly Phone Meetings.
As you may be aware, each Keystone Center resident is already evaluated on an annual
basis. We encourage families to participate in this by attending a yearly meeting. The
Power of Attorney or family representative receives a letter each year inviting them to
attend this meeting. However, to further increase this dialogue, the IDC Team will now be
including our families in our quarterly reviews and will be calling this person every four
months to provide a quick update and to answer any questions or concerns. We anticipate
this to be a brief call done over a speaker phone where you will be able to ask questions of
representatives from nursing, activities, dietary and social services who will all be available
in the same room.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Social Worker on the
neighborhood in Keystone Center. We look forward to speaking with you!
Resident’s Have the Right...
Masonic Charity Foundation
We Prove We Care
To live in safe, decent, and clean conditions in the
Home. We will not admit more residents than we can
safely accommodate while providing adequate nursing
care.
902 Jacksonville Road
Burlington, New Jersey 08016
Phone: 609.239.3900
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.njmasonic.org
Email safety concerns to: [email protected]
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April 2015 · Volume 10