Enjoy A Cozy Night In!

It may be the shortest day of the year, but we’ve listed all the coziest Christmas Episodes to warm your night!

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Recognizing Our Housekeeping at Traditions

There are so many people who make it possible for us to care for our residents, primarily through a challenging year like this one.

And because we know it takes a team to make it happen, we’d like to recognize the housekeepers who have gone above and beyond expectations this year. This special group of people has been instrumental in supporting our team and caring for our residents.

Please join us in congratulating the following team members for their hard work, commitment, and recognition.

Dana Fritts and Debbie Belbeck
Traditions at Beavercreek

We could easily nominate them individually for their outstanding work, but picking one from this Dynamic Duo would be like choosing a favorite child—it simply can’t be done.

This team goes above and beyond in whatever is asked of them to help us with the best presentation of our community. Our residents love and trust Dana and Debbie. Both deliver what is important vs. necessary in their daily tasks to make every day a better day for our residents.

Dana and Debbie involve our residents in their housekeeping and anticipate what their needs will be in their service, exceeding expectations. With the expansion from 12 Garden Homes to 48 Garden Homes since opening in 2017, we have put a lot of additional work on this Dynamic Duo’s plate, and without hesitation, they step up to the plate and deliver a home run. Dana and Debbie far exceed any expectations by making our residents’ new homes feel warm and welcoming.

Rosalina Rodriguez
Traditions at Brookside

We are honored to nominate Rosalina Rodriguez as our housekeeper who goes above and beyond. Words cannot explain how great Rosa is in her role. Traditions at Brookside is honored to have her as an employee.

Rosa is a very dedicated employee, in everything she does. She is always pleasant with our residents and a great team player, doing everything with a smile, even cleaning big messes without question or complaint. Her upbeat personality and willingness to help makes her a super special person.

Benita Sanogo
Highgrove at Tates Creek

We would like to take the time to introduce everyone to our excellent Queen of Clean, Benita Sanogo. Benita has been part of the HG family since September 2018. While her nametag says ‘housekeeper,’ Benita is always willing to pitch in and help with any department. She has been known to help give a shower, help on the floor if needed or help to serve cocktails for happy hour. Just today, I walked up from memory care and Benita was leading our chair yoga class: )

The residents and her co-workers love her. She is quick to give hugs to our residents or staff when people are feeling down. Benita is always on time and will work over if she is needed. A true team player and we couldn’t ask for more.

Beth Burris
Traditions at Reagan Park

Beth has worked at Traditions at Reagan Park for six years this month. In that time, she has proven to be a dedicated employee by demonstrating a strong work ethic. Beth quietly completes her work and is often complimented by the residents for her service. Most recently a resident complimented Beth by saying ‘she does a nice job of keeping my home clean, but most importantly, I trust her.’

This month is Beth’s anniversary with Traditions, so what a perfect time to recognize her. Thank you, Beth, for your commitment to the residents of Reagan Park.

Iasia Johnson
Traditions at Solana

Iasia has only been employed with us for a few months but has become the most significant member of our housekeeping team. She owns a hospital/healthcare personality and works at getting the job done in a fixed timeframe. She is a very hardworking housekeeper.

Iasia has a natural capacity to carry out all of her tasks carefully and vigilantly. She is a committed person who is keen to follow directions from her supervisor and always ready to improve herself. I guarantee that she will be a perfect choice for someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty for our residents.

Connie Psomas
Apple Blossom Senior Living

Connie has been with us from the beginning and is an integral part of our team. Reliability and dependability define Connie’s work ethic. Apple Blossom residents all appreciate Connie’s work and attention to detail. She always has a friendly smile and warm greeting.

We are pleased to recognize Connie for her dedication to Apple Blossom residents and staff.

Helen Hubbard
Traditions at Beaumont

We would like to recognize Helen Hubbard for her outstanding performance as a housekeeper here at our community.

First and foremost, Helen is a team player. She continually demonstrates initiative and rarely needs supervision. She has demonstrated that she has the knowledge and ability to complete her job in a timely manner, exemplary fashion and is always willing and available to help when she is asked to perform additional tasks. The quality of her work is always praiseworthy, and she truly cares about the welfare of our residents and their living conditions. Our residents and staff feel blessed and honored to have Helen as part of our Traditions community.

Sherry Frazier
Northbend Senior Living

Sherry has such a warm and caring spirit, which shows in everything she does. She is always in a great mood and exudes positivity. She was the only housekeeper here when we opened, but even with all that pressure on her shoulders, she always puts her heart and soul into everything she did. I was impressed with her almost immediately, but after I received compliments on top of compliments from both residents and family members, I knew my first impression was correct.

Sherry received a thank you card from one of the family members because of how she went above and beyond to make a last-minute move happen seamlessly. This family member closed her letter with ‘Traditions is lucky to have your expertise regarding warmth and kindness. I feel confident mom will benefit as well,’ and we couldn’t agree more! Sherry is not only an exceptional housekeeper, she’s a fantastic human, and we are more than lucky to have her on our team!

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Recognizing Our Front-Line Employees at Traditions

It was our pleasure this summer to honor the winners of the COVID Front Line Recognition Award, sponsored by MHA/Navigator and created to honor two front-line individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond in providing extraordinary care to our residents. Thank you to the Park Place Memory Care Team and caregiver, Kamari Claybrook of Reagan Park for exemplifying grace under pressure.

We also wanted to take a moment to recognize all of our nominees, who have been instrumental in supporting our teams and caring for our residents through a challenging time.

Please join us in congratulating the following nominees for their hard work and recognition.

Gwen Lewis
Traditions at Brookside

Proudly nominated for the COVID Front Line Recognition Award. Gwen has worked at Traditions at Brookside as a CAN for three years. She takes extra time to talk and connect with the residents and makes sure they not only feel good but also look good. Protecting our residents’ health and safety is Gwen’s number one priority.

Intanique Paysinger
Traditions at Reagan Park

Indi has been a nurse with Reagan Park for several years. She was extremely crucial in maintaining a calm presence during COVID. She works primarily as a first-shift LPN but has picked up many extra hours and is diligent about monitoring symptoms and communicating that information. She is selfless and exemplifies the meaning of a frontline hero.

Andrew Ardapple
Traditions at Reagan Park

From day one of COVID, Andrew was my right-hand man. He was there with me every single day for 40 days straight to make sure we had a strong management presence in the building during a time of uncertainty. Many of the changes we had to make drastically affected our dining service. We relied heavily on Andrew to amend and be creative with how we would serve residents three meals a day in their apartments. He is the first one to spring into action, even helping in other departments. He is a selfless and take-action type of employee.

Lerin Wells and Iris Gibbons
North Bend Senior Living

Lerin and Iris are sisters who came on board with Traditions at North Bend when we opened in June. They continued to work and provide care to our residents while providing care for their mother, who became ill with cancer and passed away recently. They both bring such a positive attitude to work each day, despite the hardship they have gone through.

Taneka Mollenkopf
Apple Blossom Senior Living

Taneka is a Resident Assistant in our Memory Care Neighborhood who has a gift for treating our residents as her family. Working with those who suffer from memory care diseases can be challenging, and Taneka does it with sincere concern and humor. Our residents love her and she loves them!

Taneka has not turned down one request to work overtime or come in on her days off to cover other shifts. What is more impressive is that Taneka has five children at home, all boys!! Her cool demeanor has a calming effect on those around her, which is especially important in the Memory Care Neighborhood. We are proud to have Taneka on our team and truly thank her for all that she does every day.

Donna Anderson
Traditions at North Willow

Donna goes above and beyond daily, but she has been an amazing warrior during this pandemic. She never lets anyone pass that front desk without knowing who they are, why they are here and screening them properly. Even when she has to be tough, she has a smile on her face. She is here every day and has been willing to step in to do anything she can to help us through this time, including staying late and coming in on weekends to help with patio visits, etc. She is always gently reminding our residents to put on their masks and doing her best to keep everyone safe and healthy.

North Willow is blessed to have Donna and a fantastic team who should all be nominated!

Carol Cook
Traditions at Hunter Station

Carol was recently profiled in The News and Tribune’s Unsung Heroes edition for going above and beyond to help the residents of Hunter Station. When Covid-19 hit, Carol recognized that she could step up to help in this time of need. She sewed more than 100 masks for staff and residents, as well as up to 500 for the community. Carol also began styling residents’ hair every other weekend, and another staff member joined her to paint nails. She isn’t a beautician, but it was something she could do to lift their moods.

Says Heather Satterfield, community relations director, Carol brings the ‘glow and comfort’ to Hunter Station. “She takes the time to sit down and listen to residents and talk with them. She is that person we can all go to—staff, residents, and even family members.”

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Traditions Centenarians

SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 -  Today marks the day that Traditions communities celebrate our remarkable Centenarians, residents who have reached the age of 100 years or older. According to the U.S. Census, in 2019, there were approximately 72,000 centenarians in the United States.

We are thrilled to have so many of these special elders in our presence and are grateful for their shared wisdom and life experiences. If you have a story and/or photos to share on social media, about a centenarian at one of our Traditions communities, please tag it with #TraditionsCentenarians.

It is with great joy that we introduce our Centenarians:

Pharaba Bell (102)
Park Place Senior Living

Pharaba Bell was born on November 28, 1917 to Roscoe and Helen Rosenbarger  of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She married Melvin Bell on March 1, 1941 and had two children. Pharaba was a self-employed craftsperson for 30 years.

Betty Blage (99)
Park Place Senior Living

Betty was born on June 14, 1921 to Frank and Margaret Lauro of Staten Island, New York. Betty attended Pace College in New York and later became a secretary and personal assistant. She has two children. Betty is a member of National Audubon Society and has always loved to bowl.

Mattie Lou Brunner (100)
Park Place Senior Living

Mattie Lou Brunner was born September 23, 1919 to Fred and Nobella Coats of Shelbyville, Tennessee. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana when she started grade school where she learned and loved to play the violin. Mattie Lou married Norman Brunner, April 26, 1941, was a housewife on the farm and mother to two boys.

Mattie Lou loves gardening and word searches.

Louise Hoch (100)
Park Place Senior Living

Louise Hoch was born September 1, 1920 to Albert and Stella Derheimer of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She married her husband, Edward on December 4, 1940 and was a housewife and mother to six children. They loved spending time together at their lake house in Auburn, Indiana.

Pauline Rekeweg (99)
Park Place Senior Living

Pauline Rekeweg was born December 28, 1920 to Carl and Ida Brinncks of Woodburn, Indiana. She married her husband, Herbert on September 21, 1940 and was the mother of one boy and two girls and housewife on the farm.

Pauline enjoys spending time with her family, playing euchre and bingo.

Louise Spieth (99)
Park Place Senior Living

Louise Caroline Amanda Clara Spieth was born on July 20, 1921 to Herman and Barbara Kruckelberg of Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was named after her baptismal sponsors. Louise married her husband, Buss on November 7, 1940 and they had four children together.

Louise loves to play euchre and bingo.

William Brint (102)
Traditions at Brookside

Warren grew up 70 miles from Memphis, TN on a cotton, corn and watermelon farm that has been in his family since the Civil War. He went to Memphis State University and majored in chemistry, math and history, married the love of his life and had two daughters, Marty and Phyllis. Warren completed his degree and became the chief chemist for manufacturing plants throughout the Midwest. He retired from DuPont in Fortville, Indiana in 1982.

When asked about his career, William said he realized early on that he could learn from others’ experiences, regardless of their backgrounds.

Jeanette Cohen (103)
Traditions at North Willow

Jeanette was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She graduated 8^th grade at the age of 11 and high school at the age of 15. She is very proud that the same year she bought her first car, a Ford Rumble Seat for just $50. Jeanette went on to become a secretary, a job she absolutely loved and met her husband, a pharmacist shortly after. Together they opened a mom-and-pop pharmacy in Bridgeport.

Jeanette has a daughter, Marlene, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She spends her days playing Rummikub and relaxing.

Miriam Werner (99)
Traditions at North Willow

Miriam ‘Mimi’ Werner is 99 going on 25! She was born in Indianapolis along with her five siblings and has always been a practical joker. Growing up, Mimi loved to go to the movies and get lunch with her friends. After graduating from Magnolia High School, Mimi went on to be a secretary for ‘many, many’ years. She raised two daughters with her husband, and moved to Florida for seven years before returning to her stomping grounds.

Thank you for always making us laugh, Mimi.

Ray Hacker (99)
Traditions of Beavercreek

Ray was born in Manchester, Kentucky on February 21, 1921 and is the youngest of six children, three girls and three boys.  He served in Berlin during WWII as a PFC in the 8^th Division, 28^th Infantry. Ray married his wife Gertrude on October 1, 1947.

Ray attributes his longevity and good health to the winter of ’44, when he didn’t see the inside of a house out in the field and had to find his way across four rivers. The war had such an impact on him and was one of the most remarkable events in his lifetime. Ray has never been sick and doesn’t take medication, something he believes has been important to his long life.

Ray and Gertrude have lived with us since 2018.

Hazel Hatten (101)
Traditions of Beavercreek

Hazel was born on December 29, 1918 in Branchland, West Virginia and was the fifth of 10 children. She was married to her husband, James for 50 years and worked as a housekeeper during the Depression until her sister got her a job at a paper mill, where she worked for 40 years. She marvels at America’s prosperity and growth and said one of the most important inventions during her lifetime was the TV, the ‘picture show’ right in your own home.

Hazel and her baby sister, Lois, moved to Beavercreek in 2017. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she said “God’s grace. The Lord sees fit to keep me here.” Her advice to young people? “Live a respectable life and trust God for your welfare.”

Florence Hackman (101)
Traditions of Deerfield

Florence ‘Flo’ Hackman will be 102 years old on December 16, 2020. She is of German heritage and has great will and determination to keep going and to stay active. Flo was married to her husband, Joe, for 71 years and had two children, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great, great-grandchildren.

Flo enjoys participating in activities and really enjoys playing organ music, bingo, exercise classes, craft activities, and going on outings. She also enjoys good food, especially pink wine!

Flo is the only one remaining of her siblings, but she and the rest of her family are very close. Her great grandson, Ryan is a nurse at our community.

William Hendey (101)
Middleton Senior Living

William was born on August 26, 1919, to William and Jane Hendey of Bloomfield, New Jersey. He was the youngest of three children and had two older sisters, Pearl and Ruth.  He grew up loving sports, watching Fordham, NYU, and Manhattan college football, playing neighborhood baseball, lettering in track and field as a broad jumper, and playing in the town recreation basketball league. William joined the Navy in 1942 after Pearl Harbor. His most impressive claim to fame? Bing Crosby picked William up while hitching a ride to Hollywood and chatted him up on his way to none other than Bob Hope’s place.

William was shipped out to the Philippines in 1945 where he copied code messages. After the war, he enrolled at Montclair State and got a job at Dumont. A few months after praying to the Blessed Mother to send him someone special, he met a girl named Margery Taylor. This year, they celebrated 73 years of marriage.

Their advice? Always have respect for one another.

Regina Kosmalski (102)
Traditions at Camargo

Regina Kosmalski was born on September 19, 1918 in Hamtramck, Michigan, to parents who immigrated from Poland. She cherishes memories of Christmas Eve Wigilia celebrations (a Polish tradition), when she and her sister Elsie would cook for weeks to prepare thousands of candies, cookies, pierogi and more for the party. She married Chester Kosmalski in 1940, and together, they raised four children in the Detroit area. Regina retired at 72 as President of the American Businesswomen’s Association. She has 12 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

“I never imagined I would live this long. I’m not just old, I’m old. God doesn’t want me yet. I must still have work to do here.” Regina’s advice to others? Spend as much time as possible with the people you love, because you never know how much time you have left. “My life has not been easy. I’ve been through many hardships and losses. I always keep going…what choice did I have? I learned how strong I was during my hardest times.”

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COVID-Related Questions Answered

Throughout most of 2020, Covid-19 has called a lot into question, especially when it relates to older Americans. One of the questions we’ve been hearing from seniors and their loved ones is whether they should consider a move to Assisted Living right now, or if it would be best to wait.

While the decision is highly personal, we believe there is a strong case for moving during COVID-19, especially when done thoughtfully and with planning. The benefits include regular screening, regular nutritious meals, swift detection, care and intervention in the event of an illness and safe and regular opportunities to socialize safely.

Read more about the ways we are safeguarding seniors’ health and well-being above all else, during a move and every day. >

Recognizing Our Sales Staff At Traditions

Traditions Management communities practice our core values daily to maximize the quality of life for our residents and provide the highest level of care and service. Our team members honor our values by recognizing important versus necessary actions, serving with dignity and building lasting and meaningful relationships with residents and families.

With these core attributes in mind, we proudly highlight the following members of our Traditions sales team who have been promoted from within.  Each of them focuses on being a trusted resource to potential residents and families at every stage of the decision-making process and creating a seamless, positive and personal move-in experience.

Congratulations Kelly Schwartz, Mandy Dryer, Davonna Saier, Kelsie Hulett, Max Kirby, Allison Brown, Stephanie Brannon and Kate Ford! We are grateful and blessed to work alongside you.

Kelly Schwartz
Community Relations Director/Middleton Senior Living

Kelly has been an LPN serving the geriatric population for more than 25 years. She has been awarded the Hospice of Central Ohio Compassionate Care Partner Award and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She began with Middleton first as a floor nurse, then was promoted over the last several years to Memory Care Director, Move-in Coordinator and, most recently, to Community Relations Director.

“I understand and empathize with families when they need to make difficult decisions. You have questions and often need reassurance that you are making the right choice. I am honored to be in the position to help families learn all of their options and ways we can support them and their loved one.”

Mandy Dryer
Move-in Coordinator/Highgrove at Tates Creek

Mandy is a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and is pursuing a degree in business at Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She began her career at Highgrove as a CNA and was promoted after a year to Move-in Coordinator.

“I think communication is one of the most important things when it comes to our residents and families being comfortable at Highgrove. It’s important to me that families are aware what is going on with their loved ones. I love being one more person they can count on.”

Davonna Saier
Executive Director/Ashton Grove Senior Living

Davonna earned her BA in Communications from Georgetown College and her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health. She serves on the Board of Directors for Women Leading Kentucky, the Lexington Forum and the Georgetown United Fine Arts Academy and is a graduate of Leadership Lexington. She has also co-chaired an Adult Children of Aging Parents support group for a large Lexington hospital and founded a geriatric care consulting business called Eldercare Ease.

“I began my career as a Patient Advocate for a large hospital and that’s when I realized I could make a difference for patients and families. I joined Traditions as a Community Relations Director at Highgrove at Tates Creek and was promoted to Executive Director at Ashton Grove Senior Living earlier this year. I consider it an honor to support seniors and their families in any way I can.”

Kelsie Hulett
Independent Living Director/Highgrove at Tates Creek

Kelsie graduated from Eastern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College and grew up in a neighborhood close to Highgrove. She began with Highgrove as a part-time receptionist and was promoted to Move-in Coordinator shortly after. She was recently promoted to the community’s first Independent Living Director role.

“I’ve traveled and lived in different places, but I’m always drawn back to my Kentucky home. I have been blessed with a caring heart, and am happy to encourage, uplift and bring joy to seniors as they take courageous steps to a better quality of life. Traditions has helped me every step of the way, giving me tools and resources to be successful, and for that I am forever grateful.”

Max Kirby
Independent Living Director/Middleton Senior Living

Max was born and raised in the Philippines where she earned her BA in Communications from the University of the Philippines and her MBA from the De La Salle University Graduate School of Business. She joined Middleton as a Community Relations Director and in 2017 was awarded the Honoring Excellence Award by the Ohio Assisted Living Association. She recently accepted the position of Independent Living Director.

“This is a close-knit community. And it’s a great honor to be introduced by residents and family members as a friend. We are here to make everyone feel welcome and special.”

Allison Brown
Community Relations Director/Traditions at North Willow

Allison is a graduate of IU Bloomington with a major in Healthcare Management and Policy, minor in Human Resource Management and she is a Licensed Residential Care Administrator. She was promoted earlier this year from Move-in Coordinator to Community Relations Director at North Willow.

“I am constantly interacting with residents and families—their feedback is what makes us better at our jobs. I know how important it is for residents to feel comfortable and well cared for. I am here to make sure the generations before us feel that care, love and respect.”

Stephanie Brannon
Executive Director/Traditions of Beavercreek

Stephanie was born and raised in Dayton where she graduated from Wright State University with a BA in Psychology. She was promoted this summer from Community Relations Director to Executive Director.

“I can truly empathize with families who visit Beavercreek and will do whatever I can to help them, whether they choose to live in our community or not. When we see someone struggling at home thrive in our community, surrounded by support and care, it feels good. And it gives their loved ones peace of mind.”

Kate Ford
Sales Specialist/Traditions Management

Kate has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education from Wright State University. She began with Traditions as a Community Relations Director, was promoted to Executive Director and earlier this year was promoted to the role of Sales Specialist.

“I decided I wanted to pursue a meaningful career, and Traditions took a shot with me back in 2017. I’m so thankful because this career path has provided fulfillment like none other. In this role, I have the opportunity to train and coach Community Relations Directors through the Sherpa sales process, a process I believe in wholeheartedly because I’ve seen how personalized and effective it can be. It’s great to see CRDs connect the dots when a resident moves in with us and their life improves dramatically.”

Recognizing Our Front-Line Employees at Traditions

We are proud to announce the winners of the COVID Front Line Recognition Award, sponsored by MHA/Navigator and created to honor two front-line individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond in providing extraordinary care to our residents.

Congratulations to the Park Place Memory Care Team and caregiver, Kamari Claybrook from Traditions at Reagan Park. Please take a moment to find out a bit more about our winners and join us in congratulating them on their hard work and recognition.

PARK PLACE MEMORY CARE TEAM

Nominated by Kristin Townsley, Executive Director
Park Place Senior Living

From the beginning of the pandemic, our staff has been exceptional in making sure our residents are social distancing. Our team goes above and beyond to make sure all the residents feel loved and cared for, and they take great pride in how the residents look and are cared for every day.

Even in light of ever-changing regulations or protocols, this team has handled themselves with grace and love, and never let frustration get the best of them amid daily changes.

I know we have the right team in place to ensure our residents are taken care of and that their health and safety are the top priority. Everyone continues to go above and beyond daily for our most vulnerable population. And for that, I will be forever grateful and proud. Thank you Park Place Memory Care Team!

KAMARI CLAYBROOK, CAREGIVER

Nominated by Angela Martinez, Executive Director
Traditions at Reagan Park

Kamari joined Reagan Park in June 2019 as a high school student. She has since graduated and recently started nursing school. She provides care to our residents who participate in our specialized Memory Care program, Varietas.

During the COVID pandemic, Kamari supported our community and residents by faithfully committing to her scheduled shifts, working overtime when needed, following all safety protocols, and demonstrating a willingness to do whatever is required for the greater good of the residents, team, and community.

Kamari truly knows each resident personally and she is invested in using this knowledge to provide the best in care. Through this pandemic, she has been able to support the residents on a deeper, more individualized level. She has become family to our residents, showering them with love and affection in the absence of their own family members.

When co-workers were asked to describe Kamari, two words often came up: calm and willing. Calmness during the storm and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get us through— are valuable attributes, especially at this time.

We are so proud to have Kamari on our team. She is a blessing to our residents and to all who know her.

Congratulations, once again, to our winners, who will be recognized for their achievements as part of a virtual celebration. They will also be awarded a $200 gift card to a Laundry’s restaurant of choice, as well as an award certificate commemorating this distinction.

Our thanks to MHA/Navigator for recognizing the sacrifice and service of our essential front-line team members.

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