March 2022
Welcome to the Weinberg Campus newsletter, dedicated to sharing news
and information with employees, residents, families, and special friends.
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Message From The President |
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March is National Women’s History Month. I mention this because Weinberg Campus has a long history of honoring women. Weinberg was founded in 1915 as The Daughters of Israel Jewish Old Folks Home to meet a growing need for the care of Buffalo’s Jewish elderly. The organization’s name was changed to Rosa Coplon Jewish Home and Infirmary in 1924 when it moved to a city mansion donated by the three Coplon brothers, David, Joseph, and Philip. The brothers asked that the home be named in memory of their mother, Rosa. Since that time, Weinberg has grown from a “home and infirmary” located in a single building to an expansive campus offering a full range of services and living options for older individuals living in the Buffalo area. A key part of our continuum of care is the Rosa Coplon Living Center, to this day honoring Rosa Coplon and the generosity of her three sons. For more than a century, Weinberg Campus has met the needs of older women (and men) through the dedicated service of the women and men who have worked here.
Speaking of dedicated service, March is also National Nutrition Month and National Social Work Month. Weinberg Campus is well known for the full continuum of services we provide, conveniently located on one beautiful campus. And we are proud of the array of support services we provide for our residents and patients; nutrition and social work services among them. We employ and partner with nutritionists, dieticians, and social workers so we can meet the wide range of services our hundreds of residents and patients require and deserve. We go the extra mile to maximize the health and well-being of everyone who lives at Weinberg and comes to us for care. I want to recognize and thank all our professionals who help make this happen.
I also want to welcome the new employees who have joined us in the past several weeks. Like health care organizations across the country, Weinberg Campus has been facing a shortage of workers. By using new techniques to attract applicants, sponsoring hiring events, and promoting the benefits of joining the Weinberg Family, we have been able to hire increasing numbers of new employees. This allows us to continue to provide exceptional services for our residents and provide the staffing support our current employees need. I am pleased with the results of our efforts so far. Long-term care is an excellent field to work in. We get to know our residents and patients and we understand their needs, so the work can be rewarding. And people who work in the field are caring and dedicated individuals; they have big hearts. As you are going about your daily travels in the community, I encourage you to promote Weinberg Campus and the long-term care field. Becoming part of the Weinberg Family will be one of the best decisions a person could make.
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Weinberg Campus Plans for Bright Future |
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Since 1915 Weinberg Campus has been providing quality long-term care services to the Buffalo community. Over the years, Weinberg developed a highly regarded continuum of care on its spacious campus, offering a welcoming environment for older adults. In recent years, however, the operating environment for long-term care providers, nationally and in New York State, was becoming increasingly difficult. As a result, in 2017 Weinberg reached an agreement with Post Acute Partners, Inc., for the sale of our main campus on North Forest Road.
I am writing to confirm that the sale agreement between Weinberg Campus and Post Acute Partners was terminated on February 23, 2022.
I am pleased to tell you that the Weinberg Campus board of directors is committed to sustaining the organization as a vital provider of sub-acute, long-term care, and residential services for the community. Weinberg will be retaining its assets and operations and we are committing to maintaining our programs and services with renewed vigor.
We are refining plans designed to strengthen Weinberg’s operations. And we are excited that these plans include developing new systems of care by working with other not-for-profit providers while maintaining our independence.
We recognize that quality, dedicated staff members are vital to the delivery of excellent services. Our plans include increasing clinical staff and recruiting a high-performing team. We are utilizing new and innovative approaches to staff recruitment that are showing good results. Our employees remain the backbone of our success and ability to provide exceptional services.
We are excited about the future of Weinberg Campus. We are very grateful for your loyalty and support during the pandemic and while we were awaiting the outcome of the sale. Thank you. We look forward to having you as part of the Weinberg Family for years to come. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
With excitement for our future,
Robert T. Mayer
President & CEO
(716) 639-3330 x2468
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National Social Work Month |
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March celebrates many things and many groups of people - including social workers! We have a rockstar team of social workers supporting our residents and keeping their families informed, each and every day. We thank them for their dedication and commitment to enhancing the lives of everyone in our Weinberg family. Pictured below are members of our social work teams with their thoughts on the social work profession. |
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Above: Amy Hashemi, LMSW; Hope Santonocito, Cindy Clark, and Tenzin (social work intern).
Why are social workers essential now, more than ever? Amy Hashemi, LMSW, MBA, and director of residential services, says, “Social workers advocate, protect, educate, and initiate change. There has never been a time in my life when I remember the world needing more help than right now. Social workers are on the ground dealing with the pandemic, bullying in schools, the nation’s mental health crisis, inequality, poverty, and more.”
"My favorite part of my job is connecting with people," says Hope Santonocito, per diem Case Manager, Dosberg Manor. "As a Social Worker, you meet many people from all walks of life. You have the opportunity and privilege to make a positive difference in many lives. No day is ever the same. Being a Social Worker is a very rewarding adventure!"
Cindy Clark, Garden House Case Manager, says, "One of the most difficult decisions our residents and families have to make is to move someone from their home to a new place. When we see they have adjusted and consider Weinberg their new home, the entire team feels rewarded for a good job."
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Kristen DiMartino, MSW, Rosa Coplon CHHA, recalls why she chose this career path. "I was in college when my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I watched my grandmother struggle to take care of him. I felt like there was so much more that could be done to support her. I have always had a 'soft spot' for caregivers."
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Above: Kaitlynn Gannon, Renee Kwiatkowski, and Julie Smith- Social Work team at Rosa Coplon Living Center.
What does it mean to be a social worker? Julie Smith, social worker at Rosa Coplon says, "Social Workers help to identify a resident's needs and strengths and help them to determine and reach their goals. We enjoy working with and advocating for the aging population."
Happy National Social Work Month to all our social work team members. We appreciate you and all you do!
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"Do Good and Good Will Come Back..." |
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That is the motto of Weinberg’s own “resident” social worker, Lena, who retired from her active social work career in the late 1980s but continues her social work duties today in the most loving and professional way. |
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“Social work is a wonderful vocation. I can’t imagine doing anything else. Caring for each other is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves and the world. It brings me peace and satisfaction. I like to think that is why the Lord put me on this earth,” said Lena.
Lena began her social work career in college where she volunteered in several locations, primarily working with underprivileged children. After graduation from D’Youville College in Buffalo, Lena took a position with the Erie County Department of Social Welfare as a caseworker. There she worked with children and families who were facing challenges.
“One of the most gratifying parts of my work was placing children in homes where they were loved and wanted,” said Lena. “I kept in touch with some of those children over the years and saw their growth when they had a chance to be part of a caring family. Thank God that I had the privilege to help, and those children had the chance to have a family.”
Lena attributes her affinity for social work to three things, “I like people, I care about people, and I like to help in any way that I can,” said Lena.
As one of five children, Lena says she was spoiled by her older siblings. Her older sister, Sister Catherine Mary Stalteri, who served as Registrar of Damon College for 20 years, was her inspiration. Lena describes her sister as one of the most perfect humans she ever knew; Sister Catherine was kind, caring, and beautiful inside and out.
“I was blessed with a wonderful family and education. We were raised to first, respect our Lord and to care for each other and respect each other,” said Lena. “And because I appreciated all those things, I wanted other people to have the same.”
Besides her successful career as a social worker, Lena raised three successful sons; a doctor, a lawyer, and a social worker, whom all work and reside in the Buffalo area. And Lena has many grandchildren too.
“You can’t have enough grandchildren. The more the merrier is my theme!” exclaimed Lena.
Lena continues her work as a volunteer at Weinberg where she encourages everyone to get along with each other and to appreciate each other’s religious and ethnic differences. Lena says that she loves living at Weinberg Campus and wishes she had moved in sooner.
“I’m very happy here. Everyone is very nice and kind. God has given me many blessings. I wish those on everyone else,” said Lena with her beautiful smile!
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Pictured above: Weinberg Campus' dietary team, Mary Beth Nuchereno, DTR; Ashlee Lodico, MS, RD; Sarah Kinmartin, Dietician; and Emilie Jacobs, MS, RD.
It's safe to say that nutrition is celebrated every day at Weinberg Campus! Food is such a huge part of our daily lives, and our dietary team is hard at work every day to make sure our residents have plenty of nutritious options for every meal.
Emilie Jacobs, MS, RD, and clinical nutrition manager at Weinberg Campus, tells us why it's important to celebrate nutrition every month. "We all know that eating well is good for our health," says Emilie. "According to the CDC, ‘Good nutrition is essential in keeping current and future generations healthy across the lifespan. People with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For people with chronic diseases, healthy eating can help manage these conditions and prevent complications.’"
Emilie leads a talented team of dietary professionals, and she loves her job. "I take pride in knowing that we do our best each day to work with the interdisciplinary clinical team and with food service to ensure that each resident's nutritional needs are being met to the best of our ability."
Residents' families can have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones have a diet plan guided by nutrition professionals. "Nutrition professionals, Registered Dietitians, and Dietetic Technicians Registered, are extensively educated in food and nutrition and are able to translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living," says Emilie. "RDs and DTRs are advocates for advancing the nutritional status of people around the world."
And what would be a month-long celebration of nutrition without some fun facts? Emilie's team compiled the following facts for us all to enjoy!
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Low fat doesn't mean healthy. Foods that are labeled "fat-free" are often filled with salt and sugar.
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The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that 45-65% of your daily calories come from carbohydrates!
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Calorie for calorie broccoli contains more protein than beef.
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Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts who have completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program, passed the national CDR examination, and complete continuing education requirements to maintain registration. RDs can work in long-term care facilities, hospitals, sports nutrition & corporate wellness programs, private practice, community & public health, universities, and research. To learn more about nutrition and dietetics, visit www.eatright.org.
A big thank you to our dietary team for all they do for our residents every day!
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Celebrating a World of Flavors |
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March is National Nutrition Month! This year’s theme is “Celebrate a World of Flavors,” which focuses on learning to incorporate cultural foods into a balanced diet. Nutrition is usually presented from a western perspective, and cultural foods are often excluded from the conversation. Trying new foods from diverse cultures is a fun way to incorporate variety into your diet. Look at some of the cuisines listed below, and if you have an opportunity, give them a try! |
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Ethiopian cuisine is known for its flavorful spices and teff flour pancakes called injera. The spices commonly found in Ethiopian cuisine reflect the history of the spice trade in northern Africa, featuring ginger from east Asia, chili peppers from Portugal, and fenugreek and cumin from India. These spices are combined in a mixture called Berbere, which is a fixture in Ethiopian cooking. Lentils, various meats, and root vegetables are often found in Ethiopian dishes. Eating Ethiopian food is a unique experience because it is typically eaten by scooping it up in injera, the teff flour pancakes. No utensils are used, which makes for a fun (and sometimes slightly messy) experience.
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Puerto Rican cuisine reflects a variety of influence, such as Taino Arawak, Spanish, and African. Though food from Puerto Rico may seem similar than the food from other regions of Latin America, it has a lot of unique features that set it apart. Arroz con gandules is widely regarded as a national dish of Puerto Rico. It consists of rice cooked with pork, pigeon, and beans, flavored with sofrito, which is a base flavor in lots of Puerto Rican cuisine. Sofrito is a spice blend of various peppers, onion, garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, and recao, which is an herb that grows plentifully in much of Latin America. Other common ingredients are white fish, red snapper, ripe and unripe plantains, and a variety of different cured meats. Fun fact: Piña colada’s (a drink traditionally made of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple) is from Puerto Rico, and many restaurants on the island claim to be the first to put it on the menu.
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Authentic Chinese cuisine is a lot different than the Chinese food that we love to order as takeout. Because China is such a large country with such a vast history, Chinese cuisine is expansive and can be quite different depending on which part of the country you go to. Rice, wheat, and millet are staples in most Chinese cuisine. Soy is a common protein source, often in the form of tofu, miso, or fermented tofu, which has a very pungent and distinct flavor. Common vegetables are snow peas, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and Chinese eggplant. If you are interested in trying to find more authentic Chinese cuisine, look for cuisines of modern China: Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Shandong, among others. |
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FEBRUARY 2022
Simone Atkinson, CNA, Rosa Coplon Living Center
Alyssa Special, PCA, Dosberg Manor
Kaitlynn Gannon, Social Worker, Rosa Coplon Living Center
Drevonne Gibson, Food Service Worker
Louise Vella, Vice President, Human Resources
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Rosa Coplon resident, Effie, celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month. Happy birthday, Effie!
All activities are carefully planned with COVID safety guidelines in mind.
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This year Purim is observed from the evening of March 16 to the evening of March 17. Residents are celebrating by attending Jewish services, watching the Huberman Festival, and learning fun facts about the holiday.
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Above: Weinberg Campus residents celebrated National Nutrition Month by taking a trip to Puerto Rico! Palmeritas and guava island punch were enjoyed by all. Big shoutout to our activity directors for organizing this extra special treat! |
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Above: Earlier this month, Weinberg Campus residents celebrated Mardi Gras in style with creative headpieces, fun signs, and delicious treats! |
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Weinberg Campus Feels Like Family |
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Watch for more employees to share why they love Weinberg Campus. To tell us why Weinberg Campus feels like family to you or to share a story about someone who exemplifies how they make Weinberg “feel like family," please contact Dee at [email protected].
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