McHarrie LifeTimes Spring/Summer 2023

A Melody

HEALTH

BENEFITS OFMeditation Meditation

Dear Friends, I

would like to take this opportunity to recognize our staff who go above and beyond every day to provide the very best care for our residents. I am truly honored to work with such an amazing team.

McHarrie Towne Independent Living

US News and World Report has once again recognized our campus for the fifth consecutive year, as one of the best nursing homes in our region; for both long- and short-term care. No other program has received this distinction.

McHarrie Place Health & Rehabilitation Center

I would also like to express my gratitude to our residents and family members for their patience and understanding as we work our way back to normalcy. We appreciate your kind words and compliments about our staff. Thank you for recognizing their hard work and dedication to providing the best care for our residents.

McHarrie Life Foundation

Best wishes to you for safe, healthy, and happy summer.

Together, as ever, as one.

Mark Murphy, CEO

McHarrie Independent

McHarrie Place Health & Rehabilitation Center

Admissions: 315-638-2521

McHarrie Pointe Assisted Living Residence

Admissions: 315-638-2525

Sage Court

McHarrie Foundation

Memory Care @ McHarrie Pointe

Admissions: 315-638-2525

McHarrie Towne Independent Living

Admissions: 315-638-1172

To request information about our programs, please call 315-638-2521 or visit our website at www.mcharrielife.org.

McHarrie Place Health & Rehabilitation Center

LifeTimes is a publication of McHarrie Life Senior Community 7740 Meigs Road Baldwinsville, New York 13027 315-638-2521

McHarrie Life Foundation

LifeTimes Editor: Kelly O’Neill-Rossi Director, Development & Marketing

McHarrie Assisted Residence

If you would like to add/remove your mailing address information, please email krossi@mcharrielife.org.

McHarrie Life Senior Community is a not-for-profit organization that offers a continuum of healthcare programs and services for older adults including; independent living at McHarrie Towne, assisted living and memory care at McHarrie Pointe, and short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing care at McHarrie Place. All programs and services are conveniently located at 7740 Meigs Road in Baldwinsville, New York.

Q & A for your health

Q:I am interested in a career in nursing and would like to start out as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Where can I go to get my certification?

A:McHarrie Life offers free, in-house, paid nurse aide training classes. Our nursing students complete their classroom and clinical hours in our beautiful skilled nursing facility. Once you successfully complete our training program, you are qualified to take the certification exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant.

EARN AS YOU LEARN: McHarrie Life covers tuition costs, state exam fees, offers a training wage while you attend your classes, and guarantees employment upon NYS certification, in less than four weeks!

Full attendance is required. Classes run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. during designated months. Required qualities of a successful Nurse Aide Trainee:

● Minimum of High School Degree or GED.

● Must be 18 or older.

We also have many benefits to working at our organization including:

● Above-average staff hours per resident ratios.

● All employee meals and beverages are provided free-of-charge.

● Free parking.

● Starting rate based on experience.

● Annual merit increases (up to 5%).

● Flexible schedules (full-time, part-time).

● Earning the community’s trust since 1851— That’s more than 172 years of providing healthcare programs and services to our community.

● Best Nursing Home Designation five years in a row (2019-2023) by U.S. News and World Report for both long-term and short-term care.

● Opportunities for growth and advancement.

● Longevity and consistency of management and staff.

● Clean, home-like environment.

Other benefits include Health/Dental/Life insurance, direct deposit, paid time off and holidays (including floating and birthday), 401k with generous employer contribution, Employee Assistance Program, service, and attendance awards.

To join our team, call Laurie Longyear, Human Resources Director, at 315-638-2521.

Syracuse Home resident Bill Piseczny

takes his morning walk with Jessica Kessler, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Syracuse Home. Jessica spent the past 17 years as a CNA caring for hundreds of residents throughout her career. When asked what she loves the most about her job, she says without hesitation, “I love my one-on-one time with the residents. It’s such a pleasure getting to know them. The relationships that I have with them really makes my day.”

(left)

Q:What criteria do you use to determine eligibility for your memory care program?

A:This is one of our most frequently asked questions. In response, I ask families several questions.

1. Is your loved one at risk for elopement or leaving the house unattended? 2. Are they self-directing?

Both questions are instrumental in determining safety and supervision. When a vulnerable person leaves the house unattended, they are at risk of becoming disoriented and lost, dehydrated, or exposed to hot or cold-related illnesses. Living in a secure, supervised setting minimizes these risks.

When a person is considered “self-directing,” they can navigate their day independently. After learning their routine, they will know where their room is, when meals are served, what activities to join, and what to do during their free time. When they cannot navigate independently, this is often a sign that they might require more supervision and direction to stay on track.

For eligibility in memory care at our Special Needs Assisted Living Residence, we also need to determine the severity of their memory impairment. We evaluate their stage of impairment beyond the diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment. Someone who is in the earlier stages of dementia is most appropriate for an Assisted Living Memory Care Unit. As a resident starts to become fully dependent with their activities of daily living, i.e., transfers, ambulation, toileting, feeding, bathing, and dressing, they are more likely to require a skilled nursing facility.

If you would like to know more about memory care at McHarrie Pointe, please contact Maggie Reap, Director of Residential Services, at 315-638-2525.

Q:My wife is moving to Syracuse Home skilled nursing care next week, and we wondered what the best way is for her to pay for her personal services like cable, phone, day trips, hair care, gift shop, etc.

A:We will set up a personal account for your wife and pay her expenses for her. Credit payments are accepted in person or by phone. She may also add money to her account as needed or withdraw cash. Family members may also add money to the account and/or oversee it if their loved one cannot do it themselves. We will also provide a quarterly statement to her.

Our accounting department in the business office provides this service free-of-charge to our residents.

—Julie Knapp, Office Manager/Accounts Receivable

HEALTH BENEFITS OFMeditation Meditation

Meditation is like “medicine” for the soul but without the worry of harmful side effects. It can positively impact your heart, mind, and body by offering some surprising health benefits.

Here are five benefits you may experience from meditation:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety—During meditation, your mind focuses on eliminating inner thoughts that may cause stress, anxiety, or depression.

2. Helps Manage Pain—Chronic pain affects more than 20 percent of U.S. adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meditation helps to control pain by focusing on breathing and the present moment.

3. Fights Depression Meditation helps decrease depression by changing how your brain reacts to stress and anxiety.

4. Improves Zzzzzzs—Sleep problems often stem from poor diet, stress, aging, or chronic illnesses. Practicing meditation before bed can release tension from your body, creating a more peaceful sleep. Research published by JAMA Internal Medicine showed that a group who practiced meditation reported less insomnia and fatigue.

5. Builds Strength, Balance, and Flexibility— Meditation combined with yoga improves balance and movement, which can also help prevent falls.

So what types of meditation are there?

1. Concentration meditation teaches you how to focus your mind. It is the foundation for other forms of meditation.

McHarrie Towne resident and yoga instructor Kim Setla (foreground) teaches a yoga class at the Towne Center at McHarrie Towne. It’s a fantastic way for residents to relax the mind, body, and spirit.

2. Heart-centered meditation involves quieting the mind and bringing awareness to the heart, an energy center in the middle of your chest.

3. Mindfulness meditation encourages you to focus objectively on negative thoughts as they move through your mind so you can achieve a state of calm.

4. Tai chi and qigong are moving forms of meditation that combine physical exercise with breathing and focus.

5. Transcendental meditation is a well­known technique in which you repeat a mantra—a word, phrase, or sound to quiet your thoughts and achieve greater awareness.

6. Walking meditation turns your focus to both body and mind as you breathe in time with your footsteps.

Tips to Consider

A Don’t use meditation to replace conventional care or as a reason to postpone seeing a health care provider about a medical problem.

A Ask about the training and experience of the instructor of the meditation or mindfulness practice you are considering.

A Talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches of interest to you.

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

A Melody OF A LIFETIME

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Bill Mercer recalls that his interest in music began in fourth grade, when he started violin lessons. By high school, he was playing the French horn in band and violin in orchestra, singing in chorus, was the student marching band director, and went on to perform in the Massachusetts All­State Chorus.

Bill’s high school vocal music teacher was a graduate of SUNY Potsdam. He suggested Bill consider attending the esteemed Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Bill’s high school band director, who also directed the MIT Band, secured Bill’s first paying job, playing violin at the Boston Arts Festival. Not too shabby for a youngster.

Bill caught his first glimpse of Evelyn Batchelor on the SUNY Potsdam campus. Or rather Evelyn caught her first glimpse of Bill. One afternoon, Evelyn, a proper college girl who carried a 4.0 through college, walked down Main Street with a friend when a bright yellow Chevy convertible cruised down the street with the top down and a guy riding on the front bumper. Evelyn turned to her friend and said, “who’s that idiot?” It was her future husband. They began dating as college students and were married for 61 years.

Bill received his Bachelor of Science from SUNY Potsdam in Music Education and a Master in Arts degree from Syracuse University in Musicology. The couple married in 1959, shortly after Bill graduated from SUNY Potsdam.

The Mercers’ found employment in the Baldwinsville School District, Evelyn for Baker High School Choral, and Bill as High School Orchestra Director. Bill soon realized that there wasn’t any instruction program for young string players at the elementary and junior high school levels, so he began teaching music in the elementary schools so students could come up into the high school program. Five years later, when Bill left Baldwinsville Schools in 1965, there were 125 string players in the program. He moved on to Liverpool School District to begin a

Sailing on Lake Ontario

“I’ve been active my whole life in various ways. I loved my music teaching and performing career, as well as time spent in the outdoors, sailing, biking and x-country skiing. I’ve also enjoyed participating in community activities and volunteering on various boards and committees. All of these I feel have contributed to my mental and physical wellness.”

Evelyn and Bill Mercer at a reunion of college friends on Oneida Lake

string program. He taught there for 31 years until he retired.

Evelyn left teaching when she was expecting their son Doug and began teaching children piano in their home, which she did for many years. As a result, their family grew to include two sons and eventually six grandchildren—Bill, Jr., and his wife Maggie, who have three daughters and live in Baldwinsville, and Douglas and his wife Laura, who have one daughter and two sons and live near Dallas, Texas. “I enjoy spending time with my family—celebrating milestone events, and making new memories,” says Bill.

Volunteering

Bill is currently President of the Board of Directors for Syracuse Home Association Foundation and serves on the McHarrie Life Board of Directors. He joined the Foundation in early 2018 and became the Board President in April of 2019. He also chairs the Finance Committee of the Foundation. Bill, a dedicated steward for the Foundation, is a valued volunteer and donor.

Connections with the Baldwinsville Theatre Guild (BTG) arose from acting all through high school and college, which later in life led him to join the BTG when he moved to Baldwinsville. When the BTG began performing musicals, they recruited Bill as music director. He recruited and directed the pit orchestra for the BTG’s first five musicals. He continued to enjoy acting in straight shows and dinner theatres.

Bill served as Chair of the Riverside Cemetery Association Board of Trustees in the mid­1990s. He’s always had a special interest in cemeteries and has even designed several headstones for his family members. He feels his best accomplishment as Chair was convincing the Board to build a columbarium because more people were choosing cremation. It was built shortly after he left the Board in the mid­1990s.

Charitable Giving

After years of battling dementia, Evelyn became a beloved resident of Sage Court and Syracuse Home. Bill spent a tremendous amount of time with her at Syracuse Home while making friends with staff

and volunteers. This experience, plus having friends who moved to McHarrie Towne, led to Bill’s involvement and philanthropic support of McHarrie Life’s healthcare programs and services.

Bill was on the Syracuse Symphony Board of Directors for several years and was the Chair of their Education Committee. He also supports music in the community, giving to the Onondaga Civic Orchestra, and the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra. Other charitable organizations he supports include the Alzheimer’s Association, American Lung Association, and the Oswego Riverside Cemetery.

Staying Physically Active

An ardent sailor, Bill keeps his sailboat on the south shore of Lake Ontario on Sodus Bay; he also enjoys birding, fly and lake fishing, biking, cross­country skiing at Beaver Lake, and has always had an interest in sports cars since attending racing at Watkins Glenn with his brother­in­law. He has driven racecars at Pocono Raceway and owns a BMW Z­4 sports car.

Memorable Highlights

Because he grew up close to Fenway Park, a favorite memory of Bill’s young life in Brookline revolves around baseball. Bill’s father, who immigrated from Northern Ireland, attended a Red Sox versus Yankees game in the late 1920s. At that game, Earle Combs hit a home run for the Yankees. Bill’s father caught that ball, and after the game his dad got Earle’s signature on it. As fate would have it, the publicist for the Red Sox lived across from Bill’s childhood home. This wonderful neighbor arranged a tour of the Red Sox clubhouse for Bill when he was just nine years old. Earle Combs was then coaching for the Boston Red Sox and signed Bill’s ball a second time.

Personal Achievements

In 1981, Bill proudly received the Liverpool Central School’s Teacher of the Year Award. After his retirement in 1995, he was elected to the presidency of the New York State School Music Association, also know as NYSSMA, serving as President of NYSSMA in 1996 and 1997. Bill also received the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra’s Outstanding String Music Educator Award, and in 2001, the SUNY Potsdam Julia E. Crane Alumni Association presented him with the Helen M. Hosmer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement.

Nowadays, Bill might sum up all his interests, volunteer commitments and community involvements by saying: “I guess I’m really failing at retirement!”

Bill Mercer with sons, Bill Jr. (left), and Doug (right)

Fishing on Cape Cod Bay

to Rhyme

Challenge your mind by trying out this unique rhyming puzzle.

PUZZLE BY: STEPHEN SNIDERMAN

Instructions: Each pair of words below rhymes with two antonyms. For example, in #1, DIG rhymes with BIG and WHITTLE rhymes with LITTLE. How many pairs of opposites can you guess?

DIG and WHITTLE BIG and LITtLE

PUP and CROWN UP and dOWn

KITE and HACK WhITE and BLACK

FIGHT and PLAY

HUNT and PACK

CALL and FUN

GIVING and RED

SUE and PENNY

SONG and SQUEAK

PINK and GOAT

MESH and MAIL

BILL and SALLY

MAST and FLOW

BLAST and SUTURE

PIN and SNOUT

CAT and WIN

PLAID and HOOD

LETTER and CURSE

JOY and SQUIRREL

FOURTH and MOUTH

EYES and ALL

LAWN and COUGH

SPOT and SOLD

GUM and TOE

TUSK and FAWN

DEB and GROW

BEST and POST

CHEER and HAIR

WAIT and SHOVE

CARD and LOFT

CHEVY and KITE

CURSED and PASSED

SPEND and SORROW

BOISE and RIOT

DOORS and WINE

SLEEP and GLOW

Did you know that the average person complains 15-30 times a day? Research shows that chronic complaining is not good for your health. It can also negatively impact those around you.

Remarkably, most chronic complainers don’t even realize they are doing it. Research shows that chronic complaining is a habit often formed in childhood. It arises from a need for validation and attention and, over time, can alter the neural pathways in the brain and become a part of the personality, making it hard to change.

If you feel like you complain too often, consider this list of self-improvement tips:

Reflect on your childhood. Were you raised by positive, loving parents who supported and nurtured you, or did your family dynamic include negativity and criticism? We carry with us both the good and bad experiences from our childhood, but as adults, we can turn the negative into a positive. Ultimately, we choose who we are, what we say, and how we treat others. It is completely up to us. We don’t have to become a product of our upbringing.

Look at your friendship circle. Keep in mind that positive people don’t gravitate towards “Negative Nellie.” Instead, they surround themselves with like­minded, positive people. If you strive for more positivity in your life, consider the company that you keep, and look for ways to meet new people—whether through a hobby, class, meet­up group, or church.

Notice non-verbal cues. Watch closely how others respond to you. If they see you coming but avoid eye contact, or you find them looking for the nearest exit, perhaps it’s time to reflect on how your words and actions impact those around you.

Take a moment to pause before you speak or type. Consider how your words may negatively impact others. If someone upsets or hurts you, and your first reaction is to lash out and hurt them back, don’t do it. Yes, you may think it will make you feel better, but it will only escalate the situation. Instead, take a deep breath, and walk away. Process your feelings and refrain from immediately reacting to the situation. Once you calm down, it’s easier to sort out and articulate your feelings than to say or type a response you will later regret. This behavior change is not easy, but it’s possible, and it will improve your relationships with others.

It’s okay to vent but then move on. If you are commiserating together, it is healthy to vent out your stresses but then move on to solutions to the problem. Venting enables you to share your frustrations and validate feelings. It also helps lighten the load and diffuse a stressful situation.

Don’t wallow in despair. If you constantly complain about your boss or your mother­in­law’s meddling, it’s time to look deep within yourself and either find a solution to the problem or accept it. Revisiting the issue over again without fixing it will only perpetuate your frustration and unhappiness.

The “my way or the highway” mentality doesn’t build relationships. We are all human, and we all make mistakes. Don’t become so far removed from the rest of the world that you convince yourself that your view or opinion is the only one. It will only create a greater divide between yourself and others.

Focus your energy on more positive thoughts. This isn’t always easy to do, especially if your mind automatically goes to the negative. Still, with a plethora of self­help books, meditation classes, and therapy options, you can become a more positive, glass­half­full kind of person.

Helpful Websites:

A www.psychologytoday.com to find therapists in your area.

A www.meetup.com to learn more about local groups of interest who meet in­person and online.

Making a difference

With the longer, brighter, and warmer days ahead, our residents look forward to participating in various social activities and outings. “It is with much gratitude and appreciation for our volunteers that we can provide an outstanding activities program for our residents,” says Jessica Lynch, volunteer coordinator at McHarrie Life. Volunteers are an important part of the McHarrie Life team. They help transport residents to activities and outings, assist with special events and luncheons, play cards and games, and much more. “We welcome new volunteers to join our team,” says Lynch.

Social events and activities are the highlights of our residents’ day. Our volunteers make a difference by sharing their kindness, friendship, devotion, humor, and empathy with our residents.

More than 150 residents live in McHarrie Pointe Assisted Living, Sage Court memory care, and skilled nursing care. Those residing at Sage Court are in the early stages of memory loss and benefit significantly from companionship and camaraderie with volunteers. “Our activities program at Sage Court includes daily exercise, walking group, manicures, Yahtzee, happy hour, trivia, dancing, and movie nights, so there is something for everyone to enjoy,” says Lynch.

There are no hourly requirements, and volunteers are encouraged to choose activities that best fit their personal interests and schedules.

To learn more about the many wonderful volunteer opportunities at McHarrie Life, please call Jessica Lynch, volunteer coordinator, at 315­303­1134.

every day…

When: Thursday, June 22nd Noon-2 p.m.

Where: McHarrie Towne Center 2464 Betsy Drive

Baldwinsville, New York 13027

Invitations to follow…

Meet Joni Pelis

Health Information Director—Retiring after 34 years of service at Syracuse Home

Where did you grow up? Oswego, New York. What is your education background?

I went to a two­year college in Worchester, MA and, at that time, a correspondence course was offered through AHIMA to become a RHIT. Changes from ICD­9 to ICD­10 sent me back to college in 2011 for course work in anatomy and physiology and training in the new coding system.

How long have your worked at Syracuse Home?

What positions have you held?

I was hired first as an accredited record technician consultant in 1989. Six years later, I was hired as the organization’s first medical records director. My job was to apply my medical record management background toward a department that had not yet been established at Syracuse Home.

How many employees work for you?

The department requires the support of a certified records technician, and two part­time employees.

Please tell us about your department. Although our residents don’t see our department, we work in a way that is different from our peers. Our job is to store, maintain, and protect our residents’ health care story. In 1991, with the era of computerization the American Medical Record Association changed our name to the American Health Information Association and my title changed from an accredited records technician to registered health information technician. With this, my duties changed to include computerized resident health data.

My key function as health information technician is to translate resident diagnoses to numeric ICD­10 coding. ICD­10 is an International Classification of Diseases. It is a system published by the United States for classifying diagnoses and reason for all visits in health care settings. The coding data is linked to our facility software programs required to obtain resident doctor orders, medication administration, rehabilitation therapy, and billing. Resident data is also used to classify resident conditions and are a key function in the work of the QAA/QAPI Committee. This committee oversees and assures the quality of care provided to our residents, that we have safe working conditions and environment for staff, and visitors.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part of my job is depending on the hospitals to provide complete medical data that tells the story of the patient during their hospital stay. Communication is key from one healthcare setting to another for continuation of resident care.

What do you love the most about your job?

I enjoy reading our resident’s health story, and knowing that it’s my job to summarize, interpret, and code the health history for our team.

What will you miss the most about your job after you retire?

I will miss seeing the loving care provided to our residents by our dedicated staff, and hearing joyous laughter shared between residents and staff.

Tell us about your family.

My husband, Tom and I have been married for 46 years. We have three children, Zack, Jenelle, and Jeremy. I also have seven grandchildren. Syracuse Home has been part of our family history. Our children grew up volunteering on Christmas Eve assisting staff with resident transfer to the Christmas party and delivering gifts. Unfortunately, with COVID restrictions on visitation, it has prevented us from participating in our favorite family tradition.

How

do you enjoy your free time?

My happy place is baking cookies, especially at Christmas when I can show my appreciation to others by giving them something delicious. I love those smiles. My husband and I live on a 98­acre farm in Brewerton. We have some livestock, chickens, turkeys, and a pig. We are a couple of “foodies” and enjoy our garden vegetables and developing recipes for our table. We have a successful blueberry patch and raise Christmas trees. I love growing flowers, fishing, running and anything to enjoy the great outdoors.

What do you love the most about Syracuse Home:

Over the past five years, Syracuse Home has taken care of my mom. Her story was she was living near my brother in Vermont. She came to my home for a visit during Christmas and fell on Christmas Day. After a brief hospitalization, she came to Syracuse

Home for short­term rehabilitation. At that time, due to her frail state, it was determined by our health care team that she was unstable for independent living, so she moved to the skilled nursing facility. My mom’s experience at Syracuse Home gave me a completely different perspective of our organization. It became my mom’s new home and I saw how our staff became an extension of her family. Every day, I saw love in their work and treatment of each resident. I am grateful for Syracuse Home and its community of caring people.

My Plans for Retirement:

I look forward to trying new experiences, reading, enjoying my grandchildren, and reflecting on the past with the intention of how past experiences promote my growth for the future. I look forward to finding new ways to give back to the community.

In closing, I’d like to share one of my favorite quotes—“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”—Dalai Lama

Thank you, Joni, for your dedication and commitment to Syracuse Home over the past 34 years. Happy Retirement to you!

7740 MEIGS ROAD

BALDWINSVILLE, NY 13027

Afternoon of Theater event at Syracuse Stage.

Sunday, December 3rd

All proceeds benefit resident programs and services at McHarrie Life.

Patron Ticket: $60 each—includes a fabulous reception catered by Sodexo beginning at 12:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinee performance

Contributor Ticket: $40 each—includes 2 p.m. matinee performance only

Thank you to our sponsors

Presenting Sponsor: Reception Sponsors:

Underwriters: Bonadio Group ONEGROUP

Supporters:

Sponsors:

Media Sponsors: