Weinberg News - November 2021

November 2021

Welcome to the Weinberg Campus newsletter, dedicated to sharing news

and information with employees, residents, families and special friends.

Message From The President

In this column last November, I wrote about Thanksgiving, one of our favorite holidays. I described how the holiday we celebrate today has its origins in hardship and strife; both the original Thanksgiving in the harsh conditions of 1620-1621 and Thanksgiving’s formal creation as a national holiday during the fury of the Civil War. I went on to describe the many things we could be thankful for during the hardship and strife of the pandemic year of 2020 – our committed staff and our resilient residents and their families.

This year I would like to talk about another November holiday rooted in grateful thanks – Veterans Day.

Armistice Day, as it was originally known, was first commemorated in 1919 in many countries that fought in World War I, the “Great War.” In 1918, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, an armistice was declared between the Allied nations and Germany, effectively ending the war.

November 11th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938. And in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day, thereby recognizing American veterans of all wars. The United States Congress passed a resolution indicating that the anniversary of November 11, 1918, “should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer.”

Here at Weinberg Campus, we are honored to have many veterans living among us. We are thankful for their devotion to our great nation, and we hope we showed our gratitude for their service in many ways last week.

So yes, November is a month of giving thanks. I have unbounded appreciation for Weinberg’s staff. Our employees continue to provide great care for our residents, day in and day out. They have worked very hard to keep residents safe and engaged during the ongoing effects of the pandemic. I am also thankful for our residents and their family members for their optimism and resilient good cheer.

Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

If you have questions or comments, I encourage you to reach out to any leadership team member or contact me directly at (716) 639-3311 ext. 2468 or rmayer@weinbergcampus.org.

Resident Spotlight

Dedicated Nurse Inspired Family & Friends

Dosberg Manor resident shares recollections of her nursing career.

Angeline at Dosberg Manor.

Angeline pictured back center with nursing students.

“Where’s Ange?” was a common phrase in the orthopedic surgery department at Buffalo General as Angeline was somewhat of an institution there. She wanted to make sure that things got done right and she didn’t let the doctors do otherwise.

“I remember one surgeon years ago who wasn’t as careful with his tools as I thought he should be. When he showed up to do surgery one day I said, 'your instruments aren’t here. I sent them in for cleaning and repair because you weren’t taking care of them,'” said Ange. “He never did that again!”

According to Angeline, taking care of patients was second nature to her, “you learned how to do things and you just did it when you grew up in a big Italian family like mine!” Ange decided to become a nurse after filling in at her cousin’s medical practice when his office nurse got sick.

As the eldest daughter of seven children, Ange had been a caretaker for many of her family and friends.

She received her Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license after graduating from The Buffalo General School of Nursing. She worked in numerous hospitals and clinics/sites throughout Western New York and spent many years with Children’s Hospital of Buffalo in maternity nursing, and at Buffalo General Hospital in the surgical department.

Early in her career, Ange often worked the night shift. She credits her family, especially her mother, as being a great support to Ange and her three girls. Her daughters were inspired by Ange’s dedication to others and her community spirit. Her middle daughter followed in Ange’s footsteps and is a nurse practitioner. However, the family “caretaker” gene didn’t stop there. Ange also has a granddaughter and great granddaughter who followed her into the nursing field as RNs. Overall, Ange inspired three generations of nurses!

According to her daughter, “our work ethic came from Mom and Dad. Mom is a hardworking, warm-hearted woman who was always caring for others.”

In addition to instilling “careers in caring” among her family members, Ange’s stories and recollections also serve as inspiration to the nursing team at Dosberg Manor, where she now resides.

Aside from Ange’s professional career as an RN, she enjoys sewing, crocheting, reading--especially mystery books-- crossword puzzles, solitaire card games, traveling and of course Italian cooking! “They all miss my cannoli’s,” laughed Ange.

A newspaper clipping of Angeline caring for an Emergency Room patient who was slugged over the head with a revolver in his store.

Noticing November

A poem by Gloria Tetewsky

Poet, Composer, Pianist and Resident of Weinberg Campus

Onward, ever onward — to November.

Did you ever really notice November?

Now that the year is getting older—

A change of seasons — it’s becoming colder

Leaves departing, winter starting.

Yet we must give note to November,

Because there are dates we must remember—

November 11th — Veteran’s Day

Honor their courage and dedication,

Defending the freedom of our nation.

Of course, we also observe Thanksgiving—

And all the blessings that make life worth living.

Let it mean more than a lavished meal—

Words can’t express how grateful we should feel

Treasure our country every day of the year.

Appreciate how fortunate we are here.

Make this a world where it’s safe to be good!

And prove we are able to behave as we should!

Give us the wisdom to face life’s every test,

And to show ourselves at our very best.

Employee Shout Outs

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Tamara Garrett, Activities Coordinator at Garden House, made the Dean's List! She is in her second semester at Bryant and Stratton where she is taking Medical Office Assistant courses. Congratulations, Tamara! We're so proud of your accomplishment.

Rosa Coplon Living Center would like to thank Ann Marie Roach for filling in to organize and lead activities for residents. We are pleased to welcome back Jan Treinin (right) to resume her role as Activities Director and she has a full schedule planned for the holiday season!

Thank you to each and every Weinberg Campus team member for the support, caring and dedication you have shown during the challenges of working in the pandemic environment. We applaud you and recognize you for your commitment to quality care, our residents, and your coworkers.

What's New?

The Benefits of Volunteering

Do you have friends or family members who are seeking a meaningful volunteer opportunity? We have many rewarding volunteer positions available.

Volunteers say that helping others enriches their sense of purpose and empowers them. Additionally a growing body of research shows that volunteering provides benefits such as:

The power to change lives. You can make a tangible difference in a person’s life and brighten their day.

A physical feeling of satisfaction. There’s scientific evidence that volunteering positively affects your body, your brain releases feel-good chemicals, spurring you to perform more kind acts.

New friends and stronger friendships. Volunteering is an excellent way to make new and lasting friendships.

Connection and confidence. People who volunteer have higher self-esteem and overall well-being.

Social and networking skills. Volunteering can build up your list of important contacts, especially if you are in college, high school or returning to the workforce.

Value to schools and employers. Volunteering shows that you care about your community and are willing to put in the work.

A chance to pay it forward. You will inspire others to give back and serve in our community.

A feeling that your time is more productive. Rather than feeling like your schedule is too busy, volunteers feel rewarded for spending their time making a difference.

Know someone who is ready to volunteer?

For more information about volunteering at Weinberg Campus contact Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Leffler at (716) 639-3311, ext. 2492 or sleffler@weinbergcampus.org or visit

WeinbergCampus.org/about-us/volunteer/.

Happy National Home Care Month!

Rosa Coplon Certified Home Health Agency

Serving Weinberg Campus residents and Erie County since 1987.

Skilled Nursing Services

· Disease management and teaching

· Care after an illness, injury, hospital or inpatient physical therapy stay

· Medication management and teaching

· Wound care

· Care coordination

Support Services

· Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy

· Nutritional support from registered dieticians

· Home health aides

· Medical social work

All major insurances, Medicare and private pay are accepted.

For information call (716) 639-3311 ext. 2417.

When is it the Right Time?

Many of our residents, caregivers, and team members have mentioned how challenging it can be to start the conversation with friends or family members about making the move to senior living. Below are a few helpful tips. We encourage you to share this article with others, and we're always here to provide information and helpful resources.

When is it the right time to move a loved one into a senior living facility? For the adult children, caretakers, and seniors themselves facing this difficult question, at times, it seems impossible to answer. But, having the conversation now can greatly improve a loved one’s quality of life.

In most instances, an event—or series of events—has signaled that it might be time. Is your loved one more than a little forgetful? Do they become disoriented or have mood swings? Are injuries or the need for medical attention more frequent? Has their diet worsened, house become neglected, or driving ability declined? Are they lonely?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, the right time might be right now. Especially if you’ve noticed weight loss, a decline in personal hygiene, trouble with balance leading to falls, or an increase in calls asking for help.

Starting the conversation to place a loved one in assisted living can be just as difficult as having the conversation. Before you broach the subject, you should consult with other family members and those who might provide valuable insight, like friends and family who have navigated the process themselves and senior living facility staff.

Sitting down with your loved one, blocking out time, limiting distractions and interruptions, and asking open-ended questions will help you gain a better understanding of their day-to-day life.

“How is it living on your own?”

“Are you ever overwhelmed?”

“Do you have a plan for your long-term care?”

The most important advice: listen. Many seniors have lived independently most of their lives, and in many cases, may have been the caretaker. If they voice concerns or reservations, hear them out and respond with empathy. While time is of the essence, rushing the decision to place a loved one in assisted living may be detrimental to them, and their willingness to comply with the lifestyle change.

At Weinberg Campus, we are here to help you recognize when it’s time to have the conversation. Not only does caregiving take a toll on family members, but the decision to find professional help and a new living situation can be stressful as well. The easiest decision you can make is allowing us to assist in finding the perfect care option for your loved one.

To start the conversation, contact Anna Jacobi, 716-639-3332.

Resident Activities

Last week, we honored our Veterans for their service! Check out our upcoming activities calendars online. Click the links below or visit: www.weinbergcampus.org/News-Events/Activities-Calendar.aspx.

Dosberg Manor

Forest Creek & Meadows

Garden House

Rosa Coplon Living Center

All activities are carefully planned with COVID safety guidelines in mind.