The Celoron A Intermediate Care Facility once again operating as a TRC home

Tessa Cordner, Direct Support Professional, uses some stimulation techniques while interacting with Carlos in the therapy room at the Celoron A ICF.

A missing member of The Resource Center's family has returned home.

On April 1, operational oversight of the Intermediate Care Facility located at 27A Gifford Avenue in Celoron was transferred from New York State to TRC.  The change comes seven years after TRC turned over the home's operating license to the Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office.  At that time, the move was made to assure that the home's medically fragile residents were receiving the level of specialized care demanded by the State.

The process to transfer the operational oversight of Celoron A back to TRC came last fall, when State officials contacted TRC and suggested the change in auspices.  The State noted that during the time since the DDSO assumed responsibility for Celoron A in 2004, The Resource Center had proven it was capable of providing the required level of care to the home's residents.

"One of the reasons the State approached TRC was that we had demonstrated, through years of very good surveys at our other ICFs, that we had made the necessary changes in our Quality Assurance system to be able to adequately provide for the care of the residents in Celoron A," said Mark Morton, Director of Development.

TRC put together a team that met regularly to discuss the transfer in oversight, and TRC, New York State and the Consumer Advisory Board (CAB) worked to ensure a smooth transition for the home's residents.  (The CAB protects the rights of individuals with disabilities who used to live in the Willowbrook State School.  Most Celoron A residents are covered by the Willowbrook Consent Decree, the legal decision that led to the creation of community-based homes on New York State.)

The main difference in the way Celoron A operates now compared to 2004 is the composition of staff.  While seven years ago the majority of the home's employees were direct support staff, today the majority of the employees are Licensed Practical Nurses.  It was a change the State brought when it took over operations of the home, and Mark was determined to maintain that staffing pattern.

"For the people who live there, their main concern is medical," said Mark.  He noted that the residents' complex medical issues have only deepened in the past seven years, so that it makes sense to have more LPNs on staff.

Staffing the home was a challenge.  All but two of the home's existing employees opted for employment at other State-operated homes, so the majority of the staff is composed of people who never met the Celoron A residents.  And while the nine Direct Support Professionals now working at Celoron A transferred from other TRC homes, most of the LPNs are new to TRC.

To maintain continuity of care and make the transition easier for the residents, new Celoron A staff spent up to two weeks training with DDSO staff prior to the transfer.  This allowed TRC staff time to get to know all of the residents and to learn how to best address each person's complex medical needs.  Having TRC staff visit the home prior to the transfer made it less of an issue for the residents when the DDSO staff who has been providing their care were no longer in the home.

One TRC employee who did know the residents was Lisa Gross, who years ago was a Third-Shift Supervisor at Celoron A.  Lisa, who most recently had been the Residence Manager of the A-1 home at the ICF on Foote Avenue, agreed to take on the challenge of running Celoron A after the transfer in operations.

"It's been stressful, but it's been good," Lisa said of the first month at Celoron A.  She said that having the two DDSO LPNs stay on at the home has been helpful, so that if an issue arises with a resident, staff can ask them, "Has this ever happened before?"

Lisa said operations at the home continue to improve, with additional staff expected to be hired in the coming days.

"The challenge is getting a whole new team to mesh together," she said.  "Once we get that down, we'll be really, really good."

Some employees who worked with Lisa in the Foote A-1 home chose to follow her to Celoron A.  One of them is Tessa Cordner, a DSP who has worked at TRC since September 2009.

"It's been a bit challenging at times, but as long as we work together, and think positive, we'll be OK," said Tessa.  "I enjoy the job.  I enjoy helping people.  I always have."

Another existing TRC employee who moved to Celoron A is Mark Polaski, a DSP Trainee who had worked at the Celoron B ICF since joining TRC in October.

"I thought it would be a great opportunity," Mark said of his decision to switch homes.  "It's really nice to work with people who want to make a difference.  I enjoy it here.  It's being part of something new."

One of the DDSO LPNs who decided to stay on at Celoron A as a TRC employee is Jenn Lanphere.  Jenn, who has worked at the home since March 2010, said she enjoys the way the home operates now.

"The whole atmosphere has changed," she said.  "I feel much better.  I feel a lot less stressed.  I feel like I'm being treated fairly."

She also praised The Resource Center for the concern it has shown toward residents and staff.  "They try to meet all of the needs of the people and us."

Posing together in the therapy room at Celoron A are, from left, front row, residents Herbert, Carlos and Joseph; and, back row, Tessa Cordner; Jennifer Ferraloro, Licensed Practical Nurse; Jenn Lanphere; Mary Magliaro, Medical Aide at the Benedict Avenue Apartments who has been helping out at Celoron A; Lisa Gross; and Mark Polaski.

Most of all, she enjoys working with the residents.  "I love the people," she said.  "I just love to see them smile and laugh.  They have wonderful demeanors."

One of Lisa's goals is to make sure the residents have lots of opportunities to integrate in the community.  While some of the residents attend TRC's Day Habilitation Programs, others instead receive Day Habilitation Services (as well as Occupational, Physical and Speech therapy) at the home.  So, creating opportunities for them to engage in outside activities is important.

Another advantage of Celoron A's transfer to TRC is the opportunity to strengthen the home's relationship with Celoron B, which is located next door.  Lisa said there already are plans to resurrect the summer picnic the homes used to hold.

Mark Morton, who was one of the people who played an instrumental role in opening Celoron A in 1987, said it is appropriate that the home again is part TRC.

"I was really happy that was going to happen," said Mark upon learning Celoron A would again be a TRC home, "because I know all the work that went into opening it initially."  That work included trips to New York City so TRC staff could learn to care for the medically fragile individuals.

He praised those staff involved in making the transition a reality, particularly Mary Jo Hamilton, Associate Director of Residential Services; Lori Carlson, Assistant Director; Steve Bulich, Assistant Director; and Tyler Case, Workforce Coordinator.

Lisa also praised Residence Coordinator Kristen MacKenzie's efforts.  Kristen, in turn, gave credit to others.

"This has been a unique situation for everyone involved, and the level of commitment to the people at Celoron A has been the priority.  The LPNs and DSPs have done an amazing job during the transition," said Kristen.

"There have been some bumps along the way, but we have an amazing team at our house and I have no doubt that we will provide the extensive supports/services the people at Celoron A deserve."

She also singled out Robert Westfall, Registered Nurse, and Brittany Gullotti, Assistant Site Supervisor, along with Lisa, for working "above and beyond in order to make sure the needs of the residents are met."

With staff determined to make things work, Celoron A's transfer back to TRC seems certain to be a success.  The home's employees certainly have the right attitude toward their job and the residents, an attitude Mark Polaski expressed this way:

"It's making their lives better is why I get up in the morning."