Division
of Veterans Healthcare Services
Frank R. Carlini, Director
Central Office
We, at the Division of
Veterans Healthcare Services, welcome Ms. Katheryn Wierzbicki, RN,
BSN as the
new Quality Assurance Coordinator. Kathy began
this position in May, and previously
worked at the NJ Department of Health and Senior
Services. The Quality Assurance Coordinator position
has been vacant for a few
years, and the NJ Veterans Memorial Homes are
eagerly looking forward to working with Kathy.
Menlo Park
The Menlo Park facility has undergone some redecorating
in the past few months. The entrance to each unit
and the area around the Nurses’ Stations were painted to correspond with
the color of the identifying sign. This change
assists the more confused veteran in finding his way back to his
unit.
Memorial Day marked the first large
event for the season. Our fallen veterans were honored
with a very touching ceremony along with a barbeque. Many family
members attended.
Residents,
as well as members of the surrounding community,
attended several cultural events in our Amphitheater.
The Menlo Park facility recently hosted
a number of medical students involved in the Humanism in Medicine
Summer Internship Initiative. This project, through
the Arnold
P. Gold
Foundation, provides the medical students with some
fundamental humanistic values essential to providing
care for the elderly population.
The Commissioner of the Department of Health and
Senior Services in a letter thanked the CEO at
Menlo Park for their participation,
and mentioned the fact that “the field experience provides
some initial insight into different types of healthcare settings
for seniors and an opportunity for the medical students to interview
residents and staff members. ”
Paramus
Summer has been a great time to enjoy outdoor activities
and events for the residents including the 4 July
picnic. Senator Jon Corzine and Colonel (Ret) Stephen
G. Abel attended the 4 July
picnic, which consisted of a terrific barbecue
for residents, family members, and staff. On 12
July, Re-Creation Entertainment
treated residents to a show in coordination with
the Veterans Bowlers League.
Organizations continue to outdo themselves
in their generosity. The Lions, American Legion,
Disabled American Veterans, and the Allendale Grill donated
a combined amount of nearly $5,000.
Other organizations donated internet services and
clothing. The computer lab is up and running thanks
to Eagle Scout, Matt Pawlowski.
On 26 August, Ms. Doris R. Neibart,
CEO was inducted President of the National Association of State
Veterans
Homes. The Association has dedicated itself to “caring for America’s
heroes for 53 years. ” Congratulations!
Vineland
On 26 August, Vineland received
a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) for the new replacement
facility.
Following receipt of the TCO, the facility began
to receive new
furnishings
and equipment to enable the new facility to be
inspected by the NJ Department of Health and Senior
Services (22 September) and
the US Department of Veterans Affairs (26 September).
If approval is obtained from these two agencies,
residents will begin relocating
beginning in mid October. It is projected that
the relocation will be completed by November. The
demolition and landscaping
will begin shortly thereafter and should be completed
by mid-Spring 2006.
“SERVING
THOSE WHO SERVED”
