Author Archives for Herb Weiss

AARP Sets Up Shop Here in Rhode Island

Published in Pawtucket Times on February 11, 2002

Up until last year, the American Association of Retired Persons operated a regional office in Boston, just a 45-minute drive from the Ocean State. The closing of the Boston regional office cleared the way for the nation’s largest group serving people ages 50-plus to open up a state office in Rhode Island.

With a state office up and running, AARP will better serve its 17 Rhode Island chapters, whose membership now totals more than 129,000 persons.

With AARP’s new office at 10  Orms St., Providence, Rhode Island has become one of the last remaining offices to open a local office.

“We’re happy as quahogs in our new digs.” This quote, superimposed on dozens of quahogs, decorates the front cover of AARP’s open house invitation.

The design sets the stage for last week’s Ocean State bash to celebrate the opening of AARP’s plush 4,200-square-foot Providence office. The opening reception, featuring a sampling of Rhode Island delicacies from each region of the state, reinforced the point AARP was trying to make – that its new home is Rhode Island.

One hundred and fifty people came to AARP Rhode Island’s grand opening bash, including AARP chapter presidents and volunteers, elected state officials and lawmakers, staff from the state’s various Congressional delegation and representatives of a myriad of aging organizations.

For more than two hours, they mingled and enjoyed the plentiful food and drink whipped up and served by Eastside Catering. Many even took tours of the new office, as well.

“Having an office in our capital city sends a message to our members and community partners that we are raising the visibility of AARP in Rhode Island and intend to rev up our advocacy and educational initiatives throughout the state,” said State AARP Director Kathleen S. Connell, welcoming the crowd of well-wishers.

Providence Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci brought his official greets to AARP’s gathering, too.

“It’s cause for great celebration that we now have direct representation in Providence of one of the most effective and beneficial associations advocating for retired persons in the world today,” Cianci told the crowd gathered in the packed conference room.

Cianci can be a tough act to follow, but AARP National Board Member Virginia Tierney, held her own.

Tierney, who came from Quincy, Mass. To attend the festivities, gave her thumbs up to the office’s opening.

“Having a state office will speak to an ongoing priority for our organization -diversity,’ she said, noting that with offices in every state, the group can better position itself to reach people ages 50-plus from all walks of life. “AARP’s membership should mirror the rest of our population.”

With the conclusion of AARP’s 20-minute speaking program, a 6-foot ribbon held by AARP staffers was cut by Cianci, who  was surrounded by Tierney, Secretary of State Ed Inman, General Treasurer Paul Tavares, and acting State President Virgilio DeVecchis.

So, what’s so special about AARP’s new “digs?”

AARP’s new office, right across from the Providence Marriott Hotel, has a very large conference room with video tele-conferencing capabilities. This room, is large enough to fit  30 people around a large rectangular conference table. Got room for an educational program or large meeting?  No problem. The space allows for the setting up of 100 chairs theater-style.

Meanwhile, a smaller conference room provides ample space to meet in small groups. Additionally, another small room is equipped with multiple phone hookups to allow AARP staffers and volunteers to use in their advocacy efforts and for compiling information through phone surveys. AARP’s four staffers each have an office with one office available for use by visiting AARP Regional and National Staff.

AARP’s office is colorfully decorated. Wall-to-wall mulberry-colored carpet, dark stained wood along the grayish walls, a teal-colored sofa and chairs in the reception area and heavy dark-stained office furniture throughout the office to create a traditional, conservative look.

Colorful prints provided by the Rhode Island School of Design’s Museum of Arts adorn the grayish walls in the front office area.

“Great turnover,” said AARP volunteer Marie Kerr of Middletown.  The former school nurse and teacher states that AARP members now have a home to come to. “It’s a good location, too, for statewide meetings,” she says.

Volunteer Mary Garrett, a former special education teacher from Newport, adds that the new office is a great place for AARP Members to gather with peers.

Nursing Assistant Recognized for Providing 31 Years of Quality of Care   

Published in the Pawtucket Times on February 4, 2002

At the age of 32 in 1963, Adele Lubera had already raised a daughter. Now it was time for her to go to work to bring money into the household.

But after holding very brief jobs at two mills in Central Falls, the former homemaker realized the mill jobs were not her cup of tea. As a foot press operator who manufactured sunglasses, Lubera could not stand the loud, repetitive noise and clatter of machines, nor did she end up liking the tediousness of inspecting baby clothes.

Be it fate, destiny or just being in the right place at the right time, Lubera eventually fell into a fulfilling lifelong career that has spanned more than three decades. A tip from a friend led the frustrated mill worker to seek employment as a nursing assistant at the Cumberland-based  Grandview Nursing Home. Lubera was one of the facility’s first hires for nursing assistants.  In time, she would take several other positions, including one at Manchester Nursing Home in Pawtucket, which ultimately would lead her to her current position as a certified nursing assistant at Harris Health Care North in Central Falls.

Last week, more than 300 people from Rhode Island’s nursing home industry, gathered for a breakfast to recognize their own, as well as state officials, politicians, and community volunteers who bring quality of care to the state’s 106 nursing homes.

Along with other award recipients, Lubera received her 15 minutes of fame that day. She was recognized by the Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA) as recipient of the group’s First Annual Quality Award. “The President’s Award,” for her 31 years of providing quality of care to residents in her current position. The RIHCA award is given to a dedicated certified nursing assistant who exhibits caring and compassion while delivering quality of care.

When presenting the prestigious award to Lubera, Jimmy Flanagan, RIHCA’s past president, told the packed banquet room that in 31 years at her current position, Lubera had never called in sick or even arrived late to work.  Quite a track record.

Being an advocate for long-term care, Lubera has always been three to reassure families. She goes the extra mile for resident’s too, Flanagan said.

“Lubera is a wonderful role model for other workers,” he added, noting that she has led by example and displays loyalty, caring, and consideration for her fellow 13 workers.

Later that afternoon, at a party organized by Harris Health Care North, Central Falls Mayor Lee M. Matthews, quickly popped into the facility to shake hands and exchange greetings with: Luber; Michael, her husband of 51 years; daughter Dera DiBenedetto and her three children Dana, Ashley, and Drew; friends; facility staff and residents.

The mayor left behind a mayoral proclamation, celebrating the certified nursing assistant’s achievement by declaring the day to be “Adele Lubera Day” in Central Falls.

At the facility gathering, Lubera, holding her engraved plaque, reflected on her long career as a nursing assistant.

The time just by so fast, she said.

“It is hard work, but I enjoy every day,” she said. “The residents are like family to me.”

Resident Anna Golembeski, 89, who has resided in the facility for 38 years, describes Luera as helpful, kind and caring.

“She has been so good to her residents that it is about time she was recognized for her efforts,” Golembeski said.

Adds Elizabeth Daily, 88, a resident in the facility for six years, “There isn’t a person here who doesn’t love Adele.”

Administrator Elizabeth A. Sarro, of Harris Health Care North, calls Lubera the unofficial Mayor of Central Falls. Lubera knows almost everyone in the one-mile radius community, Sarro says.

“Everyone in Central Falls knows of Adele’s loving work,” she said. “She is pretty close to being a saint.”

Charley Harris, who owns Harris Health Care North and two other skilled nursing facilities, believes that certified nursing assistants are the backbone of the care delivery in any nursing facility.

“It is time that certified nursing assistants are finally getting the recognition they deserve<” he said.

“Nursing facilities are having tremendous problems staffing their facilities, particularly with front-line caregivers,” RIHCA Executive Vice President Alfred Santos stated. “With turnover rates estimated to be as high as 100 percent, people like Adele – whose commitment to her residents remains strong year after year are worth their weight in gold.

“It is great to see her receive recognition for her dedication,” says Santos.

The Best of…Age-beat Journalism Brings Issues Affecting Seniors to Light

Published January 28, 2002, Pawtucket Times

          Some people ritually read the sports or business sections, browse the stock listings, or even glance at the comics.  But a growing number of  middle-aged and senior readers are turning to the print or electric media for the latest info on aging.

          With the graying of America, news organizations are creating the age beat, where journalists cover various aspects of aging, including lifestyles, health care, politics, ethics and even economics.  A newly released national survey published in the San Francisco-based Age Beat, a newsletter disseminated to 700 journalists who cover aging, reflects this growing trend.

        Out of 580 non-random surveys sent to Age Beat readers, 152 responses were received. “This was better than a one-in-four response rate,” states Paul Kleyman, editor of Aging Today, the newspaper of the American Society of Aging and national coordinator of the Journalist Exchange on Aging.  The group was started in 1993.

        According to Kleyman, the third Age Beat survey findings indicated about 60 daily newspapers around the United States have a reporter partly assigned to the coverage of aging; 16 use a full-time reporter to cover the issue; and 24 newspapers use columnists.

       Although the findings of three surveys of age -beat reporters reflect a small growth of coverage in aging, it has been steady, Kleyman says.  While the age beat does not have economic clout in newsrooms (it is difficult to sell advertising around aging), this steady growth has occurred over the last 10 years through two economic slumps.

      There are more journalists covering the aging beat than last year, according to the survey report.

      The slow-but-steady growth of the age beat in journalism is a result of journalists – and their parents -aging, Kleyman noted. “Some of these aging journalists are finding this a very important area and have taken it upon themselves to begin to cover these issues.

       “There were more stories about aging because they are important in people’s lives- including those of reporters and editors,” Kleyman observed.  Thus, more than 90 percent of the survey respondents say that they now have direct personal experiences with the issues of aging, both personally or in their family, he said.

       Many of the respondents became interested in covering aging after they had to help their aging parents find a nursing home or move into a retirement community, Kleyman said.  “In doing this, they learned there is a huge amount of information they had to dig out and learn – [information] most of the public is unaware of.

       “Today’s journalists believe their personal experiences do not affect their objectivity in writing stories,” noted Kleyman.  Experience gives them both the perspective and information they need, but they still can approach each story with balance, he added.

       Kleyman said that journalists on the age beat will care about the issues enough to follow them over a longer period, and they will develop more sources and a greater depth of knowledge and understanding.

       “This is why they will write stories that are more technically accurate and factual,” he said.

       According to the survey, age-beat reporters who are devoting more of their time and energy to covering aging issues are generally veteran reporters.  On average, the respondents have more than 20 years of professional experience as journalists.

      Ageism occurs in the news media, says Kleyman.

      ‘”There is an atitude that all stories must have focus on medical and health care,” he said.  “This ageism centers on an attitude that getting older is getting sicker and becoming a burden on your family.  This is not so.”

      The Age Beat survey also found that, consistently across the board, 50 percent of the stories being weritten by age-beat reporters releate to health care and medical issues.  The other 50 percent cover different aspects of senior life.

      “Aging is about everything that people experience in their older years,” says Kleyman. “Stories range from sex and intimacy to housing, to income issues, to crrime, even to issues surrounding older drivers.”

       Finall, the survey revealed a growing percentage of reporters getting more requests from their editors and producers to tie their stories into the baby boomer generation, whose members are in their late 40s to mid-50s.  However, about two thirds of the reporters written by the respondents covered issues that affected those age 65 and over.

      The survey results were clear.  “Baby boomers are interesting, but the stories on those 65 and older stories are those that reporters feel must be told to readers,” Kleyman said.

      Like my colleagues on the age beat, this columnist will continue to bring you the latest, most informative coverage of aging issues you need to know about — stay tuned.

      Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket-based freelance writer covering aging, health care and medical issues for the Pawtucket Times.  He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.