Pictured from left to right: Joyce Buxton and Paul Parks, Jr., Executive Director
East Providence, RI
Two individuals were recognized for their exceptional service to United Methodist Elder Care at the organization’s Annual Meeting on the evening of June 24th, 2014.
Joyce Buxton of Swansea, Massachusetts was honored with the inaugural Community Service Award for her ten plus years of service to the residents of Winslow Gardens and Linn Health Care Center as choir director. Joyce holds bi-weekly choir rehearsals with the residents plus gives semi-annual performances for the other residents and the public. Joyce also serves as a member of the Caring Clown Ministry, dressing up as Trixie the Clown and cheering Linn Health Care Center residents in need of smiles. Joyce had a career as an elementary school music teacher in Swansea, Massachusetts for many years and spent four years teaching music at St. Philomena’s in Portsmouth, Rhode Island before retiring.
Rob Bower, of Hope, Rhode Island, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, given for the completion of two nine year terms of active service on the Board of Directors. During 19 years of service, with a required year off between terms, Rob served as Treasurer, Vice President and finally President of the Board. He led United Methodist Elder Care through some difficult times and strengthened the organization under his wise and caring tutelage. In remarks at the Annual Meeting, Rob thanked the residents, the staff, and the Board for working together to weather the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Rob is retiring from Rhode Island College, where he has worked as Director of Publishing Services for nearly 29 years and where he served as President of the Professional Staff Association for a dozen years.
A special guest speaker, Joan Kwiatkowski, the Chief Executive Officer of CareLink, Inc. and Chair of the National Board of PACE spoke about Changes in health care that will impact the post-acute care system. The attendees were interested to learn about how electronic medical records would result in new insurance reporting that will affect nursing home income.
At the Board’s Annual Meeting, Dan Genannt of Attleboro, Massachusetts, was unanimously voted in as the new Board president.
United Methodist Elder Care offers a continuum of care for low to moderate income seniors, including residential and assisted living at Winslow Gardens in East Providence, assisted living at Arbor Hill in Providence, and skilled nursing care at Linn Health Care Center, also at the East Providence location. In addition, its for-profit arm, Elder Care Consultants, offers management services in home and assisted living environments, currently partnering with the Woonsocket Housing Authority in a unique arrangement to offer assisted living units in St. Germain.