Allentown, PA – Pam Kleckner, Memory Support Community Life Coordinator at Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center, received the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter’s PRIDE Award for Professional Recognition in Dementia Excellence.
This annual award, formerly celebrated at the Martin Luther King Recognition Event, is given to 18 extraordinary direct care workers at one of the association’s three annual conferences. The award is presented to honor one nominee from each county in the Delaware Valley Chapter’s service area. Kleckner received the only award presented to a direct care memory support worker in Lehigh County.
Kleckner was nominated by Wendy Hildenbrandt, RN, Director of Nursing at Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center, for the exemplary work she does on a day-to-day basis.
“She offers her time, talent and dedication to the memory support residents at Phoebe Allentown,” says Hildenbrandt. “Her strong commitment makes the program shine and she helps others to see a similar vision of exceptional dementia care.”
Pam helps residents to demonstrate self-confidence through Montessori programs while exuding warmth and love in all of her programming. She promotes community and family interaction through the quality programs she plans. These include a recent 65th wedding anniversary celebration, handicap accessible hayrides, community tours, drumming circles, trips to libraries and ice skating rinks.
She also plans good deeds such as food collections and involves the residents in the deliveries to the local food bank. They have also made a trip together to purchase materials for use in an intergenerational reading activity with pre-school children. “It is always her motivation to allow the residents to feel they have contributed to the care and support of others rather than always being the receivers of care,” adds Hildenbrandt.
Allentown, PA – Mary Rarich received the Mayor’s Volunteerism Award at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 23 in celebration of National Volunteer Week. The City of Allentown presented the award to 15 constituents at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. Rarich attended with her son, David and Donna Henry, Volunteer Coordinator for Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center, the organization that submitted the nomination.
Rarich began volunteering at Phoebe in October of 1968 through the Red Cross. She was acknowledged for her 45 years of service at an annual volunteer lunch which took place the same day as the Mayor’s reception. At the age of 94, she continues to volunteer once a week.
During her early years as a Phoebe volunteer she made beds, shopped for residents, transported them to in-house physical therapy and doctor’s appointments in addition to leading a group of residents who helped with community service projects. She could often be found reading to residents, leading arts and crafts or assisting with the visually-impaired. Rarich also served as a lobby desk receptionist and as president of the residents’ council.
A resident of Macungie, Rarich now helps with paper work in the volunteer office and assists with Bingo in the memory support neighborhoods. She devotes herself to Phoebe, her church and to family and friends. Rarich is Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center’s longest-serving volunteer.
Allentown, PA - Dorothy “Dot” Koller recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center with an Asian-themed party that all enjoyed.
During her lifetime, Dorothy saw many Broadway shows and had the opportunity to eat in New York’s Chinatown where she developed a taste for Chinese cuisine. Her 100th birthday party very appropriately had a Chinese New Year’s theme. A buffet filled with egg rolls, sweet and sour chicken and other popular Asian dishes, served by Phoebe staff members who were dressed in kimonos, delighted Dorothy and all of the party guests.
Koller grew up in the Mid-city section of Allentown near Sacred Heart Hospital. Her father worked at The Morning Call newspaper and her grandmother was a dress designer. She was married for 30 years before her husband passed away and has one son, Chris.
As one of only 13 members of the second graduating class of Central Catholic High School, Dorothy also received two years of business education in her high school education. She was hired by The Morning Call newspaper as an assistant in the circulation department upon graduation. They cited that she had a high intelligence. She worked for the paper for 20 years in the 1930’s and ‘40’s and remembers staff parties on trains and special dinner events.
Her memories of her supervisors and co-workers remain sharp. Her boss was Fred Weiler, son of The Morning Call’s owner, Royal Weiler. Dorothy speaks highly of Fred, who taught her about microfilming and with whom she helped to create a new library system for the company. She also assisted Dr. Barbor, a Muhlenberg professor who wrote the famous Pennsylvania German column at that time. When her supervisor died unexpectedly, she decided to retire at the age of 38, despite an offer from Don Miller to head the International Advertising Department.
During her time working at The Morning Call on 6th Street in Allentown, Dorothy spent her lunch hours shopping at Apple Jewelers and Leh’s and Zohlinger’s department stores in the heyday of the downtown Allentown shopping district.
Dorothy is still particular about her appearance and sets out her outfits each night, coordinating jewelry and shoes to complement her clothing. She also decorates her private room at Phoebe for each holiday and season, making sure there is a fresh wreath on her door to boost the spirits of the other residents.
Not many women who are a hundred years old can manage to do high kicks while seated in a chair. Dorothy does these kicks as part of her morning exercise routine. A vibrant member of the Phoebe community, Dorothy speaks on behalf of others at the monthly resident council meeting, serves as a greeter for new residents, and sends cards to those who are having birthdays, are recovering from an illness or need some support.
Allentown, PA - Phoebe Ministries is pleased to announce the following change in staffing:
Regina Filipovits was appointed Director of Admissions and Marketing for Phoebe Allentown. Her responsibilities include managing the admissions for the health care center and for the David A. Miller Personal Care Community, developing, implementing, and achieving annual goals and objectives as established in the operating plan, managing and organizing the nursing department, and ensuring departmental compliance with various operating policies and procedures.
Filipovits has extensive experience in both the acute care and long-term care settings. She has worked as a case manager for Lehigh Valley Health Network for 14 years. Prior to this held the position of Director of Admissions for Manor Care in Allentown.
Filipovits graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the College of Business at University Park.
Phoebe does not discriminate in admissions, the provision of services, or referrals of clients on the basis of race,
color, religious creed, disability, marital status, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, age, or gender.
Allentown, PA – Pam Kleckner, Memory Support Community Life Coordinator at Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center, received the Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter’s PRIDE Award for Professional Recognition in Dementia Excellence.
Allentown, PA – Mary Rarich received the Mayor’s Volunteerism Award at a ceremony on Tuesday, April 23 in celebration of National Volunteer Week. The City of Allentown presented the award to 15 constituents at the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum. Rarich attended with her son, David and Donna Henry, Volunteer Coordinator for Phoebe Allentown Health Care Center, the organization that submitted the nomination.
