Yudi Cesar has been the site manager at Broadway Terrace for more than four years. The Service Coordinator role is one of her many roles.
Yudi comments, “being a part of a non-profit organization that provides safe, secure, and affordable housing to seniors is one of the most important works I have done. The population of seniors we serve would otherwise be homeless without programs like the Section 8/202 program currently in place at Broadway Terrace. It makes possible for those persons of extremely low income to afford a quality home and remain independent for as long as it may be possible before transitioning to next levels of care. This extension is made possible through partnerships with other organizations like Gregory’s Fresh Market, which brings high quality items to the hands of those mobility impaired seniors who are unable to secure or afford transportation.” Yudi, your hard work over the last 4 years is appreciated.
From the time Debbie Gallacher acquired her degree in Sociology, Debbie Gallacher knew she was destined for community and public service. Over the past 15 years, she has fulfilled her destiny. She has worked in Suicide Prevention, has been a substance abuse counselor and worked in food pantry management. For the past five years, she has served 94 residents as a service coordinator for Biltmore Properties. Her activities there have included: coordinating visits by Mayo Clinic student nurses, organizing community Christmas parties for residents, and organizing Brown Bag educational lunches and various food programs including visits from Gregory Fresh Market. Debbie says, “Gregory’s Fresh Farmers Market helps the 94 residents of the Arizona Retirement Homes by delivering the freshest and best quality produce to seniors who are not able to get out. The produce keeps for many days longer than store bought produce saving the residents money because they can use all the produce without any waste. The produce helps the seniors stay healthier than they would without it. It also saves the seniors money by not needing a cab to get to and from the store.”
Debbie’s other projects include: working to add a bus stop closer to Biltmore and soliciting local support to purchase a van to transport her residents to and from the Tempe Adult Community Center. A few of her major accomplishments include: helping 50 residents gain financial assistance on their utility bills and helping her residents give back to the community by utilizing time, effort, and skill to quilt blankets and knit hats for area hospices and shelters. Her team also sponsors holiday toy drives and cards for local school children.
Debbie Gallacher takes great pride in her accomplishments and helping to restore seniors a sense of independence and pride in the seniors. In this and other ways, she is the consummate social worker, giving back in service to our community. Congratulations on receiving the Advocacy award. Thank you Debbie Gallacher for your service to our seniors and to our community.
The service coordinator award recognizes the excellent work in meeting the social service needs of seniors and assisting them with maintaining their independence as long as possible. A service coordinator is a highly trained professional who provides supportive services to apartment communities that provide services to elderly and disabled adult residents that assists them in maintaining their independence as long as possible. These support services include:
Health care coordination
Benefits/entitlements/insurance services
Meals
Home management
Monitoring services
The first Advocacy award recipient is Joe Montagna, founder and President of the Arizona Chapter of the American Association of Service Coordinators.
Imagine an elder having trouble with a Medicare payment or a leaky faucet. As a service coordinator, Joe Montagna is there to help. But that describes only a part of his duties. It’s the human element that is also important and, as a former psychology major, it is one that Joe knows extremely well. After three years at National Church Residences, here are a few examples of how Joe assists the 100 residents in three complexes. If you don’t have a car and need to shop for food and supplies, Joe helps through the mobile food drives he sponsors to bring you food and household supplies. If you want to get on the Internet to communicate with family and friends, Joe is working on building a computer lab in your building and bringing in volunteers to help train you on the use of a computer. No way to get to your doctor’s appointment? Joe is working on a transportation system that will provide on-demand transportation for doctor’s appointments, shopping and dining.
Residents of National Church Residences are pleased to know that Joe is a volunteer on three local community boards and when he sees something that is needed by one of his complexes, he can spring into action and write a grant request to a local foundation or community organization.
A recent HUD report revealed that service coordinators contribute greatly to the lives of their residents by enabling them to live independently for a longer period of time versus facilities without service coordinators. Mr. Montagna, today we honor your commitment and dedication to the residents of National Church Residences. Thank You.
Gregory’s Fresh Market’s 2nd Annual Senior Awards Luncheon was a huge success. We are especially grateful to Susan Casper, Host of ABC15 Sonoran Living Live, Phoenix and Robert Ferguson, creator of the Diet Free Life System for their support in hosting this years program. The luncheon’s focus continues to be on our unsung heroes and Resident Service Coordinators, who have as their passion the care and needs of our senior citizens.
As a result of the funds raised at this year’s luncheon, Diana Gregory Outreach Service Foundation and Gregory’s Fresh Market will be providing over 1,000 free bags of fresh fruits and vegetables to senior citizens throughout the communities that we serve. If you would like more information about Gregory’s Fresh Market or would like to know how you can sponsor a bag of fresh produce for seniors during the holidays, please contact me by filling in the form below. Thank you. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking Donate
Honoring Centenarian Award Recipient, Ms. Hilda Jones, Tanner Terrace Apartments
There is nothing to fear about getting old, only more time to celebrate. When I talk to people about living to be 100 or longer, the first response I receive is, I don’t want to live that long. We as a nation are put off by the aging process and look to growing old as something to fear rather than celebrate.
Ms. Hilda Jones
At Gregory’s Fresh Market, we cherish and celebrate our seniors and centenarians. We assist in providing for them an important place in our communities, thus helping to break the stigma of aging. This is why we started the Centenarian Club and honor our centenarians and seniors at the senior awards luncheon.
The GFM Centenarian Club is a group of 6 distinguished centenarians whom we have identified at senior locations serviced by GFM. They receive fresh produce on a monthly basis, quarterly gift cards from retail stores and access to all GFM events.
Ms. Hilda Jones, centenarian will be honored at the 2nd Annual Senior Awards Luncheon. She personifies life, vitality, strength and courage. Her greatest strength is that of her mother. Her greatest pillars are faith in God and the power of forgiveness. She enjoys working on cross word puzzles.
Prior to retiring, she was an entrepreneur and a dressmaker. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cosby were two of her clients. She has one son, Matthew who is 82 years old.
This year at the 2nd Annual Senior Awards Luncheon, we honor and recognize the life and accomplishments of Ms. Hilda Jones, a gracious lady.
Honoring Volunteer Service Award Recipient, Louvie Gose
Manistee Manor Apartments
Research shows that seniors who volunteer enjoy better health, are able to make and grow more friendships, are able to stay active by becoming involved in the community and learn new skills.
Louvie Gose
Meet Louvie, who lends a helping hand and a helping heart. Resident’s depend on Louvie and she always has a listening ear.
Louvie’s volunteerism began a number of years ago. She sews pillows for heart patients at Banner Thunderbird Hospital ER. She sews Back to School shorts and shirts for boys, dresses for girls, is active in the Resident’s Council, cooks and plans meals for special events, shopped and prepared a three course lunch for 24-30 residents for three years, made aprons for the servers, upholstered small stools and chairs for residents, does alterations and sewing for residents clothing, makes walker bags, cart covers, bingo bags, tote bags, covers for residents plastic pass cards, bakes two sheet cakes and serves ice cream to the residents to honor their birthdays once a month.
In addition to assisting Manistee residents, Louvie assisted The Stratford Assisted Living facility with a facelift. She took all of her sewing supplies to the facility and sewed on site making the needed alterations to improve the facility.
We salute Louvie for being a bright and shining star and touching many lives.
