"Helping to keep families together"
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It is the goal of Briteside to provide a program of social adult day care with activities assigned to accentuate the positive and encourage independence; to promote good health, nutrition, and self esteem. The centers provide an alternative for care enabling participants to remain part of the community and offering caregivers respite.
President
Ramona Kirwan
Vice President
Margaret Hylan, MA
Corresponding Secretary
Ann Sauerland
Recording Secretary
Elizabeth Fisher
Co-Treasurer
Patricia Stover
Co-Treasurer
Arnold Wienk
Trustees:
Linda Bryant •
John Danziger, Esq. •
Bruce Davidson, MBA •
Nancy Grossweiler •
Thomas McElrath, MD
Julie Moriarty •
Gregg Rackin, MA •
Bernadette Revicky, MA, MPH •
Russ Steir, EdD. •
Margaret Wilbor, RN, BSN
Trustee Emeritus:
Edgar L. Van Zandt •
John Anaya •
Bruce Morgan
The professional staff at Briteside are available to support you as you care for your loved one. They can help you by connecting you to resources, answering questions and helping you plan for the future. You can talk with them when you have a question or need a listening ear.
The Director of BritesideONE is Darlene Spagnola, BS.
Her geriatric experience is derived from her employment with COPSA (Comprehensive Services on Aging) from UBHC/UMDNJ (University Behavioral Healthcare/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey). COPSA was contracted by Middlesex County Office on Aging to provide services to the geriatric community.
Petra Liana, RN is the Assistant Director.
Jennifer Purcell, MSW, LSW is the Director of BritesideTWO, located in Lebanon Borough, New Jersey. Jennifer has several years experience working with older adults in day care programs.
Our Program Coordinators work to assure program participants are provided with stimulating activities throughout the day.
Pam Molar, LPN, is the Program Nurse-Coordinator at BritesideTWO in Lebanon. Her education in occupational therapy in geriatrics combined with years of experience in area facilities allows Pam to bring a life-time of skills to Briteside. Her knowledge and training allow her to share appropriate health-related issues with both staff and participants.
Both sites have additional support staff, as well as a host of wonderful and dedicated volunteers.
Director, BritesideONE
Darlene Spagnola, BS
Assistant Director, BritesideONE
Petra Liana, RN
Bookkeeper
Heidi Herman
Program Coordinator BritesideONE
Ronnie Kosa
Assistant Program Coordinator, BritesideOne
Sharon Keller
Program Nurse, BritesideOne
Rose Montgomery
Staff, BritesideONE
Dawn Gural •
Joanne Hoff •
Diane Murray •
Rosemarie Navoa •
Denise Paternoster •
Arlyn Reed •
Cindy Rudden, Office Assistant •
Donna Stansbury •
Nancy Valerio •
Kristine Webb
Director, BritesideTWO
Jennifer Purcell MSW, LSW
Program Nurse Coordinator, BritesideTWO
Pam Molnar, LPN
Assistant Nurse Coordinator, BritesideTwo
Jeanine Giantisco, RN
Staff, BritesideTWO
Marjorie Charlton •
Lorraine Eitel •
Heather Fessel •
Judy Foley, Office Program Assistant •
Gail Giordano •
Joanne Osika •
Krtistine Webb •
Katie Worrel •
Julia Wlodarczyk
Briteside’s beginnings go back to the early seventies. At that time, a question was asked, a committee was formed, and a solution was found. There was a need for adequate services for the elderly of Hunterdon County and on November 5th 1979 the need was filled with the opening of Briteside in the Flemington Baptist Church.
Briteside started out with 4 participants and was open only 3 days a week. How far we have come! We now have 2 sites, each serving about 20 participants a day, we’re open 5 days a week and today we’re looking to expand the program even further.
Briteside wasn’t established in a vacuum though - it was truly a community effort. The support of the Freeholders, the initial financial backing of The Large Foundation, the partnership with the Hunterdon Medical Center, all contributed to the miracle that we know as Briteside.
Success breeds success and in was in 1988 that the search was started for a location to open as a second site. We knew there was a need for services in the northern part of the county but it wasn’t until 1999 that we found an appropriate place. It was a long struggle: 11 years of checking out sites, starting negotiations, having things fall through, and starting to look again. But our Board did not give up and so in 2004, we also celebrated BritesideTWO’s 5th Anniversary!
The Briteside program was meant to be and to thrive. After all that looking by the Board, over all those years, how did we find the site at the Lebanon Reformed Church? It happened during a gerontology course at Rutgers. A Briteside staff member met the pastor of the church and almost before we knew, we were again in negotiations. This time though they didn’t fall through and Briteside II proudly opened its doors on July 22nd 1999 with just 7 participants. “If you build it, they will come.” Five years later, BritesideTWO served about 20 participants each day.
Yes, Briteside was meant to be. The support of the community continues to grow with each passing year. We have been blessed with the continued support of The Large Foundation, the Flemington Woman’s Club, which has supported Briteside over 15 years, the Italian-American Heritage Club, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, the Flemington Presbyterian Church, the Flemington Lions Club, Voices for Charity ... the list goes on and on. Financial support also comes from grants from local, state and federal agencies and United Way donations and grants.
Then, 3 years ago, support came from an unexpected direction. The name of Paul Wirtz was not familiar to Britesiders. Mr. Wirtz was a gentlemen who was able to afford in-home care when he needed it. Being aware that not every elderly person had the same resources, he generously left a portion of his estate to 5 non-profit organizations which aid the elderly.
Briteside was one of those non-profits and it was with this seed money that we were able to begin another search. This time the search was for a site we could purchase for our own. The plan was to move BritesideONE into this site while still having BritesideTWO located in Lebanon. This would enable us to expand our program and services to meet the continuing needs of our participants. We have purchased a site on Sand Hill Road in Flemington and we hope to make the move in the Spring of 2006 .
It isn’t all about the money though. Without the dedication of the Briteside Board of Trustees over the years, the caring staff, and our many volunteers, we would not be where we are today. You only have to look at the cards expressing appreciation on the bulletin boards at the Centers to know how much the caregivers and families feel about the attention their loved one receives at the Briteside Centers. The faces have changed over the years but the tender caring of the staff remains a constant.
In 2004, we celebrated the miracle called Briteside. We thank all those who have helped us through the years and continue their help with all our ventures. We rejoice in the many people we have helped. We look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
We actively pursue the various grants available in order to keep the participant fee as reasonable as possible. We currently receive funds from the Large Foundation, Title III Meals and Adult Day Care, County Human Services, United Way, and USDA. We also assist the families by informing them of the grants available to them such as the Alzheimer's Grant, Respite Care, Board of Social Services, and CCPED (part of Medicaid).
We are also fortunate to have the support of local organizations such as the Italian American Heritage League, Flemington Woman's Club, and many others. These organizations are generous with their monetary donations and are also one of the sources of our volunteers.
We have a Friends of Briteside fundraiser each year.We accept personal donations at any time to remember or honor a loved one.
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Content revised 8/2007 Copyright © 2003-2007Briteside Adult Day Centers Questions? Comments? Email the webmaster swarrick at matcovichplc.com |
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