Christian Health Care Center Professionals to Present at Lecture Series

Christian Health Care Center (CHCC), Van Dyk Health Care, The Wyckoff Family YMCA, and the Wyckoff Board of Health are jointly presenting the third in a series Care Conversations: Our Aging Parents … “When Care at Home is Not Enough” from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, January 14 (Weather date is Tuesday, January 21), at the Wyckoff YMCA, Lower Level PR5, 691 Wyckoff Ave., in Wyckoff. Panelists are Todd Aronson, CALA, Executive Director, Van Dyk Park Place, Hawthorne; Teresa DeLellis, LSW, Social Work/Discharge Planning Director, CHCC, Wyckoff; and Toni Modak, Admission Services/Transitional Care Director, Valley Home Care, Paramus. Moderators are Mary Jo Kurtz, LNHA, Administrator and COO, Van Dyk Health Care, Ridgewood, and Denise Dunlap Ratcliffe, LNHA, Executive Vice President and COO, CHCC, Wyckoff.

            Mr. Aronson has been with Van Dyk Health Care since 2004. He oversees operations for Van Dyk’s award-winning assisted-living facility and was named Administrator of the Year in 2008 from the New Jersey Activities Association, as well as

receiving the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living Bronze Quality Award in 2007.

            Ms. DeLellis has been a social worker for the past 21 years in both acute care and long-term care. She has been with CHCC since 2006 and oversees the daily operations of four specialty units. She provides assistance with discharge plans to home, as well as exploring other options, such as assisted living, independent living, and accessing community resources. She runs monthly caregiver support group meetings at CHCC which are open to the public and is a trained faith and grief facilitator.

            Ms. Kurtz has a distinguished track record of serving both the community and the industry for more than two decades. She serves the profession at both the regional and industry level with numerous board and committee appointments, including the American Health Care Association, The New Jersey Department of Health, and the New Jersey Hospital Association.

           Ms. Ratcliffe joined CHCC in 1990 and is responsible for daily operational oversight of the entire Center, including more than 850 employees and 85 physician partners.  Ms. Ratcliffe is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators and a recipient of the college’s Distinguished Health Care Professional award.  She serves on the Executive Board and several committees of the Health Care Association of NJ. Additionally, Ms. Ratcliffe has served on committees for the New

 Jersey Hospital Association, American Health Care Association, and Leading Age. Ms.

Ratcliffe also serves as the Vice Chair of the Valley Home Care and Hospice Board of Trustees.

            “We are fortunate to have so many talented staff at Christian Health Care Center who can lend their expertise on a variety of topics,” said Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO. “We look for opportunities to partner with other organizations to provide education and services         to the community.”

             The panel of experts will answer questions about the topics you want to learn about: The difference between nursing home and assisted-living care; other care options: respite care, home care, short-term rehabilitation, dementia care, and hospice; Finding and evaluating care options; understanding payment sources; and planning tools for a smooth transition.

            Pre-registration is required. Register at www.ouragingparents.eventbrite.com or call Cindy at (201) 891-7000, ext. 304. Please provide specific questions or topics at the time of registration to assure that the panel addresses the topics most pertinent to our audience. Our format will devote most of our time together to question and answer sessions.