Dear Ms. Caroppoli,
I wanted to take a moment to make you aware of the fantastic job Tracey Jahrsdoerfer is doing as Director of Resident Relations at The Bristal at Massapequa.
My parents. Bob and Marion Guarini, have been residents at The Bristal at Massapequa for about a year and a half. From the very beginning Tracey has treated them with compassion, care and dignity.
Over the course of their residency at The Bristal my parents' mental and physical health has deteriorated, as is to be expected with people in their nineties. Tracey has suggested additional services to enhance their day to day life and made sure those services were working for my folks.
My dad was hospitalized last month and then spent several weeks in rehab. Tracey made sure my mom was very well taken care of during his absence. 1 never had to worry about my mom because I knew Tracey was ensuring her safety and wellbeing.
Recently my parents moved into Reflections at The Bristal. Tracey oversaw every aspect of the move. All of my parents possessions from their TV to their toothbrushes were moved and in place in their new apartment in a couple of hours.
My dad can be ornery and cantankerous at times. Never once has Tracey treated him with anything but dignity despite his foul mood. She knew that the transition to Reflections would be difficult for my dad and went out of her way to prepare him and the staff for his move.
I live in Hawaii, almost 6,000 miles from my parents. Tracey has kept me apprised from the very first day of my parents' residency. She has been sensitive to my concern and has done an excellent job of allaying my anxiety over my parents.
Tracey is an employee who goes above and beyond; her compassion for the residents is evident in everything she does. She is tireless in her efforts to make life safe, comfortable and enjoyable for folks who reside at The Bristal.
All too frequently people are quick to complain and don't often offer praise for a job well done. I did not want to let Tracey Jahrsdoerfer's excellent performance go unnoticed. Please know that I greatly appreciate all that Tracey has done for my family and know that we could not have survived the past year and a half without her. I know she will continue to deal with my parents and our family with compassion and care. I commend Tracey on all aspects of her job as Director of Resident Relations.
Sincerely,
Valerie A. Guarini
Dear Rich and the wonderful staff at the Bristal East Northport,
Thank you for making my dad’s last few months so comfortable and pleasant.
He really felt at home. He loved the food and the beautiful surroundings.
He felt the warmth and kindness of the staff.
My family and I were able to feel secure that he was always taken care of.
With warmest regards and many thanks—
Patti Miller, Gail, and the family of Dr. Leonard Kolnig
To Whom It May Concern,
I am sending this letter to convey my appreciation for the exceptional services provided to my parents by the staff at The Bristal in East Meadow.
They had lived in their own house in East Meadow for 64 years. were quite self sufficient, including cooking, cleaning, lawn mowing, etc. In the past several months they realized they needed a bit of assistance to be safe and comfortable, physically and emotionally. They asked me to find an assisted living facility in the community they know so well. I visited a couple of establishments and returned with them to The Bristal. That visit was coordinated by Suzanne Ryan, who won them over with her warmth and sincerity. We were invited to lunch and the staff was delightful.
My parents moved in April 2nd. The transition was difficult for them. They are 92 and 93 years old, alert, quite proud and set in their ways. They were and are homesick, but each day they seem to be acclimating to their new life.
I am extremely pleased with the attentive care and understanding my parents have received. I am equally warmed by the way your staff has allowed them to maintain their independence and dignity while attending to their every need.
Although I am reluctant to single out individuals when there has been such a fine team effort, I feel compelled to mention Suzanne Ryan, who has responded to a number of small and not so small requests I have made. She also offered tremendous moral support to me when my parents were having a difficult first week. Vera watched over my father when he was ill early on. and kept me in the loop. My mother thinks the world of Lidia, who is the only person I've met who could "tidy up" to meet my mother's standards Janice is a pleasure to speak with when I first come in the door. My father has found tremendous relief as a result of his physical therapy as provided at The Bristal.
Once again. I commend and thank you for your combined efforts. These are the only parents I have and it is comforting to know they are in such good hands.
Sincerely,
Fred Bleier
"I want to thank you for all you’ve done for my dad during this very difficult time. I can always count on you. You approach everything with warmth, a smile, and humor. My family and I truly appreciate your efforts."
Thea Ehrlich
Dear Mr. Parker,
With some trepidation we embarked upon a course we were not familiar and have so appreciated the guidance and kindness of all your staff.
Circumstances and necessity provided us with the exemplary professional and dedication of Mr. Louis Vasquez.
He is masterfully skillful and in each and every situation he could not have been more resourceful nor accommodating.
He is genuine, kind, and humble, knowledgeable and committed. Additionally his ability to reassure and comfortably negotiate with a 91 year old is a testament to the very fine attributes he possesses.
We would be remiss not to acknowledge his work ethic, commend you on your example and high standards and express our delight and gratitude.
Sincerely,
Linda Rowan
Hi Nick,
As you know my aunt, Yolanda, passed away at NUMC early Sunday morning.
On behalf of Yolanda’s family, I wanted to thank you, your staff and the entire team at the Bristal for making her last 5 years as comfortable as could be as she began to fade. Prior to putting her at the Bristal, my cousin and 1 looked at a number of homes on Long Island. We felt that the Bristal was the cleanest and most “user friendly” of the ones we visited. And I still think we were right.
It’s clear that the staff cares. That level of care comes from the leadership. Anyone who’s ever been involved with, or has ever run a business knows the importance of leadership in setting the tone for beliefs and corporate values. It’s clear that you provide your team with that leadership. With the cost of elder care rising along with the competition it’s very important to provide quality and value to your consumer.
Once again, our thanks.
Please feel free to pass my words and thanks on to your staff and your management.
Regards,
Lenny
Dear Nicholas;
I met you at the family day celebration in Reflections where my Mother, Margie Peltz- Cohen is a resident.
I told you then that I thought you have a wonderful staff. They have a very difficult job not only taking care of the residents but also the residents’ family members and I know first-hand that we can be difficult sometimes.
I would like to bring to your attention three staff that whenever I am there always does a great job and Tasha always has something nice to say about them. I am sure all your staff is great but these are the three that my Mother spends time with and who I speak to when I am there.
Sheri does a great job with entertaining the residents and I have seen and heard her play the piano. She does a great job getting the residents to participate. Phyola and Rhonda always have a smile and help my Mother - who can be difficult - in many ways. They show that they have patience and are professional in their work.
It is not easy finding and retaining good staff but you have done well and I appreciate them.
Sincerely,
Steven Peltz, CHBC
Dear Maryellen,
This is mainly a thank you note for sponsoring the Taking Care of My Parents Webinar last month. I am a Creative Arts Therapist who has enjoyed the privilege of creatively enhancing the quality of life of seniors for many years. I also have gone through many of the steps you described for my two wonderful elderly parents. I am certain that the information presented at the webinar aided many families in finding solutions for their parents. Thank You. -Lois
Assisted Living: Enhancing the Quality of Life
Dear Judy,
When my sisters and I realized that my mother, Dorothy Handy, was finding it increasingly difficult to stay in her own home safely, we broached the idea of assisted living to her. She was initially very reluctant to consider that option, but as time went on it became harder for her to be alone. We contacted Tracey Kuczinski who met with my mother and introduced us to the Bristal. My mother agreed that assisted living was the best option for her and we began to consider places.
From the very beginning we were impressed with the Bristal of Massapequa. This was in large part due to you. You understood our anxieties and answered all of our questions in a professional manner. I did not get a sense that you were selling us a product but that you were sharing your pride in a superior facility. I watched you interact with other residents and was immediately taken with how honestly happy you were to see each person, and how happy they were to see you. This went a long way in easing any qualms I had about assisted living. When we brought my mother to tour the Bristal of Massapequa she was frightened but you immediately put her at ease. You noticed that she was getting tired during the lour and rushed to get a wheelchair. You answered all of our questions and concerns.
We decided to move my mother to the Bristal. You were always available and smoothed the process for us. You made it easier for ail of us. I sleep easier knowing that my mother is at the Bristal. You are a big part of this. Thank you for all you have done to make this process easier for all of us.
Yours truly,
Catherine M. Handy, Ph.D., RN
Dear Lara,
How does one begin to express their appreciation and gratitude to someone that we as a family feel was exceptionally instrumental in making a profound difference in the life of a person that we loved dearly? It’s impossible to find words to express the magnitude of our appreciation devoted to you personally and condense it into a brief paragraph.
We witnessed the interactions between yourself and the residents at the Bristal over the course of time and we felt beyond impressed. You set the pace, put it in motion and the staff steps up to the plate and respects your authority. You set the bar of expectation high and are an outstanding role model. With an added bonus – you are Heaven Sent! Affectionately,
The Hejnas Family