From the Heart: Elant Nursing Assistant Personifies Elant`s Mission

11
FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2015
From the Heart: Elant Nursing Assistant
Personifies Elant’s Mission, Vision and Values
LOCATIONS:
Elant at GOSHEN
46 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10921
Esthete Magnotta walked around the hallways
throughout the Elant at Goshen skilled nursing facility
greeting everyone she saw with a big effervescent smile
and a hug.
Then, she stopped by 100-year-old Sara Dodd’s room.
Magnotta, better known to everyone at Elant simply
as “ET,” tiptoed into Dodd’s room. With a mischievous
twinkle in her eye, ET silently snuck closer to Dodd, whose
back was to her, careful to not give herself away. When ET
was close, she quietly tapped Dodd on the shoulder.
Elant at MEADOW HILL
172 Meadow Hill Road
Newburgh, NY 12550
for me. I think of her as a member of my family.”
ET, born in Ethiopia, met and married her American
husband there, and the two built their life in that nation.
Together, they traveled the world, which included living in
Greece and Lebanon before coming to the United States.
They lived in Chicago while her husband worked on his
doctoral studies. Later, they moved to Arizona so he could
complete his advanced education, eventually making their
way to the Hudson Valley.
“My father always said education is important,” said
ET. “My husband feels education is paramount. But God
had this plan for me. I’m happy where I am. When you do
for other people, the good things you do for them will travel
back to you. Everything I want, I’ve got. Working here is
like icing on the cake. It’s beautiful for me.”
GLEN ARDEN
A Continuing Care Retirement
Community
214 Harriman Drive
Goshen, NY 10924
Elant at FISHKILL
22 Robert Kasin Way
Beacon, NY 12508
Elant at WAPPINGERS FALLS
37 Mesier Avenue
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
SERVICES:
• Sub-Acute Care and
Rehabilitation Services
• Nursing Home Care
• Elant Medical Practice
• Assisted Living
• Adult Day Programs
• Retirement Community
Living
Sara Dodd, Elant at Goshen resident sharing a moment with
Esthete Magnotta, Certified Nursing Assistant
Dodd turned, and in that nanosecond their eyes met,
Dodd’s face lit up like a million light bulbs. “You’re here,”
Dodd exclaimed happily, opening up her arms to hug ET.
“I’m so happy to see you.”
“How are you, ‘Doddie?’” ET said, embracing the lady.
“How are you doing today?”
“I am just fine,” Dodd responded, continuing to hold
ET’s hand. “I am fine because you took such good care of
me last night.”
It’s a scene that repeats itself every day ET works,
because of the care and commitment she gives to Elant
residents. She began working at Elant 28 years ago, and
her colleagues consider her to be the epitome of what Elant
represents.
“She personifies what sets Elant apart from other skilled
nursing facilities in the industry,” said Crystal Cordovano,
the facility’s executive director and administrator. “Our
core mission, vision and values are also the core of ET.”
ET might see it a little differently.
“The families, they trust us with their loved ones,” she
said. “When I take care of people, I put myself in their
situation. I need to do the right thing for them, as I would
hope someone would do for me. I do this from my heart.
I treat people like I want to be treated, and I follow my
conscience.”
Dodd, who has lived at the skilled nursing facility for
the last 13 years, said that ET’s passion is demonstrated
in her care.
“She is just the kindest person and works with her
heart,” said Dodd. “She is really marvelous. When I came
here, she was the first face I saw. She had been taking care
of my mother when she lived here. I knew her from way
back when, and she is very unique. I can tell from the way
she acts that she truly enjoys her work. She does everything
“ET” is adored by residents and staff alike. Elant at
Goshen LPN, Ilene Gottlieb sharing a hug with “ET”.
Her colleagues see her compassion every day.
“She is a source of inspiration to the residents,” said
Gina Fischetti, ET’s supervisor. “Her compassion and
kindness I can compare to that of Mother Teresa. It’s
unconditional, pure and without any expectation for reward.
ET always provides a shoulder to cry on for family members
who are uncertain about putting their family member in a
skilled nursing facility. She provides support, emotional
stability and, most of all, uses humor to make them smile.”
Elant at Goshen’s Director of Nursing, Vickie Hodes
added: “ET genuinely takes her role in everyone’s lives,
not just the residents, to heart. She treats everyone like
family, and is generous with her time and her kind words.
ET, notably when interacting with her residents, can’t help
but make you smile.” In Ethiopia, ET explained, children take care of the old
and infirmed. She takes that important Ethiopian cultural
value and applies it to her work each day.
“I want everyone to know about the goodness of
Ethiopians,” she said. “I do everything for my residents,
head to toe. Many people tell me they hate it when I’m not
working and they’re so happy to see me when I’m here.
That makes me feel so good, so proud.”
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