Kindness Champion 2021
Vote for Mother & Daughter, Karen & Julianna Zobel
Nominated by Brian Zeidan
Karen Zobel
Karen Zobel, is a dedicated, visionary leader in long term care and retirement communities in Dutchess County. Karen sets the bar of success way above the standards with a focus always on best practices and community outreach. Through innovations in technology, cutting-edge programming, staff development, community outreach, fiscal review and oversight, and more, Brookmeade’ s reputation grew not just in the Hudson Valley, but throughout New York State and throughout the nation.
Karen has launched many initiatives with the end goal is making the world a better place by making a engaging home environment for our seniors and the best place for staff to work in.
Karen is driven by enhancing the quality of life for her neighbors by promoting and providing quality care in a loving environment…” as well as the challenge of creating a senior friendly space aimed at providing caregivers, and their loved ones, with quality, accessible respite services. Through Karen’s drive to be kind she has launched and expanded Brookmeade to provide a medical model adult day healthcare in Dutchess County after realizing a grim pattern of seniors being isolated in their homes resulting in depression and injury that transition them into a nursing home. She has built a safe haven for seniors in the community with The Pavilion providing a adult day health care program and other amenities aimed at providing respite for the caregivers. Karen is known as a change maker and her visionary leadership soon turned Brookmeade into a five-star community, garnering numerous local, statewide and national awards. Under Karen’s guidance, Meadows, formerly known as The Baptist Home, was designated the best long term care facility in the state of New York. She has launched innovative art programs, culinary programs and interventions in a skilled setting to cut down on pharmalogical interventions for seniors. She cares and puts all of her effort into making a difference in the community. She has advocated creating vaccine sites by utilizing the Dutchess County Office for the Aging and providing the logistics and driving up the number of people that wanting to be vaccinated.
Karen is a native to Dutchess County. She attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, received her Associates from Dutchess Community College, transferred to Marist College for her Bachelor’s in Social Work and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Fordham University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Throughout her professional career, Karen has received many awards and accolades for her advocacy of older individuals, development and implementation of innovative and person centered programming, fortitude in leadership and her unwavering ability to foster growth in an organization.
Karen has received a variety of leadership awards including The Chamber Foundation ATHENA Award, and was designated as a top 10% performing skilled nursing administrator by American College of Health Care Administrators for 10 consecutive years. Karen is actively involved in several community service organizations serving as an honorable member of the American College of Health Care Administrators and holding the honor of Administrator of the Year from 2014-2018, and serving on the Board of Directors for Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is Chairperson and President of LeadingAge of NY, a statewide eldercare advocacy non-profit organization, to only name a few.
Karen credits her success to her upbringing. Karen’s father, Sayel Zeidan, had a career in the human service field and advocating for individuals who needed it most. She will tell you stories of the days her father took her to work with him and how she always wanted to help others like her father had. This tradition Karen follows with her children. Both of her parents were immigrants and hard workers who value family, hard work and education. Family is most important to Karen and that is reflected in her leadership style. Karen will tell you, “Brookmeade is a second home and family to me.” Her greatest honor of all dwells with her two children, Julianna & Aaron David, whose mother will perpetually be their role model. She brings her children to many advocacy and charity events.
Julianna Zobel
For senior citizens in the skilled nursing facilities, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic it was particularly tough as visitation was suspended at the start of the pandemic. The New York State Department of Health and the Governor’s office issued guidance and requirements for nursing homes visitation and group activities that cut down on socialization.
Julianna Zobel, Brookmeade Community’s former volunteer and current employee, who can be described as a person who freely offers to champion the needs of our seniors has launched a program “Surprise A Senior!” Her message to the community:
As many of us know the shutdown of nursing homes and adult care facility’s visitations have caused much heartache to both the residents and their families during this troubling time. Some of our residents have only seen their loved ones virtually since March.
Now more than ever we need to show our loved ones a bit of cheer.
"My name is Julianna and I have been granted permission by Brookmeade to start the Surprise a Senior project.
The Brookmeade campus offers independent living, assisted living, long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation, palliative care, and out-patient rehabilitation services. The campus is expanding to include social and medical adult day health programs.
The mission of Brookmeade has always been to enhance and promote the quality of life of those entrusted in their care.
I am hoping you will join in this mission and support the Surprise a Senior project."
Brookmeade Community residents and staff have felt the incredible kindness and support as cars paraded around visitation lots, PPE supplies provided by our neighboring community organizations, and donors. Julianna Zobel has been volunteering at Meadows at Brookmeade Community, formerly known as The Baptist Home, since she was six years old and turned 15 last October. The usual intent of volunteering is surely to help others, however through her volunteering journey she has gained so much. There are many opportunities to help residents of all ages in a nursing home. Before the pandemic volunteers had many other options of volunteering such as delivering mail, transport residents to activities, read a story or play cards and more. “Surprise A Senior” is an opportunity that has touched Julianna Zobel to provide the necessary support to enhancing and enriching Brookmeade senior’s lives.
“We want to recognize and say thank you Julianna Zobel for her skill set, compassion and kindness and to get the community involved with Surprise A Senior” said Karen Zobel, CEO & Administrator and proud mom “We proactively closed our doors early March prior to the mandated closing and our residents have been unable to receive visitors in person as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Julianna’s project is a really beautiful way to acknowledge our residents and helps us stay connected while being apart.”
___
Voting for the top nominees will be from Sept 1 - 20.
Winner to be announced at our Annual Virtual Community Breakfast. For more information and tickets, go to www.uwdor.org/breakfast2021
- Nominees (individuals) must live or work in Dutchess or Orange County
- The Act of Kindness should impact Dutchess or Orange County
- No age restriction
- Nominees under the age of 18 must have parental permission
- Prize package for top finalists includes a donation to charity of winner's choice serving Orange or Dutchess County and other exciting prizes
- All finalists will receive a Kindness Champion certificate
Vote for Mother & Daughter, Karen & Julianna Zobel
Nominated by Brian Zeidan
Karen Zobel
Karen Zobel, is a dedicated, visionary leader in long term care and retirement communities in Dutchess County. Karen sets the bar of success way above the standards with a focus always on best practices and community outreach. Through innovations in technology, cutting-edge programming, staff development, community outreach, fiscal review and oversight, and more, Brookmeade’ s reputation grew not just in the Hudson Valley, but throughout New York State and throughout the nation.
Karen has launched many initiatives with the end goal is making the world a better place by making a engaging home environment for our seniors and the best place for staff to work in.
Karen is driven by enhancing the quality of life for her neighbors by promoting and providing quality care in a loving environment…” as well as the challenge of creating a senior friendly space aimed at providing caregivers, and their loved ones, with quality, accessible respite services. Through Karen’s drive to be kind she has launched and expanded Brookmeade to provide a medical model adult day healthcare in Dutchess County after realizing a grim pattern of seniors being isolated in their homes resulting in depression and injury that transition them into a nursing home. She has built a safe haven for seniors in the community with The Pavilion providing a adult day health care program and other amenities aimed at providing respite for the caregivers. Karen is known as a change maker and her visionary leadership soon turned Brookmeade into a five-star community, garnering numerous local, statewide and national awards. Under Karen’s guidance, Meadows, formerly known as The Baptist Home, was designated the best long term care facility in the state of New York. She has launched innovative art programs, culinary programs and interventions in a skilled setting to cut down on pharmalogical interventions for seniors. She cares and puts all of her effort into making a difference in the community. She has advocated creating vaccine sites by utilizing the Dutchess County Office for the Aging and providing the logistics and driving up the number of people that wanting to be vaccinated.
Karen is a native to Dutchess County. She attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, received her Associates from Dutchess Community College, transferred to Marist College for her Bachelor’s in Social Work and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Fordham University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Throughout her professional career, Karen has received many awards and accolades for her advocacy of older individuals, development and implementation of innovative and person centered programming, fortitude in leadership and her unwavering ability to foster growth in an organization.
Karen has received a variety of leadership awards including The Chamber Foundation ATHENA Award, and was designated as a top 10% performing skilled nursing administrator by American College of Health Care Administrators for 10 consecutive years. Karen is actively involved in several community service organizations serving as an honorable member of the American College of Health Care Administrators and holding the honor of Administrator of the Year from 2014-2018, and serving on the Board of Directors for Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is Chairperson and President of LeadingAge of NY, a statewide eldercare advocacy non-profit organization, to only name a few.
Karen credits her success to her upbringing. Karen’s father, Sayel Zeidan, had a career in the human service field and advocating for individuals who needed it most. She will tell you stories of the days her father took her to work with him and how she always wanted to help others like her father had. This tradition Karen follows with her children. Both of her parents were immigrants and hard workers who value family, hard work and education. Family is most important to Karen and that is reflected in her leadership style. Karen will tell you, “Brookmeade is a second home and family to me.” Her greatest honor of all dwells with her two children, Julianna & Aaron David, whose mother will perpetually be their role model. She brings her children to many advocacy and charity events.
Julianna Zobel
For senior citizens in the skilled nursing facilities, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic it was particularly tough as visitation was suspended at the start of the pandemic. The New York State Department of Health and the Governor’s office issued guidance and requirements for nursing homes visitation and group activities that cut down on socialization.
Julianna Zobel, Brookmeade Community’s former volunteer and current employee, who can be described as a person who freely offers to champion the needs of our seniors has launched a program “Surprise A Senior!” Her message to the community:
As many of us know the shutdown of nursing homes and adult care facility’s visitations have caused much heartache to both the residents and their families during this troubling time. Some of our residents have only seen their loved ones virtually since March.
Now more than ever we need to show our loved ones a bit of cheer.
"My name is Julianna and I have been granted permission by Brookmeade to start the Surprise a Senior project.
The Brookmeade campus offers independent living, assisted living, long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation, palliative care, and out-patient rehabilitation services. The campus is expanding to include social and medical adult day health programs.
The mission of Brookmeade has always been to enhance and promote the quality of life of those entrusted in their care.
I am hoping you will join in this mission and support the Surprise a Senior project."
Brookmeade Community residents and staff have felt the incredible kindness and support as cars paraded around visitation lots, PPE supplies provided by our neighboring community organizations, and donors. Julianna Zobel has been volunteering at Meadows at Brookmeade Community, formerly known as The Baptist Home, since she was six years old and turned 15 last October. The usual intent of volunteering is surely to help others, however through her volunteering journey she has gained so much. There are many opportunities to help residents of all ages in a nursing home. Before the pandemic volunteers had many other options of volunteering such as delivering mail, transport residents to activities, read a story or play cards and more. “Surprise A Senior” is an opportunity that has touched Julianna Zobel to provide the necessary support to enhancing and enriching Brookmeade senior’s lives.
“We want to recognize and say thank you Julianna Zobel for her skill set, compassion and kindness and to get the community involved with Surprise A Senior” said Karen Zobel, CEO & Administrator and proud mom “We proactively closed our doors early March prior to the mandated closing and our residents have been unable to receive visitors in person as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Julianna’s project is a really beautiful way to acknowledge our residents and helps us stay connected while being apart.”
___
Voting for the top nominees will be from Sept 1 - 20.
Winner to be announced at our Annual Virtual Community Breakfast. For more information and tickets, go to www.uwdor.org/breakfast2021
- Nominees (individuals) must live or work in Dutchess or Orange County
- The Act of Kindness should impact Dutchess or Orange County
- No age restriction
- Nominees under the age of 18 must have parental permission
- Prize package for top finalists includes a donation to charity of winner's choice serving Orange or Dutchess County and other exciting prizes
- All finalists will receive a Kindness Champion certificate
Vote for Mother & Daughter, Karen & Julianna Zobel
Nominated by Brian Zeidan
Karen Zobel
Karen Zobel, is a dedicated, visionary leader in long term care and retirement communities in Dutchess County. Karen sets the bar of success way above the standards with a focus always on best practices and community outreach. Through innovations in technology, cutting-edge programming, staff development, community outreach, fiscal review and oversight, and more, Brookmeade’ s reputation grew not just in the Hudson Valley, but throughout New York State and throughout the nation.
Karen has launched many initiatives with the end goal is making the world a better place by making a engaging home environment for our seniors and the best place for staff to work in.
Karen is driven by enhancing the quality of life for her neighbors by promoting and providing quality care in a loving environment…” as well as the challenge of creating a senior friendly space aimed at providing caregivers, and their loved ones, with quality, accessible respite services. Through Karen’s drive to be kind she has launched and expanded Brookmeade to provide a medical model adult day healthcare in Dutchess County after realizing a grim pattern of seniors being isolated in their homes resulting in depression and injury that transition them into a nursing home. She has built a safe haven for seniors in the community with The Pavilion providing a adult day health care program and other amenities aimed at providing respite for the caregivers. Karen is known as a change maker and her visionary leadership soon turned Brookmeade into a five-star community, garnering numerous local, statewide and national awards. Under Karen’s guidance, Meadows, formerly known as The Baptist Home, was designated the best long term care facility in the state of New York. She has launched innovative art programs, culinary programs and interventions in a skilled setting to cut down on pharmalogical interventions for seniors. She cares and puts all of her effort into making a difference in the community. She has advocated creating vaccine sites by utilizing the Dutchess County Office for the Aging and providing the logistics and driving up the number of people that wanting to be vaccinated.
Karen is a native to Dutchess County. She attended Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, received her Associates from Dutchess Community College, transferred to Marist College for her Bachelor’s in Social Work and went on to earn a Master’s Degree from Fordham University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Throughout her professional career, Karen has received many awards and accolades for her advocacy of older individuals, development and implementation of innovative and person centered programming, fortitude in leadership and her unwavering ability to foster growth in an organization.
Karen has received a variety of leadership awards including The Chamber Foundation ATHENA Award, and was designated as a top 10% performing skilled nursing administrator by American College of Health Care Administrators for 10 consecutive years. Karen is actively involved in several community service organizations serving as an honorable member of the American College of Health Care Administrators and holding the honor of Administrator of the Year from 2014-2018, and serving on the Board of Directors for Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and is Chairperson and President of LeadingAge of NY, a statewide eldercare advocacy non-profit organization, to only name a few.
Karen credits her success to her upbringing. Karen’s father, Sayel Zeidan, had a career in the human service field and advocating for individuals who needed it most. She will tell you stories of the days her father took her to work with him and how she always wanted to help others like her father had. This tradition Karen follows with her children. Both of her parents were immigrants and hard workers who value family, hard work and education. Family is most important to Karen and that is reflected in her leadership style. Karen will tell you, “Brookmeade is a second home and family to me.” Her greatest honor of all dwells with her two children, Julianna & Aaron David, whose mother will perpetually be their role model. She brings her children to many advocacy and charity events.
Julianna Zobel
For senior citizens in the skilled nursing facilities, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic it was particularly tough as visitation was suspended at the start of the pandemic. The New York State Department of Health and the Governor’s office issued guidance and requirements for nursing homes visitation and group activities that cut down on socialization.
Julianna Zobel, Brookmeade Community’s former volunteer and current employee, who can be described as a person who freely offers to champion the needs of our seniors has launched a program “Surprise A Senior!” Her message to the community:
As many of us know the shutdown of nursing homes and adult care facility’s visitations have caused much heartache to both the residents and their families during this troubling time. Some of our residents have only seen their loved ones virtually since March.
Now more than ever we need to show our loved ones a bit of cheer.
"My name is Julianna and I have been granted permission by Brookmeade to start the Surprise a Senior project.
The Brookmeade campus offers independent living, assisted living, long-term care, sub-acute rehabilitation, palliative care, and out-patient rehabilitation services. The campus is expanding to include social and medical adult day health programs.
The mission of Brookmeade has always been to enhance and promote the quality of life of those entrusted in their care.
I am hoping you will join in this mission and support the Surprise a Senior project."
Brookmeade Community residents and staff have felt the incredible kindness and support as cars paraded around visitation lots, PPE supplies provided by our neighboring community organizations, and donors. Julianna Zobel has been volunteering at Meadows at Brookmeade Community, formerly known as The Baptist Home, since she was six years old and turned 15 last October. The usual intent of volunteering is surely to help others, however through her volunteering journey she has gained so much. There are many opportunities to help residents of all ages in a nursing home. Before the pandemic volunteers had many other options of volunteering such as delivering mail, transport residents to activities, read a story or play cards and more. “Surprise A Senior” is an opportunity that has touched Julianna Zobel to provide the necessary support to enhancing and enriching Brookmeade senior’s lives.
“We want to recognize and say thank you Julianna Zobel for her skill set, compassion and kindness and to get the community involved with Surprise A Senior” said Karen Zobel, CEO & Administrator and proud mom “We proactively closed our doors early March prior to the mandated closing and our residents have been unable to receive visitors in person as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Julianna’s project is a really beautiful way to acknowledge our residents and helps us stay connected while being apart.”
___
Voting for the top nominees will be from Sept 1 - 20.
Winner to be announced at our Annual Virtual Community Breakfast. For more information and tickets, go to www.uwdor.org/breakfast2021
- Nominees (individuals) must live or work in Dutchess or Orange County
- The Act of Kindness should impact Dutchess or Orange County
- No age restriction
- Nominees under the age of 18 must have parental permission
- Prize package for top finalists includes a donation to charity of winner's choice serving Orange or Dutchess County and other exciting prizes
- All finalists will receive a Kindness Champion certificate