The team has a combined 50(ish) years of experience with Virginia Health Services. And how do they surprise the individuals they talk to daily?
“Many people are surprised that they get to talk to a human voice,” says team leader Kassie Martin.
They field about 100 (or more) phone calls a day between them. They remain professional, courteous and patient as so many of the individuals they speak with feel the stress of finding a safe place for their loved ones.
Our team members have to know how to decipher insurance information, understand medical charts and breakdown financials.
The team reads medical history and charts – and they get referrals from many sources.
It’s a challenging job to keep track of multiple individuals and where each is in the process. Once the admissions process is completed, the individual transitions to a Resident Navigator at the nursing center to onboard in person, which means our admissions team rarely meets in person those they’ve admitted.
It’s worth it. The team agrees the work they do helps contribute to the community they work in.
Thank you to our team! We can’t do it without you!
Learn more about us
Virginia Health Services offers seven nursing and rehabilitation centers in Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester, York County and Kilmarnock. We provide skilled, long-term and respite care. Our Walter Reed location in Gloucester County offers Memory Care, which also will be provided at Lancashire in Kilmarnock by the end of 2024.
Our Coliseum location in Hampton provides on-site dialysis to residents, and the skilled Mitchell unit at James River in Newport News has been recently refurbished.
Visit vahs.com/nursingcenters to learn more and request information of our centralized admissions team.
VHS President and CEO Mark Klyczek was one of 71 executives who shared “their top partnerships of the year — and what’s next” in a Becker’s Healthcare article.
“We believe to serve our community we cannot be all things to all people and need great partnerships to be successful,” Mark says.
“We have been selected to participate in the CMS demonstration project, GUIDE Model, caring for individuals with dementia in the community. We have already initiated partnership discussions with other GUIDE enrolled providers, some of which are in our market and we have not had partnerships in the past. This will help to increase the population we serve and continue to diversify our revenue streams.”
Mark also says strengthening payer relationships will be a priority in 2025.
The leaders, including Mark, will be featured speakers at the Becker’s 12th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable conference in November.
The Gloucester Gazette-Journal published an article recognizing Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s third straight appearance on the America’s Best Nursing Homes list.
The story outlines the services offered at Walter Reed, which includes Memory Care, and its background.
It is the third consecutive year Walter Reed has received the honor.
GLOUCESTER, Va. (October 28, 2024) – Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester, a Virginia Health Services (VHS) community, has been recognized on Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025 list. This prestigious award is presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on September 25, 2024, and can currently be viewed on Newsweek’s website.
This is the third straight year Walter Reed has earned the Newsweek honor. Walter Reed opened in 1981 in its current location and is one of seven nursing and rehabilitation centers under the VHS umbrella, which also includes home care, hospice, assisted and independent living, along with rehabilitation and pharmacy services. Walter Reed offers skilled and long-term nursing care in addition to Memory Care units for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025 ranking lists the nation’s leading nursing homes in the 25 unique states with the highest number of facilities according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The evaluation is based on the following four pillars:
CMS data used to determine the performance of nursing homes.
Reputation Score based on a national online survey of thousands of medical professionals.
Resident Satisfaction Data.
Accreditation by The Joint Commission (TJC) and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
Based on the results of the study, Walter Reed is honored to again be recognized as one of Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes.
“Being honored nationally three times in a row is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Virginia Health Services President and CEO Mark Klyczek. “The team’s dedication to providing quality resident care is embraced throughout the building, and we’re so proud they are being recognized again for their hard work.”
Learn more about the Walter Reed community and its engaged residents and team members at vahs.com/walterreed or visit Walter Reed’s Facebook page.
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About VHS
Locally owned and headquartered in Newport News, Virginia since 1963, Virginia Health Services offers exceptional senior living and health care services. We specialize in the continuum of care from active lifestyle independent and assisted senior living communities, to skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Our 1,000+ Team Members are passionate and committed to the well-being and quality care of our residents. Beyond our thoughtfully maintained communities located throughout the Virginia Peninsula, we offer a full range of personalized skilled health care, outpatient therapy, pharmacy, home care and hospice services by specially trained staff in the comfort and privacy of your home. To learn more, please visit our website at www.vahs.com.
About Statista:
Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.
It’s National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week (Oct. 20-26), and Virginia Health Services celebrates its maintenance and facilities team members. The VHS team creates home-like environments for residents, makes sure safety is a top priority throughout its communities and takes on projects as the organization expands its services.
VHS operates three senior living communities, seven nursing and rehabilitation centers, and maintains offices for corporate support services, VHS Rehabilitation, VHS Home Health Care and VHS Home Hospice. The upkeep of each facility requires a team dedicated to working behind the scenes, changing light bulbs, checking the plumbing, and so much more.
VHS Vice President of Facilities and Development Jesse Young.
Jesse Young, VHS Vice President of Facilities and Development, oversees facility maintenance and building improvements. He says the unique skill sets each member of the team has allows VHS to be nimble and efficient.
“Because our team have those specific skills, we can do things a lot of organizations can’t (without contracting),” he says. “The only way it works is because of them and what they bring to the table.”
Jesse and his team also work with contractors and other vendors to complete larger building improvements and upgrades, particularly those that are public-facing.
“It’s a team effort and it wouldn’t work without the full team,” Jess says. “That includes our vendor relationships. We have to work to build them and maintain clear communication.”
Facility updates
Jesse and his team have been coordinating with vendors and internal teams as the VHS communities undergo several building improvements, enhancements and upgrades this year.
James River
James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which opened 60 years ago, will have a new entrance and office space. The G.S. Mitchell unit has undergone renovations and reopens this month, while an updated dining room opened this spring.
“It’s the most significant facelift to any unit in many years,” Jesse said. “There isn’t a unit at James River that hasn’t been touched in some way.”
About half the building will have new paint, flooring, handrails, corner guards and artwork. The 23 rooms on the Mitchell unit and shared spaces were redone. And behind-the-scenes, significant heating and cooling work and pipe insulation is complete.
More projects will follow the completion of the front entrance.
Lancashire
Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is preparing to open a Memory Care unit by the end of the year. The lobby also was updated with new flooring, paint, signage and artwork. Those updates will continue with new paint, handrails and corridor work that leads from the front to its resident units.
The unit being converted to Memory Care required the addition of security doors. A quiet room was added to the end of the hall for relaxation and decompression. There is fresh paint, flooring and artwork throughout. A living space was created to “feel like home,” Jesse says, with a kitchen area, lounge furniture and dining space.
“Hopefully, this becomes the pattern for where we’ll go with additional community upgrades — implementing a warmer, livelier feel with consistent branding,” Jesse says.
This was done while rooms were in use by residents.
“That expanded the number of people involved. It took all building staff to coordinate residents while rooms were updated. The residents in rooms being work on would be relocated to somewhere safe and comfortable during the day and returned to their room when the work was completed that evening. The full Coliseum team was involved to ensure the least disruptions to the residents. We didn’t want to disrupts operations any more than we had to,” Jesse says.
Coliseum is no stranger to upgrades. Previous building projects included the opening of the Dialysis Den in 2023 and lobby upgrades.
Additional updates
The Arbors Independent Living also completed building improvements this year, including apartment upgrades with granite counters and stainless-steel appliances, flooring throughout the building, updated café fixtures, furniture and artwork, and new furnishings throughout the first floor.
The VHS facilities team also is working on upgrades to the lobbies of the remaining five nursing and rehabilitation centers over the next few years. Jesse says plans are being worked on for each, but the plan is to keep consistent use of materials (such as paint, flooring and artwork) across all communities.
Maintaining VHS
The upkeep of all communities falls on the support team in coordination with maintenance, housekeeping and environmental services.
For example, using the same materials means that the same color paint can be used for touch-ups across communities or the same cleaning chemicals for surfaces can be used. It creates efficiency across the organization.
Members of the Corporate EVS Team (Sharon Robins, Traci Chestnut-Jefferson, Diego Guerrero Cortez, Alfred Harris, Lionel Harris, Maxine Hawkins, Daniel Revere and Marsha Cheek) were recognized as Team Members of the Quarter (for Q3) for their work across our communities.
The team also keeps up with daily tasks, such as changing light bulbs, plumbing repairs, door adjustments and more. Some of the tasks are major, and the corporate team helps handle larger-scale tasks, such as AC/heating unit replacements and boilers.
The work is done purposefully, Jesse says, and the team has to bring the atmosphere of transparency and communication so operations in the communities aren’t disrupted.
“This only works when all the pieces are there,” he says. “It’s fun; there’s never a dull moment.”
Join our team!
We are always on the search for talented jacks of all trades!
Among our career opportunities is an opening for an assistant project manager, which will report to Jesse and help oversee our building projects throughout the organization.
She answers the door with a warm smile and introduces herself as “Dot. Just Dot.”
She says her gait is a little slower now, but she’s had a “very grateful life, physically and in every way.”
And today, she celebrates her 100th birthday.
Dorothy Knopf — or as she says, “Dot” — lived a significant part of her life in Yorktown. She started calling The Arbors Independent Living home a few months ago. She rehabbed from a fall at her daughter Karen’s house and realized she couldn’t just return to her longtime home.
“When I thought this change had to come, which was nothing but fine, I came here to The Arbors. I just love the surroundings, the park, and how fortunate I was to get this apartment with the view and bay window,” she says from her living room that overlooks Port Warwick’s Styron Square. “I loved this apartment when it was shown to me. … I had several friends who had moved here.”
She now lives even closer to her daughter, who is 10 minutes away, and a grandson.
“I’ve not one regret and enjoy it all. So friendly,” Dot says. “… Certain time of life, you need to be near family when you can. I think it’s very important. … It just seemed so nice to be here. It’s a nice size, not too large. … You know, I think I almost (have everyone’s name) down.”
She was able to move in her china cabinet, which was a Christmas gift from her late husband, and several other meaningful pieces.
“I think when you realized you could bring that, you’d be OK,” Karen says to Dot, who nods.
“I feel very much at home, and that’s a lot to say after living where I did for that number of years (in Yorktown),” Dot says.
Celebrating a century
Also helping her feel at home in Newport News is living close to family. She’s been close to her daughter’s family and friends throughout her life.
And it’s with her family that Dot chose to celebrate her century of life.
Dorothy Knopf now calls The Arbors home and loves her view of Styron Square from her living room’s bay window.
She, Karen and her husband, and their two sons and their families (including five great-grandchildren) are spending the weekend in the Outer Banks.
“My family have gone to the beach 47 consecutive years. We never missed,” Dot says. “Since (the children are) older, it’s harder. We’re going my birthday weekend. My best thing I love is going to Nags Head. We’re all getting together, we have two cottages and we’re going to have a wonderful weekend.”
There was no lack of celebration leading up to the big day, either. There were several smaller trips with Karen and her friends, and luncheons throughout the lead-up week.
“See what you get when you get old!” she says with a laugh.
“I’m grateful. I never knew anybody to be 100, I never thought I’d be 100 and there was never anybody in my family, so I don’t know what makes me different, but I hope Karen can carry it on.”
Warm welcome to The Arbors
Dot says the residents and team members at The Arbors have become “a wonderful word, family.”
Joyce ran into Dot at a party at the Warwick Yacht Club when they were there with their children. Joyce said she heard a rumor Dot was moving in.
“She said, ‘If you ever decide to come’ — and I think it’s the loveliest thing — she said, ‘there’ll always be a chair at my table,’” Dot recalls.
(If you don’t have a tear in your eye right now, you’re doing better than this writer did when first hearing the story.)
“I went down to the dining room the day I moved in — and I stood there and I’ll never forget, I saw this hand go up and it was Joyce. I cry every time I tell it. There was my chair, waiting for me. … That’s like home and she welcomed me. It’s been lovely,” Dot says.
“That’s The Arbors and the kind of people that are here. Lovely people, and willing to help you or do anything for you. And I in turn like to do for them too. So, it works both ways; it becomes contagious.”
Sandy, Dot and Joyce during The Arbors homecoming event in September, sharing their dining room table.
She enjoys dinner time, especially on Thursdays when the flower arrangements turn over and she can take home one of the centerpieces. She attends lunch outings, other socials and, often, happy hour.
“I’m not too old for that!” she says.
She also goes out often with her daughter, who is a retired teacher, and her friends.
“Mom is like another mother to those gals,” Karen says.
Dot adds, “They include me. They’re lovely. I’m very grateful to Karen and her friends because most of mine have gone to the angels.”
Before she moved from her home, one of her favorite hobbies was keeping up her yard. She was active with the church and in garden clubs. She enjoys to read. And yes, she still drives.
“I just enjoy people in general,” she says. “I love my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They’re grown now. I do love chatting with people; don’t want to be overbearing. And anything I can do for somebody.”
Karen says she always has done things for others.
“She’s been very lucky to be healthy and her attitude — she sees the best,” Karen says.
A love story
Dot developed much of her outlook on life from her husband. She became a widow 29 years ago.
“I lived with a wonderful man; we were young when we got married. I was one of the lucky ones. I gained a lot from him too,” she says.
He was in real estate and insurance, which is what brought the couple to Virginia many years ago.
“He lived by three things,” Dot says. “Your ACE factor. A-attitude; C-conviction and E-enthusiasm. Think of it, that’s your ACE factor. It adds up.”
She says she had a wonderful life with her husband of 51 years. They were both from Scarsdale, N.Y. and reconnected when he returned from being a prisoner of war (POW) during World War II while stationed with the Army in Germany.
“He went through a lot at a young age, right out of high school. He’s one of the lucky ones, he finally did come home,” she says.
It’s a beautiful story even when told nearly 80 years later.
“She and Daddy’s romance coming back from war could be a Hallmark movie,” Karen says.
She was still living in Scarsdale, about 19 years old, and Dot and her mother were at an ice cream shop in town near the train station.
“My Mama could see out the window, and she had a strange look on her face,” Dot says. “A train had come in, she says, ‘Bud, there’s a solider boy coming up the stairs in the distance. I cannot believe this, I think it’s Bobby.’
“My mother was beside herself, she was crazy about him as I was. She said, ‘go out and meet him!’ I didn’t know if I could move. But I did — I ran out in the middle of the street, cars were honking — and we just met up again. I brought him back into the ice cream shop to see Mom and she offered to drive him home.
“We took him home; he lived the next street to mine. His mother didn’t know he was here anymore than I did. And he invited us in! When he got out of the car, he said, ‘I’ll see you tonight.’ And he did. I can still see the expression on his mother’s face. She had three sons who were in different branches of the service. My husband was her baby. Never dreaming he would go through so much. But he came back. And he did come by that night, and ever since.”
Calling Virginia home
The couple moved to Virginia’s Eastern Shore when Karen was 18 months old.
“It’s where our roots are,” Karen says.
“I feel I’m a Virginian – and proud to be,” Dot says.
Dot said that while she has great respect for the mountains, she loved living near the water.
“We had a wonderful 51 years. That was most memorable, and having a daughter. That too was quite a day,” Dot says.
She says she was a wife and mother most of the time.
“In my time, very few women worked. It was more the homemaker. There’s plenty to do at home if it’s done right,” Dot says. “If you can accomplish it and do it in a nice way, I think it’s an honor. I went to business school, but there was nothing I really cared about. Not many jobs like today were offered in my time. … My ending years, I’m here at The Arbors.”
She also is a supportive parent and grandparent. Dot had a hand in raising her grandsons and great-grandchildren, never missing sporting events or musical forays. She’s looking forward to an upcoming grandchild’s wedding in May.
“I’ve had a very grateful life … I don’t overlook it. Whatever time is left, I’ve enjoyed all I’ve had given to me,” she says. “I think anything in life – overall – it’s a gift. I will close with this quote … I told Karen I want it on my tombstone … ‘Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is the present and this is our gift.’”
Call The Arbors home
Our residents love to call The Arbors Independent Living home. Visit vahs.com/thearbors to learn more about our community and schedule a tour.
The Gloucester Gazette-Journal, based in Gloucester County, Virginia, shared the news that Virginia Health Services CEO and President Mark Klyczek was one of 39 participants selected by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) as a future leader in long-term and post-acute care. Klyczek will participate in AHCA/NCAL’s Future Leaders program, which provides year-long training and mentorship for professionals in long-term and post-acute care.
It also was included in the press release by the AHCA/NCAL, which was released at the start of the leadership program’s conference in September, and included in McKnight’s Senior Living News brief on Sept. 24, 2024.
From the apprentice program to in-services, Virginia Health Services is committed to the development of its team members and promoting from within. Nursing Professional Development Week (Sept. 14-20) presents the opportunity to highlight professional development opportunities available through VHS.
Apprentice program
Our education team is a starting point for many new team members.
Care Assistants enter the earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program and graduate to Nurse Aides. The program covers the cost of the certification exam to be a CNA and the education team offers reviews to further prepare students for the test.
The Peninsula class is held at the Education, Enrichment, Employment (EEE) Center in Port Warwick, with hands-on training at James River or Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers. A program also is offered in Gloucester at Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Learn more about the program at vahs.com/apprenticeship.
The program is led by Director of Education Princess Henderson, BSN, RN. Instructors include Terry Williamson, LPN; Nora Gillespie, RN; and Tracy Williams, RN, BSN.
The team, which includes Process Improvement Manager Cerissa Atkins, also organizes and leads new employee orientation at the Launch Center, also on the corporate campus in Port Warwick.
Nursing team training
The investment in development of our nursing professionals at Virginia Health Services extends beyond our earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program.
The education team is the first group to try out new equipment and deliver training. It also can offer prep assistance for individuals in a RN program by request. It can help with school selection and get the process going.
Cerissa said being prepared and setting a timeline is key. “Don’t delay,” she said of starting the process. Deciding where to go, finding financial assistance and applying takes time.
Princess said nursing schedulers will help accommodate school schedules and be flexible with individuals on development pathways.
The education team also offers knowledge-based in-services and addresses pressure areas in facilities, such as setting up IV labs, PPE demos and other training. CPR certification training is offered at EEE.
Partnership programs
They also work with Director of Team Engagement Kathryn Fisher, who can connect team members to assistance, scholarship opportunities and nursing programs that offer discounts to VHS employees.
Outside opportunities to grow at Virginia Health Services include partnerships with ECPI and South University. Both offer discounted tuition to VHS employees and their dependents. The universities offer nursing programs, and also extend to team members in dietary, accounting, IT and management.
Join our team
Virginia Health Services offers career options in nursing including CNA, LPN, RN, MDS roles and leadership positions. We provide flexible scheduling options, competitive wages and benefits, early wage access and more. Visit vahs.com/careers to start your career journey with VHS today.
In honor of National Assisted Living Week (Sept. 8-14), we are spotlighting residents at The Hamilton Assisted Living. We also are spotlighting residents at The Arbors Independent Living in Port Warwick as part of an all-encompassing Senior Living Week celebration.
Care of our residents is the heart of what we do. Our team works to support these individuals to live their best life. We are thankful they chose to call Virginia Health Services senior living communities home.
The Arbors Independent Living
Lynn Bush: New to Virginia
When you didn’t call Virginia home until two years ago, moving into a new place might be considered a challenge. Lynn Bush hasn’t felt that way about The Arbors Independent Living.
“In capital letters, I love it here,” she says. “Absolutely love it.”
She moved into The Arbors about two years ago from Colorado. Her son and his family relocated to York County and she wasn’t interested in living across the country from her only grandson.
Her son and daughter-in-law “found this place and it is perfect,” she says. “I don’t have to cook, I don’t have to clean up too much. I just love it.”
Lynn says she likes the variety of menu items at The Arbors — “it’s not just a couple of things, it’s an actual menu like at a restaurant and changes all the time. It’s good, and it’s hot when you get it.”
She also takes advantage of the complimentary transportation to get to doctors’ appointments. She gave up her license before moving and, being new to the area, doesn’t know how to get around.
Lynn says she is getting to know more about Virginia by taking trips arranged by the Life Enrichment Director, including to a farm in Mathews where she adored the pups.
“I’m a major pet fan,” she says. She also likes it when the pet therapy dogs visit on Mondays.
“I want to see more of the area on sightseeing trips,” she says. “I have seen practically nothing of Virginia except when we go on the bus. Only thing I see with my kids are my grandson’s baseball games.”
While she doesn’t play Bingo, she participates in other activities such as arts and crafts, and attends whatever socials she can.
And she does it all in the company of the friends she’s made while living at The Arbors.
“Everybody here — staff and residents — are so friendly. I don’t know how they all remember my name. The staff impressed me. They knew my name when I came. It’s just super friendly.
“When I first got here, my brother helped move me from Colorado. I had a fair amount of stuff; my kids had brought my furniture. A young man helped with my bags and told me, ‘welcome to Virginia, you’ll find us to be friendly here.’ And it is. It’s noticeable.”
She says she surprised herself by making good friends quickly because “I’m not usually very ‘joiny’ and it takes me a while to get close to someone. It didn’t here, something just clicked, and I think a lot of it is the attitude. Most everybody is happy to be here.”
Why Virginia?
Originally from Ohio, Lynn lived in Florida for 20 years — “it’s hot, sticky and there’s big bugs there” — and Colorado for about a decade.
“It’s so beautiful, just everywhere you look there’s scenery. You drive down the road, you see mountain goats. It’s incredible,” she says.
For all its natural beauty, the public school system left something to be desired. Her grandson had the opportunity to select a region for the family to move for better schooling opportunities.
He chose Grafton and is a catcher on the baseball team. He also plays for an American Legion team, a summer team and picks up other games whenever he can.
“He’s only happy when he’s playing baseball,” Lynn says smiling.
Her grandson had a built-in group of friends moving the region, having met several kids from here while playing travel baseball.
“Grandma’s not bragging,” she says, “but he’s really, really smart.”
She thinks her son and daughter-in-law are “super excellent parents. Their whole life exists around him. Yet he’s not really spoiled, he’s a really good kid, gets good grades, he’s active, he’s in with good people. It’s amazing. He just turned 16.”
Family life
Lynn says she’s from a “big, blended family.”
She said there were 10 people in the house while she was growing up.
“You always had someone to play with. I truly loved being in a big family. Thought that’s what I wanted, but it didn’t work out for me and I’m grateful for that,” she says.
While in Florida, she was a telephone operator for 20 years. It was her dream job, though she no longer can pinpoint why.
“I loved my job, but there were a lot of things about it that I didn’t love,” she says. “I was directory assistance. They gave us 17 seconds to give a greeting, what city and state, hear the request and find it and send it out. All of that in 17 seconds. That’s fast … By the time I retired, we basically covered the United States.”
She’s carried over some of her long-time hobbies to The Arbors. She enjoys crocheting, knitting, quilting, and the organized painting projects.
“They started a book club, and I always have a book in my hand. I wanted to join, but I read too fast and I don’t like being told what to read. I read a lot of mysteries, crime. I like true crime; I like that in television too,” she says.
She also likes history, and often says she can’t believe how much she’s lived through.
“Time just goes by so fast — when I think of the things I’ve lived through, doesn’t seem I’m as old as I am … Man walked on the moon, who would imagine that.”
She says she is looking forward to exploring more of Virginia and spending time with her family.
“I am certainly glad the kids found this place for me. I really like Virginia; I would like to get to see a little more of it. Hopefully, maybe when football season starts, (my family) will have more time to take me to see some things. In the meantime, I just sign up to go wherever they go to see what it’s like.”
Merendinos: Family is where you are
Their children had their best interests at heart. Tony and Terri Merendino moved into The Arbors Independent Living about two years ago from an apartment off Styron Square.
“My darling children decided I should be in a senior dwelling and not have to worry about anything,” Terri says with a smile.
The Merendinos resisted for a while, but with Tony in his 90s and Terri being 88, it was time to leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else.
They have a two-bedroom apartment.
“It’s huge. Even the kitchen is so big. There’s a beautiful bedroom and we use the other room for Tony’s office and den,” Terri says.
The Merendinos have three children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Most of their family lives nearby. Transplants from New Jersey, Tony and Terri settled in the Newport News area about 40 years ago when Tony took a job managing the region for Pepperidge Farm.
When their son visits, he helps Tony with the paperwork. One of their daughters does their grocery store shopping.
It gives the couple plenty of time to visit with family and friends, go to the socials and other events at The Arbors, and continue telling their story. And, of course, bragging on their grand and great-grandchildren.
“I’ve had a very interesting life. I thank God all the time,” Terri says. “I love people. I’ve learned a lot. Our grandchildren are really something — they’re very smart.”
Working Girl
Not even school could get in the way of Terri being a star employee — starting at 13.
She spent the summer as a temp in her uncle’s law office when she was 13. She raised eyebrows when the lawyers realized she had taught herself to type and could take dictation.
Terri spent time in high school working as temporary secretaries in several companies in New York City, not far from her family’s home across the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J.
“My whole life I have been hired by everybody,” she says, laughing. “When I tell you I’ve probably 30 or 40 jobs in my life. I would be working somewhere and would be offered another. I opened a lot of companies.”
She planned to go to law school after graduating high school.
“The I met him,” she says, referencing Tony in the next room. “That was 68 years ago.”
They met while both were attendants in a friend’s wedding. Another bridesmaid also had her eye on Tony, Terri says, but “I told her she didn’t have a chance.”
He didn’t have any paper or pen to take her phone number, so she wrote it in the pollen dust on his car. He called the next day.
Tony was in the Navy. “He was very shy. This gorgeous guy was so shy,” she says with a grin. “I like him, he’s a lot of fun. And I decided to keep him.”
They’ve been married for 66 years.
She never did get that law degree, but has held many roles. One she enjoyed the most was leading bus tours all over the country, which she did for 20 years. It gave her — and often Tony — the opportunity to travel all over and meet a lot of people. She also planned weddings.
“I’ve had a very interesting life,” she says. “I did a lot of things, and I talk to God all the time. Life should be fun.”
The location in York County is perfect — it’s near their daughter, who has them to dinner each Thursday. The couple, married 63 years, lived on the Peninsula most of their life. Ruby recently turned 89 and Bob is 86. They met after both moved here — though Bob says he had to put in the work to get Ruby to go out with him.
Ruby and Bob Fleshman have been married 63 years, and while both hail from the mountains, they returned to the Peninsula to call The Hamilton home.
Bob attended the Apprentice School and worked at the Newport News shipyard for 43 years as a pattern maker, draftsman and designer, and estimated contracts for Naval aircraft carriers and submarines.
Ruby was a secretary at a hospital and church, and a stay-at-home mother for their two children. In addition to their daughter, the Fleshmans have a son in Florida who recently retired from a large national accounting firm. They also have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who they are delighted to see regularly.
Return to the Peninsula
The Fleshmans retired to Staunton for about 10 years before returning to the Peninsula.
“We both came from the mountains,” Bob says. (He is from High Springs and Ruby is from Rainer, West Virginia.) “We wanted to get back there.”
As they got older, they wanted to be closer to their family and knew they needed a little assistance. Bob could no longer help Ruby up from a fall alone.
“Our kids insisted on in-home care or AL for around the clock care,” Bob says. “I can’t get her up by myself if she falls.”
The Fleshmans say their children helped them find a spacious two-bedroom apartment at The Hamilton. It’s given all of them peace of mind.
The nursing team has helped Ruby if she becomes dizzy, taking her blood pressure and making sure she stays hydrated. They also enjoy having meals and housekeeping provided, and the array of activities and events that are continuously onsite.
“It’s three meals a day, which is tremendous, and there’s a variety of food,” Bob says. “Ruby did all the cooking many years ago, and when she stopped cooking, we went to a restaurant for 15 years. I never learned how to cook, I can’t boil water. We went out to eat all the time and it got old after a while. Now there’s a meal waiting on me down there.”
Activity Director Kirstie Saunders keeps an active schedule for residents.
“Kirstie’s good,” Ruby says. “We love her.”
They play Bingo and Uno once a week, attend events such as monthly birthday parties and live music. There’s a putter pad set up on the third floor Bob utilizes to keep up his swing. They also enjoy bus rides to scenic locations and going out to coffee shops with their Hamilton friends.
Bob also likes digging in dirt and weeds the garden and flower beds in the courtyard. The Fleshmans have enjoyed the fresh tomato sandwiches.
“I sit out there and watch,” Ruby says with a laugh.
Peggy Bruce: Rock and Roll
A whirlwind of treasures, kindness and emotion envelop you when you step into Peggy Bruce’s apartment at The Hamilton Assisted Living. It’s the result of a life well lived.
Peggy moved into The Hamilton shortly after Christmas on the heels of her husband’s unexpected passing. She is still organizing their Marlbank neighborhood home for eventual sale, and settling into her space at The Hamilton.
The Hamilton team and her proximity to her former neighborhood — 1.7 miles away — smoothed the transition.
“When I decided this was a good idea, I wanted to be close to my neighborhood. I knew my neighbors would visit,” she said. “I have some really wonderful friends; they’re more like family. The staff here is fabulous. They’re like family. The nurses are like family to me. I just love them. I’d do anything I could for them (that I could).”
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In addition to the location, Peggy says she liked the sales team and the types of apartments at The Hamilton. She participates in as much as she is able.
“I have a lot of doctors’ appointments, but do as many activities as I can,” she says.
“When Kirstie does something, it’s top notch. She is amazing. The things she thinks of – I think she could write a book to help other activity directors. One my favorites is the tour of the world. We have passports that get stamped and a flag in our dessert.”
She is getting to know The Hamilton’s residents and is getting to be pretty good friends with a few of them.
“Everybody here is so kind and caring and helpful. They think of what to do for you before you of it yourself,” she says.
Before he passed, Peggy’s husband was being treating for leukemia. The former Navy lieutenant commander was not a patient person, she says, but “he was a good guy and I was lucky to have him. He just helped me so much, then it was my turn to try to help him.”
He went into the Navy out of high school, and among several locations, was stationed at Groton, Connecticut, and Norfolk.
“He was a nuclear sub guy,” she says.
They met while she was singing with the band Boulevard 58 when they performed in Hampton. The couple was married 28 years and lived in Phoebus. They traveled together often, particularly to Europe.
Life on the Road
Peggy and her family moved often when she while she grew up.
“I didn’t really grow up anywhere. Every time my dad got a promotion, we moved,” she says. “I went to three high schools. I finished college in the long-term plan with a degree in social work from Virginia Wesleyan.”
She graduated from Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, where she says she’s lived off and on a lot. She started going to coffee houses where her friends were playing and started singing with them.
“I just kind of kept falling into bands when they needed a singer,” she says.
She’s been friendly with lots of people in the music industry, including local musicians with national acclaim. Peggy did jingles with a friend in Richmond at Alpha Audio. She was a model. She and the bands she played with took her all over the country, including upstate New York and Connecticut. And she attended a lot of concerts, especially at The Dome in Virginia Beach and The Scope in Norfolk.
“My life has kind of just been one move after another, ever since I was a little kid,” she says. “I just kind of bounced around a lot. It was fun. My poor parents, they were a little tired of me bouncing around. Can’t say I blame them, looking back.”
She says band life requires moving around a bit to find enough work to sustain you. And sometimes, you have to very resourceful. Including renting your parents station wagon to get to gigs.
She doesn’t sing much now — her voice has gotten a little gravelly. But she stays in touch with her musician friends.
“It’s just been kind of a wild ride. I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says. “Though there are a few places I would have liked to get through more gracefully than I did.”
Choose to call a VHS community home
Virginia Health Services offers independent and assisted living options. Both allow residents to live a maintenance-free lifestyle, with on-site amenities including dining, activities and events, 24/7 on-site staff and transportation.
The Arbors Independent Living is located in the Port Warwick area of Newport News. The apartment-style building has a restaurant-like dining room, concierge service, weekly housekeeping and more. Learn more and schedule a tour at vahs.com/thearbors.
The Hamilton Assisted Living, located in York County, and The Huntington Assisted Living, located in Newport News, have spacious private apartments with daily dining, a nursing team 24/7, transportation and more. Visit vahs.com/thehamilton or vahs.com/thehuntington to learn more about our assisted living communities and schedule a tour.
Virginia Health Services Senior Recruiters Colleen Reynolds and Renee Turner host quarterly Recruiting Roadshows at our seven nursing and rehabilitation centers. The final Roadshow of the year is September 2024.
The Recruiting Roadshow gives applicants a chance to apply and interview in person at our locations in Newport News, Hampton, York County, Gloucester and Kilmarnock. Job candidates can see our centers and get a feel for where they are applying.
“I want to make myself more visible to team members and applicants in each building,” Colleen says.
The increased presence should better support new hires and identify team needs.
Schedule
September dates:
York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Hamilton Assisted Living, 9 a.m.-noon Monday, Sept. 23.
Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23.
James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.
The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Huntington Assisted Living, 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Sept. 26.
Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26.
How to be a successful applicant
Colleen shared ways to stand out among job applicants to Virginia Health Services. She sees hundreds of applications and conducts about 15 phone interviews a day. Make yourself standout.
“I’ll take a chance on people for a phone interview if the application looks like a professional effort was made. If you’re not making the effort in the application, hard to think you’ll put an effort into the work. Put your best foot forward to get to the interview process and sell yourself,” Colleen says.
Application tips
Complete all application questions.
Spelling and grammar should be correct.
Create a professional email address to use when applying. Use your correct contact information so you are reachable.
Have a professional resume (regardless of work history).
List any transferable skills
Be professional (avoid personal details)
List work experience
For those with limited or no work history, such as high school students, please list any part-time work experience or have an objective statement with a career goal listed. Be sure to include school and graduation date.
How to successfully interview by phone
Research Virginia Health Services (information is easily accessible at vahs.com). Colleen says, “Tell me why you want to work for VHS and what you know. Take the time to visit the website. I always ask, ‘why do you want to work for Virginia Health Services?’”
Ask questions about the job and company.
Read the job description so you can best speak to how your qualities and skills make you the right fit for the job to which you are applying. Talk up your skills – hard (like clinicals) or soft (such as organization and time management).
Be on time. Answer the phone. Give advance notice if possible to cancel. “Life happens, but keep it at a professional level at all times,” Colleen says.
Know your resume. Clarify when you were licensed. Colleen says, “Know your own work history and those important dates.”
Send a thank you message to follow up to everyone you spoke to.
How to successfully interview in person
Be professional.
Be on time.
Dress business casual for an in-person or virtual interview.
Be prepared. Know your work history.
Present yourself in a professional way.
Be prepared with questions. Ask about the position or VHS. “You have to make sure it’s a good fit for you the same as we need to make sure it’s a good fit for the company. … You have to make sure you know where you’re going,” Colleen says. (This applies to phone interviews as well.)
Send a thank you message to follow up.
“Everyone serves a purpose on the team,” Colleen says. “Tell me how you think you’ll fit in the organization and what you bring to the team.”
Join our team
Explore career paths with Virginia Health Services and apply online at vahs.com/careers.
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