| News & Notes - April 2025
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Connecting with Community Leaders
Elected officials and representatives were invited to meet with the LCC Board of Directors and several administrators in December to learn about the challenges facing long-term care and rehabilitation facilities. The impact of low Medicaid reimbursements, proposed cuts to Medicaid, increasing DOH restrictions and national nursing shortages loom large across the country.
It was heartwarming to hear these elected officials express their appreciation for the critical services LCC provides to the greater Dutchess County community. They pledged to investigate and speak out on their various local, state and national levels for increased support for critical professional care of older adults.
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Attendees - L to R: Frank Castella (Pres. DCRCC), Todd Tancredi (Director, Dutchess OFA), Ann Shershin (Town of Poughkeepsie Board Member), Mary Albrecht (Town of Pleasant Valley Supervisor), Trevor Redl (Legislative aide, Town of Poughkeepsie, Rebecca Edwards (Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor), Dan Lopez (Representative Pat Ryan’s rep), John Penney (Mayor Flowers rep), Lydia Biskup (Senator Rob Rollison’s rep) and Nick Becker (NY State Assemblymember Didi Barrett’s rep). An separate presentation was held with Kelly Allegra, Governor Hochul's Regional Representative.
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Charlie North, Board of Directors, and Laraine Fellegara, CEO of The Lutheran Care Network, during a Q&A with elected officials and representatives on December 5, 2024. Board members Rev. Jeffrey Koenig, Stephen Jones and Dr. Abbie Dux joined administrator Patricia Ludington in the presentation.
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Thank You for Your Service!
Veterans who call Lutheran home are a special part of the LCC family. Their service is appreciated and their stories welcome.
Last fall, students from Vassar College’s OCEL program organized a Veteran’s Day Celebration recognizing LCC residents who served in the armed forces. Residents and staff joined the six vets at an indoor wreath laying ceremony. Vassar student Audrey Perrone, herself a Navy vet who specialized in making parachutes, shared stories with resident, Lou DeFelice. He recalled parachutes being made in WWII and laughingly admitted that he never volunteered to test them!
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In his room, Lou is surrounded by Navy memorabilia - photos, plaques and even a Navy license plate - all a testament to his pride in his service to the country. Following in his father and uncle’s footsteps, he entered the US Navy as an excited 18-year-old to train in electronics at a tech center on the Potomac River. His position as an Aviation Squadron 2nd Class Petty Officer involved radar magnetic air detection, locating and isolating subs under water and participating in navy squadron war games. He participated in maneuvers that detected anti-submarine dangers up and down the Atlantic Ocean, pinpointing and determining the depth of enemy subs and underwater metal objects and then relaying info to destroyers that would then discharge depth charges. Later based in Norfolk, VA he primarily served on the Valley Forge aircraft carrier. While some of his work was done from the air, he was most at home when on the water.
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Lou has always valued working in teams and especially cherished his bond with his squadron of approximately 20 men. He recalled an off-duty evening out with the men, off the base, at a bar on the Patuxent River. The sound of When the Saints Go Marching In being played on trumpet, trombone and sax got them to their feet. The band traveled out the door and down the road. Crowds emptied out of establishments along the route, following the musicians down and back. It was a truly memorable evening, etched in his mind to this day.
He had a sparkle in his eye as he shared the story of meeting Eileen Flemming, his future wife, while home on leave in Astoria, Queens. It was a blind date at a roller-skating rink. She brought her own skates. While he was a good “street skater,” in the rink he took one step and “fell flat my rear bumper!” She graciously suggested they sit down over a cup of coffee. He was thankful to get a second date. In November of 1955, at the end of his four-year tour, despite a last-minute posting to Portugal, Lou returned just in time to meet his bride at the altar in Washington Heights Catholic Church. He and Eileen were blessed with 65 years of marriage and six wonderful children.
Lou prefers not to talk about war and his more rugged experiences. He feels deeply for all who are serving today and points out that they never know what their homecoming will look like. Recognizing their service is essential.
He does look forward to visits from his large extended family. Lou brings his warm smile and love for comradery to his everyday interactions at LCC. And, now that the weather has warmed, he engages with visitors at the front entrance, always quick to respond to a “Hello.”
Lou, thank you for your service!
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Who We Are
Shining a light on an individual who is significantly impacting life at Lutheran Care Center.
Meet Chef Paul FrazerDirector of Food Services
What's on the Menu?
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Lutheran’s Director of Food Services, Chef Paul Frazer, began his training in the Navy. He is an alum of the Culinary Institute of America and credits the CIA for instilling his passion for cooking. His 40+ years of experience has allowed him to use his skills at Vassar Hospital, Vassar College, senior care facilities, a drug rehabilitation center, upscale catering, and now as Director of Food Services at LCC. Paul says, “I love our centralized dining approach (attractive dining areas in each unit) and providing a ‘medical’ service to residents. I feel a calling to institutional work…catering to the needs of our senior population is truly rewarding.”
The LCC Dietary Staff prepares 450 individualized meals every day. These are plated and presented to residents in their common dining room, or personal room if preferred. One day a resident asked Paul, “where exactly are these meals coming from?” The inquiry inspired him to share a glimpse of the process that takes place daily in the kitchen. Using a large screen TV, he shared a slide presentation showing meal preparation as it evolves at the various stations in the kitchen. Then, using a portable burner, a cart with prepared ingredients, and a chafing dish, he offered a cooking demonstration and shared samples of the Chicken Marsala menu that would be served for dinner that evening.
Residents were engaged and appreciative of the inside look at the kitchen and the process leading up to meals being served at their table. The daughter of one resident made a point of saying that she was impressed with the presentation and commitment of the dietary staff. Paul is considering his next demonstration…perhaps desserts!
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The dietary team enjoys creating special menus throughout the year including Summer BBQs for residents in the outdoor garden and holiday meals for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Friends and family are invited to meals served family-style in the Recreation Center. Guests enjoy the special setting with tablecloths and centerpieces.
The response from families and friends at the 2024 Thanksgiving Dinner was appreciative as they enjoyed all the traditional favorites together. Patty Beighley shared the meal with her husband and later took time to send these memories of the day to administrator, Patricia Ludington:
My husband, Thomas, and I want to thank you and your staff for the beautiful and delicious Thanksgiving Day meal. The room was very nicely decorated, and we felt as though we were at a restaurant. A special thank you to Sharon and all the cooks and servers. It was a great experience for us. Have a blessed day!
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As a not-for-profit organization, Lutheran Care Center welcomes gifts which will directly support our residents. Click here to donate online (you may designate your gift in honor or memory of someone) or mail it to: Patricia Ludington, Administrator, Lutheran Care Center, 965 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.
We are grateful!
Thrivent members may direct your Choice Dollars. After logging in, choose The Lutheran Care Network, Scarsdale, NY. Your gift will be credited to Lutheran Care Center, Poughkeepsie.
Non-Thrivent members may also donate here under "Make a personal donation". Thrivent will pay the processing fee so your entire donation goes to this cause.
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