Page 27 - Jewish Home Family Annual Report 2019

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Eric Riguerra, RN, was always drawn to working
in healthcare. He’s always had “an affinity for helping people” and his parents taught him to always help someone in need. His first job out
of nursing school was as a nurse in a hospital Emergency Department and he knew that it “wasn’t for me.” He saw an ad for a part-time nursing position at the Jewish Home in River
Vale. He walked in, applied, interviewed and went right into orientation. After one week as a part-time nurse on the 3–11 shift, he was offered a full-time position and that’s where his career at the
Jewish Home began.
Twenty one years later Eric serves as Director of Nursing for the Jewish Home at Rockleigh. He says that he realized immediately that long-term care was where he was meant to be. “Caring for the elders made me feel like being with my grandparents. I felt like I belonged there.” He feels the same way today. “I am committed to the mission of the Jewish Home,” Eric says, which he describes as “pro-elders.” “I see it in action,” he added, “it is all about the elder with our goal to be a big family.”
One major step in that direction is embracing the Green House philosophy and Eric is serving as The Jewish Home Family’s “champion” in that initiative. “The more I see of Green House,” Eric says, “the more I believe that this is the way. And it’s the way of now.” The Green House core values of real home, meaningful life and empowered staff are all important, and meaningful life is the one that speaks loudest to Eric.
“We have to help people transition from the community to the skilled nursing setting. We have to help them see that this is not the end, that they still have purpose. That’s what meaningful life is all about.” The Green House model ensures that the elders are central and have choices and “promotes independence and autonomy” regardless of age or ability.
Implementing Green House is not just adding a new program, Eric explains, it is embracing a new philosophy. Education is key and the process has already begun with Eric playing a key and enthusiastic role. While reconfiguring the physical space into households is an element of Green House, Eric says “It’s not about the hallways. It’s about the way we care for elders.”
He notes that this is a journey without end as we educate, learn and grow together and he is convinced that the staff will “fully embrace” and truly live the Green House philosophy.
When we think about Green House and all it entails, Eric boils it down to one simple question, “Why not?” When we can make life better for our elders, why not? There is a “big future ahead of us,” he says, and we will achieve that future because of the “tireless dedication of our staff and ongoing support of our community.”
Bringing Green House to Our Jewish Home Family