Her Story
About Rosie
I have been in my field since 1990. I am an Activities Director in a nursing home, and I'm also a trainer for some of the newer activities directors. I love doing activities for higher functioning, lower functioning, room-bound patients, and watching over a bunch of volunteers. We do all kinds of fun, special events, from outdoor dunk tanks to balloon volleyball. I like to do out-of-the-box activities, not just sit and do arts and crafts. I do everything from evaluating new physical rehab patients to setting goals for them, for hip fractures and all kinds. I have a lot of managerial meetings to go to, care plan meetings. Just a variety of things, everything from engaging and developing programs for the elderly population. If I had to pick one thing that I loved, it was working with spinal cord and head injury. I bring pet therapy, church visits, and I have a new program starting with a guitar guy coming in and out of the rooms for people who don't come to activities. I do intergenerational programs with local schools. I got a Bachelor of Science in the field of Therapeutic Recreation, so I am a therapeutic recreation specialist. I was certified. When my kids were little, I got into teaching. I was a Spanish teacher and a PE teacher, and I did that for about 12 years. They were able to go to a private school by me doing that. I am bilingual in Spanish. I grew up in the Bronx and took off to college in upstate New York, Utica College of Syracuse University.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosie
01What do you attribute your success to?
Definitely God, of course, and my mother. You know, growing up in the Bronx, she just made things happen. We went to a private school, and she couldn't really afford it. But if my little Puerto Rican mother from the Bronx could make things happen, then definitely I can, too.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Make a difference in somebody's life. You know, whatever it is, whether it's through an activity, whether it's talking to them. And you don't need the public praise, you know? Just make a difference in somebody's life. I do think that every day we have that opportunity. Whether it's getting them connected in a nursing home, because this is a big transition for them and they're depressed, or just talking to somebody, or giving somebody a compliment, just make a difference.
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