Family sponsors appreciation lunch for Mount Alverno staff

WARWICK — Stella Atkins, a five-year resident at Mount Alverno Center, has a family that appreciates the care she receives. Last year, they decided to do something to thank the staff for being so kind. “We all agreed to meet at Mount Alverno and cater a lunch for the entire staff as a token of our appreciation,” said her daughter Linda Oettinger, a resident of Catskill. “Everyone enjoyed it, and so this year we decided to do it again.” “We all wanted to do this again,” said brother Frank Atkins, “because our mom is so happy here. She gets such wonderful care.” On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the Atkins family invited the staff to join them in the Greenbriar Room for a lunch catered by the New Milford Deli. It served as an opportunity for Oettinger and brother Atkins to personally thank all of the staff members who attended. Their sister, Susan Davidson of Woodbride, Conn., had attended the first staff appreciation lunch, but was unable to make the trip this year. Stella Atkins enjoys participating in most of the programs and activities, but there is one thing she especially enjoys doing on her own. She loves talking to the staff, from the maintenance crews to the nurses to the administration. And they enjoy talking to her. “Everyone is so nice to me here,” she said. “This is truly my second home. And besides that, I have a wonderful family. What else can I say?” The Atkins family also issued a special invitation to Frances Mauser, a visually impaired resident and friend of Stella’s who was celebrating her birthday that day.