Residential Health Care Facility finds new director

ROME, N.Y. » Anthony Joseph, MSW, MPA, LNHA, has been named the new administrator at RomeMemorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility.

The RHCF is an 80-bed skilled nursing facility, located on the hospital’s third floor, which provides longterm care, as well as shorttermrehab and respite care programs.

A licensed nursing home administrator, Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree from Utica College, plus a master’s of social work and a master’s of public administration from Syracuse University. He retired in 2016 as vice president of long term care services at Samaritan Health Systems in Watertown. Prior to that, Joseph was administrator of the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford and the Oneida Healthcare Center Extended Care Facility, director/CEO of the Madison County Office for the Aging, and administrator/CEO of Mohawk Valley Nursing Home in Ilion. He also served as administrator at RomeMemorial Hospital’s RHCF from 1995-97.

“We are pleased to be able to welcome Anthony back to the RHCF,” said President/ Chief Executive Officer David Lundquist. “In his more than 35 years of residential health care experience, Anthony has been responsible for facilitating advancements in quality care and services for the facilities he has served. His forward thinking leadership, combined with his commitment to person-centered resident care and his familiarity with our facility, make him a tremendous asset to Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility.”

In addition to the RHCF, Joseph will also administer the hospital’s Senior Behavioral Health Unit, which provides individualized hospital care for adults 55 and older who are suffering from acute symptoms associated with a major mental health illness.

Joseph said he decided to come out of retirement when presented with the opportunity to return to Rome Memorial Hospital.

“I enjoyed my time at the RHCF when I was here before,” Joseph said. “This is a great facility which I know has consistently been ranked among the best nursing homes in the state. I knew I wanted to domore in residential health care, and being able to work with the outstanding staff here is a wonderful opportunity for me.”

Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility has been named in the top 20 percent of skilled nursing facilities by the New York State Department of Health. The RHCF is the only such fa- cility in Oneida County to achieve the top quintile in each Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI) over the last four years.

Joseph said his goal for the future of the RHCF is to continue providing the quality care the facility is known for, and to enhance that care with new ideas and innovation.

Providing a homelike setting and familiar comforts for the aging is also important to Joseph. During his previous tenure at the RHCF, he was responsible for increasing the number of residents served from 40 to 80 beds, but what was even more important to him were personal touches added to the facility, which included hanging historical photos on the walls that were selected by the residents.

“Part of what makes interacting with the elderly so rewarding is the stories they have to tell,” Joseph said. “I love history and enjoy engaging in conversations with residents about their lives. These people really bring history to life.”

Joseph said that over the years, he has had the privilege of listening to a woman tell her story of being on the Titanic, a man who was a driver for Teddy Roosevelt, and even the teammate and roommate of Babe Ruth.

For more information about the Rome Memorial Hospital’s Residential Health Care Facility, call 315-338-7539.

Anthony Joseph