THE INSIDE SCOOP RES EDITION Monthly Newsletter ~ August 2026 SNEAK PEEK *Leading the Way ~ Dr. Vollaro’s Executive Update *Guiding RES Forward~ A Message from Our President *Behind the Scenes ~ Business Operations *Community Services *Community Center/SDP *Service Coordination *Home Care Department *On the Spot ~ Employee Highlights *Birthday Shout-Outs Cake Time! 🎂 *Flyers & Additional Info www.reshomecareli.com RES is dedicated to providing a continuum of services to individuals in need. We strive to allow these individuals the ability to maintain their lives within the community while offering a safe and supportive foundation.
LEADING THE WAY ~ A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO As We Enter the Dog Days of Summer As we enter the "dog days of summer," many of us are looking forward to enjoying the last few weeks of the season before the busy pace of fall begins. Interestingly, the phrase has nothing to do with our four-legged friends. It dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, when the brightest star in the sky, Sirius—known as the "Dog Star"—rose alongside the sun during the hottest weeks of the year. Over time, "the dog days of summer" became associated with a period of intense heat, reflection, and preparation for the season ahead. In many ways, that seems fitting for where RES finds itself today. While summer often brings a slightly slower pace, behind the scenes we continue to work on positioning RES for the future. The healthcare landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. Changes within Medicaid, managed care, workforce challenges, reimbursement models, and community-based services require organizations like ours to continually adapt while never losing sight of our mission. One thing that has not changed over the past 25 years is our commitment to the individuals and families we serve. Every strategic decision we make is grounded in one question: How do we continue providing exceptional care while ensuring RES remains strong and sustainable for many years to come? Over the past six months, we have taken the time to carefully assess the post-NHTD cap landscape. While the State continues to evaluate the long-term structure of these programs, we believe we now have sufficient clarity to begin positioning RES for continued success in this evolving environment. Much of this month's newsletter focuses on the initiatives we are putting into place to accomplish exactly that. Welcoming Scott McCoy On that note, I am pleased to officially welcome Scott McCoy, who joins RES this month as our new Vice President of Strategic Development & Operations. Scott brings extensive experience in healthcare operations, organizational development, and strategic growth. Over the coming months he will be working closely with our leadership team to strengthen
operational systems, improve customer service, support program development, and help position RES for the changing healthcare environment. As many of you know, long-term care is undergoing significant transformation. New regulations, changing referral patterns, workforce shortages, and evolving payer expectations mean that providers must continuously innovate while maintaining the high-quality services our participants expect. Scott's role is an investment in that future and he will also work closely with every department to identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen communication, and support our staff in delivering the highest quality services possible. His addition to our leadership team will allow us to expand our organizational capacity, strengthen our operational infrastructure, pursue new opportunities, and ensure RES continues to thrive regardless of how the healthcare landscape evolves. Please join me in welcoming Scott to the RES family. I know you'll make him feel at home as he begins meeting many of you over the coming weeks. We have included an updated organizational chart for your review. Organizational Updates This continues to be a busy summer across our programs. As always, I want to thank everyone for your flexibility and teamwork as we navigate staffing changes, participant needs, and ongoing operational improvements. Our focus remains on maintaining the exceptional level of service that has become synonymous with RES while continuing to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and better support both our participants and our staff. We have been notified that the Department of Health RRDC offices will be initiating their on-site audits again in the fall. These audits were suspended during the COVID pandemic, and it appears they will be beginning again. As part of their audit, they will be visiting facilities, reviewing paperwork, speaking with waiver participants, families, and staff. As you know, we have been focusing on compliance this year and we are confident we will be well prepared. If you have any questions about audit related issues, please speak to your supervisor or our Compliance Officer, Jodi Repperger.
The Hub Update I am pleased to report that our transition to The Hub Central is now officially underway. While many of you have heard about the project over the past year, we have now reached the point where our focus is shifting from development to implementation. The Hub was created with a simple goal in mind: to use technology to help people remain as independent, healthy, and connected as possible while providing caregivers and providers with better tools to support them. As healthcare continues to evolve, technology is becoming an increasingly important part of delivering high-quality, person-centered care, and we believe The Hub will play an important role in RES's future. Rather than introducing every feature at once, we are taking a gradual approach by helping Community Members become comfortable using a few core tools that can make an immediate difference in their daily lives. Over the past month, we activated several of these core features, including calendar management, medication reminders, and mental health check-ins. One of the most valuable pieces of feedback we received from our beta users was that they didn't always want to log into the platform to access these services. In response, these features can now be accessed through text messages, push notifications, and email, making them much easier to incorporate into everyday routines. Our next phase of implementation is focused on helping Community Members begin using these tools as part of their daily lives. Over the coming months, I encourage all RES staff to introduce appropriate Community Members to these core features and help them become comfortable incorporating them into their routines. The goal is not simply to teach someone how to use another piece of technology—it is to help them develop habits that promote greater independence, improve communication, and support better health outcomes over time. Here at RES, we have begun introducing The Hub within our Waiver Services program, and this month we will begin expanding implementation into our Service Coordination department. As additional features are introduced, we will continue sharing updates and providing guidance on how they can best support the individuals and families we serve.
Technology will never replace the relationships that are at the heart of what we do. However, when used thoughtfully, it can strengthen those relationships by helping us stay connected, recognize concerns earlier, improve coordination, and empower Community Members to play a more active role in managing their own health and independence. I encourage every member of our team to become familiar with The Hub by creating a free account at www.thehubcentral.com. Registration requires only an email address and is a great way to experience the platform from the perspective of the people we serve. If you experience any issues or have suggestions for improvement, you can submit a Help Ticket through the Tech Support Pavilion or email support@thehubcentral.com. Many of the improvements we've made have come directly from suggestions provided by our staff and beta users, and your continued feedback will play an important role as we move forward. This is an exciting time for RES. Together, we're not only adopting a new technology—we're helping shape a new model of community-based care that combines compassionate service with innovative tools to better support the people who depend on us. Looking Ahead Although we're still enjoying summer, our leadership team is already preparing for what promises to be an exciting fall. The initiatives outlined in this month's newsletter represent just the beginning of the next chapter for RES. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to adapting, innovating, and investing in the people, technology, and partnerships that will allow us to continue delivering exceptional services to our Community Members for many years to come. As always, thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to the people we serve. The success of RES has never been about one individual—it has always been about an extraordinary team working together toward a common purpose. Enjoy the remainder of your summer, stay safe, and thank you for everything you do every day. ~ Dr. Joseph Vollaro Founder & CEO, RES Homecare
~Jodi Repperger President Happy August everyone! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far! Thanks so much to Staci and Shane for attending the ADA event at SILO for RES Home Care and The Hub Central. It was a great event that brought out many staff members and participants through many programs. Marketing materials were shared, and they met so many wonderful people. Now that it’s August, this is the start of our annual training. We have fully transitioned from Nevvon to Relias. Please space out the training so it’s not so much in one day. Everyone has until the end of the month to complete the training. If it is not completed by August 31st, you will not be allowed to work. I want to acknowledge Gerry Bartell, who has officially retired from RES Home Care after 20 years. Gerry has been a constant at RES. He has touched countless participants’ lives, and has made such an impact on them, and on all of us here at RES. Gerry, you will truly be missed, and we wish you nothing but the best in this next relaxing chapter of life. We also want to welcome Mr. Scott McCoy to the RES Home Care team. Scott comes to us with a ton of experience with previous home care agencies over the years and will be assisting with Strategic Operations to support the growth of RES Home Care. Welcome aboard, Scott. We look forward to you joining our team! EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: Welcome to hurricane season! Please speak to your supervisor about what your role is during an emergency/disaster. All directions during an emergency/disaster will be recorded on our main phone number 631-732-4794, and on our website www.reshomecareli.com. Always communicate with your supervisor during these times, so there is no question. Be on the lookout for Emergency alerts. This is a good way to utilize telehealth to make sure your clients are safe and prepared in case of any emergency. Working with our clients to prepare an “emergency binder” with important numbers, and a disaster “kit” for extreme circumstances is a great way to implement this strategy with them so they are prepared. BIANYS is hosting their annual “March On for Brain Injury” fundraiser/walk. Please be on the lookout for announcements regarding the walk, donations, and fundraising efforts. RES has formulated our team called Team RESilience. Please speak to your clients about participating
in the walk. RES and the Hub will be sponsoring the event, and there will be tables for both companies there. We would love to see how many of our clients and staff will support our efforts in assisting with these fundraising efforts for BIANYS. The walk will take place on September 26th at Eisenhauer Park. Registration starts at 10am and the walk starts at 12pm. Fundraising efforts will be leading up to the event. Stay tuned…. Auditing update As I have shared in the last newsletter, Michelle and I also started completing fiscal audits: Looking at how many hours we are billing vs. how many hours we are approved, qualifications of employees who billed match the DOH qualifications, all ISR’s, goal plans and assessments are up to date and ON TIME, supervisions are adhered to on a monthly basis, and much more. Please know that what you do on a day-to-day basis is extremely important from an audit perspective. Ask yourself: Am I timely with my documents? Did I attend monthly supervision? Would someone be able to read my notes, if necessary? Did I justify the service in my note? Am I calling in and out? If I borrowed annual hours, did I justify the reasoning in my note? I am also auditing all of Service Coordination as well and developing POCA’s for the department in regards to monthly visits, quarterly home visits, RSP’s, team meetings, etc. All providers have received communications from the RRDS and Department of Health that there cannot be an increase or decrease in services without JUSTIFICATION, including a UAS, home abstract, RN assessment or the like. An ISR alone will not be accepted. There must be a documented “change in function” of the client to justify an increase or a decrease. If there is an increase in family involvement (they are covering oversight and supervision) obviously that would need to be justified in the ISR and the addendum. Christina Chebuske has officially taken over RES’s social media accounts. If there is something you would like to see posted (photos, announcements or acknowledgments) please send her an email and let her know cchebuske@restbiservices.com Make sure you follow us on social media for upcoming events, announcements and more!
Business Operations Department & BENEFIT HIGHLIGHT Why is this important? Our handbook outlines our policies, but our daily actions define our culture. Every employee contributes to creating a respectful, compliant, and supportive workplace. By demonstrating professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and integrity each day, we strengthen not only our organization but also the quality of care and service we provide to those who depend on us. Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence! TEAM MEMBER CONDUCT & WORK RULES
Where are these outlined? The RES Employee Handbook **Some examples are below regarding unacceptable behaviors Dishonesty, including intentional misstatements, forgery or falsification of records Inaccurately accounting for time worked. Excessive absenteeism/tardiness or any absence without notice or leaving shifts early Excessive or unnecessary use of cell phone or similar device while working Neglect of duty, Sleeping while on duty Engaging in behavior that constitutes Medicaid fraud Disrespectful behavior or treatment of a client, fellow employee or supervisor Violation of safety or health rules Sexual or other unlawful or unwelcome harassment Do not bring a participant to your home or have them meet your family or friends. Do not allow a participant to buy you gifts—including food. Do not exchange money with participants. Do not force the participant to do anything he/she does not want to do. Do not see participant’s socially outside of your professional role. Do not touch or take participant’s medication; (prescribed, OTC, or any substance in question) Do not give a participant medical advice or offer them over the counter medications/vitamins even if you believe they are harmless. Your role is to encourage them to seek and follow doctor’s orders. Do not work outside of your role. When a participant has needs that are beyond your role, your job is to communicate this to your supervisor and the service coordinator. Do not leave a participant unattended during your session. Do not wait to tell your supervisor important concerns. **Applying Made Easy ~ Visit our website’s Careers Page & the QR Code is below. Please continue to spread the word and don’t miss out on a Referral Bonus! Open positions continue for HHA/PCA, ILST, and newly added Substance Abuse Counselor.
**HR Portal ~ The development phase is officially completed! As employee files are migrated onto the platform, you will receive a memo from HR regarding next steps. All employees are required to complete the account creation process. Information and training regarding use of the portal will be provided. **Annual Training ~ Relias Welcome Emails have been sent. All RES Team Members are enrolled in Annual Training which you will see on your Welcome Dashboard (“What’s Due”) and you will also find this training under “Assignments” where you may click on each to start the modules. Annual Training is Mandatory and is to be completed by the deadline of August 31, 2026. A memo was emailed as well regarding this compliance requirement. **Employee Records ~ An agency wide email was sent with a memo regarding notifying HR of any changes to your employee record (ie: phone number, address, name change, etc.). As stated in the memo, you must contact HR no later than August 15th. **Corporate Wellness Event ~ Last year’s Reiki and Chair Massage was a hit! Planning for this event is underway so stay tuned for a flyer with details! We will need an approximate head count so make sure you email Diana (dvollaro@restbiservices.com) if interested. Target date is the end of September. **Compliance, Compliance, Compliance! If you have any questions regarding specific policies and procedures, please refer to the Handbook and your Supervisor. A Huge Thank You to my department ~ Michelle, Louis, Vanessa, & Shane! It has been a hectic few months and your dedication and assistance is very much appreciated! It will surely be a busy month! Please be sure to check emails frequently for agency updates! Feel free to email or call Diana~ dvollaro@restbiservices.com 631-732-4794 x116
August Newsletter Community Services- ILST/PBIS/CIC Christina Chebuske, LMSW ** Please note that the August staff meetings will take place on Wednesday, August 5th at 5:30 PM and Tuesday, August 11th at 11 AM, both in person We welcome to the RES team Viktoria Pinto for PBIS! As always, all documents are due by the last day of each month. Please adhere to these deadlines and update your goal plans and note templates if any changes are needed. • Don’t forget to use part of the session time to update the HUB central app with your clients - Consistency is key • Please notify us of any CTMs and unscheduled visits so that the appropriate time blocks can be added to your HHA calendars. Monthly Fun Facts • August was named to honor Roman emperor, • Augustus Caesar (63 BC – 14 AD) • August Flowers: Gladiolus and the Poppy • Birthstone: Peridot • 2 Astrological signs Leo and Virgo
STRUCTURED DAY ~ Chris Danowski ~ Welcome August 2026 Hello August! In July we celebrated the World Cup with a fun day of soccer activities such as Soccer Bingo, a Soccer magnet game, Fooz-ball tournament and food from 3 World Cup countries. Staff made home-made Mandoo, Korean dumplings, Chicken Tacos and Canadian Poutine (French Fries with beef gravy and melted cheese curds).
Our cooking class had a lot of fun making Garlic Parmesan Chicken. The helped cut up the garlic, shallots, broccoli and helped heat up the gravy. It was a yummy day! Saturday Programming Remember RES Home Care continues to be open every Saturday of the month, except during Holiday weekends! Our August 2026 Saturday dates are: August 1st, 8th, 15th 22th, and 29th. Please see the attached flyer for the list of activities for each date!! Please check out photos from our events on our Facebook page as well our Instagram @RESHomecareLI
We hope you are doing well and want to share some special news and information that you might be interested in. SDP is open on Saturdays Fun recreational activities and a specialty class at 11:00am. There is also bagel breakfast provided every Saturday morning. This month, August: 1st Sat Pet Therapy, 2nd Sat will be Sports Day 3rd Sat is an Adaptive Dance Class 4th Sat is Art ~ Let’s get crafty 5th Sat will be DIY Tie Dye T-Shirts Come see what the excitement is all about! We also continue to have our monthly themed social events!
Come join our new Specialty Classes during the week! It is called our Throwback Tuesdays and Thursdays! These classes are designed for all our clients with a focus on our growing senior population. Everyone enjoyed our first Quarter classes. One was our Magic Class, in which our clients learned how to perform Magic and then ended with performing a Magic Show for everyone. Our other class was a lively Adaptive Dance class where the clients enjoyed a little fun exercise by dancing in their seats, while listening to fun music they all sang too! Our new classes are a Nutrition class in which we will learn how to eat and live a healthy lifestyle and a Reminiscence Therapy class that explores various techniques to stimulate past memories! And we will also have our new Cooking class! Learn how to make various easy dishes, snacks and meals! Our current Quarter: Tuesdays: 1-2pm Music Therapy and at 2:15-3:15pm Reminiscent Therapy! Thursdays: 11-12 Art Therapy and at 2:15-3:15pm Reminiscent! For more fun details and to sign up please contact Chris Danowski at 631-732-4794 ext. 104 or email: cdanowski@restbiservices.com **If clients are interested in taking a tour or coming in for a trial day, please reach out and we can coordinate the day and time. Contact Staci at 631-732-4794 x130 ** If there are any questions regarding SDP matters, feel free to contact Christina Chebuske 631-732-4794 x117 or cchebuske@restbiservices.com or Angie Ghani at x102.
RES Community Center Free Class Cards We have Free Class Cards. These are for those who would like to take classes at RES but are not sure if they would like to attend RES SDP on a regular basis. There will be 3 Free Classes a guest can attend. Each time they attend a day/class, the date will be written and a hole punched in the card. Once all 3 punches are used up, the classes are no longer free. To continue to attend classes, an intake process and/or payment process will need to be completed. Current Quarter July 13th to Aug 28th Below is a list of the classes scheduled for the current Quarter. Please see our class schedule for more details. Monday & Wednesday Classes: Tuesday & Thursday Classes: History Countries from A-Z Cognitive Rehabilitation Board Games The Classics (TV shows, Movies) Positive Outlook Science Matters Psychology Bingo Historical Events Life Skills & Real World Challenges Cognitive Rehabilitation Arts & Crafts Nintendo Wii Word Games Movie Club Game Show Fun Charades Pictionary Music Therapy Recreation Reminiscent Therapy Famous People Art Therapy Life Skills & Real World Challenges Recreation Friday Classes: Meditation Nintendo Wii Unsolved Mysteries Sports History Brain Games Team Trivia Recreation/Game Room
SERVICE COORDINATION DEPARTMENT
FROM THE HCSS DEPARTMENT ❖ Staff Update: Introducing Our New Training Platform – Relias We are excited to announce that our agency has transitioned to Relias as our new online training platform! If you have not already done so, please sign up and log in to your Relias account as soon as possible. This platform will be used to complete your required annual education and other mandatory training assignments. Annual training will be assigned this month and must be completed by August 30. Timely completion of your annual training is a condition of employment and helps ensure we remain compliant with state and program requirements while continuing to provide the highest quality care to our clients. If you experience any issues accessing your account, logging in, or navigating the platform, please contact the office right away. We are happy to assist you and encourage you to reach out before the training deadline if you need help. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to providing safe, high-quality care. We appreciate all that you do for our clients every day! ❖ Refer a Friend! Do you know someone who would make a great addition to our team? We are currently hiring compassionate and dependable Home Health Aides (HHAs) and Personal Care Aides (PCAs to join our growing agency! Don't forget about our Employee Referral Bonus Program! If you refer a qualified candidate who is hired and meets the program requirements, you will receive a referral bonus. Referring someone is one of the best compliments you can give our agency, and it helps us continue providing exceptional care to our clients.
If you know someone who is caring, reliable, and passionate about making a difference, encourage them to apply today! For more information about our referral bonus program or current openings, please contact the office. Thank you for helping us grow our team and continue delivering outstanding care to those we serve! August is National Wellness Month, a wonderful reminder that taking care of ourselves involves more than just our physical health. Wellness includes staying active, eating nutritious meals, managing stress, getting enough sleep, and maintaining meaningful social connections. For individuals participating in the TBI and NHTD programs, wellness can be achieved through small, consistent steps each day. Taking a short walk, completing therapy exercises, staying hydrated, enjoying healthy meals, participating in favorite hobbies, or simply spending time with family and friends can all contribute to a healthier, happier life. This month, challenge yourself to make one positive change that supports your well-being. Remember, every small step toward a healthier lifestyle is an important achievement. Our team is proud to support you on your journey toward greater independence, health, and quality of life. We wish all of our clients and caregivers a happy, healthy, and well-balanced August! ~ Tara, Joy, & Staci
That’s A Wrap on August’s Headlines! Thank You for Staying Connected & Stay Tuned for More Insights Next Month!
ON THE SPOT RECOGNITION This month, we’re proud to recognize Nickanya, one of our outstanding Home Health Aides for our August On-The-Spot! Nickanya consistently goes above and beyond for both our clients and our agency. She has been incredibly dependable when it comes to providing emergency, last-minute coverage, always stepping up when help is needed most. Her willingness to travel to clients in more distant locations demonstrates her outstanding commitment and flexibility, ensuring that our clients continue to receive the care they need without interruption. What truly sets Nickanya apart is her genuine compassion and dedication to the safety and well-being of every client she serves. She treats each individual with kindness, respect, and professionalism, building trust with clients and their families while providing exceptional care. Thank you, Nickanya, for your reliability, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to making a positive difference every day. Your hard work and compassionate spirit do not go unnoticed, and we are grateful to have you as part of our team. Nickanya Jaghroo Home Care Department
ON THE SPOT RECOGNITION This month, we’re proud to recognize Devin Corvino & Dominick Fiumano , two of our outstanding Day Program Staff for our August On-The-Spot! During a recent Saturday SDP session, Devin Corvino and Dominick Fiumano identified a serious medical concern involving a participant and responded immediately and appropriately. Through their calm demeanor, sound judgment, and quick action, they ensured the participant received the necessary emergency medical assistance without delay This incident reflects the highest standards of care, professionalism, and commitment to participant safety that RES Home Care strives to provide. Their actions demonstrated exceptional teamwork, vigilance, and dedication, highlighting the meaningful impact our staff have on the lives of the individuals we serve. Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and exemplary service. Your efforts are greatly appreciated and do not go unnoticed! Devin Corvino & Dominick Fiumano Day Program Department
Epifania Reyes Lizardo Vanessa Pena Calvin Evadzi Vanessa Gonzalez Jake McGuire Marvelett Spencer Paulette Williams Rose Veit 1- Aug 3-Aug 5-Aug 7-Aug 17-Aug 23-Aug 24-Aug 30-Aug HAPPY BIRTHDAY!