MIDDLETOWN—Community Home Health Care and Mid Hudson Security School of Orange County opened for business on June 2 in downtown Middletown.
Mayor Joseph DeStefano and Executive Director of the Middletown Business Improvement District John Degnan were joined by other city officials in celebrating the arrival of the two companies.
Mid Hudson Security School, run by Ivan Harris and Paul Rodriguez, trains people for their state security license. They can then work in companies, hospitals, and schools as professionally-trained security officers. Harris is a retired Orange County deputy sheriff.
Rodriguez said the location on North Street is easier for downtown residents to reach.
“They don’t have to commute, they don’t have to go to Newburgh or Monroe,” he said.
The course schedule is flexible to accommodate people who work weekends and during the week.
“We try to change it around.”
Home Care for Home-Bound
Community Home Health Care has outgrown its former office on the outskirts of the city. Brenda Schwartz, director of public relations, said the home health care placement and training service now has two classrooms for in-service and orientation.
The company manages 500 aides who go to residences to care for home-bound individuals. Deanna Gordon, a registered nurse who conducts the training, teaches students who have never done homecare before.
“We give them a free course that will help them go into the home, take care of the patient, and give them a job so they can give back to the community,” said Gordon
Gordon said their service allows individuals to stay in their home for their golden years. Patients stay in the community, not in a nursing home or hospital.
The aides are trained to do simple care for the patient.
“They do personal care—bathing, washing, shampoo. They help with simple housekeeping chores,” Gordon said.
Community Home Health Care is also licensed with all major insurance companies.
Common Council President J. Manuel Rodrigues said the city has a lot of homebound patients who want to stay in their homes. “This service will provide home health aides that allow them to stay at home.”
DeStefano said both companies help to give the Business Improvement District (BID) a vibrant downtown setting. The BID is becoming focused on services, education and the arts.
“These companies will create a vibrant community. That’s the key. Rather than an empty space, we now have businesses occupying this building and it’s just a beautiful thing for Middletown.”
The two businesses will both occupy suites at 90 North Street.
Degnan said he hopes this will become a trend for the BID. “We welcome them to the downtown because we want to get as many as we can in down here.”
Director of Community and Economic Development Maria Bruni, Commissioner of Public Works Jacob Tawil, and Aldermen Joe Masi and Gerald Kleiner joined the ribbon cutting ceremonies with other well-wishers.
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