Melinda Gleason's last official day of work at Auburn Memorial Hospital was Sept. 5, but you wouldn't know it to look at her schedule.
Whether she's assisting with hairdresser day at the Finger Lakes Center for Living nursing home, helping residents on their outing to the Chinese restaurant or working with them to find the perfect holiday gift at the mall, Gleason is hardly resting on her laurels.
What part of the word retirement didn't you understand? Gleason recalled one nursing home patient asking her.
But what else would you expect from the person who, when she put in her final paid day two months ago, had worked at AMH for more than 50 years?
Beverly Miller, director of community relations for AMH, confirmed that at the time of her retirement, Gleason was the employee was the longest tenure. The next in line, Miller said, is nursing supervisor Mary Capone, who has been with AMH since 1965.
For Gleason, who was employed as a kitchen helper for 20 years and later worked as a diet clerk, the decades have gone by quickly. She took the then-part-time job when she was just 16 in an effort to help her mother pay the bills, as her father had just passed away.
Though she never intended to stay at the hospital so long and in the same department, no less the time rolled by. First it was 10 years, then 20, 30, 40.
When I finally got to 40 years, I said, I've got to make it to 50 years, Gleason recalled, noting that she made this a personal goal for herself.
A lifelong Auburn resident, she worked hard both behind the scenes and in patients' rooms. In the kitchen, she helped prepare the trays and cleaned up after the meals were over; as a diet clerk, she read patients the menus and assisted them in making their selections.
Before the hospital's FLCL opened in 1995, Gleason worked on AMH's maternity and geriatric floors. Seniors have always had a special place in her heart.
The elderly have always been my favorite, she said, noting that interaction with the patients was the best part about her career. I don't know what brought me to it.
When Gleason's mother was ill, her mom's biggest fear was that she would be put in a nursing home. Though her mother passed away before this happened, Gleason always tried to assist those who were faced with that situation.
Just to take that fear away from others was my goal, Gleason said of helping to ease the transition and emotional rollercoaster that often comes with a move to a nursing home. She tried, she said, to show residents the respect that they deserved.
While the job has been fulfilling, Gleason admits that it hasn't always been easy. Working with the elderly means seeing a lot of death, and Gleason who used to volunteer at the FLCL even after her regular shift there formed close relationships with many residents.
It is hard because I got attached to people, Gleason said. I can't help it. I was brought up to treat people the way I want to be treated.
She's continuing that mantra nowadays, volunteering at FLCL about three times a week. She's modest, however, about her decision to do so.
I just enjoy that. I don't feel where it's anything special, but I just love it, she said, noting the teamwork that has made her years memorable and the patients stays better. It's not what anybody else wants me to do. I want to do this.
And the hospital is more than happy to have her there.
Melinda Gleason IS Auburn Memorial Hospital, said Scott Berlucchi, President/CEO. Seldom in my career have I had the privilege to know someone as dedicated to serving an organization as Melinda has been. She is a wonderful person, and the hospital is extremely lucky that she will continue to be a part of our family, now as a volunteer, well into the future.
Gleason's official retirement has been bittersweet. On her last day of work, her co-workers threw her a party. A few weeks later, she was the guest of honor at a retirement celebration at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.
Friends and former co-workers surprised her with a limo for the evening. When she saw them inside the vehicle, Gleason became emotional.
I totally lost it, she said. It was beautiful.
What part of the word retirement didn't you understand? Gleason recalled one nursing home patient asking her.
But what else would you expect from the person who, when she put in her final paid day two months ago, had worked at AMH for more than 50 years?
Beverly Miller, director of community relations for AMH, confirmed that at the time of her retirement, Gleason was the employee was the longest tenure. The next in line, Miller said, is nursing supervisor Mary Capone, who has been with AMH since 1965.
For Gleason, who was employed as a kitchen helper for 20 years and later worked as a diet clerk, the decades have gone by quickly. She took the then-part-time job when she was just 16 in an effort to help her mother pay the bills, as her father had just passed away.
Though she never intended to stay at the hospital so long and in the same department, no less the time rolled by. First it was 10 years, then 20, 30, 40.
When I finally got to 40 years, I said, I've got to make it to 50 years, Gleason recalled, noting that she made this a personal goal for herself.
A lifelong Auburn resident, she worked hard both behind the scenes and in patients' rooms. In the kitchen, she helped prepare the trays and cleaned up after the meals were over; as a diet clerk, she read patients the menus and assisted them in making their selections.
Before the hospital's FLCL opened in 1995, Gleason worked on AMH's maternity and geriatric floors. Seniors have always had a special place in her heart.
The elderly have always been my favorite, she said, noting that interaction with the patients was the best part about her career. I don't know what brought me to it.
When Gleason's mother was ill, her mom's biggest fear was that she would be put in a nursing home. Though her mother passed away before this happened, Gleason always tried to assist those who were faced with that situation.
Just to take that fear away from others was my goal, Gleason said of helping to ease the transition and emotional rollercoaster that often comes with a move to a nursing home. She tried, she said, to show residents the respect that they deserved.
While the job has been fulfilling, Gleason admits that it hasn't always been easy. Working with the elderly means seeing a lot of death, and Gleason who used to volunteer at the FLCL even after her regular shift there formed close relationships with many residents.
It is hard because I got attached to people, Gleason said. I can't help it. I was brought up to treat people the way I want to be treated.
She's continuing that mantra nowadays, volunteering at FLCL about three times a week. She's modest, however, about her decision to do so.
I just enjoy that. I don't feel where it's anything special, but I just love it, she said, noting the teamwork that has made her years memorable and the patients stays better. It's not what anybody else wants me to do. I want to do this.
And the hospital is more than happy to have her there.
Melinda Gleason IS Auburn Memorial Hospital, said Scott Berlucchi, President/CEO. Seldom in my career have I had the privilege to know someone as dedicated to serving an organization as Melinda has been. She is a wonderful person, and the hospital is extremely lucky that she will continue to be a part of our family, now as a volunteer, well into the future.
Gleason's official retirement has been bittersweet. On her last day of work, her co-workers threw her a party. A few weeks later, she was the guest of honor at a retirement celebration at the Sherwood Inn in Skaneateles.
Friends and former co-workers surprised her with a limo for the evening. When she saw them inside the vehicle, Gleason became emotional.
I totally lost it, she said. It was beautiful.
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