On July 2, 1979, at 28 years old, I began my career as a nursing home administrator in New York City, my hometown, where I was born back on October 31, 1951.

Throughout my nearly 30 year career, I have met various individuals that sought my assistance in caring for a loved one. Of course, most of the clients are total strangers; however, at times I meet an old acquaintance in the lobby that at first I may or may not recognize. Call it a coincidence that I have met my fifth grade teacher who needed to place her husband and met 10th grade teacher who needed to place his wife. A very interesting experience was caring for my elementary school principal who remembered me and requested Sephardic Nursing & Rehabilitation Center when he heard my name mentioned on a radio program. Some of my wife’s oldest childhood friends admitted their parents into the nursing home. I became involved in the caring of a hotel owner who I worked for in the Catskill Mountains during summer breaks from college. I cared for several of my neighbors including two little league coaches and a local Rabbi. I even met a vendor whose parents knew my parents back in Europe and who it turns out knew me since I was five years old.

I am sure administrators who grew up in small towns find themselves crossing paths with individuals who they happened to know either in their childhood or during some episode in their life. However, a huge city like New York, with so many nursing homes the odds of meeting people are much less. But I challenge any health care professional to top this true story of a sweet elderly woman who was admitted to the Home.

Customarily, while traveling in the elevator, I enjoy striking up a conversation with some of the passengers. One day in the elevator, I introduced myself to a resident. She told me her name was Joan Rothstein and worked her whole life as a registered nurse. We spoke a little about nursing and she complimented the quality of the Sephardic Nursing staff. I asked her where she worked and she replied, I was an OB/GYN nurse in the old Brooklyn Jewish Hospital in Crown Heights, also known as Interfaith Hospital before it closed down. I told Joan that I was born there. She politely asked what year. One question led to another and it turned out that she assisted Dr. Feldman, the obstetrician who delivered me and yes believe it or not here I was face to face fifty-five years later with the nurse who helped bring me into this world. It was such a thrilling experience and one that could only have occurred in a nursing home. How wonderful and ironic that now I can repay Joan and care for her during the twilight of her life. We hugged and became instant friends.

Michael New is a N.Y.S. licensed nursing home administrator. He has been at the Sephardic Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Brooklyn, New York for the past twenty-five years.