Chautauqua Adult Day Services has new director
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Proclaiming her arrival, using her signature "Hi, friends!" Jonelle Krauza has entered the Chautauqua Adult Day Services, Bercik-Lucks Center, located at 358 E. Fifth St., in Jamestown as the new executive director. She replaced Frank Bercik, who was the Executive Director for the last 33 years.
Bercik retired at the end of December. Over the course of the last several weeks as Bercik was reflecting on his legacy, Krauza was also reflecting. "Is this what it means to come full circle?" she wondered.
Krauza is no stranger to Chautauqua Adult Day Care. In 2008, known then as Jonelle Frazier, she was hired as the case manager and eventually promoted to program coordinator for both the Chautauqua Adult Day Services at the Dunkirk and Westfield sites.
Working in the field of Senior Services and Dementia Care for the last 15-plus years, her dedication to this population began at the agency. "Chautauqua Adult Day Care is where I fell in love with this population." Krauza said. "I felt like I was completely malleable during that period. I learned how to communicate by actively listening. I was able to build (and thankfully preserve) so many professional relationships. I asked so many questions which lead to valuable learning experiences and opportunities."
These opportunities included her employment as the director of activities at formerly The Absolut Care of Westfield as well as the case manager at Fredonia Place and Client Care Coordinator with Evergreen Health. Prior to her new role as director, Krauza was the Discharge Planner and Director of Marketing at Chautauqua Nursing & Rehab Center -- formerly The Chautauqua County Home).
Her background has provided her with a unique perspective on the changing needs of the aging population. Krauza said that her success is largely attributed to her recognizing that there are two key components regarding needs and service delivery for today's aging population. "What is important for them and what is important to them. "
Krauza is a Dunkirk native who now resides in Fredonia with her husband, Greg, and daughter Lola. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce (Dunkirk and Hanover community chambers) as well as the United Way of Northern Chautauqua County. Over the summer of 2020, when her father was receiving services from Chautauqua County Hospice, she established and continues to chair the Terry Frazier Sr. No One Fights Alone Scholarship. The scholarship is endowed with NCCF and earned nearly $30K in just 10 days.
Krauza has successfully launched several skilled nursing facility Facebook pages. She recognizes the impact of social media and how it acts as the window to your business. "Technology supports so much of our day to day. This senior population is increasingly savvy," Krauza said.
She earned her bachelor's degree in liberal arts with a major in English and a minor in Japanese. She has always considered herself to be in the business of people. Those who know her laugh as 99% of times when she enters any room the first thing out of her mouth is "Hi, friends!"
Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, Inc is looking for new friends -- new clients, supporters, collaborators, partners, funders. Krauza invites everyone to like and follow the Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, Inc., Facebook page.
One thing that has remained constant from her early years at the agency to now is that Chautauqua Adult Day Services provides a cost-effective option for seniors who want to remain at home. With two locations, serving both the north and south county, the organization strives to make a positive impact on the people and communities they serve. To learn more about Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, visit online at www.seniordayprograms.com.
After 16 years of advocating, referring, linking, supporting and learning Krauza found her way back to the agency. She sighed and said it "feels like coming home."