Jamaica long-term care center celebrates milestones
Chapin Home doubles its 150th anniversary celebration as party for its centenarians
The Chapin Home for the Aging in Jamaica celebrates its 150th anniversary and the birthdays of its 2019 inductees into the “Chapin Home Century Club.”
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
A long-term care and
rehabilitation facility in
Jamaica concluded its monthlong
150th anniversary
celebration on May 31
honoring and inducting seven
centenarians into its very own
‘Century Club’ with a festive
afternoon filled with live
music and refreshments.
Chapin Home for the Aging,
located at 165-01 Chapin
Pkwy., issued certificates to
its patients celebrating their
99th and 100th birthday and
received a proclamation and
citations from Congresswoman
Grace Meng’s office and state
Senator Leroy Comrie.
“This party hosted in this
place of compassionate care,
this true home away from
home is possible today because
of the actions on the first of
May, 1869, 150 years ago,” said
Jennifer McManaman, Chapin
Home administrator. “The
articles of incorporation were
signed and the noble mission
to care for the frail and elderly
were established by Mrs.
Hannah Chapin and several of
her society friends.”
The Chapin Home for
the Aging was founded in
Manhattan in 1869 by Hannah
Chapin, wife of the celebrated
orator and pastor, Edwin
Chapin, of the church of the
Divine Paternity of New York
City and 20 other dedicated
women. They resolved to
provide a home for healthy,
elderly men and women
— individuals in reduced
circumstances, not under
65 years old, and not having
reached their 80th year.
Following the growth of the
city with its noise, confusion,
traffic and subsequent
congestion, Chapin relocated
to Jamaica in 1910 where its
residents could enjoy healthful
open-air exercises and
activities, without incurring
the dangers attending them
on the crowded streets
of Manhattan.
Since relocating to
Jamaica, the center has
continued to provide aging
men and women a true home,
with a commitment of care
and passion spanning three
centuries. It offers a wide
variety of services including
skilled nursing, rehabilitation
and adult day care.
Frances Cottone, 99, a
member of the Chapin Home
community since August 2014,
served in the U.S. Marines for
three years, and often speaks
of her experience proudly
wearing her red veteran cap
on national holidays.
“I showed training films
to the pilots in Cherry Point,
North Carolina, where I was
serving and I met my husband
there and got married,
and then I was discharged
honorably,” Cottone said.
Cottone remains very active
in her life at Chapin Home
serving as the vice president
of the Resident Council. When
she’s not involved in groups
and social events, she enjoys
Photo: Carlotta Mohamed/QNS
reading books she receives
from the Queens Mail-a-Book
program in the local library.
“I very much enjoy here
going to play bingo and all of
the different shows and things
they have here. I’ve enjoyed
every minute,” said Cottone.
Meanwhile, Grace Florio,
99, loves to tell the story of
how she learned to dance
later in life and would go to
the Roseland Ballroom in
Manhattan every weekend.
Florio has been a member of
the Chapin Home community
since June 2018.
“They have chair yoga here
and I like that for exercise
and also bingo,” said Florio.
“People come here with guitars
and they play entertaining the
audience.”
6 TIMESLEDGER, JUNE 7-13, 2019 BT QNS.COM
/QNS.COM
