Ed Wheeler
"I'm Learning a Lot Being Here"
Last August,
in 2006, Ed Wheeler woke from sleep and realized something was very wrong.
He'd spent the day running errands. When he woke, he couldn't move. Ed
had a stroke. That's what brought him to Wayne County Nursing Home and
Rehab Center, where he's been receiving intensive physical and occupational
therapies. It's working well enough that Ed is able to go out again and
pursue his passion and hobby - going to casinos.
Ed is one of the people who had an instrumental role in developing the nursing
home and its excellent rehabilitation - he's a former Wayne County supervisor
from Palmyra. He's had a long career in business and public service. A graduate
of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., he had a 40-year career in sales and
sales management. During those years, he served 10 years on the Palmyra town
council before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, where he chaired
three different committees from 1986 to 1991. Recently, he's acted as an ombudsman
for the Office of Youth and Aging, advocating for patients' rights.
Ed is also a veteran of World War II. He served in the
Army, and spent 1946 and 1947 with the Occupation in Germany.
But Ed really wants to tell you about his record number of visits to casinos
all over the world. When his wife of 54 years was alive, they traveled
the world, stopping in as many casinos as they could. Today, he holds
a record of 439 different casinos visited.
"I play the slots," Ed says. "Today, it's no longer called gambling.
Now it's 'gaming'." And it's a big business, he says. "If I were
21 now, I'd get a degree in economics, and go to work for Harrah's."
Ed isn't a man who intends a stroke to keep him from what he wants to
do. He has a lot of energy. Rehab at WCNH keeps him busy, and he has nothing
but good to say about his experience.
"I'm learning
a lot being here," Ed says. "You don't understand a nursing
home until you live in one. I have a lot of appreciation for the staff's
hard work. I think they have great pressures to work under."
One of the things that impressed Ed most is the professionalism of the staff,
and the constant training and education they pursue. "At least 50% of the
employees here - especially on the nursing side - are going to school for college
courses and degrees. WCNH has its own education director."
As a former businessman and county supervisor, he has a unique perspective on
the home. "Having been in the industrial world, I can say that the staff
at WCNH is very well organized at all levels. The residents have real respect
for the professional behavior of the aides and nurses. They're all very caring
people."
When he isn't working at rehab, Ed thinks about his goals. He's racked up 400,000
airline miles over the years. He still wants to travel the rest of the world,
adding casinos to his list. After all, he's a Guinness World Record holder for
the most casinos visited worldwide!
Ed Wheeler's 3 Best Things about
WCNH |
|
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Great food and choices for such a
large group of people. The service is excellent. |
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The wonderful nurses and aides! |
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The option for family dining – the staff goes the extra mile to accommodate families. |
