Care One at King James administrator Jimmie King invited Muriel Smith to walk the red carpet at the Middletown care center’s dining room this week in celebration of the nursing home once again receiving its satisfactory inspections from both the New Jersey Department of Health and the federal Medicare/Medicaid service.
King laid out the red carpet to show his appreciation to all 106 employees of the Route 36 facility. He also had dinners prepared for each of the employees, and made deliveries to those employees who could not be in the dining room for the celebrations.
The care center has consistently received its re-certification every year since the facility was first built by the former Atlantic Highlands Mayor James R. Snyder and his partner, Kingdon Westerlind when former Highlands Councilman Herman J. Black, was the first administrator. Black is one of the four Brothers Black who also owned Conners Hotel in Highlands, and brother Bill, who was chef at the famed restaurant, was also the chef at Care One. The dietary staff continues to be an award-winning facility at the complex..
King himself is the first registered nurse to ever hold the top position as administrator and early in his career was also employed at Care One, first as an aide until he achieved his nursing degree, later continuing his studies and own certification first as a nurse now the administrator of the 125 bed facility.
During the Gratitude Celebration King hosted for his staff were staff members who have been employed there for more than 500 years in total, ranging from approximately 45 years to the newest employee, who began work yesterday.
Smith was invited to participate since she is the patient advocate for the facility for the NJ Office of Aging.
