The King is Leaving the Building

When Jimmie King, administrator of Care One at Middletown, walks out the door of the Route 36 nursing facility today, it will be on a red carpet, with staff and residents cheering him on in his new adventures. But there will be tears in their eyes and memories too precious to share about a boss who makes nursing home residents his first priority.

King, a native of Middletown, who has been in care giving in long-term care facilities for 33 years, literally worked his way to the top through his own high standards, love of his patients, and a genuine promise to himself he would always continue to strive to do better every day.

A product of the Middletown school system from Leonardo grade school, Bayshore Junior High and Middletown South High School, King continued his education under his own series of self-designed five-year plans. He pursued his first position in nursing as a certified nursing system, then quickly became a licensed practical nurse, both from the educational and practical programs at Monmouth County Vocational School in Long Branch. He then went on to Brookdale College to earn his RN.

Being a registered nurse was one goal achieved, so Jimmie set about another five-year plan and earned his undergraduate, then his master’s degrees in nursing at Kean College. Another goal, another plan and Jimmie next attended Longtree and Associates LNHA pre course. After completing an untold number of hours of training with Douglas Kreil LNHA, Jimmie became a licensed nursing home administrator.

To him tell it, it all started with the late Helen Marchetti, a former Mayor in Atlantic Highlands, and the administrator at the now closed Atlantic Highlands Nursing Home where Jimmie got his first job and was guided by the woman he still calls one of the most influential people in his life.

Jimmie’s grandmother lived across the street from the Middletown nursing home just off First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands. Jimmie had worked at Riverview Hospital, liked being in a position where he could help people, and decided to apply for a position across the street from his grandma’s home. As part of the interview for the job, he met with the administrator, Mrs. Marchetti. He recalls how he was hired on the spot, but more endearingly recalls how Helen, dressed impeccably with well coifed hair and a caring demeanor, had him sit on a bench between the house where her office was located and the facility where the patients were, and talked to him about his future.

“She exuded confidence and leadership,” he said this week, recalling those days when he was 20 years old. “She asked me about my plans for the future and while I had not really thought about that before, by the time we finished the conversation, my plan was to go and apply for the LPN program and a study-intensive five-year plan.”

In the small world in which we live, Helen decades later became a long-term care resident at Care One after Jimmie became administrator and died there last year. “It was one of my greatest moments in health care to attend Helen Marchetti’s final Birthday party at the facility where I am the administrator. I am also so grateful was able to say final goodbyes to her and allow her to transition peacefully to the next life in my presence.”

Jimmie has many memories of the joy of meeting and caring for residents, seeing them on their way back to health, or administering to them and overseeing their care as they pass on, the joys of knowing them mingled with the sadness of letting them go. “What I hold closest to my heart at Care One King James are my residents and staff. They are the reason I strive for excellence on a daily basis. They deserve the utmost respect. I learn life lessons daily from them all,” this humble but dedicated administrator said.

Helen was not the only former care administrator or owner under Jimmie’s care. The late James Snyder, who built the facility more than half a century ago, as well as his wife, Judy, were both long-term care residents at Care One. Their son, Glenn, was the owner of the facility and Jimmie was a licensed practical nurse at the time. The care each received was no different than what every resident at the care center receives on a daily basis. That’s because to Jimmie, “Ensuring my residents and staff have the best experience on a daily basis is my goal. Not many people can say they make over 100 people smile daily simply by doing my job.”

There are huge disappointments along the way, mingled with the joy of helping people get better or assisting them in their final hours of life. One of the most frustrating throughout all his years in the field has been the Covid 19 virus. “That is one of the most difficult things any healthcare worker deals in these present times,” the administrator said., “It has affected the long-term care industry greatly and has caused great change. When family members couldn’t visit their loved ones, it was heart breaking.” But King and his staff worked ceaselessly to keep the facility as Covid free as possible, ensuring safety of residents when new residents, or residents returning from hospital stays came in, through scrupulous testing and separation until he was certain there were no contaminants.

Though stern and strict in all areas of health care, it’s Jimmie’s ‘soft side’ and obvious love for each patient that the King James family will miss the most. A frequent visitor to every resident’s room, a popular attendee at all their parties and activities, a beaming smile in every hallway, and a caring listener to any complaint or woe, Jimmie King has inspired many and receives the accolades of staff and resident alike.

“ He’s amazing! That’s all I can say,” according to Cheryl Flesch of Highlands. A dietary aide in the spotlessly clean kitchen for seven years, Cheryl said King “is always there for everybody, both employee and resident. He goes above and beyond; you can’t say enough great about him.”

Brian Kroeper of Brick a unit secretary for the past six years, describes King as “easy to approach, fair, always ready to jump in and help wherever needed, a good guy to work for…”

Nicole Mezzina of Hazlet has only been at Care One as its receptionist since last year. But that’s long enough to see “how sweet how compassionate he is,” she said. “He always put everyone first, he is not just the administrator.” And Nicole searches a second for the right word, then smiles and says,” he is the heart of the community.”

Nurses, aides, maintenance workers, volunteers, residents…. they all say the same thing. Residents like Ady, who lived at Care One for more than a decade before moving last month to be closer to her daughter, does not speak. But her affection for Jimmie was always exhibited in her sparkling eyes, her warm handshake, her laughter as she sang a song to him only he could understand. She speaks for all the residents in her affection for an administrator who was as visible in the hallways and dining room as he was in his open door office.

On Thursday, December 28, when Jimmie King walks out of Care One at Middletown for the last time as its administrator who has made a difference, he will truly get the red-carpet experience.

That is one of the many programs and traditions he has established at Care One. But he doesn’t take any credit for that either, instead praising Emily Vasquesz his senior vice president overseeing Care One Newton in Massachusetts. It was there he saw the Red-Carpet Clap Out he believes now elevates customer service and the residents’ and staff’s overall experience at Care One Middletown.

“I first witnessed the Red-Carpet Clap when I visited Emily at her facility, and she asked me if I would be part of a discharge tradition they have at the facility. I watched as the staff gathered in the main lobby and rolled out a red carpet. Within minutes a resident came off one of the units and the staff erupted into a cheer and clapping. The resident’s eyes filled with tears of joy, and she thanked each staff member as she passed them with a princess wave. As I am clapping and enjoying the moment, I look at her son; he comes over and shakes my hand with tears in his eyes and thanked me for taking such great care of his mother and making her feel so special. He said it was one of the greatest things that ever happened to his mother. I will never forget that experience and am forever grateful to Emily for allowing me to share that moment and for purchasing my red carpet at Care One Middletown. It has forever changed the staff and residents’ feelings at Care One Middletown.

So what does the future now hold for Jimmie King, who has left his footprint and heart beat at Care One at Middletown? “I want to continue to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry.  If you remain positive and strive for excellence daily the rest will fall into place.:

Then he thinks a second, sits back, laughs and says, ”Jimmie King Vice President or Jimmie King President of a corporation sounds really good.”