Fathers Honored for Father’s Day at Christian Health Care Center

Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wyckoff keeps caring in the family. From the Center’s early days, generations of family members have been found working,
living, and/or volunteering here. In recognition of Father’s Day, three fathers
in the CHCC family reflected on what being a parent means to them.

Daniel Baez, CHCC’s Information Services Applications/Project Coordinator and
resident of Riverdale, loves working at CHCC, and the Center’s on-site Child
Day Care Center, which is located in the lower level of The Longview Assisted
Living Residence, is an added benefit for him. His youngest son and daughter
attend the on-site day care program, and Mr. Baez enjoys the fact that Joshua
and Victoria can participate in intergenerational activities with residents at
Longview. Reflecting on what fatherhood means to him, Mr. Baez said,
“Being a dad is one of the most challenging jobs on earth. The impression I
make today on them will remain with them forever. I am profoundly aware of
this. I am called to love them and be their mentor.”

“My daddy tells us the best stories every night before we go to bed,” said his
son Joshua. His daughter Victoria said, “My daddy is my best friend!”

A resident of Lincoln Park, Rick De Bel serves on CHCC’s Board of Trustees as
Vice-Chair and Treasurer and is the co-chair of CHCC’s Golf Classic Committee.
His father is a resident at Longview. Mr. De Bel has had a very long-time
connection with CHCC as a volunteer and knows first-hand the excellent quality
of care that CHCC provides. Therefore, he wouldn’t want his father living
anywhere else.

“My wife Ellen and I, and subsequently our six children, have enjoyed Sunday
afternoon dinners with Pop ever since we got married 25 years ago,” said Mr. De
Bel. “Our whole family continues to enjoy taking him home for the day or
visiting with him at Longview.”

Michael Taggart is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at CHCC’s The
David F. Bolger Post-acute Care Unit and a resident of New City, NY. His son
Christopher also attends the Child Day Care Center.

“Although I am at the beginning and have only been a dad for three and a half
years, I can’t wait to see what every new day brings, and it’s amazing to
watch” said Mr. Taggart. “I would not change my life for anything in the
world.”

Christian Health Care Center provides a broad continuum of high-quality,
compassionate care, offering superior mental-health, elder-care, residential
living, and rehabilitation services. As a non-profit organization, we deliver
care to our community based upon the Christian principles on which we were
founded more than a century ago.