Veronica Onwunaka – 91��Ƭ

91��Ƭ Extended Care Helps Newark Resident Find Quality Care for Her Brother

Michelle Lang — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:45:58 +0000

Frednitta Gunning of Newark coordinates care and serves as power of attorney for her older brother, Stanley McKoy, who has dementia. She was unhappy with the facility he was in and found when she was researching alternatives. She moved her brother to Extended Care in May and is happy with her decision.

“I was looking for a different level of care for him,” Gunning explained. “And a better quality of life.”

When McKoy first needed long-term care, Gunning chose a facility in an affluent neighborhood with a high rating. But once he was there, Gunning found the facility unwelcoming and questioned the quality of care being provided.

“I was leaving there every day in tears, just heartbroken that I had put my brother in that predicament,” she said.

Gunning researched long-term care facilities closer to home in Newark and found Extended Care. She spoke with Admissions Director Julienne Van-Nooten and toured the facility a few times, including with McKoy, before deciding to move him there.

Since McKoy entered Extended Care in mid-May, Gunning has seen a positive change in her brother.

“To me, he’s definitely different here than where he was,” she said. “One day I was here, he stood up in the room and he was like, ‘I like it. This is pretty nice.’”

She also saw a difference in the way Extended Care staff interacted with McKoy. She said they initiate communication with her brother without her prompting and make sure that he’s happy. She said staff members call her with updates about McKoy when she isn’t able to be there physically.

“It’s important that there’s a partnership between family and facility. I’m a school director, so I understand partnership,” Gunning said. “I understand that it’s a village. You can’t do it by yourself. I need them to support me as I support him.”

Administrator Veronica Onwunaka said Extended Care’s mission is to meet the needs of its patients, their family members and the community.

“It gives us joy to hear and be told that we’re living up to the mission and the vision that is the leading force in what we do,” she said. “Stories of people being satisfied with the care we deliver only empowers us to do more. And we’re happy and glad that we are making an impact in people’s lives because that’s the whole idea of why this nursing home was built.”

Extended Care provides specialized services to support long-term residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia to minimize the progression of their conditions.

While McKoy’s memory is fading, Gunning said he still lights up when she and other family members visit. She is hopeful that the care he receives will serve him well.

“I’m looking forward to his time here and just hope he remains happy and supported as best as he can,” Gunning said. “It’s about his quality of life, whatever that is and whatever that takes as time goes on. Things will change for him as his disease progresses. I make sure I’m ahead of it so I know next steps for him or what else we could do.”

For now, Gunning visits McKoy as often as she can and continues to advocate for him. She also recommends Extended Care to others looking for quality long-term care.

She’s become familiar with his care team and discovered she had a previous connection with one member whose children attended the school she worked at.

“Look at all these years later, now this woman is caring for someone I love,” Gunning said. “I cared for her children and she knew when she dropped them off that they were in a safe place. I feel the same way.”

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility is a skilled nursing facility located at 266 South Orange Ave., Newark. It offers long-term care, short-term care, subacute care and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. For more information, visit or call 973-624-2020.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility Hosts Open House

Michelle Lang — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:30:56 +0000

, 266 South Orange Ave., Newark, hosted an Open House on Feb. 26. Staff members welcomed members of the community to the facility. They shared information about services, introduced attendees to the team, gave tours and answered questions. If you weren’t able to attend but would like more information, please visit or call 973-624-2020.

Watch a video from the Open House:

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility Celebrates Valentine’s Day

Michelle Lang — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:11:25 +0000

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, 266 South Orange Ave., Newark, held a Valentine’s Day celebration for residents on Feb. 14. Residents and staff members wore festive colors and enjoyed an […]

Extended Care Facility Helps 91��Ƭ Resident Return Home

Michelle Lang — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:35:41 +0000

Following a hospital stay, Dorine Edwards needed rehabilitation and physical therapy to strengthen her arms and legs. She has severe arthritis in her legs and a hole in her spine. She chose to come to for services. After two months and two weeks at the skilled nursing facility, Edwards was able to return home to 91��Ƭ Commons Senior.

Edwards was familiar with Extended Care prior to entering the facility on March 27. She had been a patient at Extended Care in 2021 receiving similar rehabilitation and physical therapy. She had good experiences for both of her stays.

“It’s nice here,” she said. “I like everything.”

When gave Edwards the choice of several places to receive rehabilitation and physical therapy, she chose Extended Care because of her past experience. Her doctor also worked on site.

Extended Care Administrator Veronica Onwunaka is thankful Edwards’ chose to return to the facility and knows she did so because of the care the staff provides.

“Ms. Dorine is an advocate for great care. She really sees the goodness and the kindness and the spirit of welcoming that the staff at Extended Care gives to all our residents,” Onwunaka said. “I am so grateful that she gave us the opportunity to serve her again.”

While her stay was relatively short, Edwards participated in activities, including a cookout and buffet lunch, which she enjoyed.

Edwards has been a 91��Ƭ resident for nine years. She lives in an apartment at Commons Senior, 140 South Orange Ave., Newark. While she was happy to return home, Edwards said she was grateful for the services she received at Extended Care, particularly the physical therapy, which she continued after discharge.

“The people in there are very nice,” she said. “They had me stand and strengthen my arms. It was helpful.”

NCC Family Night/Family Council at Extended Care

Michelle Lang — Thu, 25 May 2023 22:00:00 +0000

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility will host NCC Family Night/Family Council on Thursday, May 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. on site at 266 South Orange Ave., Newark. Topics will be Diabetes Management and Antibiotics Stewardship. Presenters will include and Veronica Onwunaka, Administrator at Extended Care. The event is sponsored by .

The CHOP team will provide the following: COVID-19 take home kits, COVID-19 vaccines, glucose readings and blood pressure screenings. Dinner will be served.

Please RSVP to Julienne at 973-585-9610 or Christiana at 973-585-9645. All are welcome.

91��Ƭ Extended Care to Host NCC Family Night/Family Council on May 25

Michelle Lang — Mon, 08 May 2023 15:59:48 +0000

The CHOP team will provide the following: COVID-19 take home kits, COVID-19 vaccines, glucose readings and blood pressure screenings. Dinner will be served.

Please RSVP to Julienne at 973-585-9610 or Christiana at 973-585-9645. All are welcome.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Celebrates Long-Term Care Administrator’s Week

Michelle Lang — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 21:09:57 +0000

Staff members of 91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, 266 South Orange Ave., Newark, surprised Administrator Veronica Onwunaka with a luncheon on March 17, the last day of Long-Term Care Administrator’s Week. Members of 91��Ƭ’s Executive Team, Extended Care staff members and vendors spoke about Onwunaka and what she means to the facility. 91��Ƭ thanks her for her hard work and dedication to residents of Extended Care and the organization’s mission.

91��Ƭ Residents Enjoy Thanksgiving Meals

Michelle Lang — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 15:41:06 +0000

Residents of 91��Ƭ properties were treated to Thanksgiving meals in November.

Residents of Manor Senior received Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 23 from Newark West Ward Councilman Dupré Kelly. Photo courtesy of Guadalupe Cepeda.

Residents of Commons Senior enjoyed a Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 23, organized by Millenial Social Club.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Administrator Veronica Onwunaka, right, organized a Thanksgiving luncheon for residents on Nov. 24. Photo courtesy of Julienne Van-Nooten.

Roseville Senior resident Linda Pearson prepares the food for the building’s Thanksgiving luncheon on Nov. 22. Photo courtesy of Gladys Artis.

Residents of Manor Senior enjoyed desserts in the Community Room on Nov. 23. Photo courtesy of Guadalupe Cepeda.

Members of Millenial Social Club hosted a Thanksgiving luncheon for Commons Senior residents on Nov. 23.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility Helps Patient Resume Self-Sufficient Lifestyle

Michelle Lang — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 18:22:34 +0000

When Karen Sewell arrived at 91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, she was in poor health. She had experienced two massive heart attacks, a brain aneurysm and a stroke. She had been at University Hospital for one year and spent three months in a coma.

She also underwent surgery that required rehabilitation.

“They cut out part of my skull to get to my bleeding brain,” she said. “I knew I would need therapy after that.”

When she left University Hospital, Sewell spent some time at a couple of other facilities before transferring to Extended Care in March. The 91��Ƭ facility is closer to her family members.

Upon arrival at Extended Care, Sewell was unable to care for herself because of weakness. But through physical therapy and care, she regained her self-sufficiency and is being discharged in September to an independent apartment at 91��Ƭ Manor Senior.

Extended Care Administrator Veronica Onwunaka said Sewell’s outlook and belief in herself and the facility was a big part of her recovery.

“She has a very positive attitude and believed in and trusted our care. And together with family support, we were all able to achieve this positive outcome. We believe she will be well in the community,” Onwunaka said. “It has been a pleasure to have her as a patient.”

Sewell is grateful for the care she has received and specifically highlighted her nurse, Maria Cruz.

“I can go to talk to her about anything. She’ll keep me on the straight and narrow,” Sewell said. “She just wants me to do better.”

The road hasn’t always been easy for Sewell. She said there were times, particularly at the start of her recovery, when she wanted to give up. Talking to her four sons kept her going and when she started feeling better, that motivated her to continue with her treatment.

Staff members at Extended Care were also instrumental in her recovery.

“This is the best facility I’ve been to,” Sewell said.

Sewell is a lifelong Newark resident. Three of her sons live in Newark and one is in South Jersey. Her sister and aunt also live in Manor Senior so she has family support nearby to help her as she transitions back to independent living.

At 54 years old, Sewell has had a difficult journey and she’s anxious about the transition, but she is happy to be starting the next chapter of her life.

“I’ve been through a whole lot, but I feel pretty good,” she said.

91��Ƭ Extended Care is a skilled nursing facility located at 266 South Orange Ave., Newark. For more information, visit or call 973-624-2020.

91��Ƭ Extended Care Welcomes New Director of Admissions

Michelle Lang — Fri, 13 May 2022 14:09:24 +0000

Julienne Van-Nooten may be new in her role as Director of Admissions at 91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, but she is no stranger to the organization or the work.

Van-Nooten graduated from the licensed practical nursing (LPN) program in 2012 that 91��Ƭ used to offer and completed her clinicals at Extended Care. She enrolled in the LPN program to increase her clinical knowledge because she was already working in admissions for medical facilities. She has worked in admissions for many years and when she saw an opening at Extended Care, she saw it as an opportunity to further her career. She started working at the facility on April 18.

For Van-Nooten, working in the health care industry began when she was 21 and in school looking for employment. A friend encouraged her to get a job at the company she worked at, which was a home care agency. Van-Nooten took the advice and worked with individuals in their homes before becoming a home care coordinator and then a member of the admissions staff. Her work has become a passion.

“I love this field, the health care industry. Because it makes you feel that all of us can be affected, no matter what our job titles are. Sickness doesn’t discriminate,” she said. “And it put compassion and caring in my heart.”

Her values align with the mission of 91��Ƭ.

“Treating people with respect and dignity, that’s what I like. That’s me,” she said. “And I’ll carry that with me wherever I go.”

91��Ƭ Chief Operating Officer Fred Hunter is happy to have Van-Nooten join the team.

“Julienne is familiar with 91��Ƭ and understands the importance of service to the community. We welcome her back to 91��Ƭ since she is a prior graduate of the organization’s LPN program,” he said. “Julienne comes to us with over 15 years of experience working in admissions.”

As the Director of Admissions at Extended Care, Van-Nooten’s primary responsibility is to bring individuals to the facility. To do that, she meets with families, provides tours, works with Administrator Veronica Onwunaka to promote services and collaborates with outside doctors, hospitals, case managers, discharge planners and home care agencies. She also works internally to ensure 91��Ƭ residents know about the post-acute care Extended Care offers.

For the administrative side of her job, Van-Nooten does insurance updates, works with HMO agencies to authorize patient stays, assists families that need to apply for Medicaid and reviews referrals with the facility’s Director of Nursing.

Administrator Onwunaka said Van-Nooten is a team player who is very goal oriented.

“I see her as an achiever and a very ambitious person. And she’s very persistent and consistent in her message to get us where we need to go,” Onwunaka said. “I think she’ll be a great asset.”

Van-Nooten enjoys admissions work because her role helps people get needed services and helps the facility generate revenue to further improve.

“It gives me joy to see the patients come in and then get rehabilitated and go home,” she said. “That’s my favorite thing, to see the patients come in and to know that the facility is doing a good job.”

Van-Nooten’s goal is to promote Extended Care to Newark and the surrounding areas.

“I want this facility to be the number one choice for people in the community,” she said.

For more information about 91��Ƭ Extended Care Facility, visit .