Inside Athena: Veteran Care Coordinator Bridges Bonds Between Veterans and the Community
Veteran Care Coordinator Sonya Nonginthirath alongside a resident at Orchard View Manor.
Sonya Nonginthirath has a unique role at Orchard View Manor. She serves as the center’s Veterans Care Coordinator and is also a social worker. She began working at the center in August of 2016 as a part-time social worker, but in November of the same year, was when she started as the full-time Veterans Care Coordinator.
The East Providence center is home to many veterans as the facility is contracted with the Veterans Association, and is known for the supportive veterans’ services provided.
In a previous job she was a housekeeper at an assisted living facility. It was in this role, she developed a kinship towards the elderly population. She loved the stories they shared with her and knew she wanted to explore a career within senior care.
Nonginthirath works closely with local veterans’ groups in the greater community, including but not limited to American Legion Warren Post #104, Warren Unit #11 American Legion Auxiliary and East Providence Elks Lodge #2337, among several others.
“The assistance we get from these outside groups makes our facility stand out,” she said. The support from outside organizations includes different recognition events for the veterans, like monthly birthday celebrations, cook outs and more.
“Our veteran residents love it when they [outside organizations] come to the facility because they have a similar bond and sense of unity,” she explains. “They can relate to the members of these groups, because a lot of them have been in the same places or even the same position as them.”
Nonginthirath sees the camaraderie and benefit developed between the residents and the local organizations and always strives to find resources available to the veterans. For example, she shared that each Veteran’s Day she will place an order at Applebee’s and bring the food back to the center as the restaurant provides free meals to veterans on that day.
“That way, they are part of it, and they can have the Veteran’s Day luncheon,” she said.
When it comes to programming, specifically geared to the veteran population at Orchard View Manor, she learns what they like and dislike, what makes them smile and what they prefer not to discuss.
“I always make sure to go out of my way to speak with them and learn about their likes and dislikes and just get to know them as a person,” Nonginthirath said. “A lot of our residents come to the center with no family, so the majority of the time the staff become their family. Understanding them helps make the day better so it is a good experience not only for the resident, but for the staff as well.”
She doesn’t envision doing anything else. Since being in the position, she has created a Wall of Honor at Orchard View Manor to honor the service of the residents at the center.
“Working at this center there is always a sense of family,” she said. “Whether it is with the residents or the staff. There is unity. The residents are the main reason I enjoy what I do and why I get up to come to work every day.”