Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

For more than three decades, Ilene Arroyo has worked to support the more than 1,200 employees in The New Jewish Home organization. She began her career there in 1992 as a human resources coordinator and quickly moved up to assistant director at the Bronx location in 1997. 

By 2004, Arroyo had moved to the Manhattan location as associate director, and a few years later, a new position was created for her to head human resources for the community services division. Arroyo was promoted to director of human resources in Manhattan in 2014 and has been in her current role of senior director of human resources in Manhattan since 2016. 

In addition to those achievements, Arroyo is being recognized especially for her continued strong work ethic and willingness to offer hands-on support to frontline staff despite her elevated administrative role. Throughout the staffing crunch caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she has offered her time and hands-on support to nurse managers, residents and their families. She even has filled in as administrator on-duty in times of need and volunteered to stay overnight at the facility during storms, to offer support and even make breakfast for weary workers.

Beyond all of these actions, Arroyo has been pivotal in helping to negotiate several new union contracts, and she has participated in programs such as the Green House Project’s person-directed care model to enhance workforce empowerment. 

Arroyo has worked in human resources at The New Jewish Home for more than 30 years. After several promotions, she assumed her current role in 2016. During the pandemic, Arroyo stepped outside of her formal role to offer hands-on support on the front lines.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.