Danielle Pagoulatos-Lieblein, 55, recently brought her Hicksville, N.Y.–based nonprofit, Nursing Home Warrior, to the Garden Care Center in Franklin Square, continuing her mission to advocate for older adults— starting with something as simple as clothing.
Pagoulatos-Lieblein, a part-time dietitian in the Bronx, organizes pop-up shops at nursing homes across the state, providing residents with donated clothing and personal interaction. She said many residents could not afford to purchase their own clothing, because Medicaid recipients typically receive only $50 to $60 per month for personal expenses.
At the Garden Care Center event on Feb. 15, racks and tables were filled with sweaters, coats and comfortable wear — all newly tagged items. Most donations are gently used, and Pagoulatos-Lieblein carefully reviews each piece to ensure it is appropriate for residents.
Arthur Lih, founder of LifeVac — a company that produces portable suction devices used during choking emergencies — is a major donor to the organization. All funds raised by Nursing Home Warrior are used to purchase clothing for residents.
The Garden Care Center houses about 150 residents, and more than half attended the pop-up shop seeking new items.
“The pop-up shops are a great way to know I am getting into the nursing home and making sure that these residents are getting a little bit of love,” Pagoulatos-Lieblein said.
Paulie Morgan, who helped launch the nonprofit, described it as an eye-opening experience.
Morgan recalled the words of one resident who visited the pop-up shop. “She was like, ‘This is so great.’ She said, ‘I literally came here with one pair of pants and one shirt.’”
Morgan added that residents and staff were surprised by the quality of the clothing and expressed excitement during the event.
Harvey Bauer, Garden Care Center administrator, who was unable to attend the event, later shared his appreciation for the initiative, Pagoulatos-Lieblein said, noting he had heard the event went well.
In addition to pop-ups, Pagoulatos-Lieblein regularly assembles boxes of 30 to 40 clothing items for residents in need.
Pagoulatos-Lieblein began working in nursing homes at age 17 and later studied to become a registered dietitian at Long Island University. She has spent 37 years in the field and continues to advocate for older adults through her nonprofit.
Nursing Home Warrior was officially established about two and a half years ago, though its origin dates back further. Pagoulatos-Lieblein said the idea was born when she started distributing her son’s hand-me-down clothing to residents in need.
What she once described as a “failed business” evolved into a nonprofit dedicated to supporting vulnerable older adults. Pagoulatos-Lieblein initially had little experience running a business or marketing but remained committed to the mission.
Her son, Jack Lieblein, continues to serve as a source of motivation.
“He is like my hero,” she said. “He’s always telling me, ‘Mom, you have to do something. You’ll figure it out.’”
Lieblein said he did not expect the nonprofit to reach the growth that it has attained. “You could just see how invested she was in only the advocacy side of what she does,” he said, “but the impacts of the clothing and delivering the boxes.”
He described his mother as highly skilled in healthcare, but in the beginning, she needed extra help on the business side. Along with other family members, he helped guide her in fundraising and entrepreneurship, allowing the nonprofit to flourish.
Pagoulatos-Lieblein said her experiences in nursing homes — including time spent at a facility in Suffolk County — deepened her commitment to advocacy and education.
She also produces a podcast, “Nursing Home Warrior Podcast,” on Strong Island TV, which is aimed at helping families better understand the realities of nursing home care.
But her main goal has always remained to ensure nursing home residents receive the care and advocacy they deserve.
