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National Skilled Nursing Care Week celebrates the people who care for some of society’s most vulnerable residents.
But for one Long Island woman, it’s also a reminder of how much more still needs to be done.
After spending more than 35 years working inside nursing homes as a registered dietitian, Danielle Lieblein of Port Washington saw firsthand both the compassion and the shortcomings within long-term care facilities.
What stayed with her most were the residents who simply wanted to feel heard, dignified and valued.
“I have had a front-row seat to both the very best, and the absolute worst that nursing homes have to offer,” Lieblein told Greater Long Island. “I knew something had to change.”
That realization inspired Lieblein to launch Nursing Home Warrior, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring dignity and independence to nursing home residents through free clothing pop-up shops, advocacy and support for families navigating the long-term care system.
A boutique inside the nursing home
When Nursing Home Warrior visits a facility, residents are invited to browse racks of clothing and select outfits for themselves — free of charge. For many residents, it is the first time in years they’ve had the opportunity to independently choose something as simple as a sweater, pajamas or a new outfit.
To date, the nonprofit has hosted 12 pop-up events, with more planned as part of what Lieblein hopes will become a nationwide effort.
For residents like Rita Saxton, the experience means far more than clothing.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Saxton said. “A lot of us can’t get out.”
Lieblein said that loss of independence is something many people outside nursing homes do not fully understand.
She recalled seeing residents without properly fitting clothes or personal items — small things that can have a major impact on confidence, comfort and identity.
In addition to the pop-up boutiques, Nursing Home Warrior has delivered more than 200 “Cozy Boxes” filled with new and gently used clothing to facilities as far away as Pennsylvania. Many of those deliveries happen on weekends, often funded personally by Lieblein and co-founder Paul Moran.
“We spend days and weeks collecting items and then we, along with volunteers, put it all together to look like a beautiful boutique,” Moran told Greater Long Island.
Community partners including Major Label Group, LifeVac and Empire Automotive have also supported the mission as the nonprofit continues expanding its reach.
More than just clothing
Lieblein said her long-term goal is to bring Nursing Home Warrior to facilities across the country.
“My vision is to bring Nursing Home Warrior across America — reaching residents in every state and ensuring that no one feels forgotten,” she said. “Every resident deserves to feel seen, valued and loved.”
Beyond clothing drives, Lieblein has also become an advocate for residents and their families, producing educational videos and offering guidance to people struggling to navigate the nursing home system.
For Lieblein, the mission has become deeply personal — a culmination of decades spent listening to residents whose voices too often went unheard.
Now, through every donated shirt, every Cozy Box and every resident walking away from a pop-up shop with a smile, she hopes to remind people that dignity doesn’t disappear with age.
Top: Danielle Lieblein of Port Washington, the founder of Nursing Home Warrior, enjoys a touching moment this week at SURGE Rehabilitation and Nursing in Middle Island. (Credit: GLI/Jamie Stuart)
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