The Laurel Spirit - Laurel Health Care Company

Transcription

The Laurel Spirit
V OLUM E 1 9 • W IN T ER 2015
A LAUREL HEALTH CARE COMPANY ASSOCIATE PUBLICATION
Love is in the Air at Laurel Health Care!
The Administrators and Staff at Laurel Health Care always make caring a priority. This February, many of
them gave love a little extra attention in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Lovin’ it at The Laurels of Norworth
Associates at The Laurels of Norworth learned that a little love
can go a long way. Every Thursday for the month of February,
department heads conducted Random Acts of Love for staff
members. Administrator Stephanie Tozbikian was inspired by a trip to
McDonald's, much to her surprise. On February 2, a quick lunch trip
took an unexpected turn when she was invited to “pay with love.” As
part of McDonald's Payin’ with Lovin’ campaign, she got a free meal
in exchange for calling someone on the phone to say “I love you.”
She was so inspired by the exchange that she wanted to share the
feeling with the entire facility. She asked all employees who would
be working on the next Thursday to put their names in a jar. At their
Wednesday morning meeting, department heads pulled names
Dietary Man
ag
from the jar and agreed to perform a Random Act of Love for the
Donyell Cro er Tracy Aitken and
LP
om are spre
Associate whose name they selected. The Housekeeping Director
ading the lo N
The Laurels
ve at
of Norwort
h.
brought in homemade baked goods with a hand written letter
for a 3rd shift STNA. The Maintenance Director bought lunch for
a nurse. The Dietary Director brought baked goods for a housekeeper.
Payroll gave a hug and a handwritten note with a favorite drink and candy bar to a new hire nurse.
The Case Manager helped an STNA get two Guests up for the day. And four department heads brought in
muffins for the Dietary Department staff and gave them a 30-minute break while the department heads bussed
tables and did dishes. Associates on the receiving end of these loving acts received pins that they could pass on
with their own Acts of Love if they wished. Stephanie says that the response has been phenomenal. “Employees
are crossing departments to share and interact, and department heads are
‘competing’ with their creative acts. The morale is outstanding and I am
Lovin’ it!” These Random Acts of Love happened every Thursday at The
Laurels of Norworth for the month of February.
A Little Romance at The Laurels of Kent
l
joy a specia
Kamaski en e Laurels
n
o
R
d
an
Deb
at Th
Day dinner
Valentine’s
of Kent.
Sometimes love is all you need. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, The
Laurels of Kent hosted a special Valentine’s Day Dinner for Guests and
their spouses. Each table was set up with an elegant centerpiece of
fresh flowers, candles, and red décor. The Guests selected their dinner
choices from a fine dining menu that included broccoli and cheese
soup, bean and ham soup, tossed salad, Swiss steak with mashed
potatoes, and spaghetti and meatballs. For dessert they were treated
with homemade strawberry shortcake and red velvet cake.
Continued on page 3
A
W O R D F R O M O U R C U S T O M E R S
Words of Thanks
Often, Laurel Health Care Associates go above
and beyond the call of duty, reaching out in the
communities they serve and demonstrating The
Laurel Way of Caring. Here are a few of the letters
of appreciation we have received commending
these Associates for their extra efforts.
The Laurels of Worthington
How does one say enough to thank each and every one of
you for the wonderful care given to my mom, Gertie Kollar? I
will try by saying that in all the time my mom was at The
Laurels she received quality, loving care done with the utmost
patience and dignity from you all. It was extremely clear to
me that you loved her as much as we did and for that I am
eternally grateful. Continue with your excellent care knowing
that you do make a big difference in the world of elder care.
Marcia (Kollar) Corso
ngton
Worthi
f
o
s
l
e
r
u
a
he L
rgery
after my su
n
to
g
in
h
rt
ound. I am
rels of Wo
to The Lau ursing tend to my w ing home
e
m
o
c
to
urs
I had
to have n
g into a n
t
itation and ervous about goin
il
b
not all tha
a
h
s
a
re
w
r
s
n
fo
e
s
m
a
o
w
h
I
v
ing
as ery
to lie—
e with nurs ristie Provan she w
c
n
not going
e
ri
e
p
x
K
ator
past e
to give this
again. My I met with Administr t then I was going
I was
en
righ
orthington
great. Wh erstanding. I knew
W
f
o
ls
re
ople.
nd
e Lau
enuine pe
G
kind and u hen I arrived at Th
.
le
p
o
e
.W
ring p
from
place a try ounded by kind, ca is world. Everyone
as a liferr
th
su
in
It
l
ly
.
aring w
c
ere stil
sudden
w
d
n
a
w
l
o
n
fu
k
help
my whole
idn’t
People I d maintenance was so heal physically but
I
a lost
to
ght I was
ot only did
u
managers
N
o
.
e
th
c
o
n
h
e
ri
w
staff is
e
expe
e, someon veryone there. The
changing
m
s
e
Y
.
d
e
e
y body
ang
and
uraging. M all
attitude ch tely loved therapy
o
c
n
e
so
lu
d oh
God Bless
cause, abso understanding an
t a family.
u
b
d
s
n
a
d
l
n
ie
fu
fr
so help
not only
you.
d I made
ver forget
e
n
ll
I’
healed an
.
ls
t The Laure
the staff a
T
toops
Katrina S
The Lau
rels of K
ent
Dear Jay
on my fe — I wanted to tha
et again.
n
You are a k you so much fo
person. I
r getting
wonderfu
hope eve
me b
l the
ryo
you do w
ith your p ne there knows w rapist and a won ack
derful
atients. I
hat an ex
not have
had
ceptiona
an
l job
again. Be y idea what I was never been hurt
before an
cau
in
dd
caring, ex se of you, I am w for or if I would e
ver be th id
ceptiona
e
ll
o
n
my way.
l knowled
e
together.
same
Your com
ge
I hope yo
passion,
u know w and skills helped
have my
put me b
hat that m
life back
ac
because
of the ca eans to me; it me k
re I receiv
ans I
ed from
you.
Patti M
ack
The Laurels of Kent
This was my second visit at The Laurels for Kent for
rehabilitation and I have recommended them to my entire family!
The Nurses, Aides and Therapists were just fantastic. The Physical
Therapists were able to get me back on my feet again. Everyone
just really stands out. I actually had a lot of fun while I was there.
Barb Johnson
ent
The Laurels of usK
party for Agnes.
to have a birthday
ng
Thank you for helpi
u for providing the
mfortable. Thank yo
co
ry
ve
s
wa
om
ro
e
Th
ppy there and it’s all
Agnes sure seems ha
.
hs
.
lot
lec
tab
le
rp
pu
k you for everything
nderful people. Than
wo
u
yo
of
e
us
ca
be
Norma
The Laurels of Mt. Vernon
The Laurels of Hills
boro
Our family would lik
e to thank all of you
for
the wonderful care
our mother Betty W
ebster
was given. I saw such
great love, caring, an
d
compassion for her.
Thank you all.
Sue Webster
Michael and I would like to thank each of you for all you did to help
Em Link these past six years. You have all been there for her in one way
or another, and there truly are no words to adequately express our gratitude. We have nothing but positive words to say about every department and person at The Laurels. You truly are very caring.
Susan
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T H E L A U R E L W A Y O F C A R I N G C O M E S F R O M W I T H I N
D E M O N S T R A T I N G T H E L A U R E L W A Y
That's the Spirit!
Love is in the Air... (continued from page 1)
Guests and their spouses loved the opportunity for romance. Deb and Ron Kamaski said, “This is just so wonderful.
Each one of you make this so very special.” Richard and Marcia Sweet told Associates, “This is our second year here
at the Valentine Dinner and it’s just as special.” The Laurels of Kent Director of Marketing Tracy Blanchard said,
“These are the little things that The Laurels of Kent does on a daily basis to provide a great experience for our Guests.
It was truly an honor to make this day extra special for them.” After the chocolate is gone and Valentine’s Day is
done, these memories will fill the hearts of our Guests for days, months, and years to come.
A Picture-Perfect Valentine at
The Laurels of University Park
Guests at The Laurels of University Park got in
the Valentine’s Day spirit with a very special photo
shoot. Associates collected some fun props and
helped the ladies get dolled up for the occasion.
Guests gave the photos to their families as
Valentine’s Day cards. Feel the love!
A Gala Event The Laurels of Coldwater
This year was The Laurels of Coldwaters’ 17th Annual Valentine’s
Day Gala. This dinner-dance is open to the community, and is
consistently attended by 300+ local seniors and other community
members. The Gala is held as a fundraiser for the local senior center,
with all ticket sales and 50/50 raffle proceeds donated right back to
the community. The $10 ticket provides an evening of music and
dancing with the Roy Cole Country Rock Band, a catered dinner
with appetizers, a chocolate fountain and dessert bar, and a picture
to remember the evening. This year’s photo booths were a huge hit;
Gala-goers could use fun props if they wanted to and were able to
instantly walk away with their pictures in hand with The Laurels logo
printed at the bottom.
Guests and community members kick up their
heels at the 17th Annual Valentine’s Day Gala
at The Laurels of Coldwater.
The Laurels of Worthington "Rockin’ with
Robert" Valentine’s Day Social
On February 13th, Guests and Associates at The Laurels of Worthington
celebrated Valentine’s Day with a special social featuring love songs, trivia, an
ice cream sundae bar, and Valentine’s Day chocolates. Guest Robert Peyton
was the DJ for the special event. Guests had a great time eating, singing, and
reminiscing about past Valentine’s Days.
T H E L A U R E L W A Y O F C A R I N G C O M E S F R O M W I T H I N 3
That's the Spirit!
The Laurels of Toledo Thanks First Responders at Station 4
Firefighters and other emergency responders put
their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
This past holiday season, The Laurels of Toledo
wanted say “thank you” to some of their local
heroes. Guests and Associates visited the firefighters of Toledo Station 4 to present a token of their
appreciation: lunch and a Kroger gift card to help
defray the crew’s grocery costs. “Station 4 is the
closest fire station to The Laurels, and they’re always
our first responders in the event of an emergency,”
explains Administrator Edward Beatrice. “With it
being the holiday season, we just felt it was the right
time to recognize and thank our local firefighters for
the vital work they do, not just for us, but for the
entire community.” In late 2013, two local firefighters, Private Stephen A. Machcinski and Private James
The Laurels of Toledo surprised local firefighters with an
appreciation lunch at the holidays.
A. Dickman, lost their lives fighting a fire in North
Toledo. “Our first responders may not be putting
their lives at risk when they come here, but at any moment, on any day, they may be expected to do so in the course of
trying to save others,” Beatrice says. The Laurels of Toledo makes fire safety part of their home evaluations for therapy
Guests prior to discharging them to home. During the visit, team members ensure that there are functioning smoke detectors (with working batteries) in the home and that the Guest is capable of making 911 calls if necessary.
Christmas Spirit is Alive and Well in
Carson City
A local letter carrier and an
anonymous benefactor helped
The Laurels of Carson City spread
Christmas cheer this season.
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For the past two years, The Laurels of Carson City's STEPS committee has
enjoyed facilitating an “Adopt-A-Family” tree. Associates nominate coworkers
that they know are struggling over the holidays. Children’s names are added to
a “stocking tree” and Associates who would like to participate select a stocking
from the tree to fulfill a Christmas wish. For the most recent holiday, Associates
at The Laurels of Carson City adopted four families with a total of nine children from newborn to 11 years old. They also held a food drive to provide a
Christmas dinner for the families. This year, the mail delivery woman happened
to notice the stocking tree and asked if she could “adopt” a couple of the children. She took two of the stockings and went shopping over the weekend. After
she made her purchases, she took them to show her friend who worked at a
gas station. As they were talking, a man came in to pay for his gas and asked
the attendant about the toys. She explained the stocking tree to him, and after
paying for his gas with a credit card he reached into his pocket, handed the
attendant a large sum of cash, and asked her to give it to the mail woman so
she could get more stockings and more gifts for the kids. He was just passing
through town, and left without another word. That Monday morning, the mail
woman returned and shared her story as she took more stockings from the tree.
That's the Spirit!
The Laurels of Toledo Rehab Guest Gives
New Meaning to “Politically Active”
Most Rehab Guests have personal reasons for wanting to get back on their
feet. But for Mary Hollis, age 90 and a recent Rehab Guest at The Laurels of
Toledo, the primary motivation was political.
Hollis, a former corrections officer for the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office, has
been actively involved in the Democratic Party for decades and has attended
the inaugurations of several presidents, including both of Barack Obama’s.
Rehab G
u
She served as an Ohio delegate to the Democratic National Convention for
her signe est Mary Hollis h
d photo
o
of Bill Cli lds up
presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton and was an elected board member
nton.
of the Democratic Party Central Committee. She is also a long-time member of the
Perry Burroughs Democratic Women’s Club and still serves on the Mother Ministry at Jerusalem Baptist
Church. She was honored by the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. in 2002.
Hollis has been a Rehab Guest at The Laurels of Toledo on several occasions, most recently while recovering from a
stroke that significantly affected her strength, function, and speech. Based on her previous positive experiences, she was
adamant about returning to The Laurels for rehabilitation. “When she got here, Mary was pretty weak from the stroke and
had a lot of trouble walking and talking. She could articulate speech but had difficulty finding the right words,” recalled
Laurels physical therapy assistant Justin Bates. “So we did a lot of different exercises to improve her overall strength and
balance and had her work with a speech therapist to address that deficit. Now, she’s doing very well and starting to walk
with a cane. She was even strong enough to go home at Christmas and spend the holiday with her family.”
While most people get messages of support from family and friends while
they recover, Hollis got a personal card from President Obama. She pushed
hard through her therapy so she could get back to her work with Mother
Ministry and the Democratic Party. About The Laurels of Toledo she says,
“These people are wonderful and very dedicated to helping you recover and
get back to your life. Believe me, if you aren’t able to walk when you get here,
they’ll have you walking before you leave!”
The Laurels
Mission Statement
Training Lifts Off at The
Laurels of Summit Ridge
Administrator Judi Boyer
demonstrates proper user
of the Hoyer lift at The
Laurels of Summit Ridge.
Associates at The Laurels of Summit Ridge
attended a special training to learn how to
properly use a Hoyer lift to safely transfer
Guests with mobility issues. Administrator Judi
Boyer volunteered to demonstrate how to
properly operate the lift with two CNAs at an
all-staff meeting held in January. “I can see why
Hoyer lifts are very intimidating to use on our
Guests,” she said afterwards. Assisted Living
Coordinator Traci Davis says, “The safety of our
Guests is our top priority. It’s very important
that all of our Associates have knowledge about
the Hoyer lift in case of an emergency.”
Creating a Legacy
By
Exceeding the
Needs and Expectations
T H E L A U R E L W A Y O F C A R I N G C O M E S F R O M W I T H I N Of Those We Serve,
While Embracing
The Laurel Way
5
A
C L O S E - U P
L O O K
A T
A C T I V I T I E S
Reflections
The Laurels of Carson City
Sue Dean, a Guest at The Laurels of Carson City,
turned 100 on December 24. Michael, the Unit
Manager, had a cake made for her and Guests and
Associates sang Happy Birthday during lunch.
The Laurels of Hudsonville
The Laurels of Hudsonville held a
Hawaiian-themed party for Guests.
Guests picked out accessories at
the “Hawaii Shop” and got decked
out in leis, Hawaiian shirts and
skirts for a fun-filled luau.
The Laurels of Summit Ridge
The STEPS committee at The Laurels
of Summit Ridge recently invited
Associates to compete in a “Chili Cook
Off.” Sherry Harman from Activities
took 1st Place and won a gift card
from Chili’s and the “Golden Chili
Ladle”. 2nd place went to Director of
Marketing Ashley Lyle and 3rd place to
Virginia Crews from Therapy.
Maplewood of Mt. Pleasant
Guests at Maplewood of Mt. Pleasant enjoyed a night out to Midland
Dow Gardens in December. Guests explored the beautiful light
displays by golf cart and listened to some wonderful Christmas music
in the beautifully decorated conservatory, which featured a 9-foot tree
constructed of poinsettias.
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Maplewood of Sandy Creek
Eighth grade students from
the Builders Club brightened
the holidays for Guests at
with a Christmas program
filled with music, cookies,
and good cheer. These
caring young people
put the entire program
together themselves, and
even went through the
halls singing carols and
delivering cookies for
Guests who could not
make it to the program.
The Laurels of Kent
The Laurels of Kent
“adopted” Santa Claus
for a community
celebration on a
riverboat in Historic
Downtown Lowell,
Michigan. The Laurels
sponsored Santa’s visit,
including children’s
photos with Santa, and provided sugar cookies and hot chocolate
in the whimsical cookie room on the showboat. Afterwards, Guests
and Associates led the Nighttime Parade in The Laurels of Kent bus.
Guests at Maplewood of Sandy Creek
celebrated the holidays this December
with a festive dinner featuring fine food
served in an elegant atmosphere.
The Laurels of New London
Guests and their families enjoyed a festive
holiday celebration at The Laurels of New
London this year featuring Christmas carols,
a harpist, and fine food. Santa made a
special appearance to pass out presents for
each Guest.
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W H O ,
W H A T ,
W H E R E ,
W H E N A N D H O W
Spirit News
Laurels Facilities Win Excellence in Action Awards
The Laurel Way
We are a team of
professionals dedicated to
promoting the highest level of
independence and quality of
life for our Guests by creating
a comfortable living
environment and providing
comprehensive
health care services.
To accomplish this, we have
a responsibility to:
Treat everyone with dignity
and respect
Conduct ourselves with the
highest level of integrity and
ethical behavior
Be uncompromising in our
standards of quality of care
and service
Attract, train and retain
knowledgeable, caring and
compassionate individuals
Challenge ourselves to grow
as people, as professionals
and as a company
Earn a fair and reasonable
profit for our stakeholders
We embrace these
responsibilities, with
commitment and enthusiasm, in
our pursuit of The Laurel Way.
Two Laurel Health Care facilities have been recognized
by National Research Corporation for excellence in customer and workforce satisfaction. Each year, National Research
Corporation surveys employees and customers of senior
living and long term care facilities. Organizations in the top
10% for workforce or customer satisfaction are recognized
with an Excellence in Action Award. For 2013-2014, The
Laurels of Blanchester and The Laurels of Athens both
received the Workforce Excellence in Action award. The Laurels of Blanchester
also received a Customer Excellence in Action award. National Research
Corporation administers MyInnerView, the largest database of customer and
employee survey results for senior living and long term care facilities in the U.S.
The Path from Floor Nurse to Director of
Nursing at The Laurels of Willow Creek
Rachel Severin has been with The Laurels
of Willow Creek for just four years — and
has been a nurse for just five. But when the
facility needed a new Director of Nursing last
December, they knew Ms. Severin would be
the right choice. “Rachel is a really fast learner,
and has proven herself with every promotion
she has had here,” explains Administrator Scott
Williamson. “She is also very systems-oriented,
which makes her a great match for maintaining
the systems and standards at The Laurels.”
Rachel earned her nursing degree from
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing.
Prior to entering nursing school, she worked
DON Rachel Severin holds
in childcare, where she developed her strong
her framed name badges
sense of compassion and responsibility. While
from all of her positions at
she was in nursing school, her grandfather
The Laurels of Willow Creek.
became ill and her father quit his job to care
for him full time until his death. The experience had a profound effect on her
and inspired her to consider geriatric care as a specialty. She joined The Laurels
of Willow Creek as a Floor Nurse in 2011, and was promoted to Evening Shift
Supervisor later that year. Over the next three years, she was promoted to
Unit Manager and then to Assistant Director of Nursing. When they needed to
hire a new Director of Nursing late last year, the choice was obvious. Rachel’s
colleagues have also been enthusiastic. One CNA wrote on a Legacy Card
“Rachel is the best DON. We love her and her smile. Couldn't ask for any better
person for the job.” Rachel is ready for the challenge of her new position, and
plans to focus on morale and retention for her team. Congratulations, Rachel,
and thank you for your commitment to The Laurel Way!
If you have ideas for stories, features or photos for an issue of The Laurel Spirit, let us hear from you!
Please submit your ideas to your Administrator who will pass them on to the editor. Thank you!
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The Laurel Spirit - Laurel Health Care Company

Transcription

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