Administrators are key players in our care team and are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the care of our loved ones. They touch the lives of residents and families, and, most importantly, ensure that their staff provides the highest level of quality care to a vulnerable population.
To become an administrator takes commitment and dedication. They undertake a rigorous classes, followed by state and national exams. Upon becoming an administrator, they must continue life-long learning to provide the best care possible. They are masters of multi-tasking, taking into account every aspect of a person’s life, not just their medical needs, while building a sense of home and community
This year LTC Administrator’s Week takes on added significance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our team’s Administrators have lead the way in the battle with this virus.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS!!
Autumn Roark, LNHA Browns Valley Health Center
Chester Fishel Chisholm Health Center
Elizabeth Letich Farmington Health Services
Brittany Loosbrock Franciscan Health Center
Shane P. Roche Guardian Angels Health & Rehabilitation Center
Emily has lived in the Greenbush area since her childhood and attended college at the University of Minnesota – Moorhead obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration and her Administrator’s license in 2008. She comes to Thief River Care Center with over ten years of experience as a licensed Administrator.
Emily is a member of the Catholic faith and enjoys serving senior citizens and looks forward to meeting residents of Pennington Health Services. Emily and her husband, Nick, have three children ages 11, 8 and 4. Emily and her family enjoy summertime activities like camping, beach-going and swimming. Emily enjoys reading, baking, and arts like painting.
Emily will begin her duties with Pennington Health Services on February 22nd, 2021. Please help us in giving her a warm welcome.
St. Francis Health Services of Morris (SFHS) is pleased to announce we were recently awarded a Minnesota Nursing Facility Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) grant by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) focused on preventing falls.
The initiative for fall prevention and fall reduction began January 1, 2021 and will continue through December 31, 2022 within each of our SFHS’ thirteen skilled nursing care centers; Aitkin Health Services, Browns Valley Health Center, Chisholm Health Center, Duluth Health Services, Farmington Health Services, Franciscan Health Center, Guardian Angels Health & Rehab Center, Koochiching Health Services, Little Falls Health Services, Morris Health Services, Pennington Health Services, Renville Health Services, and Zumbrota Health Services.
The Falls Prevention Project will provide our care centers with additional resources to make positive system improvements to prevent falls for individuals receiving services that is focused on each individual’s preferences and needs. This program will have three components; expanding falls prevention and person centered education, implementing Safe Being technology, and increasing exercise program opportunities.
The education component of the Falls Prevention Project comes to us with a new partnership with Pioneer Network to expand our work force knowledge of Person Centered/Directed care. Pioneer Network is the national leader for culture change that advocates and builds a culture of aging where individual choices are respected and fosters care that is directed by the person receiving it. Staff will learn how to better address needs and lifestyle choices to reduce an individual receiving services’ risk for falls.
In the second part of our Falls Prevention Project, we will be installing Safe Being technology in our care centers. The Safe Being system provides the capability for real time remote monitoring while respecting the person’s privacy. Safe Being uses a watch-like device that provides data on lifestyles and daily activities and interprets gestures identifying how/when a resident is moving, eating, drinking and sleeping. Each person wearing the device will send an alert when there is a change in status or has been identified as being at risk for a potential fall or has fallen.
The third component of the Falls Prevention Project will be increasing exercise program opportunities such as Bingocize and Otago to improve strength, flexibility, and balance to help reduce falls.
The Falls Prevention Project is intended to build sustainable practices throughout our care centers beyond the original two year grant period. SFHS is a faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization. In addition to their skilled nursing care centers, they offer a variety of services that include customized/assisted living, a full range of therapies, senior housing, transitional and skilled nursing care, and behavioral and residential programs throughout the State of Minnesota.
Testing is a critical component to ensuring identification and treatment of aging services residents and staff with COVID-19 and protection of others near them. We strongly urge Congress to establish a federally administered and financed aging services testing program. Tell Congress that they must provide testing funds for aging services providers in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Contact your lawmakers in Washington, D.C. today. Take action here.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted older adults and their care providers across the country and Congress has not done enough to support them. Join us, LeadingAge and thousands of other organizations on the #Act4OlderAdults National Day of Action TODAY as we virtually visit lawmakers on Capitol Hill! We urge Congress to pass comprehensive COVID-19 relief for all providers and the older adults they serve.
