Fall 2014, Vol. 11, No. 4
A publication of Life Care Centers of America
Kristin Hopkins:
A Journey of Survival and Determination
PAGE 5
The AlterG Bionic Leg:
Sci-fi Technology with Real-world Results
PAGE 10
Dedicated Server:
Joining Terry Leonard’s Network
PAGE 7
A message from the president
HelpfulHabits
A man who flew his own airplane
became tired of the long automobile trip
from the airport to his country place,
which was situated on a lovely lake. So he
decided to equip his plane with pontoons,
enabling him to land in front of his
cottage.
On his first trip to his country home, he
headed for the airport, as he had always
done. But just as he was going in for a
landing on the airstrip, it dawned on his
wife as to what was happening, and she
yelled, “What do you think you’re doing?
You can’t land this thing on the runway.
You don’t have any wheels; you’ve got
pontoons on it!”
Fortunately, her warning came just in
time, and he pulled up from his landing
pattern, swung the airplane around and
headed for the lake.
After the plane landed safely on the
water, he heaved a really big sigh of relief
and turned to his wife and said, “That’s
about the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!”
Then he turned, opened the door,
stepped out and fell directly into the lake.
We chuckle at the story. And it is true
that old habits are hard to break. As
business leaders, we should be focusing on
developing habits that help us achieve our
goals. Many of you have read Stephen R.
Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly
Effective People (and if you haven’t, you
ought to go buy one). In any case, here is a
refresher:
Be proactive. Take initiative in life by
realizing that your decisions (and how
they align with life’s principles) are the
primary determining factor for
effectiveness in your life. Take
responsibility for your choices and the
consequences that follow.
Begin with the end in mind. Selfdiscover and clarify your deeply important
character values and life goals. Envision
the ideal characteristics for each of your
various roles and relationships in life.
Put first things first. A manager must
manage his own person. Personally. And a
manager should implement activities that
aim to reach the second habit.
Think win-win. Have genuine feelings
for mutually beneficial solutions or
agreements in your relationships. Value
and respect people by understanding a
“win” for all is a better long-term
resolution than if only one person in the
situation had gotten his way.
Seek first to understand, then to be
understood. Use empathetic listening to
be genuinely influenced by a person,
which compels them to reciprocate the
listening and take an open mind to being
influenced by you. This creates an
atmosphere of caring and positive
problem-solving.
Synergize. Combine the strengths of
people through positive teamwork, so as
to achieve goals no one person could have
done alone.
Sharpen the saw. Balance and renew
your resources, energy and health to create
a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle.
Allow exercise for physical renewal, prayer
and good reading for mental renewal, as
well as service to society.
These habits don’t guarantee that we
won’t occasionally do something stupid
and wind up in water over our heads, as
did the pilot. But they become points on a
compass that keep us heading in the right
direction.
Sincerely,
OUR COVER MODEL:
Terry Leonard, chief information
officer and senior vice president of
information technology for Life
Care Centers of America
is published quarterly by
Life Care Centers of America
P.O. Box 3480
Cleveland, Tennessee 37320
Forrest L. Preston
Founder and Chairman
Beecher Hunter
President
Bob Grayson
Vice President of The Media Center
and Art Director
Beecher Hunter
Leigh Atherton
Director of Public Relations
and Editor
Tanya Bumgardner
Newsletter Coordinator
and Associate Editor
Jonathan Golden
Graphic Designer
All correspondence should be
addressed to the Associate Editor.
Features
5
Kristin Hopkins:
A Journey of Survival and Determination
7
Dedicated Server:
Joining Terry Leonard’s Network
The AlterG Bionic Leg:
10 Sci-fi Technology with Real-world Results
InEveryIssue
3 Life Care Connections
13 Whatever It Takes And Then Some Highlights
14 Resident Voices: What is the most daring
“
InsideLifeCare
thing you have ever done?
11
Adam Ludwig:
Wherever It Takes You, And Then Some
12
Life Care Center of Morgan County
Provides Care Packages for Families
”
Kristin Hopkins p. 5
Bionic Leg p. 10
Dedicated Server p. 7
Eight Receive Annual 2013 Whatever It Takes And Then Some Awards
At Life Care’s 2014 Annual Management Meeting held Sept. 20-24 at Life Care’s corporate offices in Cleveland,
Tennessee, eight associates received the Whatever It Takes And Then Some Award for showing exemplary compassion, care
and teamwork above their required duties.
The following associates were presented with an award and $1,000 during a session on Sept. 24, 2014:
3
Central Division
Eastern Division
Gulf States
Mountain States Division
Sharon Zimmerman
Business Office Manager
The Lane House
in Crawfordsville, Indiana
Marie Numa
Certified Nursing Assistant
Life Care Center of Gwinnett
in Lawrenceville, Georgia
Maria Arevalo
Dietary Aide
Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center
of Excellence at Fort Worth, Texas
Misty Medeiros
Licensed Practical Nurse
Briarwood Health Care Center
in Denver, Colorado
Northeast Division
Northwest Division
Southeast Division
Southwest Division
Vicky Eastridge
Lead Housekeeper
Hickory House Nursing Home
in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Patty Martinez
Registered Nurse
Life Care Center of Valley View
in Boise, Idaho
Deborah Epps
Licensed Practical Nurse
Life Care Center of Pensacola, Florida
Milrose Nacpil
Occupational Therapist
Life Care Center of Paradise Valley
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Life Care Wins Gold Technology
Award from McKnight’s Long Term
Care News
McKnight’s Long Term Care News recently honored
Life Care Centers of America with the Gold Award in
the Transitions category of its Excellence in Technology
Awards.
Life Care received the award for showing how its
internally developed electronic health records system
makes transitions of care smoother for patients.
Terry Leonard, left, and Joy Abraham, vice president
of application development and support,
hold the McKnight’s Award.
Wound Care Council Holds
First Meeting
In late September 2014, Life Care’s Wound Council
came together for the first time at the corporate offices in
Cleveland, Tennessee. Wound care representatives (nurses
and therapists) from each division attended to discuss
the needs in their areas and what is currently working.
This meeting was part of Life Care’s new wound care
initiative and followed a series of trainings held at Life
Care’s Cleveland, Ohio, facilities: Life Care Center of
Elyria, Life Care Center of Medina and Life Care Center
of Westlake.
The Wound Care Council gathers at Life Care’s
corporate offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.
The Bridge at Ooltewah Celebrates Grand Opening
The Bridge at Ooltewah, Tennessee,
is now officially open.
The grand opening celebration
began with a VIP ceremony and
reception on Sept. 25, 2014. Hamilton
County Mayor Jim Coppinger and
Hamilton County Commissioner
Chester Bankston offered words
of congratulations, with Life Care
leadership, civic leaders, physicians
and local hospital leadership in
attendance.
The assisted living facility features
beautiful living rooms, two courtyards,
an ice cream parlor, an elegant dining
room, a private dining room, a beauty
salon and barber shop, and a wellness
center.
Forrest Preston, Life Care founder and chairman, Beecher Hunter, Life Care president,
and area dignitaries assist Debbie Graves, general manager of The Bridge
at Ooltewah, and her leadership team with the ribbon cutting at
The Bridge at Ooltewah’s grand opening celebration.
4
KRISTIN
HOPKINS
A Journey of Survival
and Determination
By Tanya Bumgardner, Life Care Public Relations
On April 29, 2014, Kristin Hopkins,
a 43-year-old single mother of four,
was nowhere to be found. Family and
authorities frantically searched for her,
but had no idea she was at the bottom
of an embankment, trapped in her car
and hoping for rescue.
The Highlands Ranch, Colorado,
resident had been in an accident that
sent her car 120 feet off the road and
to the bottom of a ravine in Park
County, Colorado. Hopkins’ car
landed upside down, trapping her
feet, while the trees concealed her car
from view. For six days, she had no
food or water and slipped in and out
of consciousness. Finally, on May 4,
a passing couple spotted her car and
called for help.
If this story sounds familiar, it’s
because news agencies all over the
world reported the story. For weeks
following her rescue, CNN, Time, The
Today Show, USA Today, NBC, ABC,
5
CBS and countless others reported on
her recovery.
It’s no wonder that Hopkins’ story
made headlines. It’s a miracle she
survived. But the more you know
about her, the more you see her inner
strength and determination, which
contributed to her amazing survival
and recovery.
“I never ever thought this was the
end,” Hopkins told The Today Show
when reflecting on being trapped in
her car. “I was honestly optimistic the
entire time. It always was, ‘OK, I’ll be
out of here tomorrow, or someone will
see it today.’”
When Hopkins was rescued, she
was in critical condition, suffering
from severe dehydration, extensive
cuts and bruises, a concussion and
serious injuries to both feet. While the
other injuries healed, her feet could
not be saved and had to be amputated.
Hopkins began her recovery at St.
Anthony Hospital in Lakewood,
Colorado. On May 30, she transferred
to Hallmark Nursing Center in
Denver as a short-term rehab patient,
to complete her recovery and learn
how to walk using prosthetics.
Participating in physical and
occupational therapies seven days
a week, Hopkins intently focused
on the treatment that would get her
walking again.
“Kristin’s hard work and
determination provided her the ability
to achieve her goals,” said Shauna
Kelly, physical therapist and assistant
director of rehab services at Hallmark
Nursing Center. “Kristin participated
100 percent in her therapy sessions.
Her motivation has given her the
strength to overcome her deficits.”
Hopkins’ treatment included
dynamic sitting and standing exercises,
balance exercises, stair negotiation,
core strengthening exercises, lower
extremity progressive resistant
exercises and gait training. After
receiving her prosthetics, Hopkins
was walking with a cane in a week.
“Shauna and all the therapists
were aware of how motivated I was
to make sure I was strong enough to
get up and walk when my prosthetics
came,” Hopkins said. “They always
were thinking up new exercises to
challenge me.”
Hopkins was walking in record
time, thanks not only to her
perseverance and self-motivation,
but also thanks to skilled and
encouraging associates throughout
the facility.
“The staff was so supportive,”
recalled Hopkins. “Everyone from
the housekeepers to administration
would see me in the halls and give me
kudos on my progress.”
Able to walk independently with
her prosthetics and a cane, Hopkins
was discharged home on July 3. But
her determination continues. Hopkins
is staying active – even driving again –
while continuing outpatient therapy at
Hallmark Nursing Center. She is even
working with a personal trainer as an
extra measure to further strengthen
her muscles.
Hopkins’ story has already inspired
people around the world, but her
journey isn’t over. She plans to release
a book about her recovery this
year, and she is determined to not
just recover from her unfortunate
accident, but to overcome it.
6
By Jared Powers, Life Care Public Relations
An iPhone alarm signals it’s time
to wake up for Life Care’s chief
information officer and senior vice
president of information technology,
though most of Cleveland, Tennessee,
slumbers. At 5 a.m., Terry Leonard
gets up for his morning 2.5-mile
walk, a RunKeeper App tracking his
every step.
Arriving before most associates in
his 80-person department, Leonard
begins his day at Life Care’s corporate
campus at 7 a.m.
“As much as I say I like to support
people, and I do, my most valued time
is that time before 8 a.m., when there
are not many interruptions.” Leonard
says. “I’m the only one here, and it’s all
quiet. I can not only read my emails; I
can read something that is associated
with what I am doing for the day as my
preparation time.
“At 8 a.m. Eastern time is when
everything breaks loose,” Leonard
continues. “All the East Coast
buildings are coming alive and
7
logging in. Then the day gets off to a
busy start.”
Logging on
Leonard did not begin his career
in the IT field because it was not
offered at many colleges at the time.
He graduated from college with an
associate’s degree in natural sciences in
1978. His first brush with computers
was in 1979, when he purchased his
first machine, a Texas Instruments
computer.
Working at a research and
development firm at the time, he
moved into the emerging field of
technology. His firm funded his
bachelor’s degree in computer science
in 1985 and transitioned him into a
role focused on building a computer
department and networks.
“The term IT didn’t really exist at
the time,” Leonard explains. “Most
organizations had data processing
departments. I was in a research and
development group and became the
one and only IT guy in the group at a
certain point.”
Working his way up through the
ranks from running wires and setting
up networks, Leonard joined the Life
Care team in 2000 as vice president
of technical services. After four short
years, he was promoted to chief
information officer.
“You can use all kinds of big words
and phrases about a CIO: business
alignment, strategic direction,”
Leonard shares. “On a daily basis I
have a lot of meetings. In those cases,
it’s important for me to stay tuned
into what is going on with all the big
projects and being able to look at the
big picture to make sure we are still on
track.”
Help and Support
Leonard learned early in his career
about an important aspect of IT:
customer service.
“What I really enjoyed about being
the one IT guy was not so much
climbing up in the ceiling and running
a cable and making sure it worked,”
Leonard admits. “I really appreciated
when I got that person connected, and
I showed them everything they had
access to. It felt wonderful that I had
helped them do their jobs. So, that is
what I came to enjoy the most. It was
customer service: taking a skill that I
had and being able to help folks who
were new to technology, and that was
very rewarding to me.”
Improving customer service is an
important piece of Leonard's vision for
the coming years. The IT department
receives between 430 and 500 support
calls per day, logging about 10,000
support calls each month.
The IT department spans multiple
disciplines, handling phones,
computer hardware, printers and
printing, email accounts, access to Life
Care network resources, replacement
equipment, building and maintaining
software, managing wireless Internet
and other related pieces including
training, documentation and support.
“We are working on a new
call tracking system which will
be integrated with a unified
communications system,” Leonard
says. “What that means is when
someone calls into the support center,
if the person who answers the phone
can’t help them, in real time, they
get linked up with maybe even three
people from multiple disciplines.
As soon as they figure out which
discipline is needed in this call, the
others back off. That person can be
immediately helped.”
A part of Leonard’s focus on
customer service is developing his team.
“We have 10 interns in the
department right now,” Leonard
explains. “That has always been a
passion of mine — to be able to see
folks develop. I look back at my career
and understand that education and
mentoring was what got me to where I
needed to be, so I am always happy to
pay that back.”
Leonard schedules time to spend
with the interns in his department.
Taking them all to lunch is one of his
special treats.
Part of Leonard’s focus on
development is ensuring his team is
diverse, hiring associates with skills
in nursing and business, as well as
‘techies,’ as he calls those with IT
degrees.
“You could bring any kind of
problem to this IT shop and bring the
right folks together in the room and
be able to figure out how to do almost
anything,” Leonard explains. “They
can make the impossible possible.
“From a CIO perspective, probably
the most rewarding aspect of my job
is also the most important aspect of
it,” Leonard continues. “It’s the team
building, the people. You have to have
a team that first of all is fantastic —
which I do — and second of all has
good rapport, good teamwork, trust in
each other and trust in me that I fully
and completely trust them. And we
have that team.”
8
All Programs
The department takes on any size
project, even creating a brand-new,
internally developed electronic
health record. SofCare2 is used
by multiple departments to track
patient information, physician’s
orders, care plans and progress notes.
When completely rolled out in
2015, it will include three modules:
clinical, physician and rehab, as well
as a patient portal. The first module
launched in June 2011.
“New people who have come
onboard have no clue how big a
project that has been,” Leonard
says. “It covers all the bases of what
constitutes a major project.”
This story began six years ago in
2008 when the decision was made
to build a software system instead of
continuing to use a software system
that was not a perfect fit.
“One step after that was, ‘How
are you going to do this?’” Leonard
explains. “One thing led to another,
and ultimately, we kicked off
significant development projects.”
The projects included work from
9
all the teams in the IT department,
as well as many other departments
throughout Life Care. Technical
operations worked to set up necessary
data centers. The network team
created and implemented a plan
to deliver the application across
the network. And training and
documentation teams were also vital
components.
“The culmination of this
software that we created is just truly
phenomenal,” Leonard reveals. “Clearly
that process is the biggest thing we have
ever done in Life Care’s IT history. It
really crosses all disciplines — everyone
had a stake in it.
“Today, we have meaningful use,
certified software that is copyrighted
and protected from intellectual
property violations and is in use by
physicians, nurses and therapists.”
Leonard continues. “It is really, really
a source of pride. Hopefully, not only
for me, but for all of Life Care.”
Logging off
Leonard heads out of the office
between 5:30 and 6 each evening.
“My wife and I are empty-nesters
now. There are not any kids to
welcome me home, but my wife is
always there,” Leonard shares.
Some evenings, he spends time
working on his Harley Davidson
Heritage Softail Classic or playing
with his five grandchildren in the pool.
“Almost every evening, ultimately
at some point, we’re probably crashing
and watching some TV or something,
but by the chair is a computer, an iPad
mini, a Microsoft Surface and my
iPhone,” Leonard says smiling. “So,
even when I’m sitting there, I tend to
grab a device and check my work email
or look up something on the Internet.”
“The very last thing that I do before
bed is make sure the alarm is set on my
iPhone because my iPhone also wakes
me up the next morning,” Leonard
laughs.
Editor’s note: McKnight’s Long Term Care
News awarded Life Care Centers of America its
2014 Gold Award in McKnight’s Excellence in
Technology Awards in the Transition category for
SofCare2. See page 3 for more details.
Sci-fi Technology with Real-world Results
By Tanya Bumgardner, Life Care Public Relations
Bionic legs once seemed
as elusive as flying cars,
transporters and humanlike robots. Thanks to
AlterG, the company that
brought us the AlterG®
Anti-Gravity Treadmill®,
the bionic leg is no longer
a futuristic notion.
It may not be the kind of
bionic leg that can help you
leap over buildings, but it’s
no less amazing. The AlterG
Bionic Leg™ allows therapy
patients to recover faster and
remain more independent
during recovery. The device
is placed over the leg and is
connected to a sensor placed in
the shoe. As the patient begins
to move, the device is activated
based on the amount of body
weight detected by the sensor.
When an event, such as a
stroke or knee replacement,
occurs, the body tends to favor
the stronger side. This can delay
recovery. The Bionic Leg offers
patients confidence so they can
begin using the affected leg more to
speed recovery.
Life Care Center of Estero, Florida,
has been using the Bionic Leg primarily
with stroke and hip replacement
patients to help them recover balance
and proprioception, strengthen lower
extremities and improve gait. The
therapists are finding that it also offers
them advantages while monitoring
treatment.
“Personally, I like the device,” said
Todd Smith, assistant director of rehab
services at Life Care Center of Estero.
“It’s like an extra set of hands for helping
patients requiring moderate or maximum
assistance sitting and standing.
“Also, it provides good biofeedback
for patients when they hear the sound
of the unit activate the knee extension
and when they feel the mechanical assist
of the knee extension as they increase
weight bearing on the lower extremity
with which the bionic leg is being used.”
In addition to providing biofeedback
for the patient, the Bionic Leg also
gives the therapists data they can use to
document patient progress and adjust
treatment accordingly. The therapy
department has been pleased with the
effectiveness and versatility of the device.
“The advantage of it being a wearable
device is that it can be used in a variety
of locations, such as in parallel bars,
in a patient’s room, on stairs and on
the outdoor mobility court for use on
different surfaces,” added Smith. “It
can be used in the AlterG Anti-Gravity
Treadmill, or on the Biodex Balance
System, as well as for higher-level
training if you want to. Because it’s
wearable, you can be creative with your
treatment.”
10
d
u
w
L
i
g
m
a
d
A
It Takes You
r
Whereve
, And Then
Some
By Ryan Faricelli, Life Care Public Relations
Most associates use the Life Care
Directory as a means to contact other
facilities or the corporate offices. For
Adam Ludwig, fixed assets specialist
at the corporate offices in Cleveland,
Tennessee, the directory is a road map
chronicling all of the facilities across
the country that he’s visited while on
vacation.
Ludwig joined Life Care in August
2002. Working in the facility financial
services department, Ludwig’s primary
role is to determine the depreciation
values of Life Care assets, both at the
corporate office and at all of the facilities
in the field. In 2003, while on a vacation
to visit family in Arizona, Ludwig and
a few of his family members were on
a bike ride and decided to stop at Life
Care Center of Scottsdale.
Facilities Adam’s Visited
Arizona
Life Care Center of Scottsdale (2003)
Florida
Life Care Center of Melbourne (2006)
Life Care Center of Palm Bay (2006)
Life Care Center of Sarasota (2006)
Life Care Center of Winter Haven (2006)
Life Care Center of Pensacola (2014)
Indiana
Westside Village Health Center (2009)
Westside Garden Plaza (2009)
11
Michigan
Rivergate Health Care Center (2006)
Rivergate Terrace (2006)
“I thought it might be neat to see
a facility so far from home,” Ludwig
recalled. “We went inside and asked if
we could look around, and they offered
us a full tour.”
That was the first facility away from
home Ludwig visited. Since then, he
has visited more than 30 Life Care
facilities in five divisions, including
facilities in Tennessee, Arizona,
Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan.
“It’s fun,” explained Ludwig. “Every
building is unique – the older ones
especially. It’s interesting for me to
actually see what some of the items
I enter into the [tax] depreciation
software are. I’ve gone into rehab areas
in facilities and been shown equipment
and said, ‘I’ve always wondered what
that was!’”
Ludwig plans his vacations first,
and then looks at the directory to see
which facilities he might be able to
visit while traveling. Most of his facility
visits only take about an hour, so he’s
able to squeeze them in while still
enjoying his other vacation activities.
Unfortunately, most of his traveling
occurs on weekends, and it’s often more
difficult to arrange for facility tours
then. This has forced him to not count
a few facilities, even though he was in
the area or had even driven by.
“I don’t count a facility if I don’t
actually walk into the building,” noted
Ludwig.
Making his list of visited facilities
even more impressive is that Ludwig
doesn’t fly.
“I drive everywhere, which makes
seeing some facilities very hard,” said
Ludwig of his fear of flying. He then
added with a smile, “I suppose if I
were to get a call from Beecher Hunter
inviting me to fly out to visit a facility
with him, I’d get over it.”
Ludwig has already planned his
next vacation. In December, he’ll be
visiting family in Florida. While there,
he hopes to add at least another 11
facilities to his list, and might manage
to tour as many as 15.
“I want to do more than just
depreciate Life Care’s assets,” Ludwig
said. “I want to be one.”
North Carolina
Life Care Center of Banner Elk (2014)
Life Care Center of Hendersonville (2014)
Lake Pointe Landing (2014)
The Bridge at Lake Pointe Landing (2014)
The Village at Lake Pointe Landing (2014)
South Carolina
Life Care Center of Columbia (2007)
Life Care Center of Charleston (2010)
The Bridge at Charleston (2010)
Ohio
The AbbeWood Retirement Center (2006)
Life Care Center of Elyria (2006)
Life Care Center of Medina (2012)
Life Care Center of Westlake (2012)
Pennsylvania
Heatherwood Retirement Community (2005)
Hickory House Nursing Home (2005)
Tennessee
Life Care Center of Cleveland (2002)
Life Care Center of Collegedale (2002)
Garden Plaza at Cleveland (2002)
Life Care Center of Hixson (2011)
Garden Plaza of Greenbriar Cove (2011)
Life Care Center of Copper Basin (2012)
Life Care Center of Ooltewah (2013)
The Bridge at Ooltewah (2013)
LI
FOR
IDES
s
e
g
a
Pack
OF
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FE C AR
e
CaFAr
MILIES
PROV
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MOR
tions
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a
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eth Calla
B
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By
County
Morgan
What are the chances you would
have time to pack essential items in
a haste to rush a loved one to the
hospital? And if your loved one should
have to stay in the ICU, his or her
health could hang in the balance for
days. The last thing you want to do
is leave his or her side. Associates at
Life Care Center of Morgan County
in Wartburg, Tennessee, met many
families who were unable to leave
ICUs because of a loved one’s serious
health crisis.
In an effort to make tough situations
just a little easier, the facility prepares
and delivers dozens of care packages to
Methodist Medical Center’s intensive
care units every week. Tracy Smith,
registered dietitian, initiated this
community outreach. Smith, along
with Brandy Beard, director of food
and nutrition services, packs the care
packages. Each package contains items
such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, a
washcloth, soap and snacks.
“We wanted to provide a service
for our community,” said Smith. “We
started in March of this year and
have provided 540 bags to the ICU
and CCU waiting rooms of the local
hospital.”
Jesse Rodd, admissions coordinator,
delivers the bags to the hospital every
Tuesday.
“The feeling I get is what makes my
job so enjoyable; doing something so
easy can truly make a person happy,”
said Rodd. “You would be amazed at
how much the hospital appreciates us,
and the positive reaction it’s getting
throughout the hospital!”
One family member at the hospital
told Rodd, “I never thought a
toothbrush would make me so happy.”
Volunteers that oversee the waiting
rooms have sent numerous cards
thanking the facility and always look
forward to the weekly care package
delivery.
“I personally have been contacted
by several community members
that had family at the hospital who
received bags,” said Beard. “They were
very thankful and appreciative. One
mentioned that it made it easier
because she could stay and wait in
the ICU waiting area for updates
and information about her mother,
without having to step out to purchase
necessities.”
Smith said, “I really enjoy this
project and feel like it really has helped
families and made a difference in a
meaningful way.”
Life Care Center of Morgan County
plans to continue providing this
service and help families in a time
when it is needed most.
12
Whatever It Takes And Then Some
Highlights
Mary Crabtree, certified nursing
assistant, Life Care Center
of Seneca, Kansas
When a resident passed away and
Crabtree found out that there
were no services planned, she
organized a memorial service at the
facility for the resident’s family and
friends. Crabtree then went a step
further and collected donations
to provide a burial service for the
resident.
Alesia Hagen, certified nursing
assistant, Life Care Center
of Evergreen, Colorado
Hagen volunteered to accompany
residents to a Colorado Rockies
baseball game on her day off. She
made special glitter T-shirts for
residents, associates and family
members to wear to the game.
Mary Rose, certified nursing
assistant, Cherry Hill Manor
Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
in Johnston, Rhode Island
Marilyn Dorn, housekeeper, Payson
Care Center in Payson, Arizona
A resident was about to celebrate
his wedding anniversary, and Dorn
planned a special party for the
resident and his wife. She bought
the couple a sheet cake and an
anniversary card and arranged
for volunteers to provide music.
They shared cake, danced and
laughed – all thanks to Dorn’s
thoughtfulness.
Carol Netherton, social services
director, Life Care Center of Sparta, When a resident wanted to attend
Tennessee
a family wedding, Rose came in to
Netherton noticed that a resident
with Alzheimer’s needed some
extra comfort. She drove to
his family’s home and brought
back personal belongings, then
decorated his room with them to
make him feel like he was at home.
She set up his favorite chair, lamp
and small table, decorated with
family photos. Because he had
been a lawyer in his younger days,
Netherton brought some of his
previous depositions to help keep
his mind occupied on the things he
loved.
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Carmen Harms, certified nursing
assistant, Alameda Oaks Nursing
bathe her and wash her hair, as well Center in Corpus Christi, Texas
as dress her up. She packed a bag
of supplies and accompanied the
resident to the wedding, letting her
enjoy the day with her family to the
fullest.
Richard Holguin, charge nurse,
Cascade Park Care Center
in Vancouver, Washington
Holguin lifted the spirits of a
resident on hospice by creating
special drawings on her bandages.
He came up with new designs every
day, including birds, dogs, cats
and even dinosaurs. He took his
own time at home to look up new
drawings he could bring to life.
“This small, inexpensive activity
has created so much happiness for
this one resident,” shared Scott
Southwell, assistant director of
nursing.
Harms cares for residents and their
families beyond the facility walls.
She visits residents in the hospital
and helps bathe and reposition
them there. She also brings food
for the families of residents in the
hospital and prays with them for
their loved ones.
Resident Voices
Jumping out of an airplane with a
parachute on my back.
Harvey Michener, Garden Terrace
Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence
at Fort Worth, Texas
I lived near a ravine that was covered in
rocks. My mom told us never to get near
the rocks or we would get in trouble. One
day, my sisters and I slid down the rocks
anyway. I was scared the first time, but I
wasn’t going to let my sisters know. My
mom found out because the rocks caused
us to have holes in our pants. We all got
spankings, but it was worth it.
Helen Kyker, Life Care Center
of Greeneville, Tennessee
The most daring thing I did was climb the
Lake Hamilton Dam in Struthers, Ohio.
Why did I do this? Just young and foolish.
I was 12 years old. My mom and dad
never found out. It was walking distance
to where I lived.
James Pyer, Life Care Center
of Casper, Wyoming
On Christmas Eve 1944, my ship was
struck by a torpedo. I had to jump ship
into a small boat. The ship was torpedoed
in the English Channel. They eventually
found the boat in the 1980s. Harold Maxwell, Life Care Center
of Palm Bay, Florida
When I was 35 years old, I climbed
Mt. Everest. It took 30 days trekking
through banana and rice fields in the
low lands, and as we gained altitude, we
went through mullet and potato fields.
Porters assisted us and carried all of our
supplies and were paid $2 per hour. It
was an experience of a lifetime and one
I’ll never forget.
James Kazel, Lake Forest Nursing
Center in Lake Forest, California
What is the most
daring
I rode bulls when I
was in my early 20s,
and I won plenty
thing you have ever done?
of money.
I played a joke on my husband and pulled
Thomas “Jim” Lewis, Life Care
down his pants and left him like that.
Center of Elkhorn, Nebraska
Esperanza Santistevan, University
Park Care Center in Pueblo,
The most daring thing I did was bungee
jump. I felt like I could do anything. I felt Colorado
so free, like the world was mine.
I rode a horse to school. He was the
Emily Bone, Darcy Hall of Life Care
orneriest critter you’ve ever seen. He
in West Palm Beach, Florida
knew he scared the life out of me.
When I was a kid, I lived near the railroad One day, we saw a paper blowing over
track. (My mother forbade us from going the railroad tracks and he just started
shaking, and I thought I was going to hit
there, by the way.) There was a junkyard
the ground. But he calmed down, and we
near the railroad tracks, and we took
made it to school.
some car seats out of the junk cars. We
Anita Robison, Garden Terrace
dragged them to the woods, put them
under some trees, piled them up, climbed Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence
at Overland Park, Kansas
the tree and jumped on them. The seats
all separated and we fell to the ground.
I lived in Austria until I was 18. While living
We thought this was daring, although not
there, I would go up to the mountains with
too bright.
only spiked shoes. I would go climbing on
Rita O’Neil, Life Care Center of West
the mountain. No other equipment. I never
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
thought about the danger in that.
Anne Johnson, Life Care Center
The most daring thing I ever did
of Casper, Wyoming
was leave my home in Michigan
against my parents’ will and travel
alone to see my husband in Miami.
It was the first time I had traveled,
and I took a bus across states to be
reunited with my husband. He was
in Miami for work purposes. I was
19 at the time.
Jeanette Anderson, Life Care
Center of Estero, Florida
When I was 22 years old and living in
Wellington, Texas, I thought it would be fun
to slide off the top of our barn. I landed on
my feet but fell backwards and broke both
of my elbows. It seemed like the thing to do.
Odis “Tex” Roberts, Valley West
Health Care Center in Eugene,
Oregon
Cutting my grandmother’s apple
pie before I asked to get a slice.
Martha Keyes, Garden Terrace
Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence
at Houston, Texas
Fifteen years ago, I was still fairly new as
a corrections officer, and a fight broke
out between three men. I stepped in the
middle to break it up. It felt like forever
before responders could get there. Larry Spears, Life Care Center
of Colorado Springs, Colorado
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Congratulations to all of our associates and volunteers who received awards
during our awards ceremony on Sept. 22, 2014, at Life Care’s
corporate offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Chairman's Award
Division Support Award
Todd Fletcher
Senior Executive Director
Northwest Division
Cindy Matthews
Division Director of Clinical Services
Northwest Division
Group Volunteer
of the Year Award
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Represented by Jennifer Paino
Life Care Center of Vista, California
Alex Medina, Executive Director
Carl W. Campbell
Wind Beneath My Wings Award
Youth Volunteer
of the Year Award
Marge “Madge” Bomback
(pictured with her son, Gonzalo Delgado Jr.)
Life Care Center of Elyria, Ohio
John Hennemyre, Senior Executive Director
Alex Lamontagne
Life Care Center of Hixson, Tennessee
Doyle Love, Executive Director