Highlights
NEWS ABOUT LUTHERAN HOMES OF MICHIGAN AND RELATED SERVICES
SUMMER 2004
Articles in the above issue of Highlights (click on the article or scroll through to read all the articles):
FRANKENMUTH NURSES BLOOM AND GROW
Tuesday, June1, marked the beginning of a transformation for the nurses at Lutheran Home-Frankenmuth. Earlier this year, the nursing department was reorganized to better meet the needs of our facility. The new department now consists of three new positions that will replace the former Director of Nursing and Assistant Director of Nursing.
The new positions are the Director of Resident Care (DRC), who manages and directs the entire nursing team to assure that all services for the residents are carried out in a proper and timely manner; the Director of Clinical Services (DCS), who reports to the DRC and directs the professional staff and all therapies; and the Director of Certified Nursing Assistants (DCNA), who reports to the DRC and is responsible for all paraprofessionals (certified nursing assistants).
Also included in the restructuring is a team of individuals serving as Lead Certified Nursing Assistants (Lead CNAs). These staff members report to the Director of Certified Nursing Assistants.
The new department celebrated its transformation with a kick-off event where Administrator Mark Eubank welcomed the transformation. He requested support of the ongoing changes and presented each nursing department employee with a potted pansy plant.
Why a pansy? This soft and delicate flower is in reality a resilient plant that is able to withstand broad changes in weather conditions. Because of this, we chose it to symbolize our own resiliency and ability to adapt to necessary changes. Realizing that a ruler is used to measure growth, we added it to the pansy to symbolize the growth in our facility. Attached to the ruler was a card with the message, "Bloom and Grow with Nursing-Welcome to Our New Team."
We ask for your prayers for the continued success of this transformation. Our theme, "Christian Care for Loved Ones" has always been our top priority. With the nursing department transformation we will continue to be able to maintain excellence in Christian care.
There are over 200 types of bamboo plants that grow in all kinds of soils and climates. One such plant has an interesting growth pattern. In its first three to four years of life, the plant grows slowly, only reaching heights of four to six inches. To the uninformed, these plants are often pulled up and destroyed, mistaken for unhealthy plants. However, for those who will be patient, there will be rewards.
Around the fourth year of life, these small plats undergo extraordinary growth, with the potential of growing nearly four feet in a day! Ultimately, these plants will reach their mature height approaching 60 feet in a few short weeks. How does this happen? What causes such incredible growth and why is this important to us?
It turns out these plants experience tremendous growth in the early years, unseen underground as an enormous root system develops. At just the right time, when all conditions are right and the roots are in place to sustain it, the visible growth begins.
I am struck by the analogy to Lutheran Homes of Michigan and this particular bamboo plant. A number of years ago, the LHM Board of Directors and staff cast a bold vision to grow and care for more seniors and their families. Since then, we have talked about growth, have seen some in various area, but focused on "tending the roots" to sustain growth when opportunities arose. We also waited on the conditions to be "right" for growth, including waiting on God's timing as his nurturing blessings are a key to ministry growth.
To the casual observer, our recent announcements of growth might seem sudden. With the acquisition of The Manors in Saginaw, the addition of Creekside Village in Monroe, and the planned building of Gibraltar Manor in Gibraltar, Lutheran Homes is on course to double our residential care programs in the next year.
The roots of this growth can be found in the leadership team throughout Lutheran Homes. Under them, our organization has been undergoing a significant transformation, a journey of creating strengthened relationships among staff, residents/clients and families within our community of care.
Beyond the typical re-engineering, our transformation efforts take into account organizational structure, relationships, staff empowerment, leadership and professional growth of our staff. All of these elements, coupled with a vision to serve more seniors with excellence, have created the root system to sustain the kind of external growth now underway.
It is important to note that although the addition of facilities and building programs are important, those are secondary to a vision to serve and a commitment to excellence.
This root system that sustains our growth includes supporters, volunteers and donors who help to nurture our ministry, one relationship at a time. This support will be even more critical as we grow. So your commitment or renewal of support could not come at a better time.
The
need is great as we think about providing accessible, excellent care
and services to seniors in our current programs and in those yet to
come. We have much to do even as we stand in awe of all that God has
already done in building our roots and allowing growth to occur.
David M. Gehm,
President & CEO
Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Inc.
CELEBRATING LIFE AT THE MANORS
LHM recently took ownership of The Manors, a three-building campus in Saginaw. The acquisition included McBrite Manor, a facility for independent seniors with 103 private apartments and numerous amenities for a carefree lifestyle; Shattuck Manor, with 140 private apartments and some services for seniors who need assistance with daily activities; and Meadow View Manor, a home-like community for 40 seniors who suffer from memory loss.
LHM has been entrusted with an awesome responsibility to continually reflect our Christian values and compassionate service to our elderly. This respected campus will help us further our mission. The Manors will become part of the LHM family, rounding-out a continuum of care that also includes skilled nursing, home care and hospice services. The Manors also enables LHM to move forward with its strategic direction, which calls for a diversified portfolio that includes senior housing in all its forms. Adding The Manors senior apartment campus is a natural extension of this strategic focus and an important part of LHM's mission to reach out to God's elderly children.
Staff efforts over the next several months will be devoted to integrating The Manors into the mission and philosophy of Lutheran Homes, and we will be focused on maintaining the high quality of service and care these seniors have come to expect.
Residents of The Manors and their families readily welcomed LHM. They recognize and appreciate that the quality lifestyle they have come to enjoy at The Manors continues with little or no interruption since the acquisition.
Open houses were held at the three Manors simultaneously on Sunday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 15 to introduce our area congregational members and business leaders to the management of LHM as well as this unique continuing care campus.
(Above on the left)Chefs of The Manors revealed their culinary talents with elaborate buffet tables during an Open House in honor of LHM's acquisition. (On the right) Many residents generously opened their apartments for guests. (Below) Entertainment made the Open House more lively.
STAFF MAKES A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
Several staff members were recently recognized for exemplary service. These individuals consistently demonstrate Christian love in action while making a difference in the lives of their patients and families.
Jane
Hartman, R.N., a hospice nurse case manager, was nominated
"Nurse of the Year" by the Michigan Hospice and Palliative
Care Organization. She received letters of endorsement from her
hospice team members and two families she served.
Jane is a registered nurse who epitomizes the heart and soul of hospice care. She has the uncanny ability of drawing all of those around her closer. Many are enriched and blessed by her quiet compassion, her welcoming smiles, and her kind words. Underneath her quiet demeanor is a determined and feisty patient advocate. Her knowledge of end-of-life care is extensive and growing. Matching patient care goals with conflicting family goals requires negotiation skills. Jane is an excellent "chief negotiator." In addition to teaching patients and families, she also is a passionate and articulate professional and community educator. She precepts students, is a resource for home care staff, orients new staff, provides training, and volunteers to speak to church and community groups. Jane is a true ambassador of the Lutheran Home Care Agency mission.
Cate Bierlein, R.N. CHPN and Patient Care Coordinator for the Hospice of Hope was selected by her peers at the Lutheran Home Care Agency as the Team Member of the Year.
Cate is admired by her co-workers for her consistently positive attitude, her passion for improving end-of-life care, and her enthusiasm to develop and initiate new projects. Cate has coordinated an agency-wide competency program, an employee in-service calendar, and a bi-annual skills fair with the assistance of a representative home care team.
As the agency develops the Palliative Care Program, Cate was instrumental in planning an educational two-day seminar entitled End of Life Nursing Education Consortium for which she is a certified trainer. Cate has worked extensively with the bereavement support team I planning Camp Hope and turning this dream into a reality. In addition to her responsibilities coordinating the hospice team, she is active in the Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and an integral member of the education committee. Her team members say "Since Cate came here she has fit right in and continues to extend herself as a compassionate hospice nurse, trustworthy supervisor, invaluable co-worker with time for everyone, and many talents. She does a great job!"
Karla
Myles, CNA, was selected as the Michigan Home Health Aide of the
Year by Michigan Home Health Association. In her role as a Private
Duty aide for the Lutheran Home Care Agency, Karla demonstrates
outstanding love and compassion for her clients and their families.
Karla consistently picks up additional hours, ensures that the entire family is cared for, and demonstrates her expertise in caring for clients with complex needs. The teenage children of one of Karla's long standing clients look to Karla as a mother figure as she makes sure they have clean clothes, nutritious meals, and that they all get off to school. Karla inspires confidence in her patients and families as exemplified by patients who include her as part of their family. She is an all around team player with a great sense of humor.
Lynn Zuellig, R.N. B.S.N. and director of Hospice of Hope, received the Spirit of Caring Award presented by the Michigan Home Health Association. This award may be presented only occasionally as it is reserved for an individual whose contribution is considered to be unique and of extraordinary value. Lynn was involved in the development of Hospice of Hope and has continued to work with the hospice team to develop successful fund-raising campaigns, create hope and healing bags for hospice patients and their families, and encouraged other staff to continue their education and become leaders in the field.
Lynn also is a passionate advocate for end-of-life care in the community. She makes presentations at the local, state, and national level on pain and symptom management and the value of community partnerships to effect positive changes in care for the terminally ill Lynn recently traveled to India as part of a medical mission trip that introduced the hospice philosophy to this country. This past year, she joined a 12-person Rotary team headed for Niger to promote polio eradication. Many groups contact her for presentations on these world-wide experiences that tell the story of hope that is hospice.
Lynn is a member of the Michigan Home Health Association and uses this platform to promote community and legislative visibility for hospice.
The management team of the Lutheran Home Care Agency is developing a Palliative Care program to complement its home care, private duty and hospice ministries. Palliative care is the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. Control of pain and of psychological, social and spiritual problems is paramount.
The goal of palliative care is the achievement of the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) training was provided for all nursing and social work in preparation of launching this program.
A panel of expert consultants including physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and a pharmacist will provide feedback and become involved in the initial pilot. Initially the program will serve two specific patient populations-those with progressive and life limiting cancers and those with heart failure.
MAKING NEW ACQUAINTANCES IN MONROE
Whether it's a new staff member or new resident, the folks at Lutheran Home-Monroe usually are interested in getting acquainted quickly. Just ask Susan Gruber, the new Admissions Director for Monroe.
After just a week on the job, Susan says she is delighted with the warm response she has received from residents and staff. "I'm so happy to be here," she says. Susan is busy getting acquainted with her new position and learning the many new faces that greet her in the halls of Lutheran Homes. Recently she was found studying the Hallway of Centenarians when she was introduced to two of them, John Brandes, who celebrated his 106th birthday, and Orlo Scheele who recently turned 100.
Susan is active at Trinity Lutheran Church of Monroe. Her quiet, gentle spirit radiates the love of Jesus in her life to all she meets. We are so glad she is part of our Lutheran Home family. Welcome, Susan.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox visited Lutheran Home-Livonia recently to discuss a serious issue that plagues the elderly-identity theft. Cox is touring adult care facilities in Michigan to present the state program, "It's MI Identity."
With guests David Gehm, president and CEO of LHM and Patti Wachtel, Livonia administrator in attendance, Cox reviewed the pilot program and described its goal, which is to reduce identity theft among Michigan's most vulnerable citizens. Because of the presentation, several volunteers agreed to have a check of their credit conducted, to detect potential problems. For more information, log on to www.michigan.gov to see how to protect your credit and what to do if you fear criminal activity. Before leaving, Cox donned a Lutheran Home cap - a politically smart move.
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