the laurel spirit their dreams and expectations are met along with ... santa and other winter ......

A L A U R E L H E A L T H C A R E C O M P A N Y A S S O C I A T E P U B L I C A T I O N VOL. 13 • WINTER 2012

The Laurel Spirit

1 Celebrating Our Legacy

2 Message

3 Focus On...

4 Reflections

5 Words of Thanks

6–7 That’s the Spirit!

8 Spirit News

A Look Inside

Celebrating Our Legacy The Laurel Way of Caring recognizes that our Guests deserve a life in

which their dreams and expectations are met along with their basic needs. We are proud that our Associates consistently go out of their way to bring The Laurel Way of Caring to life in each and every one of our facilities. The Laurel Legacy Program recognizes Associates who truly exemplify this. Here is a sampling of kudos from Guests and Associates who have filled out Laurel Legacy Cards.

The Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford, OhioBobby Applegate, a Guest in the Special Care Unit, had been craving

ham & beans with cornbread for about a week. Nurse Deanna Bechtol went home that Saturday and made Bobby a meal of ham and beans with cornbread. He loved it and ate it all, even though he hasn’t had much of an appetite.

The Laurels of Summit Ridge, Asheville, North CarolinaThe Laurels of Summit Ridge would like to recognize Wanda Bell,

business office manager. At 10:30 one evening, Wanda received a call from the Administrator stating that the kitchen had to be closed and asking if she could come in at 5:30 the next morning to help with breakfast. Wanda selflessly agreed and not only made breakfast but also cooked a complete Thanksgiving Dinner for 220 people.

The Laurels of Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant, MichiganTonya Welsh was nominated for coming in on her day off to bring two

Guests banana splits. She really made their day!

The Laurels of Hilliard, Hilliard, OhioGuest Pauline Horn submitted this praise for the Housekeeping

staff at Hilliard: “This has been a very pleasant experience. Having an exceptionally clean room made me feel at home. I feel very lucky to have had this.”

The Laurels of DeKalb, Butler, IndianaNurse Craig Daniels heard that someone was needed to do a church

service for our Guests. He volunteered his time to come in and do the afternoon service.

The Laurels of Sandy Creek, Wayland, MichiganNurse Aide Josh Nickerson makes “Towel Animals” to put on the beds

of the Model Rooms, just like on a cruise ship. Josh adds a special touch to the rooms for our next Laurel Guests.

The Laurels of Bon Air, Richmond, Virginia During the football season, a Guest was disappointed that the UVA

game was not available on the facility’s channels. DON Tara Davis came in on a Saturday to configure a laptop to connect to a big screen and stream the game from the web. The Guest was thrilled!

Mission Statement

“Creating a Legacy

by Exceeding

the Needs

and Expectations

of Those We Serve,

while Embracing

The Laurel Way.”

2 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

An Introduction to Your RSD Council

RSD Council is composed of RSDs from various regions around the company. These RSDs are

nominated to the Council by the regional ops managers, as well as the regional rehab managers,

based on specific criteria. The current Council members are:

Bryan Adams The Laurels of Summit Ridge Truly Moore The Laurels of Mt. Vernon

Eva Aniola The Laurels of Hudsonville Diane Spicer The Laurels of Salisbury

Mary Beth Coulman The Laurels of Hendersonville Janice Wilcox The Laurels of Charlottesville

Julie Leidel The Laurels of Toledo

RSD Council is charged with addressing issues that impact the success of our departments and

facilities. The Council makes recommendations to resolve these issues in a manner that abides by

Laurel standards of practice and is clinically appropriate. The Council also helps develop the RSD

agenda and presentations for our Annual Management Meeting.

We regularly review our documentation to determine methods to improve it. RSD Council will be

involved in the transition to electronic charting.

The agenda and goals for the Council is a collaborative effort—please feel free to suggest issues or

topics that you feel will improve our programs financially, clinically, and/or professionally. We are

always open to new ideas and suggestions!

MessageI N S I D E T H E L A U R E L H E A L T H C A R E C O M P A N Y

A New Concept for The Laurel Spirit!

Laurel Health Care Company is beginning the New Year with a new concept for our associate

publication. Over the course of 2012, each issue of The Laurel Spirit will feature a specialty or

department within our company.

I am honored to be part of the first specialty issue, focused on rehab and rehab services at all

of our facilities. Within the pages of this issue of The Laurel Spirit, you will find articles that are

educational and inspirational, and proudly demonstrate our commitment to the health and well

being of our guests.

The therapy teams at all of our Laurel facilities take our mission statement and The Laurel Way

to heart, working hard to enable our guests to live their lives at the highest possible level of

functional independence.

We hope you enjoy this look at rehab services at Laurel Health Care Company!

Carol Hofbauer

Director of Rehab Services

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

A Doggone Good IdeaTailoring a rehab program to help Guests meet their individual

goals often takes a bit of ingenuity—and a lot of creativity. A Guest at The Laurels of Toledo who had a total knee replacement was primarily focused on getting home to her black lab. However, she was worried that she might not be able to manage her dog safely at home. So the rehab team arranged for the dog and a dog trainer to be included in the therapy treatment sessions. The therapist provided skilled instruction to encourage a safe gait technique while walking her dog on a leash, including safe negotiation of stairs and doorways. The dog trainer taught the Guest verbal commands to help manage the dog during functional activities.

Learning to Breathe AgainDiana Hoffman sustained a severe stroke in 2008, resulting in

respiratory failure, a tracheostomy and ultimately a ventilator. Further care required the placement of a feeding (PEG) tube due to her inability to swallow. For the next three years, Diana could not be rehabilitated away from her tracheosotomy or feeding tube.

When Diana came to The Laurels of Hilliard in February 2011, she still needed her tracheostomy and feeding tube, and was not able to eat or drink anything by mouth. After nearly ten months of care at The Laurels of Hilliard, she was ready to begin a cycle that would ultimately result in the ability to wean her away from her tracheostomy. During an eight-day period in January, a respiratory therapist and The Laurels nursing staff began and completed ‘capping’ trials of her tracheostomy so that Diana could progressively learn how to breathe on her own. After successful weaning, speech therapy was consulted to evaluate Diana's swallowing function. After six speech treatments utilizing Vital Stim therapy, a modified barium swallow study was performed showing that Diana was able to swallow normally. She is now able to speak without her tracheostomy and speaking valve, and eat and drink a regular diet and thin liquids. Diana says, “I was very happy and I look forward to the future and what it can bring.”

Focus on... Rehabilitation Services

I N S I D E T H E L A U R E L H E A L T H C A R E C O M P A N Y

A Rehab Success Story at The Laurels of Hendersonville

Having a Guest rehabilitate and return home is the greatest satisfaction we can have in our jobs. Ann McDaniel is one of those people that returned from near death to a positive quality of life. Ann was admitted with a serious infection, respiratory problems and a condition called Third Spacing. It was weeks before her health stabilized.

After almost a month she was well enough to really begin her therapy. She arrived with very limited mobility and severe hearing loss due to her medical condition. She was confused, weak and essentially confined to her bed. She was discharged after three months of intensive rehab, with mobility, hearing and motivation restored. She is now happily adjusted to an assisted living facility where she is independent, social and active.

Including this Guest’s dog in her Rehab plan helped to provide a safe pathway at home.


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

Maplewood of Sandy Creek

Guests at The Laurels of Hudsonville presented a live Nativity scene in December. The community was invited to come and view the Nativity and join in singing Christmas carols with a social time afterward that included Christmas cookies, coffee and punch.

The Laurels of Defiance

Guest Bob Harig entertains fellow Guests and Associates at the monthly birthday party at Maplewood of Sandy Creek. Mr. Harig delighted listeners in his first appearance in a year with the “Other Band.”

Guests at The Laurels of Defiance enjoyed a visit from Frosty, the Grinch, Santa and other winter characters at their annual holiday extravaganza. The event also featured a live Nativity scene.

The Laurels of Hudsonville


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, or excerpts of letters, of appreciation we have received commending these Associates for their extra efforts.

The Laurels of University ParkI would like to thank you for everything your nurses have done for me when I was at the Laurels of University Park for rehab after being in the hospital. You made me feel very relaxed when I was there. Please be sure to tell the nurses on your wing that I said hello. I will never forget you.James Henson, Jr.

The Laurels of Charlottesville

I am writing to thank you for the good

care you gave me while I was recuperating for two

weeks after my first hip replacement operation in

December. As some of you know, I had never been in

the hospital or in a rehab facility before, so everything

was new to me and I didn’t really know what to expect

. . . I was very impressed with the patience, kindness,

and personal consideration that I experienced myself

and that I also saw extended to the other guests. . .

The legacy form really doesn’t give me enough room

to express my thanks to all of you who worked so well

together as a team to help me with my recovery and

rehab. I have learned a lot from you. My sincere thanks

and respect to all of you (and whoever makes those

cookies!).

Jane Larew

The Laurels of Charlottesville

My mother, Georgia Kegley, has been at The

Laurels for about two weeks since her leg bypass surgery.

The Laurels has been just wonderful in helping my

mother heal from her surgery, from the housekeeping

staff, to the nurses and exceptional therapists, to the

office people. All have been wonderful!

Julia Kegley Alcid

Words of Thanks

The Laurels of Bedford

I never wanted to go to a nursing home.

Unfortunately, at 93 with a hip fracture

going home was not an option for me.

I am glad that I chose The Laurels of

Bedford. It feels much more like a “work

out facility” than a nursing home. The

staff is kind, thoughtful and helpful and

is pleasant even when I am not. I would

recommend anyone that needed therapy

before going home to come to The Laurels

of Bedford.

Loren Sommerfeld

A W O R D F R O M O U R C U S T O M E R S

The Laurels of Willow CreekYou guys took care of my father from May until December of 2011. Sadly, he lost his battle with his numerous ailments on 11/15/2011. I just wanted to let you know what you guys did for him was amazing!!! He had a special place in his heart for a number of your staff. I wanted to mention Amber, Angela, and especially Flo. There were many more that brought him back to being healthy, but these were the names he mentioned during the last few months of his life. You guys, without question, made these very happy months for him. Pops really appreciated his stay at your facility. I would like to thank you for the comfort and care you brought to him.

Thomas Hurst, Jr.


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!Guest Raves about Rehab Success at The Laurels of Worthington

Jean “Jeanie” Schwinne came to The Laurels of Worthington on January 13, 2012, after a 6-week stay at a nearby rehabilitation hospital. After multiple surgeries and many stays in a variety of health care settings, Ms. Schwinne felt like she was moving backward instead of getting better. She was skeptical about trying yet another facility—especially since many places saw her as a challenge. Standing 47 inches tall, Ms. Schwinne is an Achondroplasia Dwarf.

When Jeanie arrived at The Laurels of Worthington, she was not able to walk or use the bathroom independently. She wasn’t quite sure what an SNF could do for her that a rehabilitation hospital, known for success stories, could NOT do. Then Schwinne was introduced to her Physical Therapist Assistant, Tami Ratcliff. In her first week of therapy, Tami introduced Jeanie to the NU-Step, something that previous therapists discouraged due to her size and injury. Schwinne was beyond elated when Tami not only encouraged her, but also believed in her. “It’s always WE can do this, not YOU,” says Schwinne. Ratcliff made the NU-Step work for Jeanie by placing a block under her right foot to allow her to reach the pedal, and then strapping her right foot to the pedal with a theraband to keep it in place. This was the first time Jeanie used a piece of equipment after her surgery. Schwinne says, “Tami is a wonder worker. Not just what she is capable of doing for her Guests, but her attitude as well.”

Schwinne saw improvements in the first few weeks of arriving at The Laurels of Worthington. Her overall strength has dramatically increased and she has walked more than 70 feet with her walker, something she couldn’t do at the rehabilitation hospital. Her general impression of an SNF has changed drastically. “I felt I was being kicked to the curb when I was discharged from the rehabilitation hospital to The Laurels of Worthington. I am thoroughly impressed that the BETTER therapy has been received here!”

Jeanie Schwinne and Tami Ratcliff celebrate Ms. Schwinne’s progress at The Laurels of Worthington.

Stanley and Leora Bainter share an anniversary toast.

Going Above and Beyond

This New Year’s Eve, LPN Deborah Rush gave two Guests an evening to remember. Husband and wife Stanley and Leora Bainter, Guests at the Laurels of Mount Vernon, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last New Year’s with very little fanfare. When Deb found out, she was determined to make their 61st a day they would not forget.

Deb helped Leora get ready for this special event by assisting her with her wardrobe and hair. She also made sure that Stanley had a nice pressed shirt picked out and ready. As they had dinner on New Year’s Eve, Deb presented the lovely couple with a cake and sparkling wine to commemorate the occasion. The evening was sealed with a kiss and a promise of many more anniversaries to come.

The Bainters were both very appreciative of the time and effort that Deb put into planning the evening. When asked about her thoughts on the evening, Leora responded, “She did a great job and went all out …it meant the world to us.” Special thanks go to Deb for exemplifying The Laurel Way.


A Celebration of LightsThe Laurels of Hillsboro held its inaugural Celebration of Lights event

on December 1, 2011. Members of the community and local businesses were invited to purchase Christmas trees to honor the memories of influential people in their lives. The Celebration will become an annual outreach representing our commitment to families, Guests and the local community. The Laurels of Hillsboro sold 28 trees and raised $1,000 for the Highland District Hospital Foundation through this highly successful event. The Laurels of Hillsboro made special donations in memory of Sheila Strain, a past DON who died of cancer in 2008, and Dan Finnerty, VP of Construction/Property Management at Laurel Health Care. Money raised in this event will serve the people of Highland County with state- of-the-art equipment, preventative services, and education through community health fairs.

The Art of CaringVolunteer Patricia DeSandro

entered The Laurels of Toledo as a Guest in December 2010 and decided not to leave.

After recovering from knee surgery with The Laurels of Toledo Rehab Team, DeSandro, an artist, decided to come back as a volunteer art teacher. The Wednesday morning art classes started with a simple papier mache project for Mardi Gras and culminated with a Christmas pageant complete with sets, props and costumes made by Guests. In between, the residents learned to use watercolors and other painting techniques. They even painted the activity room windows to look like stained glass.

Patricia enjoys the challenge of changing the residents’ thoughts of “I can’t” to “I will.” Throughout the year, the classes have attracted a bigger group each week. “The residents ask and Patricia finds a way to make it happen,” Activity Director Patty Miller states. “Patricia is a great teacher and since she has started with us, we’ve all developed our artistic talents.”

This year the class will make Sandscapes and prepare for a big wedding reception in April.

Patricia DeSandro puts Guests in touch with their creative side.

That’s a Lot of Flapjacks! The Laurels of Steubenville held a Pancake Breakfast on February 5th

to raise money for The United Way of Jefferson County. Attendees were treated to homemade pancakes (made to order), sausage, fruit cups, coffee and juice prepared by Dietary Director Jamie Maley and Head Chef Harry Heidbrink. The two flipped enough pancakes to serve more than 300 community members as well as assisting Staff and Volunteers. The event was a huge success, raising $2000 through the $5/person breakfast and 50/50 raffle. In fact, it was so successful that The Laurels of Steubenville has been asked to host a similar event to benefit the Jefferson County Humane Society this summer. The facility will also host a breakfast meeting for the Jefferson County Job and Family Services. Kudos to the Associates at The Laurels of Steubenville for forging such tight ties with their local community.

Jamie Maley and Harry Heidbrink prepare for a pancake breakfast benefiting

The United Way.


W H O , W H A T , W H E R E , W H E N A N D H O W

Spirit News

Catch the SpiritTo help make The Laurel Spirit

truly valuable for every Laurel Associate, we want your input. If you have ideas for stories, features or photos, let us hear from you! Do you know someone who exemplifies The Laurel Way of Caring? Please submit your ideas to your Administrator, who will pass them on to The Laurel Spirit editor, Brent Tippie.

A L A U R E L H E A L T H C A R E C O M P A N Y A S S O C I A T E P U B L I C A T I O N VOL. 13 • WINTER 2012

The Laurel Spirit

1 Celebrating Our Legacy

2 Message

3 Focus On...

4 Reflections

5 Words of Thanks

6–7 That’s the Spirit!

8 Spirit News

A Look Inside

Celebrating Our Legacy

The Laurel Way of Caring recognizes that our Guests deserve a life in

which their dreams and expectations are met along with their basic needs.

We are proud that our Associates consistently go out of their way to bring

The Laurel Way of Caring to life in each and every one of our facilities.

The Laurel Legacy Program recognizes Associates who truly exemplify

this. Here is a sampling of kudos from Guests and Associates who have

filled out Laurel Legacy Cards.

The Laurels of Shane Hill, Rockford, Ohio

Bobby Applegate, a Guest in the Special Care Unit, had been craving

ham & beans with cornbread for about a week. Nurse Deanna Bechtol

went home that Saturday and made Bobby a meal of ham and beans with

cornbread. He loved it and ate it all, even though he hasn’t had much of

an appetite.

The Laurels of Summit Ridge, Asheville, North Carolina

The Laurels of Summit Ridge would like to recognize Wanda Bell,

business office manager. At 10:30 one evening, Wanda received a call

from the Administrator stating that the kitchen had to be closed and asking

if she could come in at 5:30 the next morning to help with breakfast.

Wanda selflessly agreed and not only made breakfast but also cooked a

complete Thanksgiving Dinner for 220 people.

The Laurels of Mt. Pleasant, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Tonya Welsh was nominated for coming in on her day off to bring two

Guests banana splits. She really made their day!

The Laurels of Hilliard, Hilliard, Ohio

Guest Pauline Horn submitted this praise for the Housekeeping

staff at Hilliard: “This has been a very pleasant experience. Having an

exceptionally clean room made me feel at home. I feel very lucky to have

had this.”

The Laurels of DeKalb, Butler, Indiana

Nurse Craig Daniels heard that someone was needed to do a church

service for our Guests. He volunteered his time to come in and do the

afternoon service.

The Laurels of Sandy Creek, Wayland, Michigan

Nurse Aide Josh Nickerson makes “Towel Animals” to put on the beds

of the Model Rooms, just like on a cruise ship. Josh adds a special touch

to the rooms for our next Laurel Guests.

The Laurels of Bon Air, Richmond, Virginia

During the football season, a Guest was disappointed that the UVA

game was not available on the facility’s channels. DON Tara Davis came

in on a Saturday to configure a laptop to connect to a big screen and

stream the game from the web. The Guest was thrilled!

Mission Statement

“Creating a Legacy

by Exceeding

the Needs

and Expectations

of Those We Serve,

while Embracing

The Laurel Way.”

Laurels of Chatham Launches Expansion Project

The Laurels of Chatham broke ground for the expansion and renovation of its Physical Therapy Department during a ceremony held in January at the facility in Pittsboro.

The project will include 629 square feet of new space and 1,014 square feet of renovated space that will house the physical, occupational and speech therapy services. The project includes a therapy gym and kitchen, in addition to meeting and storage areas.

“We are pleased to be able to offer a new location for our quality therapy services to our guests at The Laurels,” said John Jarrell, facility Administrator. Chatham anticipates an early summer completion of the project.

Fast Times at The Laurels of Shane HillGuests and Associates at The Laurels of Shane Hill were delighted to welcome NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart this past December. Mr. Stewart

came to the Rockford, Ohio facility to visit his close friend, Guest Gene Barna.

Guest Leola Allmond turned 106 years old on January 20, 2012. The Laurels of University Park Activity Department threw a huge birthday party in her honor, and her family attended and crowned her with a flashing feather tiara!

RN Ross Wordard put his auctioneer skills to the test this January during a penny auction at The Laurels of Coldwater that delighted Guests. Guests bid on CDs, DVDs, a collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia, body wash, puzzles, and even Inez Smith, activities assistant.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Cindy Poindexter, legislative candidate Cathy Wright, Pittsboro Mayor Randolph Voller, and Laurel Health Care Associates gather to celebrate Chatham’s ground breaking.

the laurel spirit their dreams and expectations are met along with ... santa and other winter ......

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