A Good Investment in Valley Manor!

With the year 2010 quickly coming to an end, it is a good time to reflect on the operations of our Seniorsfirst independent retirement community. While the nursing home business has been a cash challenge, our Valley Manor apartments has been a "cash cow".


Now don't get me wrong. We have had our challenges at Valley Manor over the past few years and the tough economic times have definitely impacted retirement communities. Seniors are much less apt to make major lifestyle changes in these uncertain times. They have seen their investment portfolios diminish, their income remain flat at best and selling their home has become a really big challenge. All of this has had a significant impact on occupancy and limited the number of seniors actively seeking, or moving into, retirement communities.


So how has Valley Manor fared this year?



Well, apparently folks have determined that a property investment in Valley Manor is a real good investment in these challenging times. If they can't take the volatility of the stock market and the fixed investment market is returning a dismal interest rate, many seniors have opted to invest their available capital in a refundable entrance fee apartment at Valley Manor. And why not? Real estate has a history of being a very good long term investment and a good hedge against both inflation and stagnation. In the case of Valley Manor, it is also a lifestyle investment in that it provides housing and a quality of life for the investor.


We have had a record number of new move-ins this year opt for the refundable entrance fee option and as a result expect to take in over 1.5 million dollars in entrance fees alone. This represents a 50% increase over our historical averages and despite a decrease in our current occupancy, we will end the year with ample cash to meet both our current obligations and escrow funds for future obligations.



We continue to benefit from our low, variable interest rate mortgage and we have allocated some of these savings towards a continuing occupancy enhancement program that includes both marketing and capital improvement initiatives. While we anticipate continued pressure and challenges with respect to occupancy, we also anticipate the continuation of high numbers of entrance fees.


We will continue to advertise what many seniors have already come to recognize- that Valley Manor Apartments is a very good investment!

How far can we stretch?

If you are a faithful reader of my Blog, you are aware that at Kirkhaven we have been "patiently" waiting for the State to retroactively begin paying nursing homes the new, updated Medicaid rate effective all the way back to April 1, 2009.


For Kirkhaven, this promises to increase our rate approximately $25 a day and retroactively reimburse us for nearly 1.5 million dollars. Since the State is merely shifting capped Medicaid dollars between nursing homes across the state, they can actually afford to do this. There will be winners and losers when the new rates are paid, and fortunately Kirkhaven is among the expected winners.


The reason for this is in part because Kirkhaven is one of only a few nursing homes who is still receiving a cost-based Medicaid rate calculated from its initial 6 months of operations back in 1984. A lot has changed since then and our cost structure today is very different from what it was back then. While our rates include an inflation factor adjustment, it hasn't kept pace with our real cost increases or inflation.


A recent survey of our peer nursing homes showed that our $155/day Medicaid rate is well below the $183/day peer average. As a result, we are forced to operate at a lower cost per day than our peers while still providing the same high quality of care. This same peer survey showed that over the past 10 years, Kirkhaven's operating costs have increased 36.3% versus the peer average of 64.5%. Our salary costs per bed increased 33.2% over the same 10 year span versus the peer average of 55.6%. And while the peer average staffing per bed increased at a rate of 10.5% over the past 10 years, Kirkhaven's staffing per bed decreased 2.4%.


These are not statistics we necessarily wanted to aim for, but rather had to hit in order to maintain fiscal integrity. With a federal quality rating from CMS of 4 stars, Kirkhaven has attained the envious status of a low cost-high quality nursing home. But how far can we stretch?



In 2010, we pushed our available line-of-credit to the limit and implemented a 6-month austerity budget to keep our cash flowing while we waited for the "imminent" Medicaid rate upgrade. We have literally used every option available to us to out wait the State, but how far can we stretch?


Our Board of Governors has authorized us to continue to leverage our operation in anticipation of the new Medicaid rates rather than cut our staffing and expenses even further. We have requested some level of relief from the State and will continue to do what we can to bridge the gap while we wait for the State to pay the new rates. But how far can we stretch?


2011 promises to start out in much the same fashion as 2010. Still getting paid $155/day for Medicaid residents, who comprise nearly 70% of our resident population and who cost us on average $216/day. We will continue to operate on an austerity budget and hold off on any wage increases, new positions and discretionary expenses. We will advocate and lobby for the State to fulfill its promise of updating the Medicaid rate. And we will wait and pray that we can continue to make ends meet while the State gets it's house in order.


But how far can we stretch?

Recognizing our Dedicated Employees

We recently held our annual recognition luncheon at Oak Hill Country Club and had the opportunity to recognize those individuals celebrating major length of service tenure, volunteer service and exceptional service awards.

I'm not really sure how many recognition functions I have attended over the past decades, but I do know that I keep trying to come up with new and innovative ways to say thank you for the dedicated service of staff and volunteers.

This year I thought it would be fun to take many of my past remarks and themes and create a super-sized, all-in-one, one size fits all, mega recognition presentation. I called it my "greatest hits" collection of recognition presentations.

Perhaps my most memorable remarks were the years 1990 and 2000 when I did the "What's Hot and What's Not" routine to illustrate how much things have changed within our workplace, even though so many of our staff have been with us all along. I listed the "hot items" of each decade such as:

• voice-mail/e-mail/texting

• fax machines/e-mail/scans


• pagers/cell phones/smart phones


• recycling/energy efficiency/go-green


• DOS/Windows/Office

Yes, over the years a lot has changed, but our staff & volunteers represent the one thing that has not-loyal, dedicated and caring individuals.

One year I compared our staff & volunteers to the everyday things in our life that we come to depend on:

• The alarm clock that wakes you up

• The hot shower that revives you


• The coffee that stimulates you


• The car or bus that gets you to work

I spoke about how miserable our day is when any of these things we depend on lets us down, like:

• Power failure shuts off alarm


• Out of hot water, shower runs cold


• Forgot to turn on the auto coffee maker


• Car won't start or the bus runs late

I marveled at how our staff and volunteers all represent the dependable things in our life. So many depend on them and they have not let us down.

Another year, I shared that there were 4 approaches to deliver my sincere appreciation and thanks for their dedicated service:

1. Emotional (where I get all mushy and huggy and say a heartfelt thanks)
2. Paternalistic (handshake, pat on the back and say thanks for all you do)
   
3. Rational (tell you how much you mean to those you serve and thank you on their behalf)
   
4. Analytical (equate what your years of service means by the numbers)

I wrapped up my remarks by saying that no matter how one chooses to say it, the common denominator is you have given a lot and contributed vastly to our success for which we are greatly appreciative.

Not too long ago, when we held our luncheon at a winery, I noted in my remarks the similarity between fine wine and fine staff. I concluded by saying:

• You represent the cream of the crop

• Like fine wine, you come from good stock


• You have distinguished yourself by not being just one of a bunch


• You have flourished in your environment


• You have matured into fine staff


• You have an aura of excellence compatible with the finest wine and best of class

Then there was the year I said our staff were all 3rd class ticket holders. I shared that in the days of the stagecoach there were 3 classes of tickets:

1. First Class could remain seated during the entire trip no matter what happened.


2. Second Class could also remain seated, until there was a problem at which time you had to exit the stagecoach until the problem was resolved. You could stand off to the side and watch as others worked, but could not re-board until the problem was fixed.


3. Third Class definitely had to get off if there was a problem, because it was your responsibility to help fix the problem.

The moral of my remarks was that what impressed me most is that we have so many 3rd class ticket holders at Seniorsfirst. Some organizations have too many 1st class ticket holders who expect to be catered to, waited on and pampered. Other organizations have a lot of 2nd class ticket holders who will ride along until there is a problem, but then become detached spectators. But the 3rd class ticket holders at Seniorsfirst get out and push when the going gets tough. They accept the call for servant leadership and understand that in our resident's and client's eyes, third class is really first class.

Finally, there was the time in 2003 that after attending a seminar on "The Disney Way", I spoke how the principles that Walt Disney set for his staff were not unlike the values and principles shared by all of our staff:

• Treat others as you would want to be treated yourself

• Focus on the customer


• Create a magical and enjoyable experience for all you touch


• Safety first, courteousness second and efficiency third

Yes, over the years I have found many ways to recognize the dedicated and amazing service that our staff and volunteers represent. But perhaps the most meaningful way to recognize their contributions is to simply reflect on how each uniquely touches and makes a difference in the lives of those they serve.


Congratulations to all our staff. You are all caring and loving individuals and although there are many ways to say it, it is my pleasure to simply say a heartfelt "thank you"!

Summer Time Fun at Valley Manor

This past week the staff at Valley Manor held their summer picnic out on the courtyard at Valley Manor. A staff committee planned the event and with help from the HR and Food Service staff, summer time tropical fun was in full bloom.



It started with cold, refreshing tropical drinks and a food buffet that included chicken, pork, white hots, veggie burgers, potatoes, rice, salad and more. Perhaps the biggest hit was the home-made tropical beef dish provided by Brent in the maintenance department. Who knew that Brett could fix up dinner as well as he can fix up equipment?





After lunch, the competition began and it got very competitive as staff played for extra raffle tickets to increase their chance of winning any of the many prize packages on display. I don't like to brag, but the CEO plays a mean game of "ladder ball" and "can jam"!





It was a hot and sunny day, which made the ice-cream desserts a welcomed treat and nobody seemed to mind the occasional watering from some errant squirt guns. Staff never seem shy about shooting the CEO.......... although it is all in good fun.




Good food, fellowship and fun was the order of the day at the Valley Manor staff picnic. I really enjoy watching the staff have at fun at work and I cherish the opportunity to jump in with them. For a few hours we forgot about our work roles and just enjoyed each others company as we got silly and had some good old-fashioned summer fun.


When the party was over, it's back to work. But our batteries are recharged, our bodies refreshed and our hearts lifted as we resume our work roles and come together again as a team, serving our residents and clients.


Thanks for all you do every day. Individually, you are all unique and wonderful individuals. Together, you are an amazing staff!

Getting Wet & Wild at Kirkhaven!

Kirkhaven held a fun water day event that both residents and staff had a wet & wild time with. A picture tells a better story, so "read on" and enjoy...................



Double-fisted and dangerous!






















Just shoot me already








Death by water can be fun?

Approach at your own risk!

I may be the pastor, but I'll shoot if you make me.

I got you covered.

That has to hurt!

Don't mess with my residents!

Don't mess with the "Terminator"!

Everybody messes with this guy.

I got your back Mable.

That still hurts!

I mean business!

Still Friends!

The Sage Project

After months of planning and planting, the Seniorsfirst "Sage Project" rolled out with great fanfare and success this past weekend at the annual Park Avenue Festival.

The Sage Project was an idea designed to blend public relations, resident activities and fund-raising into a fun event. Every year the Park Avenue merchants hold a massive festival that attracts thousands of people looking for crafts, food, entertainment and fun. Since Kirkhaven resides on the avenue, we often participate in some small way. But this year we decided to step it up a notch.

With so many of our residents being avid gardeners, we decided to engage them in an herb growing activity and then pot and sell the herbs at the Park Avenue festival to raise funds and awareness towards our wonderful home. The Sage Project involved residents from our nursing home, assisted living home and adult day program. It extended to our staff and several community volunteers.

It literally began with seeds and tending of the gardens. It then proceeded to potting and arranging. Finally it came to the event set-up and sale. With the help of a "Bright Spot" that advertised our event on the local news the day before and a beautiful day that brought out huge crowds, the foot traffic into our courtyard along Park Avenue resulted in plenty of sales. I was amazed at the positive interaction between customers and residents. I was pleased to hear the pleasant comments about our Kirkhaven home and the Sage Project. I was humbled by the show of gratitude and support from the volume of sales. On more than one occasion, people would simply give us a donation or tell us to keep the change.

The project was a great success on every level. The residents enjoyed the meaningful activity and the opportunity to interact with each other, staff and the community. Seniorsfirst enjoyed wonderful public relations in getting the good word out into the community about our innovative communities and services. We sold over a thousand dollars in herbs with the net proceeds to go towards our resident activity funds.

As our VP of Marketing said afterwards, "the smiles on the faces of the residents and staff/volunteers add another million dollars in value to the project!" With the lessons we learned and the success we had, we will definitely bring the Sage Project back next year.

The Man Behind the Room

For the past 18 years, when there was a need for a group of people to meet and dialog on important work related to the Kirkhaven mission and operation, chances were the meeting was held in the Wilcox Board Room.

In 1992, when the south wing addition was built, the conservative but eloquent board room was named after one of Kirkhaven's premier pioneers-Harris Wilcox. For those who often use the Wilcox room and utter its name regularly, I thought you might appreciate a bit of history about the man behind the room.

Harris Wilcox, a prominent area businessman, internationally renowned Auctioneer and Realtor, Chairman of the Board of Harris Wilcox Inc, a generous benefactor of Charitable, Civic and Youth Organizations and a lifelong devotee to American Agriculture, was born in Bergen, NY on 1919 and recently passed away in July 2010.

Mr. Wilcox was a devoted Christian and member of the Bergen Presbyterian Church who lived his life in direct relationship to his faith. He was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kirkhaven from 1980-1985, the period of Kirkhaven's initial start-up and development. A time of both challenges and opportunities that might never have been navigated successfully had it not been for the unique style incorporating knowledge, energy, humor, stamina, and the "larger than life" presence that defined Harris Wilcox.

When I first met Mr. Wilcox, I was a 27 year-old, still "wet behind the ears" Director of Finance. I was in awe of the man and his gentle, yet determined, command of every encounter. His kindness and chivalry stood out among all others in the room and when he spoke, people would hang on his every word. His command of the English language, his tact, his decisiveness rarely left an inkling of doubt that if Harris was behind a project, the project would get done.

I remember the trials and tribulations Kirkhaven encountered with respect to the initial funding requirements of our H.U.D. financing program. The head bureaucrat at H.U.D. was a woman named Helen Moore, who dragged us through every regulation, code & rule she could find before we finally received project approval. The tactful, yet humorous, gentleman that Harris Wilcox was, could not resist taking a parting shot at the mortgage closing when he declared with much pride and determination, " We give thanks for this blessed day, for Lord knows we have been through hell-an-more".

As I sat through the funeral of Mr. Wilcox, I could not help but to reminisce about how far Kirkhaven has come since those early start-up days. Slowly we are losing the great pioneers, like Philip B. Price and Harris Wilcox, whose vision and dedication have led us to where we are today. But although these pioneers are gone, their memories and the lessons they taught us remain as a gift for all of us to carry forward.

My wish is that each of us will remember and respect the "presence" of Harris Wilcox whenever we sit in the Wilcox Room. The presence of a gentleman.......the authority of a born leader. Mr. Wilcox had it right when he would say, "Chivalry is not extinct" and "We have a Great God and a Wonderful Savior".

Thank you Harris for all you have given Kirkhaven. "Well done Thou Good and Faithful Servant".

BLOG Respite

If you are a regular visitor to my weekly Blog, you have probably noticed that I haven't been very timely or active with my Blog of late. Not sure why, but I guess I have just been busy with summer or have hit the "Blog wall".

It has been 2 years since I began my Blog and while I really enjoy the writing and sharing of stories, my creative energy and time appear to be fading.

Perhaps once summer ends I'll find that inner source of imagination and desire to capture my thoughts and share them with you within my Blog again. Until then, have a great summer.

Dream big, dream often.............................Jim.

Is the CEO really working?

I remember when I was just a young kid; there were three specific concepts that I had a hard time grasping. Of course my older and “wiser” siblings loved to mess with my mind and to this day still give me a hard time about these.

The first was my sister telling me that long before God created the world, there was nothing. No night and no day. No darkness and no light. Now to my way of thinking, that was impossible. If something isn’t dark it must be light and vice versa. “But no”, she would exclaim, “ there was no day or night, no light or darkness at that time”. That concept still drives me crazy to this day!

The second is a little embarrassing seeing that I eventually grew up to be a business and numbers guy. But as a kid I had a tough time grasping the concept of statistical odds. You see to my way of thinking back then, everything had a 50/50 chance of occurring. Either it would or it wouldn’t. I’m still teased to this day about the time I tried to convince my family, as we were driving up to our camp for the weekend, that there was a 50/50 chance that we would have a head-on collision with another car around the next corner. Either we would or we wouldn’t!

The third was the whole tree falling in the forest thing. If nobody was there to hear it fall, did it make a sound? “What are you talking about?” I would plead. “What difference does that make? Of course it makes a HUGE crashing sound. Haven’t you ever heard a tree fall?” But my sister would insist and try to explain that if the sound waves never hit an eardrum, no noise would be heard. Okay, I get it now, but you have to admit that is a tough concept for a kid!

Which brings me to the purpose of this particular Blog posting and a related question to pose. If the CEO is working alone in his office or out in the community, but staff isn’t there to notice, is he really working?


I only bring this up because this past week I had the luxury and joy of spending more time than usual out on the resident floors and at various staff and resident events. Heck, I even took a lunch break one day last week and showed up in the staff dining room. I received a fair amount of “Hello, where have you been?” or “Hi stranger, haven’t seen you in a long time,” or “Have you been on vacation?” or “Good to see you, you need to get out more.”

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the sentiment and folks appear genuinely pleased to see me. My concern is simply, what do they thing I’m doing when I’m not so visible to them? When I was the administrator and even assistant administrator, I took great pride in my visibility and day-to-day involvement in the operation. I knew the staff, residents and families, many by name. That was a key component of my role back then.

Some might argue it still should be as CEO, but the reality is it just can’t; at least not at anywhere near the same level. One reason is that I have to be respectful of those in the position now to fill the hands-on role. Another reason is that I have new responsibilities that require my attention to different priorities. My day is often filled with meetings, both in and out of the building. I spend the vast majority of my day on “big picture” items that involve strategic planning, community outreach, analysis and communications. I spend a great deal of my time doing office work, on the telephone, on the computer, meeting with contacts. I admit I missed the operational side of our business when I first transitioned to CEO, but eventually came to love the role and the work I do.

So, back to my original question posed. Is the CEO really working?

Well, I would hope the answer is as obvious as night and day, but then again maybe that concept isn’t all that clear. Perhaps I should suggest there is a 50/50 chance that I’m really working. Either I am or I’m not. Or is it like the tree falling in the forest and if you aren’t there to see me, then I’m not really working?

I think I’ll just keep it simple and continue to do what I am asked to do as the CEO. I’ll be the guy behind the scenes, out in front, helping to scout and navigate our way forward. I’ll keep on communicating to everyone all the wonderful and challenging things our organization does and faces every day. I’ll work tirelessly to ensure that Seniorsfirst continues to have a bright and successful future and that our residents, staff and families find comfort and joy within our communities.

But I’ll also try to get out more because as much as I love my job at Seniorsfirst, I do understand that it is our people that make the difference! Thanks for all you do and for being the “face” of our organization.

My First Novel Published

Many of my Blog readers have often shared kind words with me on how much they enjoy my Blog and my style of writing. Heck, a few of you have gone so far as to suggest that I should write a book!

Well my long time Blog faithful might recall that in my December 29, 2008 Blog posting I revealed that I had set a 2009 goal for myself to do just that. And so, for the past year and a half I have spent much of my "free time" writing in my journal, transcribing from my journal to my computer, editing, reviewing, editing, reviewing, editing................well you get my drift.

Finally, earlier this year I set out to publish my final, final work of fiction. I had no idea of the details and work this process would involve. It had to be just right and it had to be my way, so I spent hours every evening and weekend navigating my way through virgin territory. I learned a lot and would probably do it differently if I knew then what I know now, but I am thrilled with the final result. It has been a labor of love with no real expectation or objective other than to write a book to share with my 4 grandsons and any other interested family and friends.

So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to my first novel:

Coming soon to a bookstore near you, a breakout novel for "Young Adults" and "Tweens" by local author James E. DeVoe.

Daydreamer is an entertaining and enlightening adventure story with comic book like superhero excitement and unexpected twists as it moves from reality to fantasy.

DYLAN LAWSON IS a typical 13 year old boy growing up in a small, rural community in the northern Adirondacks of New York; a community that provides a lifestyle rich in outdoor adventure and homespun values. Together, with his best friends Brennan and Kennedi, Dylan finds adventure and excitement in what always turns out to be anything but a typical day.

But Dylan lives in a different world than everyone else. Dylan is the world's biggest daydreamer and he lives his life in both the real world and his dream world. Worlds that often collide, causing struggles and challenges that also provide valuable lessons learned.

It begins with a harrowing experience when the boys find themselves lost on Titus Mountain in the midst of the season's worst snowstorm and ends with the kids taking on the challenge of solving the great murder mystery when they stumble upon a dead body while out kayaking. In between, they become entrepreneurs of a successful start-up business as a result of a school project, compete for the state championship on the school's hockey team, attempt to win a national contest to bring a superstar singer to perform at the school's spring dance, confront a terrorist attack at school and become entangled in many more adventures.

Dylan's daydreaming often causes him to be absent-minded, disengaged and irresponsible, but with the help of his adult mentors, he ultimately uses his vivid imagination to become a real-life hero.

The action-packed suspense within each story and adventure will keep you riveted and guessing, but is it real or just another Dylan Lawson daydream?

You can take advantage of my "Friends & Family" advance sale discount offer to order your copy today at $14.99 (25% discount). The advance sale offer will be open to all until June 30th and then I will place the bulk order with my publisher to access the discounted pricing. You will receive your copy by July 15th. After that date, my book will be available at the publisher's standard rate and at Bookstore retail rates.

SO ORDER NOW IF INTERESTED by using the link below that will take you to my secure Daydreamer PayPal ordering site.

Friends & Family Advance Sale Offer:

My curious adult friends and family can now purchase an advanced copy of my novel, check it out themselves and then gift it to their children, grand-children, nephew, niece or other child. You'll satisfy your curiosity and enjoy reading my breakout novel, and have one less birthday or Christmas gift to buy this year!

To ORDER YOUR ADVANCED COPY click ORDER DAYDREAMER NOW!

Thanks for your interest……………………….Jim DeVoe.

This Place is for the Birds!

I thought I would dedicate this Blog posting to shining the spotlight on our unique Assisted Living cottage and Adult Day program at Valley Manor.

I call them unique because they represent a relatively new trend and focus in the delivery of support services to seniors. With more and more interest and demand by consumers for support service alternatives other than nursing home care, assisted living and community-based services are gaining in popularity and attention.

Here on the campus of Valley Manor, located in the lovely East Avenue neighborhood, sits the cottage that houses our 8 apartment assisted living residence and our distinct adult day program community.

I stopped by recently to visit with the residents and clients to see what was new and exciting in their world, and wow, there is a lot going on! Let me share just a sample of what they shared with me and what I saw.

As I arrived at the cottage, I was greeted by a resident and staff having a quiet conversation in the foyer as they basked in the sunlight and warmth from the windows looking out on the neighborhood. They welcomed me in and graciously allowed me to take pictures and explore their cozy home.

I then met resident Beverly Fink sitting outside her dining room working diligently on a jigsaw puzzle. I wasn't much help to her with her puzzle but we did enjoy a nice conversation. Beverly lived in an apartment at Valley Manor for years before deciding to move into the assisted living apartments where she would have access to more aide support. She still has dinner at Valley Manor every Wednesday evening to stay in contact with her "woman's support group" that was an important part of her past routine. She has also rediscovered her love for playing piano and often plays during tea times and sing-alongs with her new friends at the cottage.

Ms. Fink insisted that I check out the gardens off the back patio so I then made my way outside. The residents had been busy in the weeks prior starting up their vegetable and flower gardens in the backyard and participating in the "Sage Project" (I'll blog on that project in the near future).

Other projects that the residents have been enjoying include creating centerpieces for their dining room tables, wreathes for each individual apartment door, baking for each others' birthdays and embarking on their daily exercise and wellness program.

But the newest and biggest news of the week was the addition of Pete and Kiwi to the cottage. Pete and Kiwi are parakeets that the residents have named and adopted as their new cottage pets. In addition to their beautiful colors and singing voices, the parrots provide a sense of companionship, responsibility and enjoyment.

I then wandered next door to to visit with the clients of the adult day program. Here I was greeted by a group of seniors seated in the bright, roomy dining room enjoying an afternoon snack and finishing up a card game. I asked who was wining all the money, but they just laughed and said "not them".

Outside in the courtyard I saw a large congregation of folks enjoying the warmth and sunshine (that does bless Rochester from time to time). I walked out to see what was going on and was immediately introduced to Tiddly and Wink, two other parakeets that the adult day program clients have named and adopted as their pets. The birds are awesome and will even sit on your finger, head or wherever and provide hours of enjoyment.

By the time I left the cottage, it was clear to me that this place is very special. The "smallness" of the community fosters a unique family atmosphere that is so much like home and nothing like an "institutional setting". Relationships, friendships, activities and person-centered support are obvious key components to the joy and laughter that was so evident to me in just my short, one hour visit.

As I left and walked out to my car, I thought to myself what a wonderful place to live or come to. This place may be for the birds, but it is also a delightful place for our elders.

Some Things Improve With Age!

Kirkhaven held a "Celebration of our Elders" event this past week in recognition of National Nursing Home Week. I was asked to give a special honorary toast to kick-off our resident celebration.

In planning for my toast and words to our elders, it occurred to me that aging in general seems to get a bad rap. You know what I mean. The car we bought 10 years ago doesn't run as well as it once did and what is that strange rattling noise coming from under the hood. Those fresh plump grapes I just bought last week now are turning brown and soft. And oh yeah, don't get me started about my lower back and knee joints.

So what exactly was I going to say to these elders that would be appropriate for a celebration rather than a precursor to a doctor visit? Then I got an idea! There must be some things that improve with age. So I did some on-line research and it turns out this aging thing ain't all bad.

Under the category of Food & Drink I submit the following:

• Wine & Cheese- sure we all knew that


• Eggs- turns out the older eggs are the better eggs


• Beef- remember to cure and age your beef for the best taste


• Casseroles- I love lasagna, but it always tastes better later reheated


• Cookbooks- the best are always your grandmother's old recipes

Under the category of Nature:

• Fruit Trees- my dad would know that the more mature trees bear the best fruit
• Soil- it takes years to "warm your soil"
• Shade Trees- that century old elm is the most majestic of them all
• Compost- isn't worth a dime without mother-nature and time
• Bird's Song- didn't know this but the older birds have a sweeter, stronger tweet

Under the category of Tangible Items:

• Antiques- well of course these become more valuable over time


• Real-Estate- don't you wish you bought that piece of property 20 years ago
  
• Leather- it only gets better with age


• Classic Cars- what we wouldn't give to own our father's first automobile now


• Photo Albums- the older the picture the better the memory

Under the category of Relationships:

• Friends- the best friend is usually an old friend


• Grandchildren- if I knew grandchildren would be such fun I wouldn't have had kids
  
• Traditions- the older the tradition, the more meaningful


• Memories- they grow fonder over time
  
• Family- we grow closer and more appreciative as we grow older

Which brings me back to my "Celebration of Elders" toast. After sharing these tid-bits that improve with age, I raised my glass, as the elders and others in the room did the same, and saluted the top 10 benefits of aging under the category of Elders:

1. Vocabulary- we learn more words and how best to use them as we age
2. Common Sense- it doesn't come naturally, we learn it over time
3. Humor- it becomes more acute and important as we age
4. Emotional Stability- it takes time, but eventually we discover who we are
5. Perspective- the longer we live, the broader our outlook on life becomes
6. Resilience- we learn to handle whatever life gives us as time moves on
7. Acceptance- we don't sweat the little things and tolerate diversity as we age
8. Wisdom- the older we get the wiser we get
9. Faith- thank God our faith grows stronger as our years and fears grow longer
10. Soul- while our body might desert us, our soul remains with us forever

So here's to our Elders, may they age well and gracefully. SALUTE!

A" Beer" Story

Happy Mother's Day to all my Blog readers who are mothers.

Here in Rochester, we use this special day when we honor our mothers, to also remember and support our most senior and often frail mothers and grand-mothers who reside in senior care homes. Mother's Day is designated "Homes Offering Day", where our local Presbyterian church congregations take up a special offering to help support Kirkhaven's mission.

You know, whenever I tell people what I do for a living, I often still get the response, "Jim,I'm sure you run a nice facility, but if I ever get to the point where I need a nursing home, just shoot me!"

Yes, it is pretty obvious that despite our best intentions to provide quality care for seniors, something is still wrong. As I have Blogged about before, with its typical hospital furniture, sterile rooms and endless routines day after day, there is nothing even remotely like home about the traditional nursing home.

But thankfully, things have begun to change and Kirkhaven is leading the way here in Rochester. As I have shared with you before, the keystone of this culture change is person-centered care, where seniors are empowered to direct the decisions that affect their daily life.

By providing them with the opportunities to live their lives in a similar manner to how they always did, pursuing the same type of activities, routines and rhythms of daily life, that is what culture change is all about.

On Mother's Day, I spoke at my own church, Summerville Presbyterian, and shared this true story which I think helps define culture change to a tee.

This past Friday, I volunteered as a celebrity bartender at Kirkhaven's weekly Friday afternoon resident Happy Hour. We were about 15 minutes into the Happy Hour and I had set everyone up with their first round of drinks and bar snacks, when a young man, probably around 35-40 years old, walked into the lounge wearing jeans, a Buffalo Bills jacket and a ball cap. He looked around the room for his mother and then saw her sitting at a table with some friends, a beer and a bag of chips in front of her. He strolled on over to her and pulled up a chair as the waitress came over and asked him if he would like a drink. He looked around with this look on his face that said, "Where am I? Am I in the right place?", and then gladly ordered up a beer. I popped a top and poured him a tall , cold beer and set it down next to him. "What's the matter buddy," I said to him. "Aren't you used to coming in to the nursing home for a frosty beer and some fun." He just looked at me and said, "I love this place! I'm just going to sit here, relax and share a beer and some conversation with my mom."

Now that's the response I'm looking for!

It's not just about Friday afternoon Happy Hours, but it's about nursing homes looking and feeling like home, where residents can pursue their life-long interests and routines. It' s about person-centered care.

Kirkhaven is on the Pathway to this remarkable evolution and you can help. The Mother's Day Homes Offering is an opportunity for anyone to make a donation towards supporting this journey. I invite my Blog readers to click on the Kirkhaven website link to the right of my Blog and then click on the Seniorsfirst Foundation button at the top of the web page. You can make an on-line donation (or mail in a donation) to the Directors' Discretionary Fund in honor or in memory of your own mother to help make a difference in the lives of our seniors.

On behalf of the current and future residents of Kirkhaven, I thank you for your support!

Evaluating Your Supervisor

Most organizations conduct an annual routine whereby supervisors conduct a performance evaluation of each of their staff, but only a few have the courtesy and courage, like Seniorsfirst, to give staff an opportunity to evaluate their supervisor.

I have always been a big supporter of this program and lead the way by encouraging my own direct report staff to participate and provide confidential feedback on my leadership and supervision performance. I use the feedback to monitor my strengths and potential for improvement. I always report back to them the collective results and any action plans I develop to follow-up on their feedback.

Seniorsfirst has been conducting this program for years, but not without some controversy. Some managers argue that at times you have to be stern disciplinarians or conduct employee counselings that obviously leave their staff resentful or angry. "How can I do my job as a supervisor and still expect my staff to like me?" they might ask.

I'm a stern believer that in most cases you can and that is what all great leaders should strive for.

We use the results from our "Evaluate your Supervisor" program to identify both individual and organizational leadership training and support needs. Our objective is to help ensure the proper development of our leadership so that our staff feel properly supported.

I am delighted with the collective results and scores of our leadership team. At Kirkhaven the average leadership performance rating, based on 10 specific leadership skill questions and a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being highest), was 4.1 and at Valley Manor was 4.4.

These scores represent a slight increase in our previously consistent and high supervision and leadership skills. Supporting our staff and ensuring their satisfaction leads to a direct correlation of their quality service and resident/client satisfaction.

Here are some photos of a recent resident art show at Kirkhaven:

Here is a nice photo of our honorary nurses at a recent Nurses Recognition Luncheon:

Here are some fun photos of my grandson Logan playing basketball with our dog Jessi:

Thanks for visiting my Blog. See you next week.