Summer 2019, Vol. 16, No.3 A publication of Life Care Centers of America A Spark of Creativity: National Assisted Living Week 2019 PAGE 4 A Legacy of Quality Care: Cottesmore Celebrates 50th Anniversary PAGE 6 Ready for Their Close-up PAGE 8 Rehab Trains Superheroes PAGE 10 A message from the president On a wall in the office of a huge tree John C. Maxwell, author and expert farm hangs a sign. It reads: on leadership development, put it this The best time to plant a tree is 25 years way: “You may not be where you’re ago. The second-best time is today. supposed to be. You may not be what you The wisdom of that sign shines forth. want to be. You don’t have to be what There is no time like the present to you used to be. And you don’t have to become an expert (isn’t that your goal?) ever arrive. You just need to learn to be in our mission. It is a noble calling in the best you can be right now.” which we are engaged in Life Care, and Napoleon Hill (1883 – 1970), we should give it our best, reaching our American author best known for his full potential. book Think and Grow Rich, which is Maybe you wish you had started among the top 10 best-selling self-help earlier. Or maybe you wish you had books of all time, said: “You can’t change found a better teacher or mentor years where you started, but you can change ago. None of that matters. Looking back the direction you are going. It’s not what OUR COVER MODELS: and lamenting will not help you move you are going to do, but it’s what you are Rehab teams from around forward. doing now that counts.” the country showed off their As an English major in college, one of On Jan. 4, 1970, Forrest Preston superpowers in the weeks leading up my favorite poets was Henry Wadsworth opened the first nursing home in what to this year’s Annual Rehab Meeting. Longfellow (1807 – 1882), whose was to become Life Care Centers of The meeting’s power-packed theme popular works included Paul Revere’s America. Every day since then, he has was “We Train Superheroes.” Ride, The Song of Hiawatha and been driven to be better at what he does. See p. 10 for more details. Evangeline. Jan. 4, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary A friend of Longfellow asked the secret of that facility. of his continued interest in life. Pointing Are you growing a little new wood to a nearby apple tree, Longfellow said, each year? “The purpose of that apple tree is to grow a little new wood each year. That is Sincerely, what I plan to do.” That sentiment was expressed in one of Longfellow’s poems: is published quarterly by Beecher Hunter Life Care Centers of America Not enjoyment and not sorrow … Is our P.O. Box 3480 destined end or way … But to act that each Cleveland, Tennessee 37320 tomorrow … Find us further than today. Forrest L. Preston Founder and Chairman Beecher Hunter President Rob Pauza Director of Graphic Services and Art Director Leigh Atherton Director of Public Relations and Editor Dara Carroll Senior Publications Specialist and Associate Editor Jonathan Golden Senior Designer All correspondence should be addressed to the Associate Editor. Features 4 A Spark of Creativity: National Assisted Living Week 2019 A Legacy of Quality Care: 6 Cottesmore Celebrates 50th Anniversary 8 Ready for Their Close-up 10 Rehab Trains Superheroes InEveryIssue 2 Life Care Connections 11 Century Park Spotlight 12 Whatever It Takes And Then Some Highlights 13 Resident Voices: What major historical event affected you most? Why and what do you remember “about it? InsideLifeCare ” Balanced Wellness: Life Care Rolls Out the Fit For Life 2019 A Spark of Creativity p. 4 9 Contest with Big Changes Ready for Their Close Up p. 8 A Legacy of Quality Care p. 6 Rehab Trains Superheroes p. 10 Beecher Hunter Wins United Way Volunteer Award On May The award was presented during committee and serving as a member of 16, 2019, the United Way’s annual banquet in the board of directors. Life Care also Beecher Cleveland, Tennessee. Named after a well- hosts an annual drive for its corporate Hunter, known community philanthropist and associates to give to the organization Life Care United Way volunteer who consistently and makes corporate space available for Centers of challenged the community to give, United Way events. America advocate and volunteer, the award is given president, to an active member of the community. received Currently a volunteer, Hunter has one of two been involved with the local United Way William F. Johnson Sr. Community organization for 56 years. He has held Service Awards from the United Way of many positions with the organization, the Ocoee Region. including vice president of the executive Life Care and Century Park Centers Win Best of North Idaho – Again Idaho, were recently named Best Skilled Both Life Care centers have won their Nursing Facility, and Garden Plaza of award for the last six years in a row, and Post Falls was named Best Independent Garden Plaza has won for independent Senior Living and Best Assisted Living living six years in a row as well. Community. “This speaks loudly to the community The awards were presented on March and is a testimony to our continued 28, 2019, during the “North Idaho success,” said Connie Willis, admissions Business Journal” annual release party and marketing director at Life Care for its Best of North Idaho Awards. Center of Coeur d’Alene. “It shows that Readers vote on their favorites in our community not only supports us but Life Care Center of Coeur d’Alene multiple categories, including health care also believes in us and the care we give to and Life Care Center of Post Falls, providers. vote us No. 1 for so many years.” 13 Life Care Facilities Achieve 2019 Women’s Choice Award Thirteen Life Care Centers of America facilities recently received a 2019 Women’s Choice Award for Extended Care. The award recognizes skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities around the United States that have high ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as no recent history of penalties or fines. This year, only about six percent of facilities received the award. Women’s Choice Awards are designed to help women make informed decisions as consumers – in health care as well as in other areas such as cars and brands. Life Care’s winning facilities are: • Life Care Center of Sierra Vista, Arizona • Life Care Center at Inverrary in • Life Care Center of Treasure Valley in • Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center of Lauderhill, Florida Boise, Idaho Excellence in Aurora, Colorado • Life Care Center of Sarasota, Florida • Cottesmore of Life Care in Gig Harbor, • Life Care Center of Greeley, Colorado • Hale Anuenue Restorative Care Center Washington • Life Care Center of Littleton, Colorado in Hilo, Hawaii • Westview Health Care Center in • Life Care Center of Stonegate in Parker, • Life Care Center of Idaho Falls, Idaho Sheridan, Wyoming Colorado • Life Care Center of Lewiston, Idaho 2 Solomon Named Vice President of Life Care’s Eastern Division Life Care “I am humbled and blessed to work Originally from Greeneville, Solomon Centers of with the compassionate associates in the has a master’s degree in counseling and a America Eastern Division,” said Solomon. “I love bachelor’s degree in psychology. recently Life Care’s passion and perseverance to “Jennifer is an experienced and caring named provide quality care to our residents and leader who has her priorities in the right Jennifer patients. It has been our culture from the place,” said Cathy Murray, Life Care’s Solomon very beginning, and it can be seen every chief operating officer.” Residents come as vice day through the kindness and dedication first, and her teams look up to her and president of of our frontline associates.” respect her. We are pleased to have her its Eastern Solomon most recently served for more leading the Eastern Division.” Division. than eight years as vice president of the In this role, Solomon will oversee Appalachian Region within Life Care’s operations at the company’s 39 skilled Eastern Division. Before that, she was nursing and rehabilitation facilities executive director at Life Care Center of in Georgia, Kentucky, the Carolinas, Greeneville, Tennessee, for five years. She Tennessee and Virginia. has been with Life Care for 22 years. Gonzalez Celebrated for 45 Years of Service In 1974, Ernie Gonzalez started his hamburgers and hot dogs for fundraisers career at Villa Manor Care Center in and donated some of his vacation days to Lakewood, Colorado. At the time, an associate in need. He has served as a he could have never imagined the 45 good leader for his department, leading years of memories he would make at his team to achieve no deficiencies on the facility and the thousands of lives many state surveys. Once, he even got a he would touch, from residents to tag for making the floors too shiny. He associates. earned a President’s Award from Life Villa Manor threw a party in Care in 1992. Gonzalez’ honor on May 23, 2019, “Your co-workers talk of your with about 120 people in attendance, kindness, integrity, honesty, love, including residents, associates and his compassion and genuineness – all family members. qualities that are imperative in health Cathy Murray, chief operating officer care,” said Hunter. “You may never for parent company Life Care Centers know how much difference you make in of America, and Derek Schmidt, vice someone’s life.