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Donors, volunteers make Hillcrest's Pine View possible
McCOOK, Neb. — Dreams for changes to a special Hillcrest Nursing Home Wing are about to become reality.
It all started three years ago when several staff members volunteered to study and come up with solutions unique for patients with a dementia diagnosis. Hillcrest Administrator Brad Cheek said that the first of several phases reached completion June 8 with carpet replacement, painting, artwork, new window blinds and special living room furniture.
The care wing was known as the special care unit until recently when Hillcrest folks from staff and families came up with Pine View, the new name for this caring area which respects the individual as a resident.
Leigh Farrell, whose mother Janet Fletcher was a Hillcrest resident, is credited for being the leader and project encourager with staff and community. Lord’s Hardware contributed a generous discount and Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation covered the remaining costs. There were a number of anonymous donations.
Major donors were the Faithweavers, preschool through fourth-grade students from the McCook United Methodist Church. They sold their original paintings to parents and public and raised $700. They also collected $423 at the April church service penny march. Their sponsor, Dee Premer, said, “The kids looked forward to caroling and visiting residents and family members.” She noted that it was fun watching the young group interact with residents because they looked forward to helping with the project.
The dream actually began three years ago for resident assessment coordinator and dementia care practitioner, Charlotte Marks, when her uncle, Arthur Marks, became a resident at Hillcrest. it became a personal interest and her enthusiasm soon was shared by others.
Several staff members were involved in a project to switch locations of the Pine View nursing station and kitchen. Food aromatherapy was their goal and it worked very well as food odors now reach the residents because the kitchen is next to the dining and living room. Charlotte Marks and Dietary Supervisor Liz Lovitt headed up the project along with the assistant director of nursing, Tammi Simpson.
Other key staff involved in the process are: activities director, Tamra Neel, who also is qualified as a dementia care practitioner; maintenance supervisor, Bob Ebert, administrator, Brad Cheek, Social services director Melissa Weiss and assisted living manager, Sydney Bauman, who is also utilization and review and therapy coordinator.
Thanks to the leaders and volunteers, dynamics are being directed toward a more homelike setting.
The next phase for the unit is the installation of a stone fireplace.
The fireplace mantel is almost a story by itself. It started when assistant director of nurses, Tammi Simpson, spotted a concrete fireplace mantel advertised on the internet. She called seller Ted Hansen and learned that it had been removed from a private home, weighed hundreds of pounds and cost $3,500. Tammi was overwhelmed but jokingly said maybe someone will donate it to Hillcrest.
A few weeks later, Mr. Hansen offered the unit as a gift, provided someone come to Omaha, Neb., and transport it back to McCook. He operates ABC Seamless Siding Company in Omaha, Lincoln and North Platte and is acquainted with the McCook area. The offer was accepted and Hillcrest brought it back to McCook. A fireplace insert will be installed that provides a glowing light but no heat. The unit is expected to be installed in a few weeks.
— Don Harpst is a former Hillcrest administrator and newspaperman.