Hillcrest Nursing Home celebrating 60th anniversary

McCOOK, Neb. – Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Hillcrest Nursing Home is planning an open house on Friday, Oct. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hillcrest, 309 West 7th Street.

Hillcrest Nursing Home opened in June 1963 with 23 private and semi-private rooms. Over the years, through the generous support of donors and leadership of administrators and trustees, Hillcrest has undergone several renovations and additions.

Updates through the years

The Lorene Jennings Wing (1968) and the Cashen Wing (1982) created a 99-bed facility. In 1989, a spacious front living room was added.

The number of beds increased to 120 in 1996 with a Special Care Unit for dementia residents and a Heavy Care Unit. Kitchen upgrades, a new activities area, and a sun porch were also included.

In 1996, a 35-foot stained glass mural which graces the top of the front wall of the facility was dedicated. Hays, Kan. artist Stan Detrixhe designed the mural, inspired by a view of the Republican River Valley as seen from the Strunk Memorial Rest Area east of McCook.

The concrete sign that greets visitors on the west side of the building was also dedicated in 1996.

In 1998, Little Folks Child Care Center was added to assist nursing home staff with their childcare needs, as well as provide positive interaction between Hillcrest residents and childcare students.

A childcare center continues to be housed in the lower level of the nursing home facility, but it is now privately operated by Amanda Mullen, and known as Bee Little on the Hill.

In 2000, Hidden Pines Assisted Living was completed with ten apartments.

Renovations to the dining room were completed in 2002. In 2012, the original wing was renovated, and an enclosed resident transfer garage was added.

Today:

Hillcrest Administrator Renee Wright is assisted by 100 dedicated staff members who care for residents in the dual-certified Medicare/Medicaid Skilled Care facility. Employees live out their motto, “A Caring Center”, by providing the best experience possible for each resident. The staff honors the dignity of the residents and empowers them during a time that could otherwise be very difficult.

Owned by Red Willow County but operated through revenues it generates from resident care, the nursing home is governed by a five-member board of trustees who are appointed by Red Willow County Commissioners for six-year terms. Current trustees include President Randy Dean, Mike Eklund, Mike Skolout, Ann Barger, and Naomi Olson.

Hillcrest Foundation:

Many of the completed projects were made possible through tax-deductible donations to the Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation. Founded in 1989, the foundation supports Hillcrest improvement projects, provides tuition assistance for staff who want to further their education, and works to improve the lives of residents through fund raising and grant making.

The Hillcrest Foundation board of directors include: President Mike Skolout, Vice-President Jacque Riener; Coordinator/Secretary Kristi Daum, and members Randy Dean, Shary Skiles, Cal Siegfried, Bruce Hoffman, and Dr. William Graves. The foundation sponsors a fundraising event, “Night on the Hill”, which will be held Feb. 10, 2024.

Harpst Garden:

A recently completed improvement, which will be dedicated at the open house, is a revamp of the facility’s grounds and the Harpst Garden.

Don Harpst was the administrator at Hillcrest from 1987 to 1998. During his tenure, as well as after his retirement, Harpst desired to improve the grounds with the addition of a variety of plants, trees, and flowers to the landscape. He and his crew of garden helpers added color, texture and variety to the property and provided residents with a beautiful and serene view to enjoy. Harpst has been assisted by several volunteers through the years in caring for the garden including Trisha Townsend, Cathy Dean, Blake Bethel, Tricia Wagner, Larry Eisenmenger, and Wayne Michaelis.

Harpst often compares Hillcrest to a flower bed, saying it requires constant tender loving care.

But care of the garden was beginning to wear out the volunteer garden crew, so earlier this year, the Foundation Board of Directors approved a renovation project. The project included replacing much of the old planting with easily maintained new materials, replacing and expanding the irrigation system, and re-seeding and replacing mulch. The project was made possible through a grant from the Nebraska Arboretum, local grants, and contributions made to Hillcrest Foundation.

The irrigation work was completed by Total Turf of McCook and the re-planting was completed by Common Scents. The design of the new space is intended to continue Harpst’s goal of providing a beautiful outdoor environment for residents, while at the same time, reducing irrigation and maintenance costs by using environmentally favorable plant materials.