St. Mary's Given National Award
Of 17,000 nursing homes in the country, St. Mary’s Care Center in Winsted was one of only 13 nursing homes to earn the National American Health Care Association (AHCA)/National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) Quality Award in 2007.
Administrator/CEO of St. Mary’s Care Center Andy Opsahl, who has been head of St. Mary’s since November 2004, explains that the award is based on continuous quality improvement.
“It is reflective of the quality care we provide right now, but also that we have systems to back up those results and make sure those results will continue,” Opsahl said.
The dementia program has been one of the areas that has undergone the most changes at St. Mary’s.
To create a better environment for its dementia residents, it was suggested that their behavior might improve if they were allowed to sleep later, and have meals tailored to their own schedule.
It was an innovative idea that St. Mary’s adopted in August of 2006, after planning for almost a year before implementation.
When the dementia floor changed its routine, the entire system of the facility was altered and all workers involved had to change, too.
Previously, a day in the center would begin with the housekeeping staff turning on lights at 7 a.m. and beginning its cleaning routine. The care center had most of its residents up and dressed before 8 a.m.
Now, the center’s day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a calmer environment. Residents are allowed to wake up on their own.
With a different start to the day, morning routine for meals has changed, too. The breakfast has been replaced with a continental breakfast for people that are early risers.
After the continental breakfast, the center prepares two main meals, a substantial snack, and an evening snack. The nutrition is the same, and seniors maintain or gain weight, which is a good thing, according to Opsahl.
Another major improvement was made with the nursing staff last summer when it began to use electronic charting called Point of Care documentation.
All of the necessary information provided by the nurses, nursing assistants and rehabilitation personnel is entered into a computer program.
By having the patient information in the computer, it is easy to read, and doctors can key into it and even work from their homes.
Therapeutic recreation manager Michele Muller provides activities for residents based on residents’ assessments and interests.
Five days a week, in the center’s chapel, Mass and communion are offered. Other activities for residents include bingo, picnics, outings like visiting Carlson Apple Orchard, bowling, reading, and current events. Sunday afternoon there is an accordion player who visits.
At resident council meeting, residents have input regarding what they want to see and do, or if they have any concerns.
At St. Mary’s Care Center, a plan of care is designed according to the needs of each person. The center offers respite care, skilled care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, intermediate care, restorative nursing, supplemental nutrition, palliative care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, outpatient therapy, and therapeutic recreation.
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