This award, presented annually, is awarded to WCCEAL provider ALCs that exemplify Heather Bruemmer by demonstrating going above and beyond to provide quality care to their residents. The provider ALCs selected for this award show examples of exceeding quality improvement initiatives in WCCEAL.
Community Quality Improvement Highlights: Waterford Senior Living has effectively implemented concepts from Certified Dementia Practitioner training, funded by the HCBS grant, by creating designated activity spaces that include a music room, small group areas, a resident gym, an arts-café, a sensory area, a living room, and an indoor garden with a butterfly garden. These spaces, developed with input from residents & team members, have enhanced resident engagement and reduced the need for PRN psychotropic medications. Smaller group settings and increased activity options have fostered resident socialization and allowed for more personalized attention without increasing staff hours.
The organization encourages staff input, considering front-line team members, residents, and families as valuable experts. Resident-created art and thoughtfully selected decor contribute to a welcoming environment that reflects the community’s commitment to resident well-being and team pride. The team also advocates for resident needs by coordinating with families, health professionals, and managed care organizations to ensure best practices are upheld.
Empathy and kindness are central to interactions with families, who are offered multiple tours and consultations with Community Relations, Executive Directors, and Wellness Directors. This approach helps build supportive relationships, offering families ample time to process transitions. Ongoing support continues with comprehensive conferences on significant resident changes, and families can request specific team members for hospital or rehab visits to provide continuity and comfort.
Deer Path Integrated Living recognizes the unique learning styles, beliefs, and needs of individuals by creating personalized, one-on-one plans for residents that focus on both short-term and long-term goals. These plans are regularly evaluated and adjusted, accompanied by an incentive program tailored to residents' evolving needs. Staff are trained to emphasize holistic care, promoting personal growth and well-being. Feedback from residents reflects appreciation for the compassionate staff, who provide guidance, support relationship-building, and help advocate for individual needs.
The community actively seeks to enhance knowledge and methods that benefit residents, especially those with mental illness and substance use disorders, through a behavior support education program and by employing specialists such as a Doctor of Psychology and a Trauma Services Specialist. Staff are encouraged to pursue continuing education to improve resident care. In challenging situations, staff go above and beyond to secure external support and assist with crisis interventions, ensuring residents feel respected and valued beyond their diagnoses.
Deer Path is dedicated to fostering a compassionate environment where residents feel understood and can openly share their needs. A person-centered approach is employed, with regular collaboration among management and treatment teams to enhance care and maintain communication. Staff also connect residents with local resources and advocate for them in cases of denied benefits or restrictive guardianship. Additionally, they support residents transitioning to independent living by providing continued services until residents feel ready to maintain their independence.
Education serves as the foundation of Deer Path's approach, with staff trained in crisis prevention and trauma-informed practices. The community celebrates all successes in residents' recovery journeys, reinforcing their commitment to supporting residents through challenges. Positive resident feedback emphasizes the reliability, effective communication, and understanding nature of the staff. A former resident recently visited to express gratitude for the community's impact on their successful transition to independent living, illustrating the profound difference Deer Path makes in the lives of its residents.
DSPN recognizes these organizations for their unwavering commitment to continuous quality improvement and collaboration, kindness, advocacy, and caring for others. They promote access, autonomy, and self fulfilment within a unique segment of the assisted living landscape. In a multitude of small setting, home-like environments across the state of Wisconsin, these providers truly make a difference. We are honored to serve them as members and WCCEAL participants.
LeadingAge Wisconsin is proud to nominate the following assisted livings for the Heather Bruemmer WCCEAL Provider Award for Assisted Living Quality:
These providers have consistently placed residents at the forefront of both care quality and quality of life. Their commitment to fostering a positive attitude permeates their communities, even during challenging times, creating an uplifting environment for both residents and staff.
Their active participation in Echelon and dedication to continuous quality improvement initiatives have resulted in exceptional survey outcomes as well as high levels of resident satisfaction. The leaders and staff demonstrate authentic collaboration, focusing on improving outcomes through effective communication, ensuring that every resident’s voice is heard and valued. They embody a culture of presence and kindness, building trusting relationships that enhance the well-being of their residents.
LeadingAge Wisconsin acknowledges not only their achievements but their unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve.
WHCA/WiCAL is proud to honor Birch Haven Senior Living for their outstanding commitment to providing exceptional care to their residents. Birch Haven not only consistently exceeds WCCEAL’s quality improvement initiatives but also embodies the values of compassionate, person-centered care, as exemplified by Heather Bruemmer's leadership.
The criteria for this recognition included authentic collaboration aimed at improving outcomes, effective communication that enhances care quality, and an unwavering dedication to going above and beyond for their residents. Birch Haven's team demonstrates leadership, inspires others to achieve greater goals, and fosters an environment of kindness and respect. They prioritize the individual needs of their residents, ensuring that both the quality of care and quality of life remain at the forefront.
With a compassionate approach, Birch Haven enriches the lives of those in their care by nourishing the mind, body, and spirit. Their team exemplifies the true art of caregiving, making a lasting difference every day.
Valley VNA Senior Care, located in Neenah, WI, has been honored as the recipient of the 2023 Heather Bruemmer Provider Award for Assisted Living Quality by the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA). This prestigious recognition is a testament to Valley VNA's longstanding commitment to excellence, evident through their active participation in the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL) and WALA's Diamond Accreditation Program.
The selection of Valley VNA by the WALA Diamond Committee underscores the community's commitment to the values and principles embodied in the Heather Bruemmer Award. Valley VNA's dedication to providing high-quality care is exemplified through a range of initiatives and programs designed to enhance the well-being of their residents:
In addition to these remarkable programs, Valley VNA maintains a strong commitment to ongoing quality improvement. They actively work to reduce medication errors, stabilize resident weight, and minimize resident infections. Their dedication to incorporating person-centered care and a commitment to quality into their organization sets them apart as an exceptional provider. Valley VNA continually goes above and beyond, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to enhancing the well-being and quality of life for their residents.
COVID hit and life changed.
The pressure for care providers was overwhelming. They worked day and night, double and triple shifts, giving up time with families and for self to care for residents. All care providers experienced this. Some, however, did this while never losing focus of the role and value of the Wisconsin Coalition for Collaborative Excellence in Assisted Living (WCCEAL) in their unquenchable quest for continuous quality improvement.
LeadingAge Wisconsin congratulates all providers for their dedication to quality care throughout the pandemic. We believe, however, that the spirit and passion of Heather Bruemmer is especially demonstrated by the 10 assisted living communities (ALCs) who maintained WCCEAL Gold Member status throughout the pandemic while being equally overwhelmed as all other providers by the same mountains of unparalleled devastation of COVID.
These 10 communities never lost a step in submitting their quality outcomes, checking their benchmark scores, conducting resident satisfaction surveys, reviewing customer satisfaction reports, complying with regulatory requirements, and upholding Echelon responsibilities – all while simultaneously working extra shifts, sacrificing time with family and for self, and assuming the exhausting but honorable mission of caring for their residents throughout the pandemic.
The team at Three Pillars' Compass Point came together in crisis with continuous teamwork, communication, dedication, and FUN.
Caregivers overhauled traditional processes and implemented new and different processes in addition to their usual priorities. Direct caregivers needed help so they could focus on resident cares and all the additional COVID-related tasks they had to undertake. The Interdepartmental Team stepped up and devised a meal order and delivery system, going above and beyond to make sure it all happened – three times a day, seven days a week, even signing up on weekends and holidays.
Tasks were identified that caregivers previously had done but were not direct care-related. Employees from other departments learned them so direct care staff could focus on meeting residents' needs.
Nursing staff no longer had a schedule; it was endless days of resident assessments and documentation, training, audits, and COVID testing.
Keeping up with tasks like emails, schedules, evaluations, assessments, and quarterly reports happened in the evening. It was what had to be done to make sure they always had the residents' best interests and needs at the forefront.
Laurel Manor faithfully followed new regulations and guidance from the Health Department, DHS, CDC, and their local health care providers. They awaited communications from LeadingAge Wisconsin to help them manage the pandemic. Sometimes new guidance came daily and sometimes hourly. They adopted the practice of daily updates to policies and procedures, daily meetings, and daily communication and support to maintain their commitment to quality services for the tenants and families.
Staff focused on keeping tenants safe. They disinfected common touch areas multiple times daily, so much so that the finish on the handrails wore off! When they weren't working, the staff stayed home to avoid unintentionally bringing COVID into the building.
Tenants and staff made signs to support each other and to encourage everyone to keep going. The tenants were safe and happy because the staff was "all in."
LindenCourt Mukwonago championed continued efforts to maintain Gold Member status in WCCEAL throughout the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented daily regulatory changes, visitation changes, workforce challenges, and beyond. Many staff members are Mukwonago residents who grew up visiting family members living throughout the LindenGrove communities. Many of the nursing leaders began as certified nursing assistants throughout the LindenGrove communities and proudly raised the bar of quality for the residents that they considered as important as their own "grandmas and grandpas."
When the pandemic hit, the staff did not run away, but rather ran into the "fires" the pandemic fueled to become "family" to the residents when their real families could not visit. The compassion that the staff extended to residents while ensuring quality outcomes is worthy of recognition and celebration.
For residents of Oakwood Knoll, each day is a new day and trying to provide structure in the ever-changing world outside during the throes of the COVID pandemic was a great challenge to be overcome. The staff was able to accomplish this through the commitment of their Life Enrichment Department to provide one-on-one activities with each of the residents. In addition, they took steps to continue to allow residents the opportunity to see families through scheduled window visits, becoming experts in virtual meeting technology, and the rollout of a web-based system for family members to send (sometimes daily) messages to their loved ones. Through these means, the Knoll staff was able to provide community and structure for their memory care residents, even while the world outside was in a state of isolation and chaos.
The vulnerability of the population of Oakwood Meadows put infection control and risk mitigation efforts at the forefront of the minds of all staff members during the COVID pandemic. The sacrifices staff made to keep residents safe are astonishing. With an "all hands-on deck" mentality, the Meadows maintained a COVID screening desk staffed around the clock with everyone taking turns working "midnight shifts" and "sunrise shifts" to ensure everyone entering the building could safely be there.
Cleaning became a job duty of everyone and the sight of a member of the therapy department in a backpack disinfectant sprayer is fresh in the minds of everyone at the Meadows. Independent living residents hand-sewed masks for staff and residents when PPE ran short. Staff members picked one another up in times of stress.
The Meadows had their assisted living population at 100% immunization by January 2, 2021.
Prairie Home's response to the pandemic was unwavering, passionate dedication to the tenants.
COVID-19 challenged the staff to ensure physical and emotional well-being and the highest quality of life for tenants while dealing with their own personal burdens.
The Prairie Home team sought opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the tenants, comforting and calming them, reminiscing, lifting spirits, and easing the burden of loneliness and seclusion.
In the words of the director, "We cried, we laughed, and we cried some more. There were desperate, terrifying moments and dark days, but our vision was clear: 'Our tenants need us more than ever. We can do this.'' And so, we did."
While difficult at times to hold staff and tenants accountable to rules, such as staying in their apartments for extended periods, it was necessary to keep everyone safe. Leadership met daily to review new information and continuously updated rules and recommendations to ensure everyone's safety.
Positivity started at the top of the organization and leadership shared that positivity with staff and tenants. They maintained positivity by ensuring the community still felt like a community. They played hallway bingo, musicians performed outside, management played bells in hallways, and staff were gifted with goodies weekly.
Every team member worked tirelessly to ensure tenants remained safe, positivity showed through and, when faced with obstacles, they found their way through them, together.
The story of Shelby Terrace versus COVID is one of relentless commitment to the tenants. Staff put their own physical and mental health on the line to ensure the tenants lived their best possible life during the troubling times of isolation, uncertainty, and fear.
Shelby's staff isolated themselves from their own loved ones, all in the name of a commitment to caring. Some missed holidays and family events, all in the name of serving others first. Some had to take mandatory time off without pay due to COVID exposures and yet they stuck with their jobs because they truly cared about the tenants.
When there was an outbreak in the building, staff put their lives on hold, some working 14 days straight! Vacations were thrown aside as staff served the tenants at a high level.
The staff gave tenants as much 1:1 time as possible despite the challenges of social distancing. Staff ensured tenants' mental health needs were met in addition to their physical health. Staff reported they would go home and cry to themselves, overwhelmed with isolation -- isolation they chose because they are truly heroic and because they are relentlessly committed to the tenants.
St. Elizabeth Manor, CBRF, championed continued efforts to maintain Gold Member status in WCCEAL throughout the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented daily regulatory changes, visitation changes, workforce challenges, and beyond. St. Elizabeth Manor is particularly proud of their ability to continue to admit both laypersons and fulfill the need to admit Dominican Sisters in need of assisted living in the midst of the pandemic realities.
St. Elizabeth Manor is located in Footville, Wisconsin -- a small rural town of less than 800 people. The dedicated staff made up of many area farm families was the key to providing consistent, resident-centered, high-quality care. These staff members sacrificed time caring for their own families including, for some, being always present for their children attending school virtually, to continue to provide their loving care to the residents at St. Elizabeth Manor – residents whom they consider their family.
Water's Edge Assisted Living made it a priority to maintain high quality standards during the three years of COVID restrictions and the continuously changing protocols.
Staff at Water's Edge never laid down best practices but forged ahead despite COVID. They set up a rigorous screening protocol so they could allow family members to visit during the pandemic. They provided frequent updates to keep tenants and families informed. They immediately implemented iPads to keep tenants connected with their families and with their medical team.
During the COVID pandemic, staff discovered that with fewer activities came less movement for the tenants. They quickly turned their awareness to the fact that the tenants were having a decrease in strength and increase in weakness, and fall numbers started to climb. At this point, they held a Falls Kaizen to increase the visibility of fall risk to all caregivers and increase the richness of conversation within their daily staff huddles around falls, with a goal to have a 30% fall reduction. With this implementation, they met and exceeded their goal by cutting their number of falls in half!
WHCA/WiCAL would like to honor and recognize the incredible achievements of Pinnacle Senior Living for their dedication to go above and beyond to provide quality care to their residents. Pinnacle Senior Living continues to exceed the WCCEAL quality improvement initiatives and upholds the values of quality care as demonstrated so effectively by Heather Bruemmer. Some of the criteria considered for this award were: authentic collaboration with a focus to improve outcomes, effective communication that leads to improved quality, going above and beyond the call of duty, sacrificing self for others, leadership & motiving other to achieve something new and better, the presence of constant kindness, caring for others and the small details of their lives, and always placing residents at the forefront for both quality of care and quality of live. Pinnacle Senior Living focuses on person-centered care. Their culture and compassionate approach to care delivers wellness and comfort to nourish their residents’ minds, bodies, and spirits. With high-quality services backed by a team of warmhearted individuals, they are specialists in the art of caring.
DSPN recognizes these organizations for their unwavering commitment to continuous quality improvement and collaboration, kindness, advocacy, and caring for others. We are honored to serve them as members and WCCEAL participants.