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like making jewelry, or quilting, that helps our Residents realize they still have a ... Zearing Resident's enjoy daily devotions, exercise classes, “brain” games to ...
The Zearing Communicator

Visit our website at www.zearinghealthcarecenter.com

November 2013

New Life Enrichment Director Learning Residents Life Stories… One at a Time One of the most important things a facility can offer Residents, in addition to excellent care, is a Life Enrichment Program that will provide different levels of opportunities for social interaction, adventures to explore new things like autumn sightseeing, fishing, trips to local stores, and helping Residents develop and nurture new relationships.

New Life Enrichment Director, Jenny Davis, talking to Zearing Health Care Center Residents as they make jewelry.

“We feel it’s vital when we have new Resident’s come to our facility to make them feel welcome, relaxed and at home. Introducing them to other Resident’s and encouraging them to join in activities, even if it’s just watching, is a good way to help them get off to a great start,” says Shelly Thompson, Community Liaison Director for Zearing Health Care Center. “That’s why we were so excited when Jenny joined our team as the Life Enrichment Director, because she shares the same goals for the Residents. She wants them to feel safe, comfortable, and excited that each day there will be something fun and even possibly a little adventurous,” adds Shelly. “I enjoy working with all types of people, but have a passion for seniors. They are the national treasures of our country whether they are in a large city or a small community like Zearing,” says Jenny. “I enjoy seeing their faces when they learn something new

have a good memory baking a traditional holiday item such as Pumpkin Bread, or discovering they can do things for others like making jewelry, or quilting, that helps our Residents realize they still have a lot to contribute to the lives of others,” states Jenny. With the addition of the Zearing Shuttle a few months ago, Residents are enjoying regular outings for shopping, fishing, sightseeing, or whatever they decide they would like to do. Zearing Resident’s enjoy daily devotions, exercise classes, “brain” games to help cognition and memory, different musical groups, baking, bowling, Bingo, crafts, sewing (one of our Resident’s, Norma, knits the pink and blue caps for new babies at Mary Greeley Medical Center and donates them), jewelry making, various crafts, several church services, and many other activities to enrich their lives and often the lives of others (see page 2). “I am enjoying learning about their lives. Being a smaller facility, it’s more of a family environment. Every Resident has a story and I am getting to know each of their life’s story… one at a time,” concludes Jenny.

Enriching activities that build relationships, Private Suites, Complimentary Wi-Fi and Shuttle Service, Main Street Café or private in-room dining…Zearing Health Care Center a great place to call home! Want to learn more? Contact Shelly Thompson at 515-745-0476.

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Zearing Health Care Center, 404 East Garfield, Zearing, IA

Phone 641-487-7631

Zearing Health Care Center to Implement INTERACT Program INTERACT (Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers) is a quality improvement program that focuses on the management of acute change in resident condition. It includes clinical and educational tools and strategies for use in every day practice in long-term care and skilled rehab facilities. While Zearing Health Care Center already monitors change in conditions and performs Grand Rounds on patients daily through our nursing assessments and programs, INTERACT provides additional components and measurement tools to capture data for QA review. Implementation of INTERACT will reduce the frequency of potentially avoidable transfers to the acute hospital. Unnecessary transfers can result in numerous complications due to hospitalization, and billions of dollars in unnecessary health care expenditures.

Zearing Health Care Center offers                 

24 hour skilled nursing care Medication Administered by Licensed Personnel Private Suites Restorative Programs Long-Term Nursing Care Hospice Care Respite Care Post-Surgical Care Pain Management Wound Care Treatment Daily Meals and Snacks Activities and Programs that encourage social interaction Beauty Salon and Barber Services Housekeeping and Linen Services Religious Services that are Multi-Denominational Wi-Fi Computer for Residents Main Street Café Dining Room

For a tour or more information contact Shelly Thompson at 515745-0476.

By utilizing all INTERACT tools even a slight change in condition is noted and monitored closely. A plan for further evaluation including monitoring, frequent checks, hydration therapy, obtaining labs or other diagnostic studies, in-depth physical assessment, can all be utilized. These steps will prevent symptoms from progressing into more serious illnesses and requiring hospitalization. Zearing Health Care Center currently has an 8% rehospitalization rate, which is well below the national average (for all patients and all diagnoses) of 20%, reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare-only patients) for the period 4/1/12 through 3/31/13. Zearing has already started implementing INTERACT and will add additional components and staff training in the coming months.

Thank You

When Dale Burginger’s mother, Ora Burginger, passed away he was so happy with the care she received while at Zearing Health Care Center, he donated a beautiful bench to the facility in her honor. The cement bench has a plaque bearing her name and is located in our courtyard. What a loving tribute to Ora and the nursing team who cared for her at Zearing Health Care Center. Thank you, Dale, for the privilege of providing care to your mother.

Helping Hands at Zearing Health Care Center Provides Hope and Warmth Getting together with friends to quilt is always fun, but it’s even more enjoyable when there is someone who will benefit from each loving stitch that is done. Several Residents at Zearing Health Care Center get together and sew quilts. While they sit and chat over each stitch, they are sewing together a future of hope for the lucky recipient of their loving efforts. Once completed the quilts are donated to a local shelter for women and children. Full size quilts are made for the women and smaller quilts for the children. For many, these are the first hand quilted gifts that they have ever received. To the recipient’s the quilts become symbols of hope and are cherished possessions. A new bright “blanket” given to the children gives them a special treasure to hold onto. The Zearing ladies enjoy doing the quilts, because they know that they are making a difference in the lives of others and it gives them a tremendous sense of purpose, proving that you can always help others, even if your home is a long term care center. They know that their contribution is valuable in the life of another person by providing hope and warmth to someone in need on a cold Iowa winters night.

Several Resident’s get together to make quilts for the women’s and children’s shelter. Pictured left to right, Kathy Gooding, Residents Norma, Doris, and Betty.

View our Blog at www.zearingheatlhcarecenter.com to see photos of our Resident’s making Pumpkin Bread to be distributed in the community!

Zearing Health Care Center…WE GO THE DISTANCE!