Jewish Senior Living Newsletter APRIL 2016 - VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 Keeping you connected to our communities.
Therapy: Where Success Lives Short-term rehab provides a new lease on life Liz Brach, Donor Stewardship Coordinator Profile of Success: Laurence ‘Larry’ Govin-Matzat March 8, 1976. Larry GovinMatzat remembers this day well. It was the day he put down the cigarette and picked up running. “I’ve done thirty-six triathlons and nine marathons,” said Larry. “And I was president of the Badgerland Striders for two years.” Larry is a long-time athlete and reminisced on his favorite marathon, the beautiful Grandma’s Marathon held in Duluth, Minnesota which runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior. The finish is located in Canal Park, near Grandma’s Restaurant. Seventy-five-year-old Larry is a rehab resident at the Jewish Home and Care Center and has been making a tremendous amount of progress since February 1. “He’s better than he has been in years,” said his wife Stephanie, “they’re doing a great job downstairs in
In This Issue
the therapy department.” Larry came to the Jewish Home and Care Center after experiencing a couple of falls in his home. He was in the emergency room for six days after his last fall, and made the decision to come to the Jewish Home and Care Center for rehabilitation because he and Stephanie knew that this was “a good place with a good reputation and excellent care.” Larry is in physical therapy and occupational therapy five days a week, and also receives aquatic therapy in the pool twice a week with Kari Knox, wellness coordinator. “Larry is extraordinarily motivated,” says Bonnie Johnson, physical therapy assistant. “Without that motivation, he would not be where he is today in accomplishing his therapy goals.” Bonnie went on to say, “and truly this success is a team effort. The nurse’s aides have been wonderful getting him to walk around for meals and keeping
Kari Knox, wellness coordinator, and Larry Govin-Matzat during an aquatic therapy session.
see “Meet Larry,” page 4
Therapy: Where Success Lives
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The Underfunding of Nursing Facility Resident Care, continued...
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Meet John Lawson, SCC Executive Director
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Meet the Therapy Team
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Upcoming Events
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The Underfunding of Nursing Facility Resident Care, continued... Learn how this affects our residents Michael Sattell, President & CEO
I wrote one year ago that the underfunding of Nursing Facilities in Wisconsin is at a critical juncture. It continues to get worse. The 2015 Senate/ Assembly Bill 21, the 2015-17 state budget bill, failed to provide nursing homes with either a Medicaid rate increase or an acuity adjustment. The result has been a $1.36/resident day cut in fiscal 2016 Medicaid rates. So as we struggle to pay a fair wage to our outstanding caregivers, and keep up to date with the latest technologies and aesthetic improvements to provide the best homes possible to our community’s seniors and infirm, a fair reimbursement for quality services provided to those most financially vulnerable has again been neglected in Madison. Wisconsin’s Medicaid nursing home payment system ranks as the 2nd worst in the country (Report on Shortfalls in Medicaid Funding for Nursing Center Care, March 2015, Eljay, LLP and Hansen Hunter & Co, PC). The difference in the total cost of the care that the Jewish Home and Care Center provides has now risen to $114 per day for each Medicaid resident we serve. Private pay residents are essentially helping subsidize part of this shortfall; however
Stay Connected 2 | JSL News | April 2016
the compassionate souls who provide that care? What will the nature of our services become decades from now if this trend does not begin to reverse?
Michael Sattell President & CEO
our Foundation must make up the vast majority of this gap. We are extremely grateful for our community’s ongoing support in recognition of our obligation to honoring our Mothers and our Fathers. And in this continuing underfunded environment we must strive harder than ever to ensure our and our children’s, and our children’s children’s best care be fulfilled regardless of their ability to pay. But how can we continue to provide quality care and fulfill our 110-year-old mission when we are faced with the negative trajectory of this widening gap in receiving fair remuneration to care for our frail elderly when we can barely provide a competitive/living wage to
We have to speak for our residents today, and for our generations to come, and let our elected officials know that we feel strongly about honoring the fifth commandment. We stay in touch with our elected representatives, and if you, too, feel as passionate about this crisis, please join us in speaking out. For a list of legislative contacts, please go to: http://www.leadingagewi.org/ public-policy/elected-officialscontacts. If you would like to discuss this further, please call me at 414-277-8800 or email msattell@jewishseniorliving.org. Thank you for your concern and support of our residents and families, now and forever. Sincerely, Mike
Visit our website and donate online at www.jewishseniorliving.org. Questions? Call the JHCC Foundation Office at 414.721.9255.
Meet the Therapy Team Meet John Lawson, and Chai Point welcome an in-house Sarah Chudnow Community JHCC therapy department L B ,D S C Executive Director iz
Welcome John to our team!
Liz Brach, Donor Stewardship Coordinator Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal. - Walt Disney
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On February 1, the Jewish Home and Care Center’s therapy department was brought in-house after having been on contracted therapy services for a number of years.
John Lawson is no stranger to the “wonderful world of senior healthcare.” With more than 20 years in the industry, he has expertise in regulatory compliance, strategic visioning, sales/marketing, and financial analysis.
The new in-house Therapy Department is comprised of fourteen staff members and is led by Rehab Director Badieh Karps. Staff includes: two registered occupational therapists, two certified occupational therapy assistants, two registered physical therapists, two physical therapy assistants, two speech therapists, two rehab technicians, and one wellness coordinator.
“I have a true understanding of the Sarah Chudnow Community’s campus, and it being a full continuum of care. I know that my past success in building census and initiating new programs will benefit SCC,” states John.
Specialty services include: lymphedema certification, kinesio-taping, balance and falls management, home safety assessments and the current treatment protocols of many debilitating conditions and progressive disorders.
His familiarity with SCC is not from afar. In early 2016, John took on the understudy role as Sarah Chudnow Community’s interim executive director; he accepted the permanent role at the end of February. His previous professional roles include being a consultant with Pathway Health and COO at Three Pillars Senior Living Communities. Preparation for these roles consisted of a BA in Sociology from Indiana University and a Master of Health Administration from St. Joseph’s College in Maine.
Stay tuned to learn more about our therapy team in coming issues! n
Michael Sattell, president and CEO said, “We are so fortunate that John has joined our team. His intelligence, experience, and warmth endeared him to our whole community.” His warmth is also evident in his adventures outside the SCC grounds. Among his favorites are camping
The JHCC therapy team during the neon-themed open house in early March.
see “Meet John Lawson” page 5
JSL in the News
Richard Edelman, the sculptor who created the “To Life” sculpture in front of Chai Point, received the Frank L. Weil Award. --> goo.gl/jLjajD April 2016 | JSL News | 3
Meet Larry continued from page 1
him inspired. He continues to make progress every day and remains upbeat and positive. We’ve even gotten Larry to the point where he’s doing stairs!” Stephanie said, “Dr. Mateo [medical director at the Jewish Home and Care Center] and the therapy department saved his life.”
“This success is a team effort...He continues to make progress every day and remains upbeat and positive,” says Bonnie Johnson, physical therapy assistant.
Larry continues to improve every day and has high hopes to return to his house in Cambridge Woods where he lives with his wife Stephanie and their handsome Australian Cattle dog, Dexter.
Social Media 4| JSL News | April 2016
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Update: Since this article was written, Larry has gone home! Larry made significant progress, and went home on Friday, March 25. Larry will continue to come to the Jewish Home and Care Center’s Therapy Department for outpatient care twice per week. Congratulations, Larry! If you are interested in learning more about our therapy department, call 414.277.8846. n
Jewish Home and Care Center
JHCC Foundation
Don’t Change Your Dishes… Change Your Address
John Lawson chatting with residents in Posner Town Square
Meet John Lawson continued from page 3
with his son, volunteering with the Boy Scouts in Delafield and frequent excursions to Disney World, so much so that he can’t even put a number to the number of visits. In fact, before starting full time as the executive director at Sarah Chudnow Community, John and his wife had one more adventure visiting Mickey, Minnie and the cast of characters at Disney World. He hopes to bring some of the Disney vision to SCC, including setting a high standard of excellence and maintaining that high standard; commitment to positive, inclusive ideas about family; and dedication to honor and decency. * “Having previous work experience in other faithbased organizations, I find it important to be part of a mission driven organization,” says John. “I am honored to join the Sarah Chudnow Community. It is an organization with an excellent vision, and most importantly, it has the resources to accomplish that vision.” n *Reference: http://disneycareers.com/en/working-here/culture-diversity/
Stay at the Sarah Chudnow Community for Passover. For one price, your beautiful apartment will include all your meals plus participation in the two Passover seders with our residents. You’ve always wanted to see what it would be like to live here...Now you can! For special pricing call Connie Eastman at 262-478-1500. Just joining us for seder? $18.50 for adults, $9 for children. Reservations required by April 11. Please drive past the Health Center to the Apartments. 10995 N. Market St., Mequon, WI 53092 262-478-1500 info@sarahchudnow.org SarahChudnow.org Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter @jsliving
In the May issue... • National Nursing Home Week at JHCC and SCC • Meet Scott Bergin, Controller
The Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial support to the programs and services of the Jewish Home and Care Center, Chai Point Senior Living and Sarah Chudnow Community. April 2016 | JSL News | 5
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 3120
1414 North Prospect Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202-3089 Phone: 414-276-2627
Upcoming Events “Designs of Our Lives” Series Fashion on the Runway by Fashion Design program at Art Institute of Wisconsin students Thursday, April 14, 6:45 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion Lisa Jansen, Zimmerman Architectural Studios Topic: Trends in Interior Design Thursday, April 21, 3:00 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion Homestead String Orchestra Friday, April 15, 9:00 am Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square Bible Women with Rabbi Steven Adams Topic: Ruth Monday, April 18, 3:00 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square
Songstress Julie Thompson Wednesday, April 20, 2:30 pm Sarah Chudnow Community, Posner Town Square Jewish History Journey with Rabbi Steven Adams 20th Century: Zionism, Rise of US Jewry, WWII, Israeli Monday, April 25, 2:45 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion James Slauson, Art History Professor at MIAD Topic: Romanticism Thursday, April 28, 1:30 pm Chai Point Senior Living, Rubenstein Pavilion
Visit www.jewishseniorliving.org for updated activities.