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INNOVATIONS IN LONG-TERM CARE QUALITY GRANT UPDATE
January 2010: Currently, work on the project is in its initial phases. Michael Sapp, the architect for the two year remodeling project, has finished the plans and is in the process of sending them to the Illinois Department of Public Health for approval. Once we obtain approval, work on the project will begin. Hitz Home has also put together a committee of staff and residents who will oversee the project. In addition to the $200,000 grand from IDPH, the Deaconess Foundation has awarded Hitz Home a $5,000 grant and the Hitz Home Auxiliary has awarded Hitz Home a $1,000 gift. Both the money from Deaconess and the Auxiliary will go to benefit the project.
HITZ HOME AWARDED $200,000 INNOVATIONS IN LONG-TERM CARE QUALITY GRANT FROM IDPH
November 2009: Hitz Home has officially been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health to help develop skilled nursing home apartments.
Administrator Susan Tudor is very excited to announce this award to the public after having received confirmation from the State last month. Hitz Home is one of 22 nursing homes statewide selected to receive funding, and one of only 2 homes to receive the $200,000 grant. The grant will be funded over a 2 year time period. Marcia Haslett, Executive Director for Hitz Home, and Erica Gilbert, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, worked diligently on this grant proposal. “This is a tremendous opportunity that moves us closer toward changing the culture of Long-Term Care, and we are thankful to IDPH for seeing that Hitz Home’s grant vision was innovative,” stated Erica Gilbert.
The Illinois Department of Public Health awards grants to facilities “that show innovations and measurable improvement in resident care, quality of life, use of technology, or customer satisfaction in a long term care setting.”
The money will be used to convert 11 of the 25 current assisted living apartments to skilled nursing home studio apartments providing normalcy to the life of a resident and his or her family. This remodeling effort will provide more space for the resident along with a sense of ownership in an apartment the resident can call “home.” Medicare and Medicaid certification will be sought for the remodeled apartment area. Michael Sapp, AIA of Environ Architects out of Maryville, IL, will be the architect for the two year remodeling project.
Hitz Home is an active participant in the Culture Change movement and a member of the Southwestern Illinois Pioneer Coalition and the Illinois Pioneer Coalition. The goal of the Culture Change movement is that residents are heard and staff support residents’ wishes and needs in a manner that is directed by the residents no matter how frail or confused they may be in a new home environment.
For further information please contact Marcia Haslett, Executive Director of Hitz Home at (618) 488-2355. Hitz Home is willing to share, train, and present innovations we have achieved in an effort to duplicate Culture Change practices in nursing homes in our area. Some day Culture Change practices will be the norm in all nursing homes as the consumer will demand it.
HITZ HOME FEATURED IN PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Hitz Home has been featured in a Public Service Announcement developed by the Illinois Pioneer Coalition for Culture Change.
Watch PSA
HITZ HOME BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAME SUSAN TUDOR AS NEW ADMINISTRATOR
Alhambra, January 1, 2009: The Board of Directors for Hitz Home, located in Alhambra, Illinois, is pleased to announce the promotion of Susan Tudor to Administrator of Hitz Home.
Susan received her Nursing Home Administrator License in 2008 from College of DuPage. Prior to being promoted to Administrator, Susan worked at Hitz as the financial manager for over 12 years. Susan has resided in the Alhambra area for 14 years and her knowledge of the community, her enthusiasm, and her experience at Hitz are all assets to Hitz. Susan’s goal as administrator for Hitz is to continue with the culture change movement and the mission of Hitz Home.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT HITZ HOME
You may ask yourself “why volunteer” and “why volunteer at Hitz Home?” For starters, volunteering your time gives you the chance to help others, to make a difference, to find a purpose, to feel involved, to meet new people, to find new areas of interest, and so much more. Volunteering for Hitz Home gives you these opportunities in an environment filled with warmth and caring. Hitz Home is a not-for-profit ministry of the United Church of Christ providing services to the elderly since 1952. Hitz Home is located in Alhambra, Illinois. Hitz Home has been on a culture change journey for the past several years in an effort to provide our residents with choices, options, and a sense of achievement each day. We’ve built our home around the needs of the residents and encourage them to make decisions that impact the quality of their lives. Volunteering for Hitz Home’s Activity Department and participating in activities such as bingo, arts and crafts, and more, can provide you with the enjoyment of spending time with our wonderful residents while being part of a home.
Any amount of time you have to volunteer at Hitz is a wonderful contribution to our residents. For more information, please contact Sue Mosby at (618) 488-2355 or you may wish to attend Hitz Home's Key Person Training and Work Day scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. All key people, volunteers, guests, and auxiliary members are invited. Hitz Home's key people are liasons to the United Church of Christ. For the training and work day, participants will be working on making quilts and clothing protectors. Thanks for considering Hitz Home!
LETTER FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Dear Friends,
It is my pleasure to announce that Susan Tudor will become the administrator of Hitz Home effective January 1st 2009. This has been in the planning phase for the last year as I have realized I physically need to cut back. Susan is committed to Hitz truly being home for our residents. I will continue on as Executive Director of the home in an effort to help Susan in any way I can. I will be looking for grants to enhance our services and monitor the Medicaid reimbursement program.
As always Susan and I are available to staff, families and residents.
Sincerely,
Marcia Haslett
NURSES STATION RENOVATION UPDATE
 
The renovation for the nurses' stations is nearly complete for both neighborhoods. There are some minor things to do yet, but Hitz is now able to use the newly renovated areas. Please feel free to make the space your own. The nurses will be working in the area; however, there are no barriers. So feel free to set down and talk, share ideas, and visit with residents and staff in these areas. Hitz wants to see this happening. We hope to have snacks in these areas; so, feel free to help yourself. Hitz wants to see people visiting.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HITZ HOME
RECEIVES SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP
The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM) presented the 2008 Special Award for Exemplary Leadership to Marcia Haslett, Executive Director of Hitz Home, for her transforming dedication to creating a community of care, dignity, respect and freedom. The award was presented to Ms. Haslett at the 70th Annual CHHSM Meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 8, 2008.
Deaconess Foundation of St. Louis, MO, also a member of CHHSM, provided all of the travel arrangements for Marcia and her family to be at the annual meeting and awards ceremony.
Quoted on Marcia's award was the following:
"My life. My choice. My Home. These affirmations, featured in the brochure of Hitz Memorial Home, reflect the pioneering culture change that has made Hitz Home and industry leader in providing care and services to the aging. Re-thinking its values and practices from top to bottom, inside and out, Hitz Home has created a humane environment supporting each resident's life, dignity, rights and freedom. Involving the entire nursing home community--staff, management, residents, families, volunteers, donors and community advocates--Hitz Home has de-institutionalized services and individualized care.
The culture change at Hitz Memorial Home has been inspired and enabled by the vision and boundless energy of Executive Director Marcia Haslett. Marcia joined the Hitz Home staff as social services director in March 1997 and became executive director in June 1998. She assumed her new responsibilities at a particularly challenging time in Hitz Home's history. In addition to addressing a multi-million dollar deficit, Marcia has established resident participation in goal setting and care; enabled resident choice; reorganized, empowered and refocused staff; and created resident staff decision-making committees on food, welcome, death and dying, and marketing. She has designed and implemented resident-centered in-service training; led "learning circles" to tap the wisdom of staff, residents and family members; taught and modeled communication and staff listening skills; welcomed residents' families as part of the community and care team; created a work environment for staff characterized by mutual support and respect; enabled multi-tasking among staff to increase interaction with residents; and utilized the potential of all aspects of the home environment--physical, organizational and psycho/social/spiritual well-being for residents.
Marica Haslett's exemplary service has been acclaimed by the Southwestern Illinois Pioneer Coalition for Culture Change, the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois, and the Illinois Foundation for Quality Healthcare. Recently, WSIU of Carbondale produced a two-part feature story on the culture change at Hitz Home; DVDs of those programs have been sent to every nursing home in Illinois.
Marcia Haslett is a true heroine among Hitz Home residents and staff, professional colleagues, and families that have placed loved ones in her care. With skill and true humility, she has moved through the many difficulties of transitioning from the old to the new, keeping foremost in mind the empowerment of Hitz Home residents. Marcia's commitment, grace, good humor and warmth continually inspire others.
For these reasons and more, CHHSM gratefully honors the faithful service of Marcia Haslett and is pleased to present to her this Special Award for Exemplary Leadership."
Marcia Haslett is an inspirational leader of the Southwestern Illiniois Pioneer Coalition for Culture Change and has set an example for other nursing homes in the area to follow. She is instrumental in promoting the quality of life for every elder.
HITZ HOME FEATURED IN WSIU IN-FOCUS SEGMENT
Hitz Home has been featured in a WSIU InFocus segment that aired on PBS entitled, "Nursing Home Culture Change." The television special explores culture change in nursing care facilities and asks the question, "As we age, what sort of home do we want for ourselves and our loved ones?"
To view the "Nursing Home Culture Change" segments please click on the following link:
Click here
KEY PERSON TRAINING HELD JANUARY 31, 2008
Key Person Training was held January 31, 2008 here at Hitz Home. Key Person Training provides Hitz Home's volunteers with information regarding new things happening here at Hitz, resident rights, confidentiality, disaster prepardness, emergency response procedures, safety procedures and precautions, infection control, and body mechanics. Key Person Training is held once a year and the event is coordinated by Sue Mosby. Hitz Home always welcomes new volunteers. This is a very rewarding opportunity for both you and Hitz Home residents. For more information you may contact Sue Mosby at (618) 488-2355.
HITZ HOME AMONG 21 FACILITIES TO BE SELECTED FOR INCONTINENCE PROJECT
Hitz Home has been selected by Vanderbilt University Center for Quality Aging as one of twenty-one facilities across the United States to participate in its Incontinence Management in Nursing Homes Project. The project runs over a nine month course, with teleconferences every month. For any further questions please contact Sandy Ergle at (618) 488-2355 or via e-mail at sergle@hitzmemorial.com
HITZ HOME AWARDED $50,000 INNOVATIONS IN LONG-TERM CARE QUALITY GRANT FROM IDPH
Marcia Haslett, Nursing Home Administrator, is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2007, the Illinois Department of Public Health awarded Hitz Home a $50,000 Innovations in Long Term Care Quality Grant. Only twelve grants were awarded throughout the state. Marcia Haslett and Erica Gilbert, Director of Marketing and Public Relations worked diligently on this grant proposal. “This is another step toward changing the culture of Long-Term Care, and we are thankful to IDPH for this opportunity” stated Marcia Haslett. Hitz Home’s proposal for the grant is to renovate the nurses’ stations to reflect “Home” by tearing down the barriers between staff, residents, and families. These areas will be re-designed to include a living room and a dining room while still preserving the integrity and privacy of the nurses’ functions. Hitz Home would like these areas to offer more interaction between all while still ensuring privacy. Staff, residents, and families were included in the planning process for this grant. It is Hitz Home’s goal to increase resident, family, and staff satisfaction through this renovation effort. The project will be completed over the course of the next year and is expected to cost a total of $89,900. Hitz Home is a not-for-profit nursing home and is seeking additional funding for this project.
If you are interested in more information on Hitz Home’s plans for renovation, or if you are interested in making a donation for this project, please contact Erica Gilbert, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for HitzHome, at (618) 488-2355.
Pictured from Left to Right are Erica Gilbert, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and Marcia Haslett, Nursing Home Administrator in front of the nurses' station that is soon to be a new living room area for residents.
HITZ HOME PRESENTED LEADERSHIP AWARD
On December 5, 2006 the Area Agency of Aging of Southwestern Illinois presented Hitz Home an award in recognition of our participation in the Boeing Grant Collaboration "Leading the Way in Culture Change." Hitz Home embraces the philosophy and values of culture change and offers residents choices and options in daily living. It is through Hitz Home's true understanding and ongoing communication with residents that has enabled us to become a leader in culture change for the area.
Those interested in learning more about culture change and Hitz Home should call or drop by for a tour.
For more information, contact Marcia Haslett at 488-2355.
HITZ HOME COMMERCIAL
Hitz Home is proud to announce the production of its second commercial. Residents and staff members helped make this excellent commercial to help increase consumers' awareness of Hitz Home. The new commercial will air on Madison Communications Cable Television on the following stations: ESPN, Lifetime, HGTV, TNT, Discovery Channel, and FSN Midwest.
Watch Hitz Home's Newest Commercial
View Hitz Home's February 2010 Newsletter
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