Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Irene Jerrow
Ecumen honors Irene Jerrow, a resident of Ecumen Pathstone Living, who is 100.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Erma Lefebvre
Ecumen honors Erma Lefebvre, a resident of Ecumen Bethany Community, who is 100.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 100th Birthday Evelyn LeSuer
Ecumen honors Evelyn LeSuer, a resident of Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria, who is 100.
Ecumen Bethany Nurse Awarded First Ecumen Scholars Hiring/Retention Incentive Program Payout
From The Echo Press in Alexandria
Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria recently handed out the first award through its Ecumen Scholars program. The program is a workforce development partnership between Ecumen and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) to help address a shortage of senior care nurses in rural areas.
Mary Moore, who recently celebrated her first-year anniversary as a nurse at Ecumen Bethany Community, received a $2,000 bonus as a participant in the Ecumen Scholar program. She was awarded her practical nursing diploma in December 2014 from Alexandria Technical and Community College, where she qualified as an Ecumen Scholar.
Ecumen Scholars are eligible for financial bonus payments when they complete their clinical rotations, fellowship or internship with Ecumen and are hired in a full-time LPN or RN position at an eligible Ecumen rural site within one year of graduation.
Bonus payments are awarded at the one-year, three-year, five-year and 10-year anniversaries of the start date. Amounts increase at each of these anniversary years, totaling up to $20,000.
“Ecumen believes in hiring and investing in dedicated, passionate people like Mary Moore who make our communities great places to live and work,” said Deb Buker, Director of Nursing at Ecumen Bethany Community. “The Ecumen Scholars program is a great way for students to learn about long-term care while advancing their careers.”
For more information about the Ecumen Scholars go to ecumenscholars.org.
Santa Gets a Speeding Ticket in Alexandria and Ecumen Bethany Community Is Helping Him Pay
Santa gets in trouble in Alexandria, and it's all on video.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 102nd Birthday Eldora Clark
Ecumen honors Eldora Clark, who is 102.
Born: Nov. 12, 1913, near Kensington, Minn.
Residence: Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria, Minn.
Hobbies/Interests: Avid Minnesota Twins fan. Watching old movies and TV shows. She especially likes Shirley Temple and Abbott and Costello movies and TV shows such as “I Love Lucy,” “Andy of Mayberry,” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
Family: Married to Lawrence, now deceased, for 60 years. Two children and four grandchildren.
Occupation: Homemaker and helping with the family farm and worked in retail sales after moving to town, mainly in women’s clothing.
Secrets of Longevity: Staying interested in things, enjoying life and maintaining good health.
Interesting Facts: Her mother died when she was 9 years old, and Eldora moved to Alexandria at age 14. She worked her way through high school. She enjoyed dancing and bowling. At age 65 she learned to play golf and several years later learned how to play bridge.
Congratulations on your 102nd birthday, Eldora! Ecumen honors you.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 105th Birthday Lillian Oberg
Ecumen honors Lillian Oberg, a resident of Ecumen Bethany Community, who is 105.
Ecumen Bethany Community Gets Medicare’s Highest 5-Star Quality Rating
The Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria, Minn., has received the highest possible overall quality rating of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).
The quality rating system ranges from 1 to 5 stars, with a 5-star rating given to nursing homes that offer exceptional care to their residents. The Five-Star Quality Rating System is based on health inspections, staffing data (the number of hours of care provided to each resident by nursing staff), and quality measures (how well a nursing home cares for residents’ physical and clinical needs).
The Ecumen Bethany Community is the only care center in an almost 25-mile radius to receive 5 Stars.
“It is a major achievement to receive the 5-Star Quality Rating,” said David Uselman, Executive Director of the Ecumen Bethany Community. “The rating is expert validation of the exceptional care we provide. This is one of the highest compliments our outstanding staff can receive.”
CMS created the rating system to provide residents and their families with an easy way to understand and compare quality and simplify decisions around choosing a care center. All nursing homes nationwide are rated annually. Five stars is considered “much above average” and only a quarter of care centers in Minnesota received this rating. The CMS Nursing Home Compare website is at this link.
The Ecumen Bethany Community, located at 1020 Lark Street, Alexandria, has been serving seniors in the Alexandria area for more than 97 years. In addition to providing nursing home and short-stay rehabilitation care, Ecumen Bethany also offers adult day services, assisted living, memory care, independent living and home care. For more information call 320-762-1567 or visit www.ecumenbethany.org.
Ecumen Blogger Jim Klobuchar Recognized for His Role in Minnesota’s Biking Craze
Readers of the Changing Aging blog probably know that our renowned blogger Jim Klobuchar is a bike enthusiast. But there’s a lot more to the story.
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Delight the Ecumen Bethany Community
While in Alexandria, Minn., for the River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain Tour, members of The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers performed at Ecumen Bethany Community in the chapel.