innovate empower honor INSIDER …webnet.ecumen.org/News/2010Insider/2010February.pdf · in Minneapolis. For the full story, check the ... in her care plan, ... Be multilingual –

INSIDERINSIDERBuilding the Ecumen Brand

athrynK

Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER February 2010

Welcome to a new decade andanother step in our work of ChangingAging – updating our brand identityacross Ecumen.

Integral to creating one of the mostrecognizable names in senior services andexpanding our reputation for innovation,empowerment and honor, is enhancing ourbrand identity.

By the end of our 150th Anniversary year in2012, all Ecumen-owned sites will sharethis updated logo, which was developed bya cross-organizational brand identity workteam in 2009. Over the next three years,Ecumen will become the primary name bywhich all Ecumen-owned operations areknown.

Kathryn RobertsEcumen president

and CEO

What’s Next?

Our communications team is now planninglogistics for re-branding five to sevenlocations this year plus the Home Office.Outdoor signage, marketing materials,stationery and our web presence will allbe updated with the new graphic system.More information and examples of thenew brand identity will be on display atthe Operations Leadership meeting inShoreview in March, along with ananticipated timeline for rolling out thenew system across Ecumen communities.If you have questions before then, pleasecontact Andrea McDonald Marboe [email protected]. We’veembarked on an exciting decade aswe continue the good work underway,expand Ecumen, and bring our services tomore people.

innovate empower honor

About the Design

The cross-Ecumen work team that developed this logo included Eric Schubert,Debbie Manthey, Janet Green, Judy Hulterstrum, Sue Ferguson,Amy Morris, Andrea Nye, Julie Murray and Lisa Fowler. They empoweredthe “Ecumen” logo person by freeing it from the box that surrounded it. Its freshgreen color illustrates life and vitality, and the updated text conveys boldness andstrength.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!THURSDAY, MAY 202010 ECUMENLEADERSHIPCONFERENCE

OUR MISSIONWe create home for older

adults wherever theychoose to live.

OUR VISION FOR “Changing Aging”

We envision a world in which aging is viewed

and understood inradically different ways.

* SERVICE

* PEOPLE

* INNOVATION

* SPIRITUALITY

* WELLNESS

* COLLABORATION

* STEWARDSHIP

OUR VALUES

2010201020102010FebruaryFebruaryFebruary

innovate empower honor

22222 Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER February 2010 innovate empower honor

I am delighted to be pulling together thefirst Ecumen Insider of the year, withso many exciting things going on acrossthe company to talk about. And I’m happyto have joined such a supportive,forward-looking organization as Ecumen.Special thank you to Linda Oelker, whodoes a fantastic job of designing thisnewsletter.

What I’d really like to know is,are you getting the informationyou want in the Insider? Arethere stories about the goodwork that happens in yourcommunity every day that we’remissing?

I’d like to hear from you – yourstory ideas, photo opportunities,honors and awards, interestingcustomer profiles – anythoughts you have that couldmake the Insider morerelevant and meaningful for youand your colleagues.

Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone, oremail me, when you think of anythingyou’d like to share with the rest of theEcumen organization. I welcome yourcall!

Warm regards –

Andrea McDonald MarboeStrategic Communications [email protected]

theInsideInsiderInsiderInsiderInsiderInsider

I’d like to hearfrom you – your

story ideas, photoopportunities,

honors and awards,interesting

customer profiles ...

... are you getting theinformation you want?

I welcome your call!Andrea

651-766-4433andreamarboe @ecumen.org

Greetings!

Each Ecumen team member has stories.Each person we serve has stories.And together we’re creating the

Ecumen story.“The Power of Stories”

is the theme of this year’sEcumen Leadership Conference

to be held Thursday, May 20thin Brooklyn Center.

Speakers will includeKathryn Roberts; Rick Stone,acclaimed author and pioneer in

unleashing the power of stories; andone of Minnesota’s all-time best

storytellers, the legendary Star Tribune columnist and

Ecumen blog contributor Jim Klobuchar.

Look for more detailsin the coming months.

Mark Your Calendar!

Thursday, May 20Thursday, May 20

2010 EcumenLeadershipConference



May 20

Ecumen INSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDERINSIDER February 2010 33333innovate empower honor

Mary Cordts,

administrator atEcumen PEcumen PEcumen PEcumen PEcumen Parmly LifeParmly LifeParmly LifeParmly LifeParmly LifePointesointesointesointesointes,

was awarded the prestigiousKal Michels Administrator Leadership AwardKal Michels Administrator Leadership AwardKal Michels Administrator Leadership AwardKal Michels Administrator Leadership AwardKal Michels Administrator Leadership Award

at the February 2010Annual Aging Services InstituteAnnual Aging Services InstituteAnnual Aging Services InstituteAnnual Aging Services InstituteAnnual Aging Services Institute

in Minneapolis.For the full story, check the

“NewsNewsNewsNewsNews” section at Ecumen.orgEcumen.orgEcumen.orgEcumen.orgEcumen.org

Rose Lenzner, formerly leader of Ecumen’sBoardman Meadows community, was recentlynamed “Member of the Year” by the NewRichmond (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce forher tireless dedication as a volunteer. Rose hasrecently relocated to Hutchinson as the housingmanager of The Oaks and The Pinescommunities, after seven years of service andcommunity participation in New Richmond.

New RichmondNew RichmondNew RichmondNew RichmondNew RichmondChamber ofChamber ofChamber ofChamber ofChamber ofCommerceCommerceCommerceCommerceCommerceHonorsHonorsHonorsHonorsHonors

Rose LenznerRose LenznerRose LenznerRose LenznerRose Lenzner

Ecumen team members

receive

awardsawardsawardsawardsawards


By Eva Lanigan, RNResident Care CoordinatorSunrise Home, Two Harbors

When I began working at Sunrise in 2008,I had no idea that not only had I gainedemployment, but would soon become partof a wonderful family. As Resident CareCoordinator, I have the opportunity toengage and observe the daily lives of myfellow care providers as well as residentsat Sunrise.

Sunrise is a very “family-like”environment, the atmosphere feels likehome, and even though they live in anursing home, the residents are very mucha part of the Two Harbors community.Still, there were some residents who Inoticed had that “nursing home” look:quiet, not engaged, not making choices intheir own lives.

In reviewing residents’ psychosocial well-being, including medications they weretaking, I discovered many who were takingantipsychotic medications without adiagnosis that would indicate theirnecessity. I determined to aim for zero-useof antipsychotic medications amongresidents who didn’t “need” them.

With the help and support of residents’primary physicians, and geriatricpsychiatrist Tracy Tomac, MD, we beganto wean residents off of their antipsychoticmedications. We began the work in June2009.

Since last June, Sunrise has eliminated theuse of antipsychotics among all residents,and the use of antidepressants hasdecreased by 30 to 50 percent. By alsoemploying non-pharmaceutical(behavioral) interventions, the entireculture at Sunrise has changed.

Before the project, Sunrise was a relativelyquiet place: several residents preferred tostay in bed all day and others sometimesheld a far-off, vacant look. Today, it is notuncommon to walk into Sunrise at anygiven time and see a large group ofresidents playing a rousing game of balloonvolleyball in the dining room or see staffbringing residents to exercise class. Whatwas once a quiet facility is now bustlingwith activity.

Staff involvement, support andcoordination have been key, as has familyinvolvement, in successfully weaningresidents off of their antipsychotic meds.All staff, including those fromhousekeeping and laundry, are engagedwith residents in doing meaningfulactivities, regularly taking them on walks,playing games, exercising, and doing otheractivities. Residents seem to be more“awake” and engaged in their community,expressing their opinions about makingdaily life choices.

In addition to improving our residents’quality of life, employees have expressedgreat satisfaction with the project – afeeling of empowerment in how theyprovide care and the difference they aremaking in the lives of residents every day.

They also describe a significant boost inresidents’ family support, with an increasein attendance at care conferences, familyinvolvement, and interest expressed intheir loved ones’ lives.

Because of the success of the Sunriseinitiative, we are excited to work with theEcumen Foundation on a grant proposalto the Minnesota Department of HumanServices to fund similar efforts at carecenters across the company. If funded, thegrant could total more than $5 million. Wewill know if we’ve been funded by the endof March.

Eva Lanigan

Innovation

at Sunrise

“Residents seemto be more‘awake’ and

engaged in theircommunity,

expressing theiropinions about

making daily lifechoices. “

Eva LaniganEva LaniganEva LaniganEva LaniganEva Lanigan


Sylvia was the first teacher’s aidehired at the local high school, whereshe shared her gifts and talents withcountless students throughout herlong career. She had been enjoyingretirement with her husband Jackfor more than 20 years when, inDecember 2007, she was struck witha devastating neurological disorder.Sylvia lost the full use of her legs,and spent over a week at the hospitalwhile doctors worked to diagnose andresolve her condition. From thehospital, Sylvia was transferred toa transitional care center for somerehabilitation before moving intoSunrise in early 2008.

MeetSylvia

“Mary also takesgood care of myspecial diet needs... My meals arequite tasty evenwith my foodrestrictions.”

Greg Hawthorne(maintenance) wentthe extra mile tohelp her set up hernew television ...

“It’s really amazing how she’scome back to life, even reachingout to people,” ... son Mike

Says Sylvia,“I think myfavorite thing is exerciseclass!”

Mike also described how Sylvia wantedto specially thank several of the Sunrisestaff this Christmas. In particular, Sylviahas said how grateful she is for the wayGreg Hawthorne (maintenance) wentthe extra mile to help her set up her newtelevision, and for Mary Ault (nutritionservices) who saw her struggle withcups and bowls and found some adaptivedishes for her to make dining easier.“Mary also takes good care of myspecial diet needs,” says Sylvia. “Mymeals are quite tasty even with my foodrestrictions.”

“Those were dark days,” says Sylvia’sson Mike. “Mom was very down,emotionally, and there didn’t seem to beanything we could do to raise herspirits.” In fact, according to ResidentCare Coordinator Eva Lanigan, Sylviaspent most of her time in bed, didn’twant to talk with anyone or even watchtelevision. Eva reviewed Sylvia’s casehistory and felt that with a few changesin her care plan, including weaning heroff an anti-psychotic and severalpsychotropic drugs she was taking,Sylvia might just be able to regain someof her inner vitality and spirit.

“It’s really amazing how she’s comeback to life, even reaching out topeople,” remarks Mike. Says Sylvia,“I think my favorite thing is exerciseclass!” Oh yeah, Sylvia’s way out ofbed these days!!

Sunrise Home resident Sylvia Kuchtahas spent her long life in Two Harbors.


Velocity team membersCarol Kvidt,Shelly Cornish,Scott Riddle,Colleen Anderson

Participants in Ecumen’s Velocity LeadershipDevelopment program kicked off 2010 with a visit to3M, located on Innovation Boulevard in Saint Paul.Alex Cirillo, a scientist, leader of 3M’s foundation andformer CEO of 3M Canada, led a discussion oninnovation. One of Alex’s key points is that innovationis a “contact sport,” meaning collaboration – regularworking contact among colleagues and with others –makes innovation the best it can be. Here are Alex’sfurther reflections on innovation:

Velocity Participants Visit“Innovation Boulevard”

Velocity Update 10 Insights on Innovationfrom Alex Cirillo

1. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.(3M has the capability to make a couch come outof a Swiss Army knife. So what?)

2. Resign yourself to the fact that there isno such thing as a LTQF (long-term quick fix).

3. Be multilingual – this doesn’t mean knowforeign languages, but be able to speak withother areas of your company/world, shareknowledge, build collaboration.

4. Be clear about the context in which you’reworking. (Fish swimming in a fishbowl mightthink they’re in the Atlantic Ocean and thebiggest fish in the world. They’re missing thecontext.)

5. Keep your perspective.

6. Know when to think in Black and White andwhen to think in Color. (Oftentimes simple isthe very best.)

7. The thing you should work hardest at is tobuild confidence in your people. Innovation is a“contact sport,” people have to be confident incollaborating and working with others.

8. Be a teacher.

9. Be personally committed to making yourselfand those around you excited about innovating.

10. Be positive, open to change and hungry tolearn.


Congratulationsto our customersand colleagues inAlexandria onpersuading theCity Council to letresidents keeptheir golf carts!!

More Advocacy Success: Go towww.advocacy.ecumen.org

-or- visit the “advocacy” areaat www.ecumen.org.

Changing Aging Advocacy Network

State Representative Kent Eken, Representative Paul Marquart and Senator Rod Skoe who participated in a recent legislative forum at Ecumen in Detroit Lakes.

Join Ecumen’s Changing Aging Advocacy Network and help share the Ecumen story with policymakers.It’s easy! And it impacts our work and future!

Join Ecumen’sChanging Aging Advocacy Network


PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, FRONT ROW: Travis Peddera, Pope Architects; Ward Isaacson, Pope Architects; Dana Wollschlager,Ecumen; Sandy Bensen, NCHS; Martha Ferden, WindSong’s first tenant; Sylvia Wildgen, NCHS; BACK ROW: Steve Ordahl,Ecumen; Paul Hanson, NCHS; FAR RIGHT: Jim Golden, Kraus-Anderson; Adam Suomala, Aging Services of Minnesota

Ecumen has developed for NorthCountry Health Servicesenvironmentally friendly senior housingthat could become one of the country’sfew LEED-certified senior housingdevelopments. Ecumen’s Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Designsubmission for the WoodsEdgecommunity in Bemidji is being reviewednow by the national LEED Council.

By Dana Wollschlager Director of Real Estate Development

Ecumen Builds Green

The new WoodsEdge of NorthCountry residences include:

Windsong at WoodsEdge –housing with services (80 units)

Trillium at WoodsEdge –memory care housing withservices (27 units)

The new residences opened November 19,2009 and connect with Neilson Placecare center, also of North Country HealthServices. The community gathered tocelebrate at an open house on Sunday,December 6, beginning with a dedicationceremony.


To visitors and residents, some of the most obvious reuse-recycle aspectsof the development are the cleverly re-purposed elements in the artworkand décor. The entrance lobby features a sculpture made from an oldbarn door and the wooden grain elevator from an antique threshingmachine.

Benches alongthe windows areparts containersthat were used inthe John Deereparts factory. Thetop of the bench isre used tin ceilingtiles and coppersalvage. The partin the middle is anold gasoline pumpfrom a gas stationto hold magazinesand readingmaterials.

Ecumen Builds GreenWoodsEdge of North Country

Ecumen’s business development team is onthe move in 2010 with several new projects:

Worthington Meadows, Minnesota – We’ve added 42 catered living apartments and transformed 14 assisted living studios

to memory care suites. When completed in spring 2010, the Meadows will have

108 units: 52 assisted living; 42 catered living; 14 memory care.

Tabitha Health Services, Lincoln, Nebraska –We’ve secured an agreement with Tabitha,

another ELCA-affiliated company, to develop a63-unit memory care, assisted living project.

Financing is expected to close andconstruction to begin in

first quarter 2010.

The Seasons of Apple Valley, Minnesota –We’ve purchased this 134-unit senior housing

project, with construction beginningthis month. The Seasons will have

106 independent and assisted livingapartments, 14 memory care and

14 enhanced care suites. The campuswill also include multiple dining areas,

a chapel, movie theater, card andgame rooms, creative arts studio,

exercise and wellness center, and many other special amenities.

It is scheduled to open in spring of 2011.

The Seasons of Maplewood, Minnesota –We’ve secured the management and marketing

contracts for The Seasons of Maplewood,currently under construction and scheduled

to open late August 2010. There will be150 units, including 120 independent

and assisted living apartments,15 memory care and

15 enhanced care suites.

What’s Cookin’?Ecumen Business

Development UpdateBy Stephanie Gibson, Executive

Assistant of Business Development


By Ellen Schneider,Human ResourcesBusiness Consultant

For the past five years in a row, Ecumenhas been named one of Minnesota’s “BestPlaces To Work” by Minneapolis/St. PaulBusiness Journal.

Does it feel good to be considered one ofthe state’s best places to work? You bet.

Does that mean we don’t need to keepasking employees for their input andopinion about Ecumen, the work we do,and the way we do it? Nope. Everyone’sexperience matters, and we want to hearfrom you!

During April, all employees will be offeredthe opportunity to complete the 2010Employee Engagement survey.

“We Hear You!”

A few examples of things that happenedas a result of the last employeeengagement survey (2008):

Focus groups were conducted with afew communities for additional feedback.

Suggestion Boxes were revived at afew sites.

An “Employee Council” was formedat one community to share experiences,identify concerns, offer solutions, andplan employee events.

One site created a new employeebreak area.

Another site provided computers inareas for employees to access theEcumen Intranet for the InnovationStation, SEA, benefit enrollment, etc.

Department meetings haveoccurred more frequently.

As a company, we are hoping for a highpercent of employee responses – in thiscase, MORE IS BETTER! Watch for surveyinformation at your location toward the endof March …

Employee Engagement Survey:“We Hear You!”

When a family member is facing aserious medical condition there are manyimportant considerations, including howto best care for him or her. Ecumenrecognizes the strain that this kind ofsituation creates, and we are committedto providing support for employeesexperiencing this challenge.

Caregiver Leave provides employeeswith paid and/or unpaid leave for thepurpose of caring for a family memberwith serious medical needs. Theintention of this program is to honoremployees and their families with thetime necessary to be able to focus onrecovery and healing.

Half of all Ecumen sites provided

Caregiver Leave to employees in2009. Ecumen provided a total of 1,853paid hours to employees who took timeoff to care for a family member. “We’reproud of our commitment to employeesand feel honored to provide the supportneeded during such a difficult situation,”says Robin Dunbar, Vice President ofHuman Resources.

Human Resources –Benefits that Matter:

Caregiver Leave

“We’re proud ofour commitmentto employeesand feel honoredto provide thesupport neededduring such adifficult situation.”

Robin Dunbar, Vice President ofHuman Resources


The 2009 Ecumen Employee GivingCampaign was a phenomenal success!Ecumen employees took the challenge to“Be A Be A Be A Be A Be A SuperheroSuperheroSuperheroSuperheroSuperhero” to heart, pledginga record-breaking $63,000 for 2010 insupport of critical needs, their localEcumen community, our FamilyHelping Family program, and charitiesof their choice. Last year (2009), employeegiving totaled nearly $40,000, all of whichwas directed at the Family Helping Familyprogram.

Recognizing the importance of the FamilyHelping Family program, Ecumen pledgedto match all contributions to this fund upto $25,000. Employees responded withsuperhero generosity, pledging more than$20,000 to Family Helping Family, for amatched total of more than $40,000.

Signe Burkhardt had 35 percent employeeparticipation, Heritage Living Center had40 percent participation, and St. Mark’sLutheran Home had 20 percent participation.

CongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulations again to thesecommunities and employees, andsincere thanks for their generosity!

SuperheroSuperheroSuperheroSuperheroSuperhero kudos to our winningcommunities, in categories accordingto number of employees:

Signe Burkhardt in Minneapolis (less than 20 employees),

Heritage Living Center in ParkRapids (100 to 200 employees), and

St. Mark’s Lutheran Home inAustin (more than 200 employees).

SSSSSuuuuupepepepeperrrrrhhhhheeeeerrrrrooooo

And The Numbers Are IN!

2009 Employee Giving CampaignBy Amy Morris, Ecumen Foundation

The 2010 Ecumen GivingCampaign will kick off onSeptember 8. If you are

interested in serving on theplanning committee or as a

site coordinator, pleasecontact me at

651-766-4336 or [email protected]


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Visit the Cyber Storevia webnet

- or -www.ecumencyberstore.org

Ecumen Insider

Published quarterly, EcumenInsider provides an inside lookat the people and places thatmake up Ecumen.

We welcome your comments,stories, ideas and feedback.To contribute, please contactAndrea Marboe, Ecumen’sstrategic communications manager,at [email protected] 651-766-4433.

Editor: Andrea McDonald MarboeDesign and Production: Linda Oelker

Sign Up for EcumenBlog UpdatesGet news updates from around our profession andEcumen, and share your comments, at the Ecumen“Changing Aging” blog. To sign up for updates:

1. Go to www.ecumen.org2. Click on the “Changing Aging” blog icon.3. You’ll arrive at the blog page. Click on the

subscription link on the right.4. Enter your email address. And you’re ready

to start receiving updates.

Sign up for Ecumen’s advocacy network.We’d like to grow this network far beyondthe 200 members we have today. As amember, you’ll receive updates on publicaffairs issues impacting our mission andvision and easy ways to share our story andadvocate for Ecumen’s work withpolicymakers.

Join Ecumen’s

To sign up, go towww.ecumen.org,click on advocacy and

“Join Our Network.”

Changing AgingAdvocacy Network

Ecumen Cyber Store

Want to share examplesof going green at yourEcumen community?Please e-mail Eric Schubert at:[email protected]

Documents

innovate empower honor INSIDER …webnet.ecumen.org/News/2010Insider/2010February.pdf · in Minneapolis. For the full story, check the ... in her care plan, ... Be multilingual –