Article in Grand Rapids Business Journal

Article in Grand Rapids ADVANCE Newspaper

Since 2000, Kim’s Knitters meet every Monday. There is a volunteer to help in each of the morning/afternoon sessions. Kim and her volunteers are great at revitalizing an old skill and help the residents to put their knitting skill to good use. They have made dozens of baby blankets for sailors that become dad while deployed. Thank you notes are received and sometimes baby photos. This particular ship we got a photo of the ‘new dads’ lined up to be first off the ship. It is very special to see that they are carrying the baby blankets made just for the occasion. The Knitting Club has also made special hats and scarves for homeless veterans and over 100 shawls for Dominican elderly that live in three different homes befriended by Bishop Hills.

Diane & the Bishop Hills’ Chimers

Since 2001, Diane started at Bishop Hills as a caregiver using her LPN skills. When she retired she was willing to start the Bishop Hills’ Chimers. Rockford teacher, Mrs. Ibarra brought her students to demonstrate their chiming skill for the residents. A Chime is light weight and easy to use, the music is color coded in chords. Mrs. Ibarra and Diane went to work to start teaching the residents the beautiful sound of the chimes. The Chimers have performed at a variety of venues but their favorite is “jammin’” with the students of Crestwood Elementary.

Read ‘n Stack

In the summer 2006, Bishop Hills worked with reading specialist, Mrs. Munger, to develop a way for our residents to encourage the older elementary student with reading skills. The residents listen to readers for 45 mins. and then’Speed Stacks’ is the closing activity for everyone to enjoy. The Meadowridge Elementary students have now developed a Stacking Club. The stackers helped demonstrate the positives of stacking at the Rockford Expo in Bishop Hills’ booth.

[Stackers demonstrate skill at Rockford Rotary.] [and they teach Rotarian Robert the 'round'.] [OLC 1st Grade comes to share a special song.]
[Spring Tea Party with the Mother's Singers]
[Meadowridge Stackers at Rockford Relay for Life]

1. How are you licensed? If licensed, this should be displayed in lobby area.

Bishop Hills: Licensed as a Home for the Aged for 47 beds since January 1996

Other Homes: Depends –

LICENSED, assisted living in Michigan has two different licenses – Home for the Aged or Adult Foster Care (AFC). The differences are minor between the two, but licensing requires that these homes all have 24 hr awake staffing that provides meals, housekeeping, laundry, and assistance with dressing, bathing, and medications in private or semi-private rooms.

UNLICENSED, the operation of the home has no oversight from State of Michigan other than meeting fire code requirements of the local fire department and the Department of Public Health standards if there is a kitchen. Generally unlicensed homes would be for persons still safely handling their medications, meal needs and may be driving.

2.

What will be the monthly cost of LICENSED assisted living in Kent County?

(Medicare covers payment for ‘skilled nursing’

services and therapies, not the monthly fee for assisted living.)

Bishop Hills: Semi-private starts at $1840 Private Room starts at $2885

Other Homes: Semi-private $1500 – $2400/mo OR Private Rooms $2400-$3200+

Unlicensed Homes: A wide range of costs from HUD subsidized to private pay

Nursing Homes: Semi-private room $4500 – $7000; Medicaid primarily covers cost.

If you are a veteran or a spouse of a veteran, please call me for the name of the AMVETS staff person that can answer your questions about financial assistance. Susan at 616.866.2002

3. How many staff are on your payroll? How many have been here over 2 years?

Bishop Hills: Usually 42-45 staff on Payroll; Chart shows the year we hired each of current staff since we opened in January 1996: Maintaining quality, friendly staff is a priority for us.

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2004
2005 2006 2007

7

4

1

2

2

1

1

4
1

7
8

Why this question is so important vs asking about staff to resident ratio?

If I tell you a ratio, then I need to be very clear about what that includes ie caregiving staff plus support staff; does it include the use of agency help; schedule vs actually staffed may have a variance.

Longevity of staff is difficult to maintain in this industry and is a better source of information. If a home has good staff retention, that is a source of pride. The actual number of staff on payroll will affect routines such as bathing. Are all the baths/showers done early morning or late evening accommodating an active schedule in the home? Or are they throughout the day, because they maximize the use of fewer staff.? This is not a normal life pattern.

Longevity, such as Bishop Hills has, means staff contentment and commitment. Longevity promotes friendships. Friends do not call in sick unless they are sick. Instead, friends trade shifts to accommodate family needs. A contented staff is a sure sign of a caring staff.

Longevity of staff means we never hire a new caregiver expecting that they would learn our building, everyone’s name AND pass medications the first few days. A Bishop Hills caregiver must work several weeks before they are trained and qualified for medication passing.

Most important, longevity of staff means residents don’t have to repeat their problems/special needs/habits to new staff regularly. After a few times of that, the resident typically withdraws. A contented staff with longevity is the basis for creative energy used to improve quality of life for the residents.

Other Homes: Depends, but if a home can’t answer the questions it must not be a priority. Ask if the home use temporary agency staff to supplement their staff? Bishop Hills never uses an agency for staff.

You can be given a staff ratio but that doesn’t really give you the information you want to make your decision.

4. How is communication between resident, family, doctor and therapists documented, shared and used?

Bishop Hills: Maintains a shift-to-shift log and resident charts. In addition, Bishop Hills maintains a unique computerized resident information database. Each caregiver has one report that tells the goals & special interests, needs, therapy, needed treatments and days for changing bed linen, washing personal laundry and bathing. All reports are returned daily with necessary edits of information. This system easily integrates, updates and stores the information received from the resident, family, staff, doctor and therapists. The resident is left at NO disadvantage whether a caregiver is part-time, returning from vacation or working a different shift. During a tour, you can see this unique communication system at Bishop Hills.

Other Homes: Usually homes maintain a shift-to-shift report and resident charts.

5. Is there an activity program?

Bishop Hills: Most of our activities are developed in creative ways that allow our resident to remain connected and active in the community. Here are A FEW examples:

· Kim’s Knitters: Weekly, a staff volunteer rekindles or teaches knitting/crocheting of small squares that connect for baby blankets or shawls. The afghans are shared with North Kent Service Center, new dads on navy deployment or new moms at United Memorial Hospital. The shawls are created for international friends in a nursing home in Dominican Republic.

· Ceramics: Weekly, residents work on items for themselves or to be used as gifts. Everyone helps make the annual gifts for volunteers.

· Navy Support Project: Each dining room table has a photo of a deployed ship and the table prays daily for the crew of that ship. This has evolved to shipments of over 6500 cookies, 9000 treat bags decorated by students and 24 baby afghans since 9/11.

· Chimers: A staff volunteers weekly to teach chiming and new songs for monthly road shows to entertain others.

· Bingo is enjoyed by residents each evening Monday through Friday

· Many, many more opportunities are available, from playing cards to watching travelogues. The biggest problem at Bishop Hills is not enough time and sometimes the residents have to make choices because of scheduling…it is a wonderful problem.

Other Homes: Staff should be able to show you a calendar of activities.

6. Is the facility homelike? Home is more than décor and looking for the right qualities requires a visit just before the typical mealtimes of Noon or 5 PM. The worst time to tour is 2 PM when residents are napping.

Bishop Hills: The staff longevity contributes to staff and residents knowing each other’s family and friends and creating an ‘extended family’. Bishop Hills has many traditions with big events i.e. Deck the Halls, Family Pig Roast, Color Tour, Anniversary Party, Spring Ball. Simpler traditions include prayer before each meal, a Remembering Service after each death, Sunday prayer service and individual birthday tributes.

Other Homes: Each home has its own personality. Just remember to time your visit near a meal because you can see where you/your loved one would fit in, observe the rapport between staff & resident, sense the level of camaraderie. Also, you will see what the meal is, how it is served and how residents are assisted.

Hi, I’m Susan Bodenner, MSW, the administrator.

Jim and I opened Bishop Hills in January 1996 and we have established a very unique assisted living environment. This isn’t an easy decision and often it is a crisis that brings you and your family to this point. You simply must visit us and get fuller explanations and answers to your questions… I would love to give you a tour and introduce you to our staff and residents. You will understand why we are ‘world famous’.

Explanation of Assisted Living & Cost of Bishop Hills

It can be a confusing world … here is a brief explanation.

‘Assisted Living’ is a marketing term. ‘Assisted living’ includes licensed and unlicensed facilities. What is the difference in the state of Michigan? Unlicensed complexes tend to be apartment style living spaces with a la cart services available. If licensed, the home will be designated by the State of Michigan as an AFC (Adult Foster Care) or HFA (Home for the Aged). Licensed assisted living always includes supervision of medications, three meals & snack, some assistance with mobility, dressing, toileting and bathing with 2 hour staffing. Each facility will differ in the amount of assistance available and when extra charges are applied to the extra assistance. In addition, Citizens for Better Care can offer information on a licensed home or advocate for a resident in a licensed home. Always ask a home about its license.

Bishop Hills offers assisted living as a Michigan licensed Home for the Aged.

What will assisted living cost?

Bishop Hills is an excellent value. The cost of Bishop Hills per day is:

* Less than a night in a good hotel room;
* Half the cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home;
* A fraction of the cost of private duty in your home;
* Comparable to the cost of daycare for a child.

And remember, your basic cost INCLUDES:

* 24 hr staff to assist as needed with dressing and bathroom tasks
* 3 delicious homemade meals and an evening snack
* supervision of medications
* personalized plan of care in coordination with you and your physician
* assistance with bathing
* weekly housekeeping and laundry

How will I adjust to leaving my home?

Meet our families and residents. Others have felt just like you and have found Bishop Hills to be an excellent option because:

* Companionship, a variety of activity and homemade meals with peers replaced the loneliness and boredom of living alone.
* Time with family is better quality with less stress related to problem solving.
* Caring professional staff, available day and night, provides a sense of comfort and security. Ask to meet our live-in house manager.

It is important to ask a home about the longevity of their staff and administrator. Read my recommended questions.

Effective October 2008

Semi-private room starts at $1840 per person/month when available.

Private rooms start at $2885 per month.

Level Two Care additional $600/month – requires more explanation.

One Time Admission Fee is $800
Call anytime if you need more information…616.866.2002. It’s my direct line.

Bishop Hills received the Governors Quality Care Award in 2002.

Rockford Chamber of Commerce awarded Bishop Hills for Distinguished Service in 2007.

State of Michigan Perfect Survey 2006, 2007 and 2008.