A quarterly publication of South
Cove Manor at Quincy Point ~
Winter 2019 Issue
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Thank you for your positive feedback on our first issue of The e-Crane! We welcome your comments- please share your thoughts at
eCrane@southcovemanor.org
.
About South Cove Manor at Quincy Point...
We are a non-profit rehabilitation and care community with over three decades of experience providing leading edge care to older adults. From our original home in Boston, to our current state-of-the-art, multicultural community in Quincy, South Cove Manor has built a legacy of excellence rooted in honoring our elders and their traditions.
288 Washington Street, Quincy MA 02169 * 617-423-0590
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South Cove Manor at Quincy Point welcomed in the Year of the Pig with
Lunar New Year
celebrations for staff and residents.
Pictured left: CNA Shuyi Hu (r) drew the winning number for a prize presented by administrator Li Chen.
Below: CEO Bill Graves and team served up a sumptuous buffet.
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South Cove Manor welcomed a new arrival
on Friday, March 8th - a 14 passenger van equipped with a wheelchair lift and emblazoned with our signature crane. The van was greeted with applause by smiling rehabilitation patients, residents, families, staff, and Board members. The purchase of the van was made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor and will provide greater access for residents to engage in community life, an important part of our personalized care initiative.
CEO Bill Graves remarked, “Having the ability to stay connected to the community is so important to all human beings – the fact that someone needs to reside at a nursing and rehabilitation center shouldn’t restrict their opportunities to engage in their community.” Graves continued, stating that “the addition of a wheelchair accessible van at South Cove Manor will have a tremendous impact on our residents’ quality of life.”
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A Sharper Focus on Personalized Care
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Carrie Peck, executive assistant, and Shek Lin Wan share conversation and a laugh at a recent social gathering. Activities that bring staff, residents and families together strengthen relationships and the entire South Cove Manor community.
Providing the best medical, nursing, and rehabilitative care in the region is our goal, and that includes providing personalized care and experiences for every person we care for.
To reach that objective, South Cove Manor is focusing intensely on quality of life through its expanded
"Person-Directed Care"
initiative. Also referred to as Culture Change, Person-Directed Care is a national movement to transform older adult services by focusing on choices and preferences.
South Cove's efforts are informed by the work of the
Pioneer Network,
the national leader of the culture change movement, which helps care providers transform the medical, institutional model of elder care into one that is life affirming, satisfying, and meaningful. It details the key elements of person-directed care as "relationships, choice, dignity, respect, self-determination and purposeful living."
South Cove is well positioned for it's culture change journey with key elements already in place. The community was consciously designed to facilitate the person-directed approach to care, with six small courtyard residences that encourage relationships. Living spaces are homey and equipped with community kitchens for on-site meal preparation and dining. In addition, residents are cared for by the same people each day, a staffing plan known as primary assignment, which supports closer relationships between caregivers and residents, an essential component of person-directed care.
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A Conversation with Bill & Li
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Li Chen and Bill Graves discussed the important roles of relationships and choices in personalizing care for patients and residents.
Here are excerpts from their conversation.
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What is most important about Person-Directed Care?
Li:
It is really about using "home" to guide our planning and the options we provide for residents and patients. We evaluate every plan by asking the question "would we do that at home?" At home, you have unlimited choices and we are working toward that here.
Bill:
I agree, and at the heart of creating "home" at South Cove is the relationship between our elders and our staff. Staff care for the same group of elders every day that they work. This creates a level of trust and communication that can’t be equaled where staff are rotated.
How are you personalizing care?
Bill:
Our current focus is on the quality of sleep for each person, since being well rested is critical to feeling good and we all have very distinct preferences. We started looking at the sleep habits of people on each courtyard by observing them - always keeping in mind that behavior is communication.
Li:
The staff considers "Is the resident sleeping through the night? Is he or she restless or uncomfortable? What is impacting their sleep? Is a person irritated by light or sound? Hungry? Lonely? A night person?
Bill:
Through observation and discussions with the resident, staff and family, we are able to identify barriers to each person's comfort and adjust the environment or routine to support a restful night's sleep.
Li:
Ensuring that each person is able to follow their preferred sleep routine at night and wake at their chosen time sets the tone for a relaxed and active day. This is an ongoing effort, but we are already seeing the benefits.
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Answering the Call to Care
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Pictured left to right, South Cove Manor Chairman Richard Lui, co-founder and Board member Helen Chin Schlichte, State Represent-ative Tackey Chan, CEO Bill Graves, and State Representative Dan Hunt gathered for a discussion on senior care.
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South Cove Manor at Quincy Point recently welcomed State Representatives Tackey Chan, 2nd Norfolk district, and Dan Hunt, 13th Suffolk district
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to discuss funding for quality nursing home care and investing in our frail elders and dedicated caregivers. The meeting was part of the
Answering the Call to Care Campaign
sponsored by the
Massachusetts Senior Care Association
to educate legislators about senior care. CEO Bill Graves and Administrator Li Chen both serve as members of the Board of Directors of Mass Senior Care, a professional association that advocates for quality senior care.
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A Hub for Community Learning
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Collaborating on Care
Registered nursing students from
Mass General Hospital Institute of Health Professions
gave a presentation to staff on "Supporting Memory Care," the culmination of their semester long clinical rotation at South Cove Manor at Quincy Point.
Selected recommendations are being incorporated into resident care.
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South Cove hosted members
of the
Korean Nurses Association
for a
tour and presentation on nursing and rehabilitative care. The visit was part of a weeklong program hosted by the University of Massachusetts, Boston, College
of Nursing and Health Sciences.
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Reaching Out to Educate
South Cove Manor's Registered Dietitian Dawn Macleod-Kulig presented "Fun Food Facts" to
Quincy Council on Aging
members as part of South Cove's
Healthy Aging
community education program sponsored by LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, LLC., and Jumbo Seafood.
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Holiday Celebrations Spread Warmth & Cheer
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Our annual
Holiday Luncheon
was a highlight of the winter season, bringing everyone together for a festive meal, musical performances, gifts, and of course, Santa!
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IT Manager Quoc Thang coaches
Mary
Andruszkiewicz
on the fine art of origami during the
"Holly Jolly Happening,"
a holiday event and part of our
Healthy Aging
series
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And back in Boston...
75 community members attended the SCM
Boston Breakfast Seminar Holiday Party
at the
Boston Chinese Evangelical Church
in our former home on Shawmut Avenue. The
program is co-sponsored by LaSalle St. Investment Advisors, LLC, partnering with EACH (Enhance Asian Community on Health) and BCEC (Boston Chinese Evangelical Church
.)
Guests enjoyed refreshments, gifts, and caroling as part of the festivities.
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Welcome to Feng Chen
Food Services Director
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South Cove Manor is pleased to welcome
Feng Chen
as our new Director of Food Services. Feng
(far right)
is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu program of Atlantic Culinary Academy in Dover, NH, and most recently served as Executive Chef at Boston University.
Feng has extensive experience in the hospitality field, having also worked at the Boston Harbor Hotel and The Langham, Boston. He enjoys creating dishes for all cuisines, and speaks
English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Toisanese. “Coming to South Cove is a good step for me," said Feng, “I will learn a lot and it brings me back to my roots in China. I feel like I am home.”
Administrator Li Chen remarked, "Feng has the perfect combination of talents and skills. He is a wonderful chef and is introducing exciting new menu selections. He is also a spirited leader and with his experience in hospitality, Feng will help us enhance fine dining at South Cove."
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Patriots' pride was front and center on "Team Spirit Day." Staff cheered for our Super Bowl-bound home team and celebrated teamwork across all departments.
"Team Spirit Day" led the way for South Cove's new
Employee Activity Committee
which kicked off a series of events in February. Programs include Family Movie Night, Yoga classes, Paint Night, a Cooking Competition, and a Cantonese language class, each coordinated by a different team member.
CEO Bill Graves described the group's inception, stating that "the
Employee Activity Committee was formed as a direct result of our monthly open staff meetings. Staff expressed a desire to develop stronger relationships with their colleagues and have fun together outside of the work day."
Graves believes that creating a more cohesive and connected workforce is another building block of South Cove Manor's Culture Change work. "Strengthening community among staff will also help deepen relationships with our residents and families and throughout our organization," Graves continued. "We are excited to have an energetic group of committed staff leading this initiative."
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288 Washington Street, Quincy, MA 02169
(617) 423-0590
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South Cove Manor at Quincy Point has a legacy of excellence, repeatedly achieving the highest quality ratings for the Commonwealth and nationally, and has been named as one of the country’s top nursing centers year after year by US News & World Report.
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