FEBRUARY 2020
The Brookside Story
A Publication of Brookside Inn Skilled Nursing & Rehab Facility
Pictured above (l-r): CHCA President & CEO Doug Farmer, Brookside Inn Owner Dr. Fred Schumann, Maria Soto, Brookside Inn Owner Dee Schumann.
Maria Sots, CNA of the Year
We are proud to recognize our very own Maria Soto, who was named “CNA of the Year” by the Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA) in late 2019. Maria was selected as the best CNA in Colorado, besting thousands of other long-term care professionals for the prestigious honor. An excerpt from Maria’s award presentation: “Maria provides compassionate, individualized care to each of her residents, never taking short cuts or making them feel rushed. She contributes to her community’s recruitment and retention efforts by mentoring and training new CNAs on how to gently care for residents, explaining that ‘no two are the same, and if you want to do the very best you can for them, you can’t treat them like they are.’ The residents and their families adore and trust Maria’s innate ability to provide care, comfort, and reassurance. She has earned the respect of her supervisors and peers, who wish they could nominate her for ‘CNA of the Century.'” Yes, we do! Congratulations, Maria.
Welcome Jarom Eberhard, NHA
Brookside Inn is pleased to welcome new Nursing Home Administrator Jarom Eberhard to our community! Jarom’s tenure with BSI started in early February and we are grateful to benefit from his many years of long-term care experience and wisdom. Keep an eye out for a more in-depth feature on Jarom, his career, interests, and family in an upcoming edition of the Brookside Story.
February Staff Anniversaries
Congrats and thank you to the following Brookside Inn employees who celebrate their work anniversaries this month:
Nadia Gudima, RN, 10 years
Mary Hanson, RN, 10 years
Sierra Thompson, RN, 3 years
Harpreet Thiara, RN, 2 years
Brittany Somers, RN, 1 year
Tricia Bucknam, LPN, 20 years
Maria Easton, LPN, 11 years
Juana Cancino, CNA, 12 years
Kyle Stevenson, CNA, 2 years
Emma Shumate, CNA, 1 year
Emeline Richardson, CNA, 1 year
Ashley Hughes, CNA, 1 year
Cecilia Jamero, CNA, 1 year
Mai Tran, Housekeeping, 5 years
Taylor Plumadore, Activities, 7 years
Nancy Walsh, Social Services, 10 years
Out and About
Highlights from the last 30 days
Brookside Learning Makes Its Debut
Brookside Inn doubled down on its focus on talent development in late January with the launch of Brookside Learning. This inaugural manager training course targeted 22 of Brookside’s leaders over two, 3-day sessions, emphasizing communication and team mentoring, as well as change and financial management. “We are thrilled to offer this training to both our new and seasoned leaders,” said HR Director Greg Palmer. “It speaks to the investment Brookside makes in its employees.”
Pictured above (l-r): Brookside Inn Social Worker Nancy Walsh and Owner Dr. Fred Schumann.
Painting with Ning
The residents of Brookside Inn enjoyed a recent painting session with instructor Ning, showcasing a panda and cherry blossoms in this particular photo.
Ning brings a 3-step painting project for Brookside residents to enjoy several times throughout the month. The 3-step process is perfect for our residents to follow and allows everyone to feel like a successful artist. Our residents look forward to Ning’s frequent painting sessions because of all the wonderful ideas she brings to Brookside Inn. Thanks Ning!
Reminder: Please label personal items
Attention family members and residents: Please help Brookside Inn decrease the number of misplaced items by labeling all personal items that enter our community. This includes clothing, books, games, blankets, shoes, and outerwear. You may also give personal items to your social worker who would be happy to label them and deliver them to your loved one!
Focusing on Falls: BSI Selects First QAPI Project of 2020
Did you know that Brookside Inn completes “Quality Assurance Performance Improvement” (QAPI) projects annually? Throughout the year, Brookside leadership reviews resident data to identify quality areas where we desire to make improvements. Brookside Inn recently identified Reducing Avoidable Falls as our first QAPI project of 2020. We formed the Star Gazers, a team of interdisciplinary employees representing each department to head up this year-long, fall prevention effort. Megan O’Neill, BSI’s director of rehabilitation, will serve as the team’s champion. The Star Gazers’ first focus area is to develop an easy and dignified way to identify residents who are an increased fall risk. The team is also doing a significant amount of work training and educating staff, including posting a daily fall report in the staff break room so each employee can be aware of falls and fall risks. The team also maintains a story board, communicating our fall prevention efforts and outcomes with employees, residents and families through routine staff meetings, monthly Resident Council meetings and quarterly care conferences.
Do you have a creative idea on how we might prevent resident falls at Brookside Inn? Share it with a charge nurse or your social worker during your next care conference!
Let Your Voice Be Heard
Consider Joining the Resident or Food Council or the Menu Committee
As a resident at Brookside Inn, did you know that you have several opportunities to have your voice heard? Read on to learn how:
RESIDENT COUNCIL | An organized, resident-led meeting held on the first Monday of each month, Resident Council allows residents to meet with BSI leadership to discuss staffing and care concerns, ask questions and learn about upcoming events. Resident Council also discusses new ideas for activities and ways to improve our home-like environment. Each meeting is run by a resident- elected President, Phyllis White, and Secretary, Freddie Pierce.
FOOD COUNCIL | Food Council meets the first Friday of the month and includes residents as well as the BSI administrator and dietary, activities and social services. This group discusses food concerns and dining room appearance, as well as votes on the “Meal” and “Ice Cream of the Month.”
MENU COMMITTEE | This resident-led committee meets monthly to discuss and provide input on upcoming dining menu cycles.
Do You Have A Concern? Let Us Know
Brookside Inn strives to meet the individual needs of each resident. However, as a resident or family member, if you have a concern or complaint, we want to hear from you so we can work to resolve the issue. Steps to get started:
o Notify your hall nurse or social worker to assist in completing a concern form. Nurses and social workers are in the building seven days a week.
o You may also contact Nancy Walsh, the BSI Concern Coordinator (720.573.4351 or nancyw@bsisnf.com) or Brookside Inn Nursing Home Administrator Jarom Eberhard (720.573.4358 or administrator@bsisnf.com).
Once a concern form has been submitted, a manager from Brookside Inn will follow-up with you within 48 hours to communicate next steps towards a resolution. Thank you for partnering in your care and/or the care of your loved one!
Did you know?
According to BSI’s Pinnacle Satisfaction Survey 2019, families gave Brookside Inn an overall satisfaction rating of 94.1%, besting the national average and even the “Best in Class” standards. Way to go, team. Keep it up!
Brookside Inn is Hiring!
Brookside Inn is currently enrolling students for upcoming CNA Classes, taking place March 16-27 and April 12-24. Each session runs approximately three weeks. The coursework trains students on the art and science of being a CNA, and prepares them to take the state license exam. Our CNA course costs about a third of what other regional CNA training courses cost and scholarships are available! If all goes well, we’d like for students to join the BSI team! Please reach out to Greg Palmer at hr@bsisnf.com to learn more and to start applying for the class today.
Did you also know that Brookside Inn is hiring? Visit bsisnf.com/careers to learn more about available positions:
o A Cook
o Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs)
o Housekeeping & Laundry team members o Night Nurses (RNs & LPNs)
o A Maintenance Technician
Also, we are recruiting volunteers! Lead a cooking class, help a resident document his or her life story, host a monthly discussion on current events, or more! If you’d like to volunteer at Brookside, please contact Molly Nearpass at activities@bsisnf.com.
Upcoming Community Events
March 11, April 8, May 13
Caregiver’s Support Group @ Briccy’s Coffee Shop (140 S. Wilcox from 6-7:30 p.m.)
Always the second Wednesday of each month. A place for BSI family members to share their experiences. To learn more, contact Deb Van Houten at 303.902.3838 or deb_caringsolns@msn.com.
March 14, April 18, May 16
BSI’s Vaudville Performances @ Brookside Inn, from 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Join us for BSI’s monthly Vaudville performance. – March theme: Good Luck & Fortune
– April theme: Singing in the Rain
– May theme: What Happened in the 1960’s?
Contact activities@bsisnf.com if you’d like to perform!
Dietitian’s Corner
New this month in the Brookside Story, we’re leaning on the knowledge of Brookside Inn’s Registered Dietitian Brenna Allard. From this month on, we’ll share tips and tricks on how the food and beverages we enjoy can help make our bodies thrive! Up this month? The benefits of Vitamin D & Calcium!
Nurse Aide Training Program
