The Brookside Story
A Publication of Brookside Inn Skilled Nursing & Rehab Facility
Brookside Inn’s Vigilance with COVID-19
Dear Brookside Inn Residents, Family, Friends and Partners, As the international situation with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop, the health and well-being of our Brookside Inn residents and staff remains at the forefront of our minds and ongoing efforts. Please be assured we are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe and healthy and will continue to do so until this situation subsides. Allow us to share some of the measures in place at Brookside Inn to promote resident and staff safety:
- Restrictions on all visitors, with the exception of end of life.
- Cessation of communal meals and group activities.
- We are screening signs and symptoms of all staff and anyone prior to entering the facility.
- Frequent hand washing for all residents and staff.
- Monitoring residents’ symptoms at least twice daily.
- We continue to follow all guidance from our governing bodies (CDC; CDPHE; CMS).
Also, please allow us to answer some of the questions that might be on your mind:
How can I connect with my loved one in or outside the facility?
– Facetime/Skype/Phone calls – Can be set up through the Social Worker assigned to your loved one.
– Schedule a “Window Visit” – Set up a visit where you can interact (see page 6 article). This can be set up through your loved one’s assigned social worker.
– You can bring decorations to your loved one’s window (i.e. wind chimes, bird feeders, signs, etc.)
– Send a card or email to your loved one Email messages can be sent to activities@bsisnf.com
How can I help the staff of Brookside Inn?
– Practice social distancing – The virus is extremely easy to catch, so the less contact we have with those caring for our loved ones, the less chance there is to spread the virus.
– Volunteer for a Facetime/Zoom/Skype call with our residents to keep their spirits up. Our residents would love to stay connected with you! Please send activities@bsisnf.com your name and the general times in which you would be available to sing to a resident, tell a joke, listen to their concerns or pray with them. Please also let us know if you have an extra iPhone we can utilize.
– Send a card of encouragement to the staff of Brookside Inn or to your loved one’s specific care giver, encouraging them to keep up the incredible work. We truly have the best team on the planet and are proud of their daily efforts and sacrifices.
Brookside Inn is currently enrolling students for upcoming CNA Classes, taking place April 13 – 24, May 11 – 22 and June 15 – 26. Each session runs approximately three weeks and takes place at BSI’s training facility in downtown Castle Rock. 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! Following completion of the CNA course, graduates are welcome to apply to join the Brookside 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:
- Activities Assistant
- A Cook
- Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs)
- Dietary Aide
- Housekeeping & Laundry team members
- Night Nurses (RNs & LPN)
QAPI Update
The Brookside Inn Fall Prevention team, the Star Gazers, has been working hard to address the “Quality Assurance Performance improvement” (QAPI) project for 2020. The project aims to decrease avoidable falls throughout the facility. The team has developed a “Falling Star” program which assists staff in identifying residents who are a high fall risk in a dignified way. In addition, the team has created educational tools for staff use in fall prevention, investigation, and intervention. The team members attend the monthly resident council meeting to discuss fall prevention and the current status of our project with residents and families. We are happy to announce that we have begun to see a decrease in the number of monthly falls throughout the facility. The month of March had the least number of falls ince the project was initiated, and we strive to continue to see a decrease in falls each month.
Let’s Celebrate
In addition to Brookside Inn’s Maria Soto being named “CNA of the Year” by the Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA), two additional BSI employees were recognized for their commitment to our industry and residents:
Melinda Markarian, Dietary Services Manager
One of three finalists for the Spotlight on Excellence award for Food & Nutrition Professionals
“Just as she personalizes the management of each of her team members, Melinda personalizes the care of each of our residents. She knows their preferences and flexes often to meet them. The residents absolutely love her.”
Sarah Schumann, VP of Operations
Recipient of the Vesta Bowden Distinguished Service Award
“Sarah is a vibrant, extraordinary individual who uses her head for decision making but her heart for verification of her decisions and always applies an infectious joy in her leadership! ”
April Staff Anniversaries
Congrats and THANK YOU to the following Brookside Inn employees who celebrate their work anniversaries this month:
Brenna Allard, Registered Dietitian, 1 year
Macie Egas, LPN, 9 years
Paola Garcia Resendiz, Housekeeping, 4 years Cynthia Gardenhire, Staffing Coordinator, 21 years Mackenzie Garrelts, CNA, 1 year
Taylar Green, LPN, 4 Years
Son Hoang, Dietary Aide, 4 years
Romelia Le, Activities, 1 year
Maritza Mendez, CNA, 1 year
Mike Miller, Maintenance Director, 1 year Mariah Moreno, Nurse Aide, 1 year
Shelby Puckett, Ward Clerk, 1 year Jessica Rios, Dietary Aide, 1 year Jackie Schutte, Clinical Liaison, 1 year Charelle Torrez, CNA, 2 years
Tuesday VanTuyl, Director of Nursing, 9 years
Dietician’s Corner
Brookside Inn celebrated National Nutrition Month during March and we are proud to have Registered Dietitian Brenna Allard on staff to help direct the nutritional needs of each of our residents, alongside their primary physicians. Read below to learn more about the role of a dietitian in skilled nursing facilities.
We were thrilled to have an article written about one of our residents by Lance Hernandez of KMGH-Denver News 7! Below is an excerpt from that article.
Click here to view the full story:
After in-person visits curtailed, Littleton woman uses phone, visits mom through nursing home window.
By Lance Hernandez CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you know how frustrating the COVIC-19-related bans on “in-person” visits can be.
Gail Crespin knows the bans exist for the safety of residents like her 96-year-old mom, Cleo, but she said that doesn’t make it any easier.
“I’m a touchy person,” Crespin said. “We spend a lot of time sitting very, very close to each other. I comb her hair and make sure her clothes are clean. I do her nails.”
But Crespin hasn’t been able to do any of those things for nearly two weeks.
“It’s hard,” she said.
Cleo Madrill has been a resident at Brookside Inn in Castle Rock for several months.
Crespin visited her daily until the rules changed. That’s when she started calling Cleo on the phone, but it wasn’t enough. Finally, Crespin contacted Brookside Inn and arranged to meet her mom at one of the windows.
They now talk on the phone and see each other through the window. They hold their hands up to each other and nearly touch through the glass.
“I love you, mom,” Crespin said Thursday afternoon, before asking, “would you like to hear some music?”
Cleo nodded, “yes,” and said she’d like to hear, “You are my Sunshine.”
“Touching through the glass.”
Her Granddaughter, Anne Demko, punched up the song, put it on speakerphone, and held it up to her mom’s phone. Cleo sang along.
Demko then punched up “Adelita,” a Mexican folk song. Cleo’s eyes lit up, and she began to dance.
A thank you from the Schumann family.
We take some things for granted in this newly threatening coronavirus world. It’s time we honor and give our respect to those who are keeping our residents from harm and those who are doing everything to care for our loved ones.
We here at Brookside Inn want to thank our employees who risk their own health just by walking into work every day. Their dedication and love for our residents is heartwarming and miraculous.
Thank you for your help and conscientiousness. Your commitment to service is remarkable.
