June 12, 2024 • 52 mins
Helping a loved one transition to Assisted Living can feel overwhelming. But fear not! This episode with Kerri Wells is your roadmap to understanding this world and making the best choice for your family.
Here are some golden nuggets to keep in your pocket:
- Ask the Right Questions: Don't be shy! We'll guide you through essential questions about staffing, turnover rates, surveys, training, activities programs, and staff-resident interactions when exploring assisted living options.
- Level Up Your Knowledge: Assisted living isn't one-size-fits-all. We'll break down the different levels of care and how they affect costs.
- Safety First: Peace of mind is priceless. Discover what to look for in security systems and overall facility design. Hints: well-lit areas, call light systems, and secure doors when assessing the safety and security of a facility.
- The Power of Community: Social interaction fuels happiness! We'll explore how assisted living communities can foster vibrant connections.
- Open Communication is Key: Let's talk openly and honestly. Address any grievances or concerns promptly, document interactions, and follow up on complaints to ensure a positive living environment.
Ready to take action? Schedule a tour of a local assisted living facility and see the incredible care firsthand. Remember, your loved ones deserve the best, and the right community can transform their quality of life.
We encourage you to visit our website now at www.connect-empower.com to explore more information on our guest and to access our resources.
To ask us your questions or to share your story, email us at podcast@connect-empower.com.
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John & Erin
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kerri (00:00):
So if you really want to know about community, I think
(00:02):
it's important that you couldlook at those surveys.
I would encourage them to also.
If you found something in thosesurveys to ask the community to
maybe understand why that endedup on a survey, because not
everything is, accurate at thesame time.
There is a story behind somestuff.
John (00:29):
Hi, I'm John,
Erin (00:30):
and I'm Erin.
You're listening to connect andpower.
The podcast that proves age isno barrier to growth and
enlightenment
John (00:38):
tune in each week as we break down complex subjects into
bite sized enjoyable episodesthat will leave you feeling
informed, entertained, and readyto conquer the world
Erin (00:51):
Our guest today is executive director, Kerri Wells
from spring gardens assistedliving in Meridian.
Born and raised in Parma, Idaho.
She enjoyed playing sports.
Basketball was definitely herfavorite.
Kerri's passion for healthcaresparked early.
As a senior in high school,Kerri completed health
(01:12):
occupation courses and obtainedher certified nursing assistant
certificate.
And began her career inhealthcare right after high
school in 1997.
Kerry rapidly ascended throughvarious leadership roles,
cumulating in her currentposition where she masterfully
spearheaded the launch of abrand new community.
(01:32):
Boosting occupancy by 60% injust nine months.
A proud mother of two Kerryenjoys gardening, camping, and
sharpening her skills in awoman's poorly when she's not
enhancing the lives of herresidents.
Let's give a warm welcome to ourguests today.
Kerri Wells.
John (01:52):
welcome Kerri Thank you so much for being here.
Kerri (01:54):
Thanks for having me.
John (01:55):
Yeah.
So, so I've known you for a longtime and have a huge amount of
respect for you in the assistedliving world.
And so I just want you to sharea little bit with our audience
of what got you in or how yougot into this industry.
Where you did it start as alittle girl and you thought, I
want to be an administrator ofan assisted living or just tell
(02:16):
us how it all came around.
Kerri (02:19):
So actually, I think when I was little, I wanted to be a
dentist, but that didn't quitepan out.
So there was a course in my highschool called Casa, and you
could do the, occupationalengineering, welding, CNA.
And so there was health classesand so they were in your junior
and senior year, I decided mysenior year I wanted to do it.
(02:41):
So I graduated my senior yearwith my CNA.
And then I worked in skillednursing for three months after I
graduated high school, a longtime ago.
And skilled nursing wasn'treally for me.
And my aunt worked in assistedliving in Caldwell.
And so she said, you need tocome here.
I went and applied, talked to,you know, the LP and the health
(03:01):
services director at the time,got hired.
And I've been in assisted livingever since.
So, and then I worked my wayfrom being a CNA to multitudes
of different, Positions inassisted living, and now the
executive director for thecompany I currently work for.
John (03:18):
Wow.
That's excellent.
So.
How long did that whole periodlast from when you were a CNA
coming out of high school towhere you have become now in
your leadership role?
Kerri (03:31):
So, I was a CNA in the one community for 2 2 and a half
years, and then I actually leftto go to school to be a nurse,
and that, didn't quite work outthe way I wanted it to, so I
went back to the company, andthen was an office manager, and
I worked for that company for 21years, and was the ED for 8.
Almost 9.
And then when I resigned fromthere, I had the opportunity to
(03:52):
open a building in Meridian andthen I've been here for 5 years.
So I have a heart for people.
I think I've always cared for,my family when I was younger and
it's just as translated intowhat I do now.
I like to get to know people andthen the residents and their
seniors, they have a lot tooffer and it's fun to be able to
(04:13):
meet their needs and be therefor them and have fun with them
as well.
Um,
John (04:17):
Yeah, that's great.
Erin (04:18):
Isn't it funny how life just pushes you in a direction?
I've noticed you said a couplethings, right?
From dentist to nursing, and itjust kept pulling you back.
Like, you were meant for this.
This is your purpose, right?
Kerri (04:30):
well, when I was a senior, I was like, I'm a
caregiver.
Like I never even thought to bein the, in the, operations side
of things.
People would say, you know, whenare you going to run this
building?
I laughed at them like, I'm acaregiver.
Like, I'll be a caregiver formaybe a nurse.
Yeah, something pushed me intothe office manager role and then
on to, then, like, I can.
Be the administrator executivedirector and so I went into
(04:52):
those courses and then.
Been doing that and when Italked to
Erin (04:55):
A born leader.
That's awesome.
John (04:58):
And I think for our audience, what a lot of people,
don't realize is a lot ofpositions, leadership positions,
they come straight out ofcollege, then they drop into a
leadership.
Position straight into thecompany that they work for, and
they stay in that position formany, many years, not
necessarily always.
Are they good at it?
Because, maybe they don'tunderstand the different roles
(05:20):
people have to go through.
And I think that's what makesyou such an incredible asset to
the company.
You now work for is if is you'veworked in so many different
positions leading all the way upto where you are now that When
you see people struggling, youcan give them advice or you
understand them more whatthey're facing, or they can't
(05:40):
pull one over on you either,because you've already served in
that position.
So you understand them, you
Erin (05:45):
know,
Kerri (05:46):
you know, my team or staff, I would never ask my
staff to do something I myselfwould never do.
And then just always encouragethem to ask because I, yeah, I
could as much as I can be there.
I definitely would be there tohelp because I don't want to see
anybody struggle.
So,
Erin (06:02):
That's, yeah, respectable, for sure.
So when you think of us, or atleast when I think of assisted
assisted living, it's a littleintimidated coming in.
I remember when we were lookingfor my dad at one point, it's
like, there's so manyfacilities, so many places,
people say, go here, go there.
And how do I know?
And so really, my question toyou is, what are some of the
(06:25):
most important questions to ask?
What should families beconsidering when they look at
assisted livings?
Kerri (06:34):
so actually, in the last couple of days, I had 1 family
tour that literally asked me 32questions.
And they were very goodquestions and then yesterday I
got on a phone call.
She asked me a ton too, but Ithink important questions to
ask.
when you're going into this isliving is asking, About
staffing, that's an importantthing, depending on, how you
(06:55):
feel your family is.
But maybe your turnover rateturnover is going to happen,
but.
Given the opportunity forsomeone in the community to kind
of tell you how it works intheir communities is would be
helpful to someone lookingversus living, ask them in the
survey process.
How are you surveyed maybe wherethose surveys are kept and
allowing the company to offerand being truthful where you can
(07:17):
find them because it's publicknowledge.
So if you really want to knowabout community, I think it's
important that you could look atthose surveys.
I would encourage them to also.
If you found something in thosesurveys to ask the community to
maybe understand why that endedup on a survey, because not
everything is, accurate at thesame time.
There is a story behind somestuff.
(07:38):
So, training, what kind oftraining does your community
offer, activities program, doyou do stuff, do the residents
not do much, just the activitiesprogram is good.
Social enrichment and assistedliving is one of the huge
factors.
to their help, maybe how manynurses that goes with staffing
and how does the nursingservices as far as the license
nurse works.
(07:59):
maybe current census, howdepending maybe their loved 1
is.
Thinks that a big community istoo big, or maybe too small is
too small.
So knowing census in a communityand the staff to resident ratio
is a good question.
and then how does 1 interactwith, the community has the
staff interact with.
With residents, I think thoseare good questions to ask when
(08:21):
you're looking for assistedliving.
And there's many more, but
Erin (08:26):
as far as licensing goes, is it all the same for all
assisted livings or are theredifferent levels, you based off
of the level of care theyprovide?
Kerri (08:36):
so why is the regulations or the regulations for
residential assisted living?
They call them Ralph'sresidential assisted living
facilities.
Assisted living, so we all alsoneed to abide by those
regulations.
However, you can do your levelof care differently.
You can, your staffing could bedifferent.
There's no set staffing, but youcan do staffing different.
(08:58):
you can do your care plansdifferently.
The paperwork side of thingscould be differently, but at the
end of the day, you have toabide by how the rules are set
to help guide you.
So, if we discharge somebody forsomething that's against the
regs, they really wouldn't beable to go to another assisted
living because.
We couldn't meet that for theregulations, nor would another
(09:20):
community be able to technicallyso
John (09:23):
Now, one thing that, I hear you saying a lot of is
community.
And I love that word, that, thatword's really important, I feel,
for all of us, whether we'reliving in our homes out here, or
in assisted living, differenttype of facility.
So community is that, a wordspecific for assisted livings or
is that a grouping for, any typeof care facility, whether it be
(09:47):
assisted living, memory care,certified family home, are they
all communities or is thatmainly for assisted
Erin (09:55):
Yeah,
Kerri (10:01):
in my mind from.
My 1st community I worked at fora long time, facility, certain
words.
Push more towards maybe, like askilled nursing community.
Thank you.
Facility, right?
Same thing with, director ofnursing.
it's health services directorand assisted living.
Administrators for skillednursing, executive directors,
(10:22):
typically for assisted living.
And so community facility soundsso, institutional sometimes.
Communities feels like homefeels togetherness.
For a community, and so it's forme, I think it's just embedded.
Some people still use alwaysfacility.
I like community, so that's why.
That's how I say it.
John (10:39):
I love that.
So if I was new, you know, mymom and dad just moved into town
and my dad It was too much formy mom to handle and it would be
much better for him to live in acommunity such as yours.
Can you walk us through thesteps of, I know it's probably
important to go out and tour,but can you just walk us through
(11:01):
the steps of how we geteverything going for Say My
Father?
Kerri (11:06):
So when someone comes into our community To look
around I always like i'm in adual role now So i'm doing the
marketing the executivedirector, but I like to do is to
sit to our sit So I bring thefamilies in the resident their
families or all of them.
We sit in an office We sit in acommon area and I like to get to
know the resident and theirfamilies first What is it that
(11:28):
you're looking for?
Do you have any specificquestions for me?
open ended questions to allowthem to answer In a full
sentence versus just yes or no,yes, or I guess no answers,
excuse me and then I Adapt forme.
I adapt to the resident So ifthey throw in there something
about they're talking abouttheir love for dogs, you know,
i'll I try to relate withsomething that I have.
(11:50):
I have two dogs.
My mom has a dog that is alwaysover at our house, too.
they like the rain.
you talk about the rain.
So you just, I try to adapt towhat they're going and relate to
them.
Then after you gather theinformation, what is your
concerns?
What's going on with dad?
How much assistance does dadneed?
or what would he like to see?
Sometimes it's, Medicationmanagement or socialization or
(12:13):
meals, or they don't want to dohousekeeping anymore.
And so I gather all that.
Once we have that, we go lookaround.
You gauge what they'reinterested in.
Are they interested in 1bedroom, 2 bedroom, studio.
Memory care, and then as we walkaround, we're just walking and
talking at the same time, stillanswering questions or.
Just chatting along the way,building a relationship with
(12:36):
them.
And then answering any questionsif they.
If they don't have any concernfor a bathtub, then you wouldn't
really show them a spa room.
They don't, but if they'reconcerned about safety, then
you're going to describe, whatyou have in your community to,
encourage safety and protection.
the doors lock at 7 o'clock atdusk to make sure that, nobody
(12:58):
can come in.
in this community, I have now,we have safe view cameras and
memory care for fall, fallreduction.
there's this many staff that goaround and check on the
residents Q2 or, periodicallythroughout the day and night.
So, and then, after thatdescribing what the pricing is,
if they want to know thepricing, which everybody does.
(13:20):
So describing the pricing, havea level of care work, depending
on the loved one's needs, you'regoing to, our nurse will do an
assessment.
So a nurse always has to do anassessment.
Now, we'll determine the levelof care and the medical needs of
your father or the resident, andthen, that can generate the care
plan as well, and that will tellthe staff what they need to do,
(13:40):
whether it's a reminder.
Maybe it's physical assist ormaybe it's a standby assist and
those kind of have differentpoints.
And again, different communitiesare gonna have different level
of care systems.
and then that generates thelevel care, which the cost
associated with the level ofcare.
We also have to have physiciansorders and history and physical
prior to a resident moving in.
So, before they can physicallycome, you have to have that in
(14:03):
your hand and the nursereviewing it.
and that also ensures that wecan meet their needs.
So we can't meet their needs.
Then, we need to be upfront withthat.
Describe can offer versus whatyou're saying your father needs,
to make sure we meet theirneeds.
John (14:19):
Great.
That
Erin (14:19):
sense.
While they're on the tour,they're asking questions.
What are some things that theyshould also be looking for on
the tour?
Kerri (14:28):
I think that they need to be looking for the energy in the
building.
we get that a lot in ourcommunity here is the energy is
high and you can feel it andit's a positive energy.
So you need to feel how abuilding feels when you first
walk into it, depending on thecommunity.
Are you looking for newer?
Are you looking for older?
(14:49):
that's going to be a preference.
I think you're looking forcleanliness.
you're looking for staffinteraction with the residents,
you're looking for, staff, tosee if people are in there,
looking at the cleanliness ofthe residents and their
appearance, right?
to make sure that, making surethat, does does that look like
they're kept and they're tendedto, so those are some good
(15:11):
things to look for when you'rewalking through the building,
and just gauging, theinteraction with the residents
and staff are huge, and I thinkthe energy in the building is
one big one, but.
You're just looking at all thestuff as you walk through the
dining room is, Is it set up isthere common areas that are
nice?
So it just depends on thepreference of each individual
(15:32):
and their families.
Erin (15:33):
I say, are the residents smiling, right?
Not always the case, but ingeneral,
Kerri (15:39):
Yeah, do the residents look happy.
Erin (15:40):
yeah.
John (15:42):
So, do assisted living facilities, do they have areas
where residents can exercise andwork out?
is there a place where they cando some physical work if they'd
Erin (15:53):
like to?
Kerri (15:54):
So it's going to depend on communities.
some communities do have anactual, gym, like a workout
area.
Some do not, depending on whenthey're built or how they're
built.
but we do, in our community, wedo exercises in the activities
room.
So she does Tai Chi, she does awalkabout, so the residents go
and walkabout.
she does stretch bands.
We have a gal that comes in andhelps us with stretch bands.
(16:17):
She does seated exercise.
So those are all things that Ithink typically a lot of
assisted livings will have theirlife enrichment do.
In addition to if they have agym, they could use those gyms
with a bike or a treadmill,weights, again, stretch bands.
And so some communities don't.
Erin (16:35):
Sounds like we need to go work out over there.
Sounds like some fun.
Kerri (16:40):
Yeah, the stretch bands, they're pretty fun to watch with
the stretch band.
Erin (16:44):
when it comes to security, I know you mentioned you guys
lock your doors at 7 and thenthere's cameras.
What are some other securitymeasures that we should look for
as family members as we tour andask questions
Kerri (16:57):
I think staffing goes to the security measure.
If you go into community andthey say we have 50 residents
and 1 staff member on at alltimes.
that doesn't seem.
enough staffing, so that couldbe a safety thing, right?
you're probably looking atlighting outside if you come in
the evening to make sure thatyour communities has light
outside your call lights orpendants, ensuring communities
(17:18):
have some sort of call lightsystem, which would be part of
our regulations as well.
and then just your, the doors,when did the doors lock?
When do they open your staffing?
and then the stairwell, or, ifyou have stairs or an elevator,
those could be safety.
Things as well.
Erin (17:36):
And then do you also inform the family, Hey, if not
that there'd be an earthquakehere, but if there's a tornado,
an earthquake, some kind offire, these are our emergency,
Kerri (17:45):
yeah, so that'd be with training, so we have training
with fire and life safety onhigher and then typically
annually and then we havemonthly.
Fire drills or emergencyevacuation drills.
And so we do those, where wehave to evacuate the residents
either outside or we bring themto the common areas.
To have to be at night duringthe night night shift, 10 P to 6
(18:08):
a.
And so, for me, my maininstructor and myself, we pick a
time between those hours and wecome.
And we can let the residentsknow for that in the night
shift, just so they're not superalarmed by it.
And then we do the drill and weteach as we go and the staff and
(18:28):
the residents.
This is what we'd like you todo.
this is what you take.
Grab a fire extinguisher.
This is what race means.
This is what past means thatthey have any questions.
And we an event that we have toevacuate fully.
how do we get people down thestairs from upstairs and.
and then we have, if we were toevacuate fully, we actually have
to have.
Evacuation relocation centersthat we contract with,
(18:52):
basically, and then we can usethose to go to those places.
If we had, we couldn't come backto our community.
Erin (18:58):
It reminds me of elementary school, you know,
it's like fire drill and itcould be snowing outside and
you're like, man, this
John (19:04):
stinks.
It's cold.
Yeah, but it's it's, gotta bereally strategic though, because
of course you have people usingwalkers wheelchairs, that are on
oxygen.
That, yeah, I'm sure it takestime where if you have a bunch
of rugrats, you can rush themout real quick.
And as long as they're alltogether, you can get them out
pretty quick.
But this is a process that takestime, I'm sure, during an
emergency evacuation.
Erin (19:25):
Correct.
Kerri (19:26):
yeah, and with ours going on, it's nice because we.
We're in service scene andcoaching our residents to just
come to this.
Common space.
in the front of our building,and then we can evaluate there
what exactly we need to do.
And then our staff go room toroom after that, make sure that
all the residents are where theyneed to be.
John (19:47):
And, when somebody comes in, they, they walk.
They walk around your facility,they sit down with you, you get
to know them and so forth, andthey find out, Oh gosh, I really
want to try this out.
I really want to live here.
And they've checked out theroom, they've talked about rates
and stuff.
Then I'm assuming they sign acontract for at least a year, is
(20:09):
that correct?
Kerri (20:11):
No, it's a month to month.
John (20:12):
Oh, it's a month to month.
Okay.
Okay.
All right.
So that led me into my nextquestion was if they do sign a
contract and for some reasonthey weren't happy there, they
wanted to move to a differentplace or move home.
Could they?
And I'm sure you guys would likethem to give you plenty of
notice before moving out.
Of course.
But if it's month to month, it'snot, they don't have to wait
(20:34):
until they fulfilled that
Erin (20:36):
year contract.
Kerri (20:37):
Nope.
It's just a month to monthtenancy agreement and it's 30
day notice on either party.
to give notice, so if they werehere came 6 months, and then,
yeah, decided to go, they gotbetter and they went home.
They would just need to putright into the community.
That this is my 30 vacate mylast day is.
whatever date, and they can movefurniture out as.
(20:59):
as soon as they want, honestly,but rent could still be charged
until.
On that 30 day, or we rent theapartment to some other
prospect.
And then you wouldn't, wewouldn't bill the 2 parties, the
new party would start thebilling.
The other party of the part, thebilling would stop as long as
there's a resident not in yourcommunity.
You don't charge the level ofcare.
(21:21):
So, if they're on vacation or inthe hospital and stop level of
care, because you're notproviding that service.
And then there's a couple ofdifferent reasons why a 30 day
wouldn't be needed.
upon a death of a resident or anemergency situation where the
community.
Couldn't meet the needs of theresident, or the resident wasn't
fit for the.
(21:42):
For the community, and then thatcould start a 15 day of this and
not a 30.
Erin (21:47):
going back to financials, I know it can be confusing,
right?
It's okay, I'm paying thisamount a month, so everything's
included, but that's not alwaysthe case.
And so what are some possiblequestions families should ask
and, what are generally includedin those costs?
Kerri (22:05):
and then that's what they asked, what's included in your
base rent.
So, base rent for us and.
probably quite a few communitiesis your base, your utilities,
except for your phone.
This community, we have a phoneservice.
So, we could be your phoneservice and that would be a 50
phone fee.
your utilities, as I said, basiconce a week housekeeping, basic
(22:28):
once a week laundry, which islinens and personal, and that
could be dependent upon acommunity.
some might charge.
It just depends on thecommunity.
You have three meals a day,snacks.
Most of your activities arepretty much included in your
base rent, Wi Fi, DirecTV, andthen for my community, we
provide, the toilet paper andtissues, and then typically, the
(22:52):
paper towels, the liquid handsoap and gloves is what a
community provides as well, forthose people that need, personal
care services for their level ofcare.
Erin (23:02):
Are there programs like sponsorships, grants, or
anything to help people thatmight need assistance with
financial needs?
Kerri (23:10):
So, really, yeah, so really for assisted living,
you're looking at private pay,Medicaid, the community will
accept Medicaid, and then longterm care insurance, Medicare
does not pay for assistedliving, and those kind of are,
vet the VA, but the VA is goingto pay the recipient, and then
they would still then pay thecommunity, the monthly fee, it
(23:33):
typically doesn't go through thefacility any financial ways
from, the VA as the payer.
Sometimes communities can be apayee.
Is that the right, the payee?
we don't, we put that all on thepower of attorney or the
resident to, everything goesinto their checking account, and
then you would still just pay usa monthly check like you would
normally if you were payroll.
Erin (23:53):
That was my other question because we like to travel and so
I'm like, can I put it on mycredit card and get points or do
I have to pay like check or cashor cashier's check?
Kerri (24:03):
Nope.
Again, this would probablydepend on a community, but, we
have a portal, a payment portalyou could pay, So if you pay
that way, you can do an e check,which would not cost you
anything if you did a debit cardor a credit card.
You would incur a fee for that,but you could pay with your
credit or debit card.
John (24:22):
Hey, we're going somewhere fun.
Kerri (24:24):
Yeah,
John (24:24):
How about, can you get into a little bit for our
listeners, we've talked aboutassisted livings, how you set up
a tour, you go around, you'resit down, get to know you, get
to know some of your team and soforth, but can you help people
that may not have ever heard of?
Levels of care in an assistedliving.
Can you just explain that?
(24:45):
And then those costs, those areextra costs on top of your base
costs.
So if you can just talk abouthow many levels of care there
are and
Erin (24:54):
what those consist of.
Kerri (24:56):
so level of care is again, it's going to depend on a
community.
Some do points, and there's apoint spread into that level of
care, and then there's a costassociated with that level of
care.
Some communities do, a la carte.
So if you want bathing, it's Xamount of dollars.
If you need dressing, it's Xamount of dollars.
(25:16):
If you need, transfers, it's Xamount of dollars.
For our community, we do levelof cares.
So we have, we have five andthen we have a custom and then
we have point spreads for eachlevel.
And so then, as I described alittle bit earlier, depending on
how much care you need, if youjust, if you're independent, no
charge, no points.
If you need reminders.
(25:38):
There's going to be a certainamount of points associated with
the reminders.
If you need, standby assist,it's right in the middle.
It's going to be a little higherpoints, but not all the points
because you don't need, you'renot dependent, completely
dependent on a caregiver to dothe things.
And so once the nurse does theassessment, you go through what
you need and what you may wantfrom an assisted living, and you
(26:00):
add up the points.
And then those points areassociated with the level of
care and then the cost.
Okay.
And then that cost is inaddition to the base rent.
Erin (26:09):
How often are assessments done?
Kerri (26:12):
So you do an initial for our community.
We do we like to get to knowthem in the 1st, 30 days.
And that's what we described.
Sometimes families and residentsaren't quite sure.
All of the needs, and so weassess a little bit higher on
our worst day, and then we getto know each other in the first
30 days.
So, within the first 30 days, ifwe find, okay, we're doing a lot
(26:32):
more, we need to reevaluate andtalk to family and the resident.
If we're doing less, when youtalk to family and the resident,
and then we'll adjust the levelof care accordingly.
And then for the regulations,it's annually or change of
condition.
And so if someone's stable andnothing changes for that year,
you don't have to redo a careplan or level of care for the
(26:52):
year.
but change of conditions wouldarise and you would do a new
level of care and then startthat annual over and then, the
nurses are required to do aquarterly nursing assessment.
a head to toe, are their medsright?
looking at their skin, doingtheir vitals, and making
suggestions on any changes thatneed to be made
Erin (27:13):
As far as coming to visit, say, if I want to visit a family
member, can I come anytimeyou're open or does it need to
be scheduled?
Kerri (27:21):
for us anytime.
now that we're post COVID, thatwas a different world.
But, Yeah.
I invite and encourage residentsand families to come when,
again, the doors may be locked,so you might have to push the
doorbell or communicate or call.
But if you want to visitanytime, this is their residence
home, and their family would beable to visit them at their home
(27:42):
at any time, so
John (27:44):
Yeah.
Kerri (27:44):
are open.
John (27:45):
So when it comes to levels of care and stuff, I know that
those incur charges.
Can families, if you communicateas an administrator, your nurse
does, or somebody communicateswith the family, can the family
help assist with some of thosethings to avoid those extra
charges?
Or during an assessment, ifthat's just charges that need to
(28:06):
be done, period, they're goingto need to pay that
Erin (28:10):
level of care.
Kerri (28:12):
some yes, some no.
if the family wanted to not havepoints for showers, they could
come shower.
family cannot come in and assistwith medications, though.
So, some yes, some no.
No, typically, medications haveto be bubble packed, The VA is
different.
They technically, the VA doesnot people pack, but most
(28:34):
communities, I would think, we,we send them out to be bubble
pack because that's just bestpractice.
2, but the families, if theydon't, if it's not a spouse that
lives with the resident in thecommunity, families can't assist
with the medication.
But certain things they could,they wanted to do their laundry,
even though that's on our baserent.
if they want to do the laundry,they could, they want to debate
(28:55):
them.
they could.
So, some yes, some no.
John (28:59):
So when it comes to families that may have a loved
one living in your community butthey live out of state can they
just say you know what I've gotthe money I just wanted I want
to pay for everything all levelsof care so you guys will assist
them on everything can they justput money into an account so
that if they do need that typeof care it's provided or is it
(29:23):
pretty much just do you knowdrain
Erin (29:25):
assessment time.
Kerri (29:27):
It's really that, if you start having money, two, extra
money given for the, and you putit in an account, then the aging
just adds up, that doesn'treally jive very well, so,
typically not, it's the month,so we adjust that way
accordingly.
John (29:44):
Okay.
Kerri (29:45):
For level of cares or the rent
Erin (29:47):
How about pets?
Can I bring my dog or my cat?
Are there
Kerri (29:52):
again, this would, yes, it depends on the community
again, for our community.
If you would like a pet, theresident, and possibly the
family would have to meet thepet's needs, on a day to day,
are, walking at the resin wouldhave to walk it, that type of
thing.
our staff care for theresidents, but there's not that
much time sometimes to care forthe pet.
Erin (30:14):
But when I move in I can decorate the way I want to like
I can put up personal picturesCurtains just like it's my own
place.
Can I paint walls?
Kerri (30:23):
yes, So the rooms are typically they are there.
They're empty and we encouragedefinitely your own belongings.
That's your familiar.
Already your family pictures, weencourage them.
You can put the hang thepictures.
As you like, we like to hang theTV if we're going to hang the
TV, but pictures, we encouragethe residents or families to go
ahead and make it their home.
(30:45):
That is.
That is their home.
That is, Where they're going tolive, where they go day to day,
and you want it to feel likethat, that they're comfortable
in that,
John (30:54):
How about, Transportation.
Erin (30:56):
That was gonna be mine
John (30:58):
we're on the same thought process So, so yeah, just
talking about transportation.
What do you guys offer fortransportation needs like via,
you know, the importance ofdoctor's appointments, et
cetera, or activities that areaway from the facility Or
grocery shopping.
snacks.
Erin (31:14):
What do you guys offer as far as transportation?
Kerri (31:17):
so our community offers, we do doctor's appointments on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, thatwould be also, included in your
base rent, and then if it's anoff day, if our van was
available on an off day, then,they would incur an additional
transportation fee, and then,if, We couldn't take them and we
(31:37):
could help arrange for like anoutside agency, transportation
department to come take them onMondays for us Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
We're always on the bus or thevan going somewhere.
So, on Mondays, we go on anouting somewhere Wednesdays.
They typically go to shopping.
You go to Walmart typically, andthen on Fridays, they may go on
another drive, or they may go tothe museum or the park or lucky
(32:00):
peak or.
The zoo on a Friday outing.
John (32:04):
And that's included in the base rate.
Okay.
Kerri (32:06):
Yep.
John (32:07):
Oh, wow.
Great.
Great.
That's awesome.
Oh, yeah.
We're
Kerri (32:11):
keeping them social.
Yeah, keeping them out there andengaged and active and social
Erin (32:17):
Can they catch an Uber if they wanted to Yeah.
Kerri (32:21):
that if they want to they have they do.
Yeah, some arrange their owntransportation with different
transportation companies.
I've had residents Uber taxi.
John (32:30):
Awesome.
So it just depends on, ofcourse, as you sit down and you
develop their plan of care, asfar as them living there.
some of them might be a flightrisk, I'm sure, and you don't
want them Ubering out of thefacility and, get that phone
call.
Where's dad?
I have no idea.
He took some I've jumped in somecar and he's out of here.
So how do you face some of those
Erin (32:53):
restrictions
John (32:54):
restrictions and challenges?
Because I'm sure like if I'mliving in a place and my two
buddies are bailing to gosomeplace, but maybe I shouldn't
be going someplace because mymemory is going or something
like that.
how do you deal with it?
Help support my needs when I'mgetting frustrated because my
two buddies are heading to theBoise State game and I can't
Erin (33:16):
go.
how do you guys handle that?
Kerri (33:19):
just really some good conversation.
You might have to bring a nurseor another staff member that can
that relates to them or talk tothem.
I may have to call the family.
It just depends.
maybe they can go.
So you just Get everythingprepared and speak to the
buddies on the stuff, but itwould definitely depend on the
resident.
It would be a, their cognition,whether or not they are safe.
(33:41):
And if the friends would be ableto manage them.
So, it's just typically aconversation and probably some
good documentation and careplanning.
To ensure that with the family,I've had that happen.
We had a couple residents thatwant to go somewhere and I'm
like.
Is that really safe?
So I had them call the familyand the families were totally
fine with it.
Let them go.
So they, I think they took atransportation bus and went to
(34:03):
the village.
John (34:04):
Nice.
Erin (34:05):
Well, I appreciate this conversation because really you
think of assisted living, it'slike, I need help and I'm stuck.
I can't go anywhere.
I'm on your timeline.
But it's like, as long as we'resound of mind and capable, we
really live a normal life.
We could leave, we could go outand do stuff.
You're not stuck.
Kerri (34:25):
and some people still drive.
so I've had a couple tours wherethey have believed we were
independent living.
So independent living's not,they're not governed like
assisted living's are.
So for us, you can be asindependent as you want.
Do you like, and we may be ableto negotiate to where you don't
even have a level of carecharge.
Because you're that independent,but typically someone that moves
(34:46):
into assist living needs somesort.
Of assistance, and each level ofcare, the reason you would have
a level of care too, because.
Of some of the rules that governassist living, we have to do the
care planning.
if they're self made, we have todo self met assessment.
so those actually that requiressomebody to do something for
you.
Therefore, you have a level ofcare.
So occasionally we can negotiatelike that is absolutely the only
(35:09):
thing we do and we can negotiateno level of care and they're
totally independent And yeah,they can come and go But we
encourage as much asindependence as you can.
So even if they're a standbyassist Maybe they only need help
with getting their bottoms onbut they can do their top So, or
they can't button so we'll putyour top on but you can put your
socks on so we want them to beindependent to keep that
(35:31):
independence and Not if theydon't have to have a staff do
every last thing for them.
We want that because They'velost a lot when they come into
assisted living.
They might have come from a 2,000 square foot home, they may
have been driving, they mighthave had their spouse, they've
did their own meds, they didtheir own finances, and
everything is slowly being takenaway when you don't go into a
(35:52):
community where someone else iscaring for you.
And so that can cause, otherstuff.
So, definitely want to keep themindependent and engaged and
social.
Erin (36:02):
Do you guys offer religious services there or have
people from the outside come in?
Kerri (36:08):
So we have, chaplains that come in and sing.
We have a Bible study that getstogether.
I think like a chaplain, maybefrom a home health or hospice
comes in and guides a Biblestudy or residents have
sometimes guided a social hour.
She does our life enrichment,does a meditation type hour,
dims the light, turns on lightmusic.
(36:29):
They may do some stretch or theTai Chi.
At the, or the social or thespiritual, and then Sundays, you
could get some nondenominational churches to come
in and give services.
John (36:41):
All right.
On the flip side of churches andstuff, do you guys have a happy
hour where people can have acocktail if they want
Erin (36:48):
or a glass of wine or a beer?
Is that allowed in yourfacility?
Yeah.
Kerri (36:54):
haven't done that in a while.
For me, I just have had somesituations where it would not
benefit a few other residents tohave that dangling in the
atmosphere.
And so we haven't done it, butwe've had, wine and beer at
Christmas parties, Thanksgivingparties.
Occasionally we'll bring it outon certain events, but you can,
some communities do a Fridayhappy hour.
(37:15):
so, and then just depends on thedoctor, you might have the
doctor.
Give the order that's okay tohave, something with certain
medications.
We have some orders that theycan have a glass of wine at
bedtime, or they'll tell you canhave a, certain amount of liquor
at X amount of times or threekind of like a medication
John (37:33):
Yeah.
Kerri (37:33):
times a day.
You can have a glass a shot ofsomething.
So, yeah,
John (37:37):
alcohol.
Kerri (37:39):
yeah.
And again, they again, but theyhave rights too.
So, even if.
If the doctor everything, but hesays, no, but they really want
something, you would just haveto communicate the risks.
And, that could be associatedwith it and document,
John (37:54):
One question.
I think one of the lastquestions I have, is when it
comes to, Sometimes as people'scognitive, awareness changes,
they start becoming forgetful orfrustrated or angry.
They might come up and saysomething about maybe a
caregiver, or they startcomplaining about this or
(38:16):
complaining about that.
And then of course, their familycomes by to visit and they say,
Oh yeah, Margie, my caregiverjust slapped me or whatever.
And
Erin (38:26):
so How
John (38:27):
you handle navigating through grievances, when you
have the challenge of that,where maybe it's not necessarily
true.
Maybe there is some
Erin (38:39):
truth to it.
So how do you handle thosesituations?
Kerri (38:42):
you take them all seriously, from the get go, you
investigate them, you askquestions, you go interview, go
investigate the surroundings inwhich they said it.
if they were to accuse, youknow, like of a slap, you're
going to involve adultprotection, you could involve
the ombudsman, of course thefamilies could have to involve
(39:02):
the police if need be withcertain situations, but you do
want to, you got to look intoevery, everything they say, even
though you might think it's not,maybe there is cameras where you
can review a camera because aperson says that they went into
my room again.
Well, if there's a camera facingthat room, you can go reassure
that person that I looked at thecamera and nobody went in that
(39:24):
direction from the time framethat you said that someone went
in there and then do again,you're going to document and
you're going to do some followup documentation to the resident
or the family or whoever gavethe grievance.
So that's a kind of that's arequirement of each community
and the executive director wasto follow up on a complaint.
Follow up with the writtendocumentation.
John (39:45):
Now I have another weird question.
I might even embarrassed I'meven thinking about this or
asking this, if you have acouple and, One of them needs to
live in assisted living and thehusband or the wife wants to
come in and visit Thesignificant
Erin (40:02):
other hold on just a sec.
So pretty much he wants to know.
How am I going to live withoutmy Erin?
Can she come live with
John (40:09):
I think there's a lot of truth to that, but even going to
it, you know, intimacy.
can they still, can a spousecome in to visit their loved one
in a facility, as as long asboth parties are willing and
able, right?
Can they come in as long
Erin (40:24):
as they close their door and have intimate relations?
I mean, how does that, that's agood question.
John (40:30):
Okay.
Kerri (40:34):
are fine lines, but, if both are cognizant and they want
to, then, that's their home, andwe should always knock before
entering in any apartments.
That's, like, a requirement.
You know, to make whomeverinside know that we're on the
outside.
We'd like to come in.
so they can and they want andthey're cognizant enough to do
it.
(40:55):
We couldn't stop them.
it changes the dynamics if it's,not a married couple, maybe just
2 residents that found love andcommunity.
that's some navigating.
I'm in the memory care, That'seven bigger navigating and lots
of documentation and behaviorsand redirection and
(41:15):
communicating, communicating,communicating.
Erin (41:19):
So before John asked my favorite question, I have to say
to you and our listeners, notonly did I learn about assisted
livings and really that they'renot prisons, but my gosh, what
you guys, go through thepatience, the kindness, you're,
you have to have a big heart tobe in this job because you
(41:39):
really.
are going through a lot, to keepyour residents safe and make
sure no harm is done.
You know, from the emergencypreparedness, the security to
make sure your food's done tothe conversation we just had now
in memory care.
So thank you
John (41:55):
for what you do in the smile you seem to have doing
this job.
Well, the structure to of,allowing people to live the life
that they can continue living,which is very fulfilling and
That they get to meet otherpeople.
They get to participate in a lotof different activities.
They get a still Travel aroundtown.
(42:17):
They have their meals cooked.
They have their laundry done.
There's so much that's veryadvantageous to what you guys
have to offer.
And so I think that a lot ofpeople fear that, right?
they look at, gosh, I'm livingat home.
I get to do everything I
Erin (42:29):
want, and yeah, I still have to do my own laundry I have
to cook my own meals, This islike vacation.
John (42:34):
yeah, yeah, it's like a resort, you know, so, so I, I've
learned quite a bit too.
I've.
I love what you guys do as ateam.
And, I think it takes a heart tobe a caregiver and really be
there to support and love onthese people when the family's
not around.
And so that takes a lot oftrust.
That takes a lot of,
Erin (42:54):
wonderful stuff you guys have to offer, So, So please be
nice to your staff.
Kerri (43:00):
Oh, yeah, staff.
are huge.
for us, me and our staff,they're awesome.
We have a great, great staff.
Residents compliment them allthe time, from the caring part
that they do and the engagementand the banters that they can
give back to each other.
they do a really good job andthere's no way anybody can do
any of what we do without.
(43:22):
The team and a team.
so it's that's important to havethose people.
On your ship,
Erin (43:27):
You were speaking of banter and it reminded me of a
lady I filled in over atBrookdale for a caregiving
shift.
And I can't remember her name,but she's candy's sweet, candy's
dandy, but liquor's quicker.
And I'll never forget that.
Yeah.
Kerri (43:42):
oh, Yeah.
you've had you get someresidents that.
They
John (43:45):
Yeah.
Kerri (43:48):
funny.
Some are.
Erin (43:51):
okay,
John (43:51):
I remember I volunteered, To, help facilitate some Texas
Hold'em poker in a facility thatyou ran.
And, it was an incredibleexperience.
only guys were allowed in thereat four for the, that specific,
poker time.
but it was, I understood why,because the guys felt like they
were open to talk about thethings guys talk about, and they
(44:14):
didn't have to filter it, and itwas so incredibly entertaining,
because they said the funniestthings.
I mean, it was, one of the mostenjoyable
Erin (44:23):
Texas homemaker
John (44:24):
Hold'em poker
Erin (44:25):
events that I've ever participated in, so.
what you're asking,
John (44:28):
Kerry, is if you need another volunteer
Erin (44:30):
that, you're available.
John (44:31):
Yeah, I would
Erin (44:32):
I'd definitely be interested in that,
John (44:34):
so.
Kerri (44:34):
Yeah, and John, he's helped a lot and that's
communities use home health andhospice and other agencies.
we didn't actually hit on thatin this, so that's something
that we utilize.
for our residents and outsideagency to come in to do those
type of things.
Wound care.
O.
T.
P.
T.
S.
T.
and then hospice.
So.
For the most part, there areregulations in our assist living
(44:57):
regs that might prevent anassist living from taking
someone, but there are reasonswhy there's not in the resident.
Literally, that's their, this istheir home from when they move
in to when, they transition.
I mean, that's helpful forhospice to live out their last
days, any comfortable and aloving setting in our, in a
community.
there's many assist livings inthe Valley.
(45:18):
and everybody has a niche forthis, that, or the other, but I
think we're all in it for thesame reasons, to care for our
seniors,
John (45:26):
Well, gosh, thank you so much for everything you do and
for hanging in there.
I've known you for a long time,and I know that being in your
position is not always easy.
You know, when you're when youhave staff calling in and.
Maybe a bunch of them are sick.
I for one know that you're outthere on the floor or you're in
the kitchen helping cook thosemeals.
And so a lot of people don'tunderstand this in leadership
(45:49):
roles, even though you're inthat leadership role, you're
still a team player and
Erin (45:54):
that you go out there and you assist with
John (45:56):
everything that needs assistance.
Erin (45:58):
Not afraid to get her hands dirty.
John (46:00):
no, she isn't.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll ask you a question.
I can't believe she's going tolet me ask this question.
So as you know, Aaron and I loveto travel and we love going on
adventures.
And so this is really away from.
What we've been talking about.
But anytime we talk to a guest,we want to know what's on their
(46:21):
adventure list.
Is there a place they've alwayswanted to travel or maybe a
place they have traveled thatthey'd love to share and
encourage people to explore?
so so what about
Erin (46:31):
you?
Is there something on yourbucket list or adventure list?
Kerri (46:36):
probably a few, but we actually had to go, we're going
to go to Hawaii on spring breakwith the kids, but I've been to
Hawaii a couple of times.
I would like to go to CostaRica, that would be super fun to
do.
For my honeymoon, my husband andI, we went to Italy and we got
to travel around to a few placesin Italy.
We'd love to do that again withthe kids and go back and do
(46:58):
that.
So,
Erin (46:59):
Awesome.
We're in Italy.
Kerri (47:02):
we stayed, his aunt had, And then cousin had a little
sabbatical, they had a littlehotel or apartment that we
stayed in most of the time, butthen we took day trips.
So we went to Bologna Florence.
We flew into Rome.
We went to Venice, and thenactually went to Croatia to, we
(47:23):
took a snap to Croatia.
So we just took the train tomultiple places and stayed a
couple days here and there.
We were down there for 21 days.
So it was incredible.
So we'd like to go do that againBut take the kids and maybe
venture out to a few differentother locations
Erin (47:39):
Some good pasta and pizza.
Kerri (47:41):
Oh, I mean my husband's just like the best food like
ever.
You know can't compare itanywhere fresh seafood fresh
Yeah,
Erin (47:50):
This is our problem is, you know, I was fortunate to
grow up around the world andItaly was just a few hours away.
And man, when
John (47:57):
John likes
Erin (47:58):
cook me something or do something,
John (48:00):
He stopped It never measures up.
It never measures up.
it's amazing.
Sorry.
it was it was okay.
it was good.
But, uh, I've had pizza
Erin (48:08):
in Italy or I've had this in Thailand or I've had and I'm
like,
John (48:13):
forget it.
Kerri (48:13):
right but pizza and pizza in italy is a full pizza to
yourself not even cut up so wewould actually be like oh can we
have that cut up and we're gonnashare it and they look at you
like What it's a knife and afork with a pizza in Italy
John (48:28):
Yeah.
Erin (48:29):
but
Kerri (48:29):
So we were cracking up so No, it was hilarious.
So it's just yeah, it was anincredible time, for our
honeymoon there So i'd love togo back there.
But yeah, would be somewhere i'dlike to go.
John (48:39):
yeah.
I definitely advise, When you doplan another trip with the kids,
make sure it's at least threeweeks because so many times we
get stuck with these little oneweek vacations or two week
vacations, and we try to cram somuch into that period of time.
And by the time we come back towork, when we get back, we're so
exhausted because it wasn'trelaxing because we were trying
(49:01):
to fit so much in.
So when you can get above threeweeks,
Erin (49:05):
if you can, it's always,
Kerri (49:07):
You do always you do always need a vacation from a
vacation.
John (49:10):
for sure.
For sure.
Kerri (49:12):
staycation from the vacation
Erin (49:14):
thank you for your time today.
It's been awesome.
I knew it would be.
Kerri (49:18):
guys are awesome.
Thank you
John (49:20):
Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Connect
Empower.
We want to express our gratitudeto you for being part of our
community, and we hope today'sepisode has provided you with
valuable insights andinspiration to enhance your life
and that of a loved one.
Erin (49:34):
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We are a community dedicated toenhancing the lives of our aging
adults and their support system.
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John (49:55):
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Erin (50:10):
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John (50:31):
I'm John.
Erin (50:32):
I'm Erin.
Until next Wednesday.
So if you really want to know about community, I think
(00:02):
it's important that you couldlook at those surveys.
I would encourage them to also.
If you found something in thosesurveys to ask the community to
maybe understand why that endedup on a survey, because not
everything is, accurate at thesame time.
There is a story behind somestuff.
John (00:29):
Hi, I'm John,
Erin (00:30):
and I'm Erin.
You're listening to connect andpower.
The podcast that proves age isno barrier to growth and
enlightenment
John (00:38):
tune in each week as we break down complex subjects into
bite sized enjoyable episodesthat will leave you feeling
informed, entertained, and readyto conquer the world
Erin (00:51):
Our guest today is executive director, Kerri Wells
from spring gardens assistedliving in Meridian.
Born and raised in Parma, Idaho.
She enjoyed playing sports.
Basketball was definitely herfavorite.
Kerri's passion for healthcaresparked early.
As a senior in high school,Kerri completed health
(01:12):
occupation courses and obtainedher certified nursing assistant
certificate.
And began her career inhealthcare right after high
school in 1997.
Kerry rapidly ascended throughvarious leadership roles,
cumulating in her currentposition where she masterfully
spearheaded the launch of abrand new community.
(01:32):
Boosting occupancy by 60% injust nine months.
A proud mother of two Kerryenjoys gardening, camping, and
sharpening her skills in awoman's poorly when she's not
enhancing the lives of herresidents.
Let's give a warm welcome to ourguests today.
Kerri Wells.
John (01:52):
welcome Kerri Thank you so much for being here.
Kerri (01:54):
Thanks for having me.
John (01:55):
Yeah.
So, so I've known you for a longtime and have a huge amount of
respect for you in the assistedliving world.
And so I just want you to sharea little bit with our audience
of what got you in or how yougot into this industry.
Where you did it start as alittle girl and you thought, I
want to be an administrator ofan assisted living or just tell
(02:16):
us how it all came around.
Kerri (02:19):
So actually, I think when I was little, I wanted to be a
dentist, but that didn't quitepan out.
So there was a course in my highschool called Casa, and you
could do the, occupationalengineering, welding, CNA.
And so there was health classesand so they were in your junior
and senior year, I decided mysenior year I wanted to do it.
(02:41):
So I graduated my senior yearwith my CNA.
And then I worked in skillednursing for three months after I
graduated high school, a longtime ago.
And skilled nursing wasn'treally for me.
And my aunt worked in assistedliving in Caldwell.
And so she said, you need tocome here.
I went and applied, talked to,you know, the LP and the health
(03:01):
services director at the time,got hired.
And I've been in assisted livingever since.
So, and then I worked my wayfrom being a CNA to multitudes
of different, Positions inassisted living, and now the
executive director for thecompany I currently work for.
John (03:18):
Wow.
That's excellent.
So.
How long did that whole periodlast from when you were a CNA
coming out of high school towhere you have become now in
your leadership role?
Kerri (03:31):
So, I was a CNA in the one community for 2 2 and a half
years, and then I actually leftto go to school to be a nurse,
and that, didn't quite work outthe way I wanted it to, so I
went back to the company, andthen was an office manager, and
I worked for that company for 21years, and was the ED for 8.
Almost 9.
And then when I resigned fromthere, I had the opportunity to
(03:52):
open a building in Meridian andthen I've been here for 5 years.
So I have a heart for people.
I think I've always cared for,my family when I was younger and
it's just as translated intowhat I do now.
I like to get to know people andthen the residents and their
seniors, they have a lot tooffer and it's fun to be able to
(04:13):
meet their needs and be therefor them and have fun with them
as well.
Um,
John (04:17):
Yeah, that's great.
Erin (04:18):
Isn't it funny how life just pushes you in a direction?
I've noticed you said a couplethings, right?
From dentist to nursing, and itjust kept pulling you back.
Like, you were meant for this.
This is your purpose, right?
Kerri (04:30):
well, when I was a senior, I was like, I'm a
caregiver.
Like I never even thought to bein the, in the, operations side
of things.
People would say, you know, whenare you going to run this
building?
I laughed at them like, I'm acaregiver.
Like, I'll be a caregiver formaybe a nurse.
Yeah, something pushed me intothe office manager role and then
on to, then, like, I can.
Be the administrator executivedirector and so I went into
(04:52):
those courses and then.
Been doing that and when Italked to
Erin (04:55):
A born leader.
That's awesome.
John (04:58):
And I think for our audience, what a lot of people,
don't realize is a lot ofpositions, leadership positions,
they come straight out ofcollege, then they drop into a
leadership.
Position straight into thecompany that they work for, and
they stay in that position formany, many years, not
necessarily always.
Are they good at it?
Because, maybe they don'tunderstand the different roles
(05:20):
people have to go through.
And I think that's what makesyou such an incredible asset to
the company.
You now work for is if is you'veworked in so many different
positions leading all the way upto where you are now that When
you see people struggling, youcan give them advice or you
understand them more whatthey're facing, or they can't
(05:40):
pull one over on you either,because you've already served in
that position.
So you understand them, you
Erin (05:45):
know,
Kerri (05:46):
you know, my team or staff, I would never ask my
staff to do something I myselfwould never do.
And then just always encouragethem to ask because I, yeah, I
could as much as I can be there.
I definitely would be there tohelp because I don't want to see
anybody struggle.
So,
Erin (06:02):
That's, yeah, respectable, for sure.
So when you think of us, or atleast when I think of assisted
assisted living, it's a littleintimidated coming in.
I remember when we were lookingfor my dad at one point, it's
like, there's so manyfacilities, so many places,
people say, go here, go there.
And how do I know?
And so really, my question toyou is, what are some of the
(06:25):
most important questions to ask?
What should families beconsidering when they look at
assisted livings?
Kerri (06:34):
so actually, in the last couple of days, I had 1 family
tour that literally asked me 32questions.
And they were very goodquestions and then yesterday I
got on a phone call.
She asked me a ton too, but Ithink important questions to
ask.
when you're going into this isliving is asking, About
staffing, that's an importantthing, depending on, how you
(06:55):
feel your family is.
But maybe your turnover rateturnover is going to happen,
but.
Given the opportunity forsomeone in the community to kind
of tell you how it works intheir communities is would be
helpful to someone lookingversus living, ask them in the
survey process.
How are you surveyed maybe wherethose surveys are kept and
allowing the company to offerand being truthful where you can
(07:17):
find them because it's publicknowledge.
So if you really want to knowabout community, I think it's
important that you could look atthose surveys.
I would encourage them to also.
If you found something in thosesurveys to ask the community to
maybe understand why that endedup on a survey, because not
everything is, accurate at thesame time.
There is a story behind somestuff.
(07:38):
So, training, what kind oftraining does your community
offer, activities program, doyou do stuff, do the residents
not do much, just the activitiesprogram is good.
Social enrichment and assistedliving is one of the huge
factors.
to their help, maybe how manynurses that goes with staffing
and how does the nursingservices as far as the license
nurse works.
(07:59):
maybe current census, howdepending maybe their loved 1
is.
Thinks that a big community istoo big, or maybe too small is
too small.
So knowing census in a communityand the staff to resident ratio
is a good question.
and then how does 1 interactwith, the community has the
staff interact with.
With residents, I think thoseare good questions to ask when
(08:21):
you're looking for assistedliving.
And there's many more, but
Erin (08:26):
as far as licensing goes, is it all the same for all
assisted livings or are theredifferent levels, you based off
of the level of care theyprovide?
Kerri (08:36):
so why is the regulations or the regulations for
residential assisted living?
They call them Ralph'sresidential assisted living
facilities.
Assisted living, so we all alsoneed to abide by those
regulations.
However, you can do your levelof care differently.
You can, your staffing could bedifferent.
There's no set staffing, but youcan do staffing different.
(08:58):
you can do your care plansdifferently.
The paperwork side of thingscould be differently, but at the
end of the day, you have toabide by how the rules are set
to help guide you.
So, if we discharge somebody forsomething that's against the
regs, they really wouldn't beable to go to another assisted
living because.
We couldn't meet that for theregulations, nor would another
(09:20):
community be able to technicallyso
John (09:23):
Now, one thing that, I hear you saying a lot of is
community.
And I love that word, that, thatword's really important, I feel,
for all of us, whether we'reliving in our homes out here, or
in assisted living, differenttype of facility.
So community is that, a wordspecific for assisted livings or
is that a grouping for, any typeof care facility, whether it be
(09:47):
assisted living, memory care,certified family home, are they
all communities or is thatmainly for assisted
Erin (09:55):
Yeah,
Kerri (10:01):
in my mind from.
My 1st community I worked at fora long time, facility, certain
words.
Push more towards maybe, like askilled nursing community.
Thank you.
Facility, right?
Same thing with, director ofnursing.
it's health services directorand assisted living.
Administrators for skillednursing, executive directors,
(10:22):
typically for assisted living.
And so community facility soundsso, institutional sometimes.
Communities feels like homefeels togetherness.
For a community, and so it's forme, I think it's just embedded.
Some people still use alwaysfacility.
I like community, so that's why.
That's how I say it.
John (10:39):
I love that.
So if I was new, you know, mymom and dad just moved into town
and my dad It was too much formy mom to handle and it would be
much better for him to live in acommunity such as yours.
Can you walk us through thesteps of, I know it's probably
important to go out and tour,but can you just walk us through
(11:01):
the steps of how we geteverything going for Say My
Father?
Kerri (11:06):
So when someone comes into our community To look
around I always like i'm in adual role now So i'm doing the
marketing the executivedirector, but I like to do is to
sit to our sit So I bring thefamilies in the resident their
families or all of them.
We sit in an office We sit in acommon area and I like to get to
know the resident and theirfamilies first What is it that
(11:28):
you're looking for?
Do you have any specificquestions for me?
open ended questions to allowthem to answer In a full
sentence versus just yes or no,yes, or I guess no answers,
excuse me and then I Adapt forme.
I adapt to the resident So ifthey throw in there something
about they're talking abouttheir love for dogs, you know,
i'll I try to relate withsomething that I have.
(11:50):
I have two dogs.
My mom has a dog that is alwaysover at our house, too.
they like the rain.
you talk about the rain.
So you just, I try to adapt towhat they're going and relate to
them.
Then after you gather theinformation, what is your
concerns?
What's going on with dad?
How much assistance does dadneed?
or what would he like to see?
Sometimes it's, Medicationmanagement or socialization or
(12:13):
meals, or they don't want to dohousekeeping anymore.
And so I gather all that.
Once we have that, we go lookaround.
You gauge what they'reinterested in.
Are they interested in 1bedroom, 2 bedroom, studio.
Memory care, and then as we walkaround, we're just walking and
talking at the same time, stillanswering questions or.
Just chatting along the way,building a relationship with
(12:36):
them.
And then answering any questionsif they.
If they don't have any concernfor a bathtub, then you wouldn't
really show them a spa room.
They don't, but if they'reconcerned about safety, then
you're going to describe, whatyou have in your community to,
encourage safety and protection.
the doors lock at 7 o'clock atdusk to make sure that, nobody
(12:58):
can come in.
in this community, I have now,we have safe view cameras and
memory care for fall, fallreduction.
there's this many staff that goaround and check on the
residents Q2 or, periodicallythroughout the day and night.
So, and then, after thatdescribing what the pricing is,
if they want to know thepricing, which everybody does.
(13:20):
So describing the pricing, havea level of care work, depending
on the loved one's needs, you'regoing to, our nurse will do an
assessment.
So a nurse always has to do anassessment.
Now, we'll determine the levelof care and the medical needs of
your father or the resident, andthen, that can generate the care
plan as well, and that will tellthe staff what they need to do,
(13:40):
whether it's a reminder.
Maybe it's physical assist ormaybe it's a standby assist and
those kind of have differentpoints.
And again, different communitiesare gonna have different level
of care systems.
and then that generates thelevel care, which the cost
associated with the level ofcare.
We also have to have physiciansorders and history and physical
prior to a resident moving in.
So, before they can physicallycome, you have to have that in
(14:03):
your hand and the nursereviewing it.
and that also ensures that wecan meet their needs.
So we can't meet their needs.
Then, we need to be upfront withthat.
Describe can offer versus whatyou're saying your father needs,
to make sure we meet theirneeds.
John (14:19):
Great.
That
Erin (14:19):
sense.
While they're on the tour,they're asking questions.
What are some things that theyshould also be looking for on
the tour?
Kerri (14:28):
I think that they need to be looking for the energy in the
building.
we get that a lot in ourcommunity here is the energy is
high and you can feel it andit's a positive energy.
So you need to feel how abuilding feels when you first
walk into it, depending on thecommunity.
Are you looking for newer?
Are you looking for older?
(14:49):
that's going to be a preference.
I think you're looking forcleanliness.
you're looking for staffinteraction with the residents,
you're looking for, staff, tosee if people are in there,
looking at the cleanliness ofthe residents and their
appearance, right?
to make sure that, making surethat, does does that look like
they're kept and they're tendedto, so those are some good
(15:11):
things to look for when you'rewalking through the building,
and just gauging, theinteraction with the residents
and staff are huge, and I thinkthe energy in the building is
one big one, but.
You're just looking at all thestuff as you walk through the
dining room is, Is it set up isthere common areas that are
nice?
So it just depends on thepreference of each individual
(15:32):
and their families.
Erin (15:33):
I say, are the residents smiling, right?
Not always the case, but ingeneral,
Kerri (15:39):
Yeah, do the residents look happy.
Erin (15:40):
yeah.
John (15:42):
So, do assisted living facilities, do they have areas
where residents can exercise andwork out?
is there a place where they cando some physical work if they'd
Erin (15:53):
like to?
Kerri (15:54):
So it's going to depend on communities.
some communities do have anactual, gym, like a workout
area.
Some do not, depending on whenthey're built or how they're
built.
but we do, in our community, wedo exercises in the activities
room.
So she does Tai Chi, she does awalkabout, so the residents go
and walkabout.
she does stretch bands.
We have a gal that comes in andhelps us with stretch bands.
(16:17):
She does seated exercise.
So those are all things that Ithink typically a lot of
assisted livings will have theirlife enrichment do.
In addition to if they have agym, they could use those gyms
with a bike or a treadmill,weights, again, stretch bands.
And so some communities don't.
Erin (16:35):
Sounds like we need to go work out over there.
Sounds like some fun.
Kerri (16:40):
Yeah, the stretch bands, they're pretty fun to watch with
the stretch band.
Erin (16:44):
when it comes to security, I know you mentioned you guys
lock your doors at 7 and thenthere's cameras.
What are some other securitymeasures that we should look for
as family members as we tour andask questions
Kerri (16:57):
I think staffing goes to the security measure.
If you go into community andthey say we have 50 residents
and 1 staff member on at alltimes.
that doesn't seem.
enough staffing, so that couldbe a safety thing, right?
you're probably looking atlighting outside if you come in
the evening to make sure thatyour communities has light
outside your call lights orpendants, ensuring communities
(17:18):
have some sort of call lightsystem, which would be part of
our regulations as well.
and then just your, the doors,when did the doors lock?
When do they open your staffing?
and then the stairwell, or, ifyou have stairs or an elevator,
those could be safety.
Things as well.
Erin (17:36):
And then do you also inform the family, Hey, if not
that there'd be an earthquakehere, but if there's a tornado,
an earthquake, some kind offire, these are our emergency,
Kerri (17:45):
yeah, so that'd be with training, so we have training
with fire and life safety onhigher and then typically
annually and then we havemonthly.
Fire drills or emergencyevacuation drills.
And so we do those, where wehave to evacuate the residents
either outside or we bring themto the common areas.
To have to be at night duringthe night night shift, 10 P to 6
(18:08):
a.
And so, for me, my maininstructor and myself, we pick a
time between those hours and wecome.
And we can let the residentsknow for that in the night
shift, just so they're not superalarmed by it.
And then we do the drill and weteach as we go and the staff and
(18:28):
the residents.
This is what we'd like you todo.
this is what you take.
Grab a fire extinguisher.
This is what race means.
This is what past means thatthey have any questions.
And we an event that we have toevacuate fully.
how do we get people down thestairs from upstairs and.
and then we have, if we were toevacuate fully, we actually have
to have.
Evacuation relocation centersthat we contract with,
(18:52):
basically, and then we can usethose to go to those places.
If we had, we couldn't come backto our community.
Erin (18:58):
It reminds me of elementary school, you know,
it's like fire drill and itcould be snowing outside and
you're like, man, this
John (19:04):
stinks.
It's cold.
Yeah, but it's it's, gotta bereally strategic though, because
of course you have people usingwalkers wheelchairs, that are on
oxygen.
That, yeah, I'm sure it takestime where if you have a bunch
of rugrats, you can rush themout real quick.
And as long as they're alltogether, you can get them out
pretty quick.
But this is a process that takestime, I'm sure, during an
emergency evacuation.
Erin (19:25):
Correct.
Kerri (19:26):
yeah, and with ours going on, it's nice because we.
We're in service scene andcoaching our residents to just
come to this.
Common space.
in the front of our building,and then we can evaluate there
what exactly we need to do.
And then our staff go room toroom after that, make sure that
all the residents are where theyneed to be.
John (19:47):
And, when somebody comes in, they, they walk.
They walk around your facility,they sit down with you, you get
to know them and so forth, andthey find out, Oh gosh, I really
want to try this out.
I really want to live here.
And they've checked out theroom, they've talked about rates
and stuff.
Then I'm assuming they sign acontract for at least a year, is
(20:09):
that correct?
Kerri (20:11):
No, it's a month to month.
John (20:12):
Oh, it's a month to month.
Okay.
Okay.
All right.
So that led me into my nextquestion was if they do sign a
contract and for some reasonthey weren't happy there, they
wanted to move to a differentplace or move home.
Could they?
And I'm sure you guys would likethem to give you plenty of
notice before moving out.
Of course.
But if it's month to month, it'snot, they don't have to wait
(20:34):
until they fulfilled that
Erin (20:36):
year contract.
Kerri (20:37):
Nope.
It's just a month to monthtenancy agreement and it's 30
day notice on either party.
to give notice, so if they werehere came 6 months, and then,
yeah, decided to go, they gotbetter and they went home.
They would just need to putright into the community.
That this is my 30 vacate mylast day is.
whatever date, and they can movefurniture out as.
(20:59):
as soon as they want, honestly,but rent could still be charged
until.
On that 30 day, or we rent theapartment to some other
prospect.
And then you wouldn't, wewouldn't bill the 2 parties, the
new party would start thebilling.
The other party of the part, thebilling would stop as long as
there's a resident not in yourcommunity.
You don't charge the level ofcare.
(21:21):
So, if they're on vacation or inthe hospital and stop level of
care, because you're notproviding that service.
And then there's a couple ofdifferent reasons why a 30 day
wouldn't be needed.
upon a death of a resident or anemergency situation where the
community.
Couldn't meet the needs of theresident, or the resident wasn't
fit for the.
(21:42):
For the community, and then thatcould start a 15 day of this and
not a 30.
Erin (21:47):
going back to financials, I know it can be confusing,
right?
It's okay, I'm paying thisamount a month, so everything's
included, but that's not alwaysthe case.
And so what are some possiblequestions families should ask
and, what are generally includedin those costs?
Kerri (22:05):
and then that's what they asked, what's included in your
base rent.
So, base rent for us and.
probably quite a few communitiesis your base, your utilities,
except for your phone.
This community, we have a phoneservice.
So, we could be your phoneservice and that would be a 50
phone fee.
your utilities, as I said, basiconce a week housekeeping, basic
(22:28):
once a week laundry, which islinens and personal, and that
could be dependent upon acommunity.
some might charge.
It just depends on thecommunity.
You have three meals a day,snacks.
Most of your activities arepretty much included in your
base rent, Wi Fi, DirecTV, andthen for my community, we
provide, the toilet paper andtissues, and then typically, the
(22:52):
paper towels, the liquid handsoap and gloves is what a
community provides as well, forthose people that need, personal
care services for their level ofcare.
Erin (23:02):
Are there programs like sponsorships, grants, or
anything to help people thatmight need assistance with
financial needs?
Kerri (23:10):
So, really, yeah, so really for assisted living,
you're looking at private pay,Medicaid, the community will
accept Medicaid, and then longterm care insurance, Medicare
does not pay for assistedliving, and those kind of are,
vet the VA, but the VA is goingto pay the recipient, and then
they would still then pay thecommunity, the monthly fee, it
(23:33):
typically doesn't go through thefacility any financial ways
from, the VA as the payer.
Sometimes communities can be apayee.
Is that the right, the payee?
we don't, we put that all on thepower of attorney or the
resident to, everything goesinto their checking account, and
then you would still just pay usa monthly check like you would
normally if you were payroll.
Erin (23:53):
That was my other question because we like to travel and so
I'm like, can I put it on mycredit card and get points or do
I have to pay like check or cashor cashier's check?
Kerri (24:03):
Nope.
Again, this would probablydepend on a community, but, we
have a portal, a payment portalyou could pay, So if you pay
that way, you can do an e check,which would not cost you
anything if you did a debit cardor a credit card.
You would incur a fee for that,but you could pay with your
credit or debit card.
John (24:22):
Hey, we're going somewhere fun.
Kerri (24:24):
Yeah,
John (24:24):
How about, can you get into a little bit for our
listeners, we've talked aboutassisted livings, how you set up
a tour, you go around, you'resit down, get to know you, get
to know some of your team and soforth, but can you help people
that may not have ever heard of?
Levels of care in an assistedliving.
Can you just explain that?
(24:45):
And then those costs, those areextra costs on top of your base
costs.
So if you can just talk abouthow many levels of care there
are and
Erin (24:54):
what those consist of.
Kerri (24:56):
so level of care is again, it's going to depend on a
community.
Some do points, and there's apoint spread into that level of
care, and then there's a costassociated with that level of
care.
Some communities do, a la carte.
So if you want bathing, it's Xamount of dollars.
If you need dressing, it's Xamount of dollars.
(25:16):
If you need, transfers, it's Xamount of dollars.
For our community, we do levelof cares.
So we have, we have five andthen we have a custom and then
we have point spreads for eachlevel.
And so then, as I described alittle bit earlier, depending on
how much care you need, if youjust, if you're independent, no
charge, no points.
If you need reminders.
(25:38):
There's going to be a certainamount of points associated with
the reminders.
If you need, standby assist,it's right in the middle.
It's going to be a little higherpoints, but not all the points
because you don't need, you'renot dependent, completely
dependent on a caregiver to dothe things.
And so once the nurse does theassessment, you go through what
you need and what you may wantfrom an assisted living, and you
(26:00):
add up the points.
And then those points areassociated with the level of
care and then the cost.
Okay.
And then that cost is inaddition to the base rent.
Erin (26:09):
How often are assessments done?
Kerri (26:12):
So you do an initial for our community.
We do we like to get to knowthem in the 1st, 30 days.
And that's what we described.
Sometimes families and residentsaren't quite sure.
All of the needs, and so weassess a little bit higher on
our worst day, and then we getto know each other in the first
30 days.
So, within the first 30 days, ifwe find, okay, we're doing a lot
(26:32):
more, we need to reevaluate andtalk to family and the resident.
If we're doing less, when youtalk to family and the resident,
and then we'll adjust the levelof care accordingly.
And then for the regulations,it's annually or change of
condition.
And so if someone's stable andnothing changes for that year,
you don't have to redo a careplan or level of care for the
(26:52):
year.
but change of conditions wouldarise and you would do a new
level of care and then startthat annual over and then, the
nurses are required to do aquarterly nursing assessment.
a head to toe, are their medsright?
looking at their skin, doingtheir vitals, and making
suggestions on any changes thatneed to be made
Erin (27:13):
As far as coming to visit, say, if I want to visit a family
member, can I come anytimeyou're open or does it need to
be scheduled?
Kerri (27:21):
for us anytime.
now that we're post COVID, thatwas a different world.
But, Yeah.
I invite and encourage residentsand families to come when,
again, the doors may be locked,so you might have to push the
doorbell or communicate or call.
But if you want to visitanytime, this is their residence
home, and their family would beable to visit them at their home
(27:42):
at any time, so
John (27:44):
Yeah.
Kerri (27:44):
are open.
John (27:45):
So when it comes to levels of care and stuff, I know that
those incur charges.
Can families, if you communicateas an administrator, your nurse
does, or somebody communicateswith the family, can the family
help assist with some of thosethings to avoid those extra
charges?
Or during an assessment, ifthat's just charges that need to
(28:06):
be done, period, they're goingto need to pay that
Erin (28:10):
level of care.
Kerri (28:12):
some yes, some no.
if the family wanted to not havepoints for showers, they could
come shower.
family cannot come in and assistwith medications, though.
So, some yes, some no.
No, typically, medications haveto be bubble packed, The VA is
different.
They technically, the VA doesnot people pack, but most
(28:34):
communities, I would think, we,we send them out to be bubble
pack because that's just bestpractice.
2, but the families, if theydon't, if it's not a spouse that
lives with the resident in thecommunity, families can't assist
with the medication.
But certain things they could,they wanted to do their laundry,
even though that's on our baserent.
if they want to do the laundry,they could, they want to debate
(28:55):
them.
they could.
So, some yes, some no.
John (28:59):
So when it comes to families that may have a loved
one living in your community butthey live out of state can they
just say you know what I've gotthe money I just wanted I want
to pay for everything all levelsof care so you guys will assist
them on everything can they justput money into an account so
that if they do need that typeof care it's provided or is it
(29:23):
pretty much just do you knowdrain
Erin (29:25):
assessment time.
Kerri (29:27):
It's really that, if you start having money, two, extra
money given for the, and you putit in an account, then the aging
just adds up, that doesn'treally jive very well, so,
typically not, it's the month,so we adjust that way
accordingly.
John (29:44):
Okay.
Kerri (29:45):
For level of cares or the rent
Erin (29:47):
How about pets?
Can I bring my dog or my cat?
Are there
Kerri (29:52):
again, this would, yes, it depends on the community
again, for our community.
If you would like a pet, theresident, and possibly the
family would have to meet thepet's needs, on a day to day,
are, walking at the resin wouldhave to walk it, that type of
thing.
our staff care for theresidents, but there's not that
much time sometimes to care forthe pet.
Erin (30:14):
But when I move in I can decorate the way I want to like
I can put up personal picturesCurtains just like it's my own
place.
Can I paint walls?
Kerri (30:23):
yes, So the rooms are typically they are there.
They're empty and we encouragedefinitely your own belongings.
That's your familiar.
Already your family pictures, weencourage them.
You can put the hang thepictures.
As you like, we like to hang theTV if we're going to hang the
TV, but pictures, we encouragethe residents or families to go
ahead and make it their home.
(30:45):
That is.
That is their home.
That is, Where they're going tolive, where they go day to day,
and you want it to feel likethat, that they're comfortable
in that,
John (30:54):
How about, Transportation.
Erin (30:56):
That was gonna be mine
John (30:58):
we're on the same thought process So, so yeah, just
talking about transportation.
What do you guys offer fortransportation needs like via,
you know, the importance ofdoctor's appointments, et
cetera, or activities that areaway from the facility Or
grocery shopping.
snacks.
Erin (31:14):
What do you guys offer as far as transportation?
Kerri (31:17):
so our community offers, we do doctor's appointments on
Tuesdays and Thursdays, thatwould be also, included in your
base rent, and then if it's anoff day, if our van was
available on an off day, then,they would incur an additional
transportation fee, and then,if, We couldn't take them and we
(31:37):
could help arrange for like anoutside agency, transportation
department to come take them onMondays for us Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
We're always on the bus or thevan going somewhere.
So, on Mondays, we go on anouting somewhere Wednesdays.
They typically go to shopping.
You go to Walmart typically, andthen on Fridays, they may go on
another drive, or they may go tothe museum or the park or lucky
(32:00):
peak or.
The zoo on a Friday outing.
John (32:04):
And that's included in the base rate.
Okay.
Kerri (32:06):
Yep.
John (32:07):
Oh, wow.
Great.
Great.
That's awesome.
Oh, yeah.
We're
Kerri (32:11):
keeping them social.
Yeah, keeping them out there andengaged and active and social
Erin (32:17):
Can they catch an Uber if they wanted to Yeah.
Kerri (32:21):
that if they want to they have they do.
Yeah, some arrange their owntransportation with different
transportation companies.
I've had residents Uber taxi.
John (32:30):
Awesome.
So it just depends on, ofcourse, as you sit down and you
develop their plan of care, asfar as them living there.
some of them might be a flightrisk, I'm sure, and you don't
want them Ubering out of thefacility and, get that phone
call.
Where's dad?
I have no idea.
He took some I've jumped in somecar and he's out of here.
So how do you face some of those
Erin (32:53):
restrictions
John (32:54):
restrictions and challenges?
Because I'm sure like if I'mliving in a place and my two
buddies are bailing to gosomeplace, but maybe I shouldn't
be going someplace because mymemory is going or something
like that.
how do you deal with it?
Help support my needs when I'mgetting frustrated because my
two buddies are heading to theBoise State game and I can't
Erin (33:16):
go.
how do you guys handle that?
Kerri (33:19):
just really some good conversation.
You might have to bring a nurseor another staff member that can
that relates to them or talk tothem.
I may have to call the family.
It just depends.
maybe they can go.
So you just Get everythingprepared and speak to the
buddies on the stuff, but itwould definitely depend on the
resident.
It would be a, their cognition,whether or not they are safe.
(33:41):
And if the friends would be ableto manage them.
So, it's just typically aconversation and probably some
good documentation and careplanning.
To ensure that with the family,I've had that happen.
We had a couple residents thatwant to go somewhere and I'm
like.
Is that really safe?
So I had them call the familyand the families were totally
fine with it.
Let them go.
So they, I think they took atransportation bus and went to
(34:03):
the village.
John (34:04):
Nice.
Erin (34:05):
Well, I appreciate this conversation because really you
think of assisted living, it'slike, I need help and I'm stuck.
I can't go anywhere.
I'm on your timeline.
But it's like, as long as we'resound of mind and capable, we
really live a normal life.
We could leave, we could go outand do stuff.
You're not stuck.
Kerri (34:25):
and some people still drive.
so I've had a couple tours wherethey have believed we were
independent living.
So independent living's not,they're not governed like
assisted living's are.
So for us, you can be asindependent as you want.
Do you like, and we may be ableto negotiate to where you don't
even have a level of carecharge.
Because you're that independent,but typically someone that moves
(34:46):
into assist living needs somesort.
Of assistance, and each level ofcare, the reason you would have
a level of care too, because.
Of some of the rules that governassist living, we have to do the
care planning.
if they're self made, we have todo self met assessment.
so those actually that requiressomebody to do something for
you.
Therefore, you have a level ofcare.
So occasionally we can negotiatelike that is absolutely the only
(35:09):
thing we do and we can negotiateno level of care and they're
totally independent And yeah,they can come and go But we
encourage as much asindependence as you can.
So even if they're a standbyassist Maybe they only need help
with getting their bottoms onbut they can do their top So, or
they can't button so we'll putyour top on but you can put your
socks on so we want them to beindependent to keep that
(35:31):
independence and Not if theydon't have to have a staff do
every last thing for them.
We want that because They'velost a lot when they come into
assisted living.
They might have come from a 2,000 square foot home, they may
have been driving, they mighthave had their spouse, they've
did their own meds, they didtheir own finances, and
everything is slowly being takenaway when you don't go into a
(35:52):
community where someone else iscaring for you.
And so that can cause, otherstuff.
So, definitely want to keep themindependent and engaged and
social.
Erin (36:02):
Do you guys offer religious services there or have
people from the outside come in?
Kerri (36:08):
So we have, chaplains that come in and sing.
We have a Bible study that getstogether.
I think like a chaplain, maybefrom a home health or hospice
comes in and guides a Biblestudy or residents have
sometimes guided a social hour.
She does our life enrichment,does a meditation type hour,
dims the light, turns on lightmusic.
(36:29):
They may do some stretch or theTai Chi.
At the, or the social or thespiritual, and then Sundays, you
could get some nondenominational churches to come
in and give services.
John (36:41):
All right.
On the flip side of churches andstuff, do you guys have a happy
hour where people can have acocktail if they want
Erin (36:48):
or a glass of wine or a beer?
Is that allowed in yourfacility?
Yeah.
Kerri (36:54):
haven't done that in a while.
For me, I just have had somesituations where it would not
benefit a few other residents tohave that dangling in the
atmosphere.
And so we haven't done it, butwe've had, wine and beer at
Christmas parties, Thanksgivingparties.
Occasionally we'll bring it outon certain events, but you can,
some communities do a Fridayhappy hour.
(37:15):
so, and then just depends on thedoctor, you might have the
doctor.
Give the order that's okay tohave, something with certain
medications.
We have some orders that theycan have a glass of wine at
bedtime, or they'll tell you canhave a, certain amount of liquor
at X amount of times or threekind of like a medication
John (37:33):
Yeah.
Kerri (37:33):
times a day.
You can have a glass a shot ofsomething.
So, yeah,
John (37:37):
alcohol.
Kerri (37:39):
yeah.
And again, they again, but theyhave rights too.
So, even if.
If the doctor everything, but hesays, no, but they really want
something, you would just haveto communicate the risks.
And, that could be associatedwith it and document,
John (37:54):
One question.
I think one of the lastquestions I have, is when it
comes to, Sometimes as people'scognitive, awareness changes,
they start becoming forgetful orfrustrated or angry.
They might come up and saysomething about maybe a
caregiver, or they startcomplaining about this or
(38:16):
complaining about that.
And then of course, their familycomes by to visit and they say,
Oh yeah, Margie, my caregiverjust slapped me or whatever.
And
Erin (38:26):
so How
John (38:27):
you handle navigating through grievances, when you
have the challenge of that,where maybe it's not necessarily
true.
Maybe there is some
Erin (38:39):
truth to it.
So how do you handle thosesituations?
Kerri (38:42):
you take them all seriously, from the get go, you
investigate them, you askquestions, you go interview, go
investigate the surroundings inwhich they said it.
if they were to accuse, youknow, like of a slap, you're
going to involve adultprotection, you could involve
the ombudsman, of course thefamilies could have to involve
(39:02):
the police if need be withcertain situations, but you do
want to, you got to look intoevery, everything they say, even
though you might think it's not,maybe there is cameras where you
can review a camera because aperson says that they went into
my room again.
Well, if there's a camera facingthat room, you can go reassure
that person that I looked at thecamera and nobody went in that
(39:24):
direction from the time framethat you said that someone went
in there and then do again,you're going to document and
you're going to do some followup documentation to the resident
or the family or whoever gavethe grievance.
So that's a kind of that's arequirement of each community
and the executive director wasto follow up on a complaint.
Follow up with the writtendocumentation.
John (39:45):
Now I have another weird question.
I might even embarrassed I'meven thinking about this or
asking this, if you have acouple and, One of them needs to
live in assisted living and thehusband or the wife wants to
come in and visit Thesignificant
Erin (40:02):
other hold on just a sec.
So pretty much he wants to know.
How am I going to live withoutmy Erin?
Can she come live with
John (40:09):
I think there's a lot of truth to that, but even going to
it, you know, intimacy.
can they still, can a spousecome in to visit their loved one
in a facility, as as long asboth parties are willing and
able, right?
Can they come in as long
Erin (40:24):
as they close their door and have intimate relations?
I mean, how does that, that's agood question.
John (40:30):
Okay.
Kerri (40:34):
are fine lines, but, if both are cognizant and they want
to, then, that's their home, andwe should always knock before
entering in any apartments.
That's, like, a requirement.
You know, to make whomeverinside know that we're on the
outside.
We'd like to come in.
so they can and they want andthey're cognizant enough to do
it.
(40:55):
We couldn't stop them.
it changes the dynamics if it's,not a married couple, maybe just
2 residents that found love andcommunity.
that's some navigating.
I'm in the memory care, That'seven bigger navigating and lots
of documentation and behaviorsand redirection and
(41:15):
communicating, communicating,communicating.
Erin (41:19):
So before John asked my favorite question, I have to say
to you and our listeners, notonly did I learn about assisted
livings and really that they'renot prisons, but my gosh, what
you guys, go through thepatience, the kindness, you're,
you have to have a big heart tobe in this job because you
(41:39):
really.
are going through a lot, to keepyour residents safe and make
sure no harm is done.
You know, from the emergencypreparedness, the security to
make sure your food's done tothe conversation we just had now
in memory care.
So thank you
John (41:55):
for what you do in the smile you seem to have doing
this job.
Well, the structure to of,allowing people to live the life
that they can continue living,which is very fulfilling and
That they get to meet otherpeople.
They get to participate in a lotof different activities.
They get a still Travel aroundtown.
(42:17):
They have their meals cooked.
They have their laundry done.
There's so much that's veryadvantageous to what you guys
have to offer.
And so I think that a lot ofpeople fear that, right?
they look at, gosh, I'm livingat home.
I get to do everything I
Erin (42:29):
want, and yeah, I still have to do my own laundry I have
to cook my own meals, This islike vacation.
John (42:34):
yeah, yeah, it's like a resort, you know, so, so I, I've
learned quite a bit too.
I've.
I love what you guys do as ateam.
And, I think it takes a heart tobe a caregiver and really be
there to support and love onthese people when the family's
not around.
And so that takes a lot oftrust.
That takes a lot of,
Erin (42:54):
wonderful stuff you guys have to offer, So, So please be
nice to your staff.
Kerri (43:00):
Oh, yeah, staff.
are huge.
for us, me and our staff,they're awesome.
We have a great, great staff.
Residents compliment them allthe time, from the caring part
that they do and the engagementand the banters that they can
give back to each other.
they do a really good job andthere's no way anybody can do
any of what we do without.
(43:22):
The team and a team.
so it's that's important to havethose people.
On your ship,
Erin (43:27):
You were speaking of banter and it reminded me of a
lady I filled in over atBrookdale for a caregiving
shift.
And I can't remember her name,but she's candy's sweet, candy's
dandy, but liquor's quicker.
And I'll never forget that.
Yeah.
Kerri (43:42):
oh, Yeah.
you've had you get someresidents that.
They
John (43:45):
Yeah.
Kerri (43:48):
funny.
Some are.
Erin (43:51):
okay,
John (43:51):
I remember I volunteered, To, help facilitate some Texas
Hold'em poker in a facility thatyou ran.
And, it was an incredibleexperience.
only guys were allowed in thereat four for the, that specific,
poker time.
but it was, I understood why,because the guys felt like they
were open to talk about thethings guys talk about, and they
(44:14):
didn't have to filter it, and itwas so incredibly entertaining,
because they said the funniestthings.
I mean, it was, one of the mostenjoyable
Erin (44:23):
Texas homemaker
John (44:24):
Hold'em poker
Erin (44:25):
events that I've ever participated in, so.
what you're asking,
John (44:28):
Kerry, is if you need another volunteer
Erin (44:30):
that, you're available.
John (44:31):
Yeah, I would
Erin (44:32):
I'd definitely be interested in that,
John (44:34):
so.
Kerri (44:34):
Yeah, and John, he's helped a lot and that's
communities use home health andhospice and other agencies.
we didn't actually hit on thatin this, so that's something
that we utilize.
for our residents and outsideagency to come in to do those
type of things.
Wound care.
O.
T.
P.
T.
S.
T.
and then hospice.
So.
For the most part, there areregulations in our assist living
(44:57):
regs that might prevent anassist living from taking
someone, but there are reasonswhy there's not in the resident.
Literally, that's their, this istheir home from when they move
in to when, they transition.
I mean, that's helpful forhospice to live out their last
days, any comfortable and aloving setting in our, in a
community.
there's many assist livings inthe Valley.
(45:18):
and everybody has a niche forthis, that, or the other, but I
think we're all in it for thesame reasons, to care for our
seniors,
John (45:26):
Well, gosh, thank you so much for everything you do and
for hanging in there.
I've known you for a long time,and I know that being in your
position is not always easy.
You know, when you're when youhave staff calling in and.
Maybe a bunch of them are sick.
I for one know that you're outthere on the floor or you're in
the kitchen helping cook thosemeals.
And so a lot of people don'tunderstand this in leadership
(45:49):
roles, even though you're inthat leadership role, you're
still a team player and
Erin (45:54):
that you go out there and you assist with
John (45:56):
everything that needs assistance.
Erin (45:58):
Not afraid to get her hands dirty.
John (46:00):
no, she isn't.
Yeah.
Yeah, I'll ask you a question.
I can't believe she's going tolet me ask this question.
So as you know, Aaron and I loveto travel and we love going on
adventures.
And so this is really away from.
What we've been talking about.
But anytime we talk to a guest,we want to know what's on their
(46:21):
adventure list.
Is there a place they've alwayswanted to travel or maybe a
place they have traveled thatthey'd love to share and
encourage people to explore?
so so what about
Erin (46:31):
you?
Is there something on yourbucket list or adventure list?
Kerri (46:36):
probably a few, but we actually had to go, we're going
to go to Hawaii on spring breakwith the kids, but I've been to
Hawaii a couple of times.
I would like to go to CostaRica, that would be super fun to
do.
For my honeymoon, my husband andI, we went to Italy and we got
to travel around to a few placesin Italy.
We'd love to do that again withthe kids and go back and do
(46:58):
that.
So,
Erin (46:59):
Awesome.
We're in Italy.
Kerri (47:02):
we stayed, his aunt had, And then cousin had a little
sabbatical, they had a littlehotel or apartment that we
stayed in most of the time, butthen we took day trips.
So we went to Bologna Florence.
We flew into Rome.
We went to Venice, and thenactually went to Croatia to, we
(47:23):
took a snap to Croatia.
So we just took the train tomultiple places and stayed a
couple days here and there.
We were down there for 21 days.
So it was incredible.
So we'd like to go do that againBut take the kids and maybe
venture out to a few differentother locations
Erin (47:39):
Some good pasta and pizza.
Kerri (47:41):
Oh, I mean my husband's just like the best food like
ever.
You know can't compare itanywhere fresh seafood fresh
Yeah,
Erin (47:50):
This is our problem is, you know, I was fortunate to
grow up around the world andItaly was just a few hours away.
And man, when
John (47:57):
John likes
Erin (47:58):
cook me something or do something,
John (48:00):
He stopped It never measures up.
It never measures up.
it's amazing.
Sorry.
it was it was okay.
it was good.
But, uh, I've had pizza
Erin (48:08):
in Italy or I've had this in Thailand or I've had and I'm
like,
John (48:13):
forget it.
Kerri (48:13):
right but pizza and pizza in italy is a full pizza to
yourself not even cut up so wewould actually be like oh can we
have that cut up and we're gonnashare it and they look at you
like What it's a knife and afork with a pizza in Italy
John (48:28):
Yeah.
Erin (48:29):
but
Kerri (48:29):
So we were cracking up so No, it was hilarious.
So it's just yeah, it was anincredible time, for our
honeymoon there So i'd love togo back there.
But yeah, would be somewhere i'dlike to go.
John (48:39):
yeah.
I definitely advise, When you doplan another trip with the kids,
make sure it's at least threeweeks because so many times we
get stuck with these little oneweek vacations or two week
vacations, and we try to cram somuch into that period of time.
And by the time we come back towork, when we get back, we're so
exhausted because it wasn'trelaxing because we were trying
(49:01):
to fit so much in.
So when you can get above threeweeks,
Erin (49:05):
if you can, it's always,
Kerri (49:07):
You do always you do always need a vacation from a
vacation.
John (49:10):
for sure.
For sure.
Kerri (49:12):
staycation from the vacation
Erin (49:14):
thank you for your time today.
It's been awesome.
I knew it would be.
Kerri (49:18):
guys are awesome.
Thank you
John (49:20):
Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Connect
Empower.
We want to express our gratitudeto you for being part of our
community, and we hope today'sepisode has provided you with
valuable insights andinspiration to enhance your life
and that of a loved one.
Erin (49:34):
We are more than just a podcast.
We are a community dedicated toenhancing the lives of our aging
adults and their support system.
We encourage you to visit ourwebsite now at www.
connect empower.
com.
Explore more information aboutour guests from today's episode
and to access our freeresources.
John (49:55):
resources.
Our mission doesn't end at theconclusion of this episode.
We invite you to take action nowby sharing the knowledge you've
gained today with someone whomay benefit from it.
Whether it's a family member,friend, or colleague, your
influence can spark positivechange.
Erin (50:10):
Remember, Subscribing to our podcast ensures you never
miss an episode and we have moreincredible guests and resources
in store for you.
So hit that subscribe button andstay connected with us.
Your commitment is the drivingforce behind our mission and
together we can create amovement for a brighter future
as we age.
John (50:31):
I'm John.
Erin (50:32):
I'm Erin.
Until next Wednesday.
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!