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Focus on Faith: Connie Steele’s Healthy Spirit

August is National Wellness Month! Spiritual wellness is an important part of our overall health and well-being. Read more about Connie Steele’s faith journey as she assists with the spiritual health of residents at The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood in Detroit. 

Connie Steele of Detroit is a woman of faith and strength. As a young woman raising a child, she completed her high school diploma while employed at a doctor’s office, taking classes on her lunch break and after work. She has dyslexia, so studying was difficult. She later completed training in clinical pastoral education, including a chaplain internship at Detroit Medical Center where she was working as a unit clerk. “I visited people in hospitals, nursing facilities, Cass Corridor, the homeless, and more,” says Connie.

When she retired, Connie lived in housing that was noisy and had stairs that were difficult for her to manage due to several chronic illnesses including COPD, high blood pressure, and arthritis. One day while reading her Bible, she kept noticing the word ‘Help’. “It just jumped off the page,” says Connie. “I asked God how I could help others when I couldn’t help myself.”

Soon after, a friend asked Connie to help her look for an apartment. When they reached McDougall Avenue, it rang a bell! A year prior, Connie had applied to live at the new development being built there – The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood. “An employee invited me to come in,” says Connie. “I did, and all my paperwork was in order! I was one of the first people to move to Thome Rivertown in 2013!”

Connie’s son, Shawn, visits regularly. “She has people who are there for her,” says Shawn. “Everyone is treated like family.”

“I believe God placed me at Rivertown to be a servant to others,” says Connie who now leads a resident Bible study once a week. “We pray for the residents and their families and pray for the staff. It’s what keeps me going.”

Connie’s breathing has improved and she no longer needs oxygen. “I still have a healthy spirit,” says Connie. “I thank God for all that I can do.”

To learn more about The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood or UMRC & Porter Hills, visit our website at umrcph2022.wpengine.com.

Implementing the Action Pact Household Model at Kresge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center

August is National Wellness Month! This month, we look forward to sharing stories with you of the many ways that wellness is fostered and promoted to ensure the best possible health and well-being of the older adults we serve at UMRC & Porter Hills.

As the Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (Kresge Center), located at UMRC’s flagship campus in Chelsea, was being expanded and renovated to create households for its long-term residents, Kresge Center team members were also preparing to implement the new Household Model. Grant funding from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) supported team member training in the Household Model, provided by Action Pact. A unique culture change organization, Action Pact helps team members from a variety of departments, including direct care, dining, housekeeping, life enrichment, and more, to transform senior living environments from an institutional feeling into warm, pleasant households that feel like home.

Kresge Center has two households which opened in November 2020: Sarns Sanctuary, named for Dick and Norma Sarns, is home to 18 long-term residents who require traditional skilled care; and Hicks’ House, in honor of Jack and Martha Hicks, provides care for nine residents living with dementia. The Household Model, or small household living, creates culture change that embraces person-centered care, individual choices, and close personal attention, and includes common kitchen and living spaces that feel like home for the older adults we serve.

Sara Beal and Josie Pezzullo have augmented their roles at Kresge Center to include serving as Household Coordinators. Sara is also a CNA at Kresge Center where she has worked for a decade; Josie continues to be the Life Enrichment Coordinator at Kresge Center, a role she has held for the last five years.

“Having been part of the Household Model training from the beginning, it has been wonderful to see it take shape and come to life,” says Josie. “Instead of the old model of team members following a set schedule every day, the Household Model puts the resident at the center of making decisions for themselves, including when they want to get up in the morning, what they would like for breakfast, and what activities they would like to participate in.”

Sara and Josie hold weekly huddles with team members and serve as a support and resource for the team. “We have an ice-breaker at the start of each huddle and provide a safe space for team members to ask questions and help each other,” says Josie. “The Household Model encourages leadership among our care partners. Sara and I support the Household team members and serve as a go-between for team members and management.”

“I really like the common sense aspects of the Household Model,” says Sara. “It engages and empowers both our team members and our residents and helps focus on resident preferences and away from a set schedule. Not feeling so rushed when we’re caring for residents is really beneficial for both the team member and resident.”

Josie says, “Especially during the pandemic, the households gave our residents a sense of control over their lives and enhanced the sense of family among our residents and team members.”

Sara agrees. “The Household Model has been an adjustment, but it’s rewarding to see all our hard work pay off for the benefit of the older adults we care for.”

Harold Hartger- A Love for People and a Drive for Caring

Harold Hartger lost his father at the tender age of 12. Harold’s son, Dick, and daughter-in-law, Sue, say that event shaped Harold’s love of people and his drive to care for others. “He had to deal with a lot of issues at such a young age,” says Dick. “He supported his mother and, later, put himself through law school at the University of Michigan.”

As a boy, Harold was also encouraged by family friends to attend YMCA camps which helped develop his character and prepare him for service in World War II. “Two days after Pearl Harbor, my Dad and Gerald Ford, who worked in the office next to Dad, went together to sign up for the Navy. While serving as a Plank Officer on the U.S.S. Hancock in the Pacific Theater, Dad was responsible for notifying loved ones when members of his command died at sea. He also established procedures for keeping the 500-pound bombs on the ship from exploding enroute to other aircraft.”

Harold served for five years in the Navy, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

With previous experience in banking, Harold started a mortgage company with Allen H. Willard in 1949, Hartger & Willard. With his expertise in financing, Harold later became instrumental in the founding of Porter Hills. As a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, he was part of a visionary group that “saw the need that was coming for caring for older adults,” says Sue.

Dick says his dad had a close relationship with Don Porter, another member of the Westminster Church. “The Porters had the land, and Dad was involved through his mortgage company to help with the financing,” says Dick. “They went through some amazingly difficult times – high interest rates and making the economics of the project work.” Eventually, they were able to bring in resources from the Isabella Home in Grand Rapids that was closing, which helped launch Porter Hills.

An avid sailor and photographer, Sue says Harold “was very savvy. He had a lot of charisma and charm, and a deep sense of caring. He had a gift.”

When Harold himself needed care at Porter Hills, he was not happy about the move at first, according to Dick. “He never thought he would live there. It took him a while to get adjusted,” says Dick.

“What was really great, though, was that he ended up with a sense of fraternity there,” says Sue. “He found that he had friends and former colleagues there from the banks he had worked closely with. They started a Lunch Club, which brought him back full circle. It gave him the social outlet he needed.”

Dick believes his dad lived seven years longer than expected because of the care he received at Porter Hills. “He was thrilled to get to meet his grandkids,” says Dick.

Dick’s mother, Marjorie Bjork, also lived at Porter Hills’ Cook Valley Estates and later at the Green House® Homes. An accomplished pianist and music teacher, her Steinway piano is on display at Cook Valley Estates and is used periodically for concerts by musicians from local colleges and universities.

“Porter Hills is one of the first and one of the finest,” says Sue. “It is a leading senior care provider in West Michigan and became a model for other projects. I think Harold would be so excited about things like affordable housing and home health care and the diversity of care that is now provided by UMRC & Porter Hills. He would also be very interested in supporting team members through the Foundation’s Scholarship program, I believe.”

Rockin’ Out at UMRC Foundation’s Annual Garden Party

The UMRC Foundation was delighted to once again host its annual Garden Party, after missing last year due to COVID-19. Honorary Chairs, Steve and Lori Sarns of Dexter, Michigan; Steve Fetyko, President and CEO of UMRC & Porter Hills; and Wendy Brightman, President of the UMRC & Porter Hills Foundation welcomed approximately 85 guests for strolling tours of the beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds of Chelsea Retirement Community, including the latest outdoor space – the Kresge Courtyard – surrounding the newly renovated and expanded Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

This year’s Garden Party was a little different, in order to keep everyone as safe as possible. Groups of ten to twelve at a time enjoyed a walking tour of campus, delectable treats and sips, entertainment and karaoke provided by Chuck Colby, and the chance to design and take home a bouquet from the cutting garden!

The Kresge Courtyard, made possible with funds raised from the 2019 Garden Party, includes handicapped accessible walking paths, putt-putt golfing, musical chimes, raised garden beds, colorful bird feeders, a fire pit, fairy garden, and, of course, lots of beautiful flowers.

The UMRC Foundation is grateful for its Presenting Sponsor, AZ Shmina Building Contractors; Diamond Sponsors, St. Joe’s Mercy Hospital, Steve and Lori Sarns, and Green Magic Growers; Sapphire Sponsor, CareLinc Medical & Supply; and Ruby Sponsors, Innerspace Design, Inc., and the Bob and Jan Lyons Foundation.

To learn more about the UMRC & Porter Hills Foundation, visit our website at umrcph2022.wpengine.com, or call us at 734.433.1000 ext. 7502.

UMRC Foundation’s Garden Party Presenting Sponsor – AZ Shmina

The UMRC Foundation is grateful for its Garden Party Presenting Sponsor, AZ Shmina Building Contractors. Construction has been a way of life for the Shmina family since 1916. Andy Shmina, now President of AZ Shmina, joined the company in 1993.

AZ Shmina specializes in healthcare, educational, and other nonprofit construction across southeast Michigan. Their first project with UMRC was the expansion of Huron Valley PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), doubling the size and capacity of its Day Health Center in Ypsilanti, which was completed in 2018. Since then, AZ Shmina has been part of the expansion project at Thome PACE in Jackson and, most recently, the newly renovated Mackinaw Dining Room at Chelsea Retirement Community.

AZ Shmina has a philosophy of giving back to the communities and organizations where it works, including UMRC.

“I have learned a lot about caring for the elderly over the last several years,” says Andy. “I used to think of UMRC as a nursing home, but it’s so much more. The continuum of care provides for older adults at all stages of their life and their journey, whether independent living, assisted living, memory care, or skilled care and rehabilitation. I am honored to have the opportunity to create nice places for older adults to live, especially those with limited means.”

Andy shares that it’s important to him to honor the aging population and the sacrifices they have made, and to treat everyone with dignity and respect. “Older adults need a sense of purpose and a sense of community,” says Andy. “You’ve got it here at UMRC.”

To learn more about the UMRC Foundation and its annual Garden Party event this Saturday, July 17, to be held at UMRC’s historic Chelsea Retirement Community campus, visit: https://umrcfoundation.mybrio.orgupcoming-events/

Visit http://azshmina.com/ to learn more about the company’s 100+ year history and accomplishments.

Patricia “Pat” Edison – Devoted Career of Service

When Patricia “Pat” Edison and her husband, Bill, moved to Porter Hills Village in 1992, he was the youngest man and she was the second youngest woman living on campus!  “We made the decision to move to Porter Hills because we were spending our winters in Florida and didn’t need our big house anymore,” explains Pat. “Our three grown children all live in Grand Rapids, and it was very convenient to come here. It’s been a wonderful situation for me.”  When Bill passed away in 2000, Pat was especially grateful to live at Porter Hills.

Pat’s career was devoted to nonprofit service, most notably as the Executive Director for the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in the 1980s. “There have been so many changes,” says Pat. “When I worked there, it was just me and my assistant working four days per week. Today, they have 17 staff members, and the foundation has grown immeasurably. It was a time when there was a great interest in creating foundations. A wave of foundations came into being at about the same time.”

One of those new foundations was the Porter Hills Foundation, established in 1995 as the nonprofit fundraising arm for Porter Hills. Because of Pat’s wealth of knowledge in the world of philanthropy, she was asked to join the Porter Hills Foundation Board, which she served from 1999 to 2015.

The charitable aspect of Porter Hills means a lot to Pat. “Benevolent Care is an important feature of Porter Hills and one that speaks to its strong faith tradition. The position at Porter Hills has always been that nobody would be asked to leave because of their financial situation. Helping to grow and sustain the Benevolent Care Fund is an achievement I’m most proud of while serving the Porter Hills Foundation board.”

She adds:  “What a pioneer Porter Hills has been in Grand Rapids in the field of senior living!  The concept of a continuum of care allows people to move through the various stages of care they need and still feel that they are at home at Porter Hills. The Generations Child Development Center, led by the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, is another charm located on the Porter Hills Village campus. Many of our residents have helped as volunteers in the program as ‘Grandmas’ and ‘Grandpas.’”

As a resident of Porter Hills, Pat believes the people – both team members and fellow residents – are the key to the success of the organization. “The staff really makes it go, and the people who live here are so welcoming to newcomers,” says Pat. “That quality has become identified with Porter Hills.”

To learn more about Porter Hills and the Porter Hills Foundation, visit umrcph2022.wpengine.com or porterhillsfoundation.umrcph2022.wpengine.com.

Dedication of the Dr. Robert W. and Lynn H. Browne Rooftop Garden at Porter Hills Village

Dr. Robert W. Browne’s success in the fields of dentistry and business was influenced by many facets of his early life – from growing up with his hard-working grandparents during the Depression, to the discipline he learned as a 19-year-old serving in World War II. As a young man, Dr. Browne was driven to set and achieve goals and to serve others.  

“Gratitude holds no bias. It only seeks to return a kindness that someone chose to bestow on another.”  Dr. Browne’s quote illustrates his passion for giving back, whether to his hometown of Coldwater, Michigan; to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, where he graduated from dental school and earned an advanced degree in orthodontics; or to the Porter Hills Foundation in support of older adults and our team members who provide excellent care and service.

Last summer, Dr. Browne provided a generous gift which supports both the Porter Hills Foundation’s Team Member Scholarship fund and the creation of the Rooftop Garden at Porter Hills Village, named for Dr. Browne and his late wife, Lynn.

This week, the Porter Hills Foundation hosted a dedication of the new Rooftop Garden with an Ice Cream Social. Dr. Browne, his son, Jim, and other family, friends, and Porter Hills residents were on hand to celebrate and enjoy ice cream treats in the beautiful new space.

“My parents have always been philanthropic and particularly interested in the pursuit of education,” says Dr. Browne’s son, Jim. “In addition, Porter Hills has taken care of many of my parents’ friends. Dad has always been impressed with the care provided at Porter Hills, where he now lives. A gift that supports the educational pursuits and career goals of Porter Hills team members seems like a natural fit for my dad.”

Gratitude, Friendship, and Service: Hicks and Sarns Neighborhoods at Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Close friends Jack and Martha Hicks and Dick and Norma Sarns have recently taken their friendship to a new level – the second floor of the newly completed Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, to be exact. Two households – one for traditional long-term care residents and one for those living with dementia – have been named in their honor for helping to make this project possible: Hicks’ House and Sarns’ Sanctuary.

“We have been personal friends for many years,” says Norma. “We love the idea of having such a mission-focused community named after us, and that we can be neighbors in perpetuity.”

Based on the Action Pact Household Model of culture change, this model of small household living embraces person-centered care, individual choices, and close personal attention, and includes common kitchen and living spaces that feel like home. “We’re honored to be part of such a beautiful concept,” says Martha.

Jack and Martha, long-time residents of Ann Arbor, have made their home at Chelsea Retirement Community for four years, as did Martha’s mother. “We could not have made a better choice,” says Martha. “It was true for my mom and true now.”

Dick and Norma, also of Ann Arbor, served for many years on the UMRC Foundation board and are the founders of NuStep. “With over 60 years in the healthcare field, our focus is on health and wellness,” says Dick. “That’s what we want our legacy to be.”