Candas Schouvieller, Administrator
April was a busy month, full of advocacy, operations, and new beginnings. How do we find new beginnings amidst all our uncertainty? Our community provides those beginnings. Thanks to many hard-working advocates within our community, we can focus on our operations and strategy for the future. Between ever changing regulations and funding obstacles our current need to advocate for skilled nursing services in our community is not the first and certainly won’t be the last. Our goal is to keep skilled nursing care, along with assisted living and our future expansion into memory care and enhanced assisted living, in New Ulm for generations to come. To do that we continue to work on strategy.
Last fall, the State released a Nursing Home Moratorium Exception Application opportunity which would allow us to apply for funding to update the nursing home with things from security cameras to HVAC updates with bi-polar ionization to updated tub rooms and larger resident bathrooms to name only a few. The timeline was tight, and our Team rallied together to apply on December 22, 2022. We presented the application to a panel on February 14, 2023, and on April 6, 2023, we learned we were awarded the grant. This grant will not only upgrade the building but will also positively affect our property rate reimbursement once completed.
It is good news! As with any project, there are many steps to take before we can move forward, and we continue to work through those steps. Moratorium Exception grants must be funded by the recipient and then are paid back in our rates 18 months after the project is complete. While we are thrilled that we have passed this first step in the process, we do have many more steps ahead before this grant becomes reality.
We are honored and humbled to have been voted to receive donations from 100 Women Who Care on April 16th! This fantastic group of women submit nominations for area non-profits and vote between three nominees twice annually. There are so many deserving non-profits in New Ulm and the surrounding communities we are grateful to be selected. This gift will be used for resident programs like the Dream Come True Program where residents are treated to a special experience and Wine and Dine, where residents are treated to fine dining within their home. Oak Hills Living Center is more than skilled nursing care and assisted living, we are home. Thank you for your support!
Support Oak Hills
Thank you for supporting Oak Hills Living Center! To date we have raised $42,060 of the $75,000 needed to cover the cost for new tubs. Thanks for caring for those who can no longer care for themselves and help us fill these tubs! You are appreciated.
Staff Celebrate Years of Service in April
Karen Coyour, RNA, celebrated 30 years with Oak Hills Living Center. Providing quality care for residents and being a part of the Oak Hills family is right where she belongs. Karen has been going above and beyond her entire tenure with Oak Hills. Running activities when residents were looking for things to do and during COVID she took turns taking residents out to eat on her day off. All so they could get out of the building. Karen has a heart of gold and thank you is not sufficient for how much we appreciate your service, Karen! Take care of yourself now. It’s your turn.
Tammy Grossmann, TMA/RNA, celebrated her 25th year with Oak Hills on April 7th. Tammy is someone who pays attention to details, and knows it is the little things that make the biggest difference. Tammy does her job with her heart on her sleeve and treats each resident the way she would her own parent/grandparent. The way she delivers care is truly special and we are so thankful that she has spent the last 25 years as part of the Oak Hills family! Thank you Tammy and Congratulations!
Christy Simpson celebrated 17 years with Oak Hills in April. Christy is currently our MDS Coordinator ensuring the information needed for reimbursement is done right, which in turn allows us to complete the revenue cycle. Christy started at Oak Hills as a nursing assistant and has grown into her current position. She can often be found helping on the floor when needed and coaching and mentoring the next generation of nurses as they grow with Oak Hills. Thanks, Christy!
May Employee Anniversaries
| NAME | HIRE YEAR |
| Jamie Kruggel | 2004 |
| Molly Fischer | 2009 |
| Megan Grams | 2011 |
| Anna MacHolda | 2011 |
| Rachel Schrimpf | 2016 |
| Laura Hauser | 2020 |
| Sophie Albachten | 2021 |
| Katherine Fischer | 2021 |
| Cindy Rueckert | 2022 |
| Brelynn Schmid | 2022 |
| Jenni Zender | 2022 |
Employee of the Month
Congratulations to employee of the month, Allie Becker, LPN.
Allie was nominated by her co-workers for her calm demeanor and positive attitude in stressful situations. Allie has grown with us at Oak Hills, starting as a CNA and now a charge nurse. We are so proud of you Allie and appreciate all of your hard work in caring for our residents.
Fun Memories
Staff Shout Out’s
“Shout Out’s” are recognition of staff by their peers for being caught in the act demonstrating the values and mission of Oak Hills! Congratulations!
