Why St. William’s for Senior Care? It’s the Home with a Heart!

It can happen in the blink of an eye – a fall, a sudden illness, a stroke, or a heart attack.

When a situation arises where you need a skilled nursing facility, you don’t want to rush into a decision. That’s why it’s important to prepare. Get to know your local nursing home before a medical issue forces your hand.

In this article, we’ll show you why St. William’s Living Center is an excellent choice for senior care.

Five-Star Medicare Rating

The best way to compare nursing homes is to use Medicare.gov. Each nursing home in the country is given a star rating through Medicare. The overall star rating is based on the following factors:

  • Health inspections
  • Staffing
  • Quality of resident care measures

Each year, nursing homes undergo a thorough inspection by the state. The inspection looks over all areas of nursing home life including housekeeping, food safety, medication management, and protection from abuse.

The staff rating is based on the number of staffing hours per resident per day. Quality ratings measure how residents are doing at the facility. Inspectors take into account activity levels,  weight management, pain management, and up-to-date vaccinations.

It’s not easy for a nursing home to receive an overall five-star rating, but St. William’s has done it many times over. On our most recent survey, we received above-average scores in all three areas of care and a much-above-average overall score.

Everything You Need in One Place

St. William’s is a skilled nursing facility, but we offer so much more! Our outpatient therapy services are available to residents and to community members alike.

Physical therapists help patients recover faster from surgeries or illnesses and provide the necessary support for those who need a little extra help moving around.

We offer occupational therapy to help residents regain strength and get back to the activities of daily living. Our therapists help with cooking, cleaning, laundry, and other duties around the home. They also teach techniques for energy conservation and joint protection to prevent future injuries.

Our speech pathologists give the gift of speech to those who have lost their way. They help patients regain the ability to swallow, feed themselves, and communicate their needs.

As a resident at St. William’s, you or your loved one will have access to all of our therapy options as well as a diverse activities schedule, full dining room, and beautiful outdoor spaces.

Our Senior Care Staff is Second-to-None!

At St. William’s, we have a full staff of qualified RNs, LPNs, and CNAs to meet your senior care needs. We work with you and your doctor to come up with a personalized care plan that manages your nutritional, pharmaceutical, and social needs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, St. William’s staff members have taken great strides to make life better for our residents. Visitor restrictions have put many residents in risk of mental health issues. But the staff at St. William’s has risen to the occasion by helping residents communicate with their loved ones via video chats and window visits and by providing much-needed companionship.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

The first round of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was administered to staff and residents on January 13, 2021. The second dose of the vaccine will come in February.

We are so excited to share that there are currently NO active cases of COVID-19 at St. William’s and we will be able to welcome back visitors on Monday, January 25, 2021. Please refer to our visitation guide for more information on how to visit your loved ones.

As we come closer to a time when COVID-19 is no longer a threat, we want to thank the community for your support. St. William’s is more than a senior care facility – we are the home with a heart!

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!

St. William’s Living Center Visitation and Infection Control Update January 20, 2021

Dear St. William’s Living Center Residents, Friends, and Families:

We are very excited to share news that we will soon be able to resume visitation and warmly welcome visitors back Monday, January 25, 2021.  St. William’s Living Center currently has no active staff or resident cases of COVID-19.  To resume indoor visits, Medicare rules require that the county positivity rate be below 10% and a facility must have no new COVID-19 cases for at least 14 days and two rounds of negative tests for all staff and residents.

Please find the enclosed visitation guide explaining the visitation process.  All visits must be scheduled, only two visitors may visit with one resident at a time.  We prefer visitors to visit during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00pm.  If you are unable to visit during business hours, you must schedule a visit with the activity department by calling 218-338-1010.

We encourage loved ones to communicate with our residents by phone, video chat, or a window visit in Vogrin Hall if possible.  You may call our activity department at 218-338-1010 to set up a time to schedule a video meeting or window visit with a resident.

Over the course of the past two months, we have worked closely with the Minnesota Department of Health to evaluate and update our infection control program.  The handout included with this letter is intended help to educate residents, families, and visitors of proper hand hygiene, mask use, and personal protective equipment use.

Questions, Concerns, or Complaints

Should you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, please do not hesitate to contact us at: Tim Kelly, Administrator at 218-338-1001; Lori Roers, Director of Nursing at 218-338-1009.  We realize that this pandemic has been hard on residents and their families and I want to make sure that we are appropriately addressing any concerns that you have.

Sincerely,

Tim Kelly, Administrator

CLICK THIS LINK FOR PDF OF VISITATION GUIDE AND INFECTION CONTROL HANDOUT

Benefits of Short-Term Rehab at St. William’s

The days and weeks following a surgery or an injury are critical. Going home is not always the best option. You may lack the strength and mobility you’ll need to get back on your feet and back to your regular routine.

Short-term rehab is an excellent option if you’re looking for a bit of extra help while you recover. In this article, we’ll share the benefits of taking a few days or weeks to recover at St. William’s Living Center.

Recover Faster

Trying to get back on your feet when you’re all by yourself can be really tough. Even with a caretaker near, recovery can be a stressful process if you or your caretaker don’t have the proper skills. You may suffer from extreme fatigue, mobility issues, and lack of strength.

Studies have shown that people who participate in focused rehabilitation programs immediately after a medical procedure or stroke recover faster than those who don’t. With help from a dedicated staff of care professionals, you’ll get back on your feet faster.

You may benefit from short-term rehab if you’ve suffered from one or more of the following:

  • Surgery
  • Joint replacement
  • Stroke
  • Injury
  • Neurological issues
  • Illness

On-Site Therapy

Many doctors prescribe physical or occupational therapy after a surgery. You’ll get the most out of your therapy appointments if you can take them on-site at a short-term care facility. You won’t have to worry about traveling to appointments and risking further injury by moving around too much before your body is ready.

Physical therapists work with you to regain mobility and strength. You’ll receive a personalized therapy program that gives you the training and tools you need for proper recovery. Your therapist will also teach you exercises to do when you go home to lower the risk of falls or future injuries.

Occupational therapy focuses on improving coordination so you can tackle day-to-day tasks with greater ease. Your occupational therapist can help you relearn how to cook, clean, do laundry, and complete other activities when you go home.

24-Hour Care

Having a whole team of care professionals on-site to help you is a really beneficial part of short-term rehab. Other care professionals include nurses, nutritionists, and social workers.

Nursing care is especially important during the first few days after your hospital stay. They’ll help you keep track of medications, make sure you’re getting enough food and water, and can assist in bathing and toileting, if necessary. At St. William’s, we are a veteran contracted facility and can work with the VA on the right care plan for you.

You’ll also have access to other amenities including a full menu of dining options and organized daily activities to keep your brain and body active. During the warmer months, you can enjoy the outdoors in the community courtyards without worry of falling and risking further injury.

Get Back on Your Feet with Short-Term Rehab at St. William’s

Short-term rehab is an excellent option for those who aren’t quite ready to return home after a medical event. If you fall into this category, know that we’re here to help.

Contact us today! We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

St. William’s Living Center COVID-19 Situation Update January 7, 2021

Dear St. William’s Living Center Residents, Friends, and Families:

I am writing today regarding two new positive staff cases of COVID-19 at St. William’s Living Center. 

We currently have the following active COVID-19 cases:

  • St. William’s Living Center: 2 active staff cases, 0 active resident cases
  • McCornell Court Assisted Living: No active cases

Nursing Home Vaccine

We are very excited to announce that we will be receiving a Covid vaccine for our residents and staff very soon.  Walgreens will be administering the Moderna vaccine to nursing home residents and employees on January 13th.  The Moderna vaccine is two doses, with the second dose given at least 28 days later.  Please see an attached document answering common questions about COVID-19 vaccines.

Assisted Living Vaccine

Walgreens will be administering the Moderna vaccine to nursing home residents and employees on January 13th.  If there are adequate supplies, we will plan to vaccinate assisted living residents at the same time as nursing home residents.  If for some reason, we cannot vaccinate assisted living residents on January 13th, we will work with Otter Tail County Public Health to vaccinate assisted living residents near the end of January.  The Moderna vaccine is two doses, with the second dose given at least 28 days later.  Please see an attached document answering common questions about COVID-19 vaccines.

Nursing Home Visitation

To resume indoor visits, we must have no new COVID-19 cases for at least 14 days and two rounds of negative tests for all staff and residents.  The county positivity rate must also drop below 10% for visitation to be allowed.  Compassionate care and essential care visits are allowed for in certain circumstances after review by the interdisciplinary team.  If a resident needs a compassionate care visit, you may contact Michelle Hartmann at 218-338-1009. 

Assisted Living Visitation

Indoor visitation may resume at McCornell Court January 11, 2021.  We have not had a positive Covid-19 case at McCornell Court since December 26th and the county positivity rate has fallen below 10% in both Otter Tail and Douglas Counties.  Visitors to McCornell Court my schedule an appointment by calling assisted living staff at 218-338-1016.   

We encourage loved ones to communicate with our residents by phone, video chat, or a window visit in Vogrin Hall if possible.  You may call our activity department at 218-338-1010 to set up a time to schedule a video meeting or window visit with a resident.

The Minnesota Department of Health has set up a free hotline for anyone who has questions about Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Call the MDH hotline at: 1-651-201-3920. We will continue to provide updates to you to keep you informed of our ongoing work.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at: Tim Kelly, Administrator at 218-338-1001; Lori Roers, Director of Nursing at 218-338-1009.

Sincerely,

Tim Kelly, Administrator