Author: Aditya Kumar

Ecumen operates a variety of senior housing options and services, including cooperative senior housing, independent living, assisted living, long-term care, short-term rehabilitation care, home care, and hospice. It serves nearly 20,000 individuals annually across 30 cities in Minnesota, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. The large organization remains rooted in its Lutheran heritage and values, and is committed to treating seniors with dignity and respect.

Throughout the month of June, Ecumen publicly demonstrated its value for social justice. In response to the death of George Floyd, President and CEO Shelley Kendrick released a statement declaring that Ecumen stands in solidarity with Black communities in the fight against racial injustice and inequality. She quoted Martin Luther King, Jr., saying, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Ecumen also celebrated Juneteenth Freedom Day on June 19^th, and publicly stated its commitment to upholding values of social justice for all it serves, its team members, and as members of the greater community.

Ecumen also joined in Pride Month in June, and raised its voice for social justice, equality, and peace. It celebrated its LGBTQ family and friends, and reaffirmed that Ecumen welcomes, serves, and employs all people.

In addition to joining in the fights for social justice, Ecumen ensures that it recognizes its staff for their hard work and commitment to those they serve. Ecumen started a campaign it calls #EcumenStrong, in which it honors its staff for their strength and endurance throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This video shows Ecumen residents thanking the staff, and recognizing that they bring joy to Ecumen and lift the spirits of residents, while also offering high quality care.

Thank you to Ecumen for your many efforts to promote social justice in your community and recognize the hard work of your staff!

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is Genacross Lutheran Services for designating a rehabilitation center as a COVID-19 isolation unit and helping community members as they recover from the virus.

In mid-April, near the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio, Genacross designated The Labuhn Center, a free-standing rehabilitation center on its Toledo Campus, as a COVID-19 isolation unit. Team members work exclusively in the unit and wear full personal protection equipment (PPE).

“Genacross made the decision to begin admitting COVID-19 patients from local hospitals,” said Rick Marshall, Genacross President/CEO. “This is a service to the community at large and aligns with the Genacross mission and values to serve individuals in need. We wanted to be a community resource to help patients recover from the debilitating effects of the virus.”

The preparation of this specialized unit took a great deal of time and dedication by the Toledo Campus team members. From maintenance changing the airflow system to the administration and nursing management teams determining where to enter and exit the unit and where to don and remove PPE, the logistics were daunting.

In addition, the dietary department had to design a new meal delivery process, and housekeeping and laundry had to determine the best practices for delivering their much needed services. The activities team was integral as well, providing inspiring ways to enrich the lives of the residents in isolation.

Several nursing team members, who are required to wear full PPE for four hours at a time with no breaks, answered the call to serve the residents in isolation. These dedicated team members are walking with the residents through the journey of this pandemic and have provided physical healing, as well as emotional and spiritual support.

To date, The Labuhn Center on the Toledo Campus has serve more than 40 patients from area hospitals. One of those patients was Gladys Sigarroa, who was in town visiting her daughter when she became ill and was diagnosed with COVID-19. She had been in the hospital for more than 30 days and spent 27 days on a ventilator. When Gladys came to the Toledo Campus to continue her recovery, she was on a puree diet and unable to walk. After more than 20 days of nursing and therapy services, she was finally able to return home. Team members held a Clap Out for Gladys in front of The Labuhn Center as she walked out of the building to celebrate her healing, and shared the video of the Clap Out on the Genacross Facebook page.

“The team at our Toledo Campus is doing some amazing work with recovering patients,” Mr. Marshall said. “Their compassion and dedication are to be commended.”

Thank you to Genacross and all the committed staff who work there for serving your community’s needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic!

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Services Florida Health Systems, which is working to address crisis fatigue in the community, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and national newfound awareness of systemic racism.

Located in Jacksonville, FL, Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) Health Systems provides behavioral health care for people who face poverty and are without insurance. LSF Health Systems serves 23 counties in Northeast and North Central Florida, and aims to ensure that every child and adult in need receives appropriate services.

Christine Cauffield, licensed clinical psychologist and CEO of LSF Health Systems, spoke on the local news in Jacksonville, FL to make viewers aware of the issue of crisis fatigue. According to Cauffield, there are unprecedented levels of stress resulting from the pandemic, economic downturn, and national awareness of racial inequity. This heightened stress leads to what psychologists call crisis fatigue. Typically, people go into fight or flight mode during emergencies, and return to homeostasis when the emergency has abated. In the current context, Americans are constantly on hyper alert without returning to homeostasis, flooding bodies with cortisol and adrenaline and causing fatigue.

Cauffield noticed crisis fatigue having a significant impact on Floridians, and says that people seeking support at LSF Health Systems are reportedly feeling a myriad of emotions, including rage, hypervigilance, depression, and anxiety. She says that these are normal reactions to the abnormal situation, but that is it necessary to bring balance back to life and move forward in a healthy and productive way. Cauffield recommends balancing the negative state of affairs with joy, and reaching out to trusted loved ones for support. She says that reaching out is a sign of health, and can help mitigate the mental effects of crisis fatigue.

Thank you to LSF Health Systems for your work addressing crisis fatigue, and for making the public aware of the issue and how to mitigate the mental health impact.

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran SeniorLife, which is using humor to lift spirits at the Passavant Community.

Lutheran SeniorLife offers senior living communities in western Pennsylvania, and is committed to providing opportunities for seniors to live abundantly. From active retirement living to assisted living to in-home assistance, Lutheran SeniorLife is committed to serving seniors regardless of physical condition or financial circumstances.

Lutheran SeniorLife’s Passavant Community in Zelienople, PA includes residential care and skilled nursing. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Passavant staff began delivering meals to seniors in their rooms to avoid congregating and keep residents safe from the virus. Staff recognized that residents are experiencing isolation since they must stay in their rooms, so the dietary team came up with a solution to help brighten residents’ days.

The dietary team added a postcard to each resident’s meal with a pun about food. Messages like, “We can ‘beet’ this together” and “we’re eggstatic to be keeping you healthy” brought smiles to residents’ faces, and reminded them that the staff care deeply about their well-being. One staff member even created original artwork for each card. The cards were signed by a member of the dietary team and attached to 400 meals delivered to the residents. The messages were such fun for all involved that the team plans to make punny cards again!

Thank you to Lutheran SeniorLife for the love you show to the seniors you serve, and your desire to help them through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic!

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Services in Iowa for its ongoing support of refugees in its community.

Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) provides a program called Global Greens, which supports refugee farmers in the Des Moines community. The program teaches farmers to grow chemical-free Iowa vegetables, as well as vegetables from their home countries, and provides them access to small garden plots near their homes. The farmers receive training and support from LSI at the Valley Community Center, and the garden plots near their homes are available through a cooperative partnership with the City of Des Moines, volunteers, and private landowners.

The farmers are empowered to eventually sell their products at the Downtown Farmers’ Market and across Des Moines. COVID-19 required the Farmers’ Market to close in 2020, but the LSI Global Greens Farmers’ Market is still operating safely, and provides the refugees with a place to sell products from their gardens on Saturdays in May through October.

In addition to the Global Greens Market, LSI offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which supports more than 20 refugee families. Through the CSA, community members receive boxes of the locally grown food, along with recipes from refugees’ home countries, including Bhutan, Burundi, and Rwanda. LSI offers a space for community members to safely pick up their CSA boxes, or they can have the boxes delivered for a small fee.

Thank you to Lutheran Services in Iowa for your committed support of refugees in your community, and for empowering them to offer locally grown food to Iowans!

Today’s Front Line Hero is Graceworks Lutheran Services, which is committed to helping residents in its Enhanced Living community reach their goals.

Headquartered in Dayton, OH, Graceworks Lutheran Services has faithfully cared for people in challenging and changing circumstances for nearly a century. Graceworks is rooted in the Christian faith, and dedicated to upholding personal dignity and wholeness of life for people of all faiths. Its programs include housing services, senior living, and programs for people with disabilities. Graceworks Enhanced Living offers residential and day programming to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering opportunities for them to be active within their community and live independently with dignity.

When resident Bobby moved into the Graceworks Enhanced Living Anthony Home in April 2020, he shared his dream of running a 5K with the staff. The Graceworks staff eagerly began working to help Bobby achieve this dream. One of the Direct Support staff members, Aji, has been helping Bobby train by running alongside him, encouraging him and celebrating him the whole way. Aji knows that at the end of the day, running a 5K is a goal Bobby will achieve on his own, but in the meantime, she is there to cheer him on as he works toward his dream. See Bobby’s inspiring video here.

Bobby and Aji’s story is a wonderful example of how the Graceworks Enhanced Living staff work every day to enhance all residents’ lives and help them live interdependently with dignity, wholeness, and respect.

Thank you to Graceworks Lutheran Services for your commitment to supporting people with disabilities live full lives and realize their dreams!

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is Immanuel Communities, which is providing supports to seniors living independently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immanuel is a leader in the retirement living field, offering innovative programs in independent living, assisted living, memory support, and long-term care. Its faith-based mission guides the work at Immanuel, with a commitment to Christ-centered service to seniors, each other, and the community. Immanuel includes campuses across Nebraska, and two in Iowa, and with twelve decades of service, Immanuel is a trusted partner in those communities.

Immanuel published a recent blog post to help family members know how to best support their loved ones with dementia and Alzheimer’s during the COVID-19 pandemic. The blog post recognizes that the pandemic has meant changing daily routines, which can pose a significant challenge for seniors, and enhance the experience of memory loss. Cameo Rogers, a Certified Dementia Practitioner with a passion for serving seniors with memory loss provided her expertise for this blog. She says that seniors, especially with early signs of dementia, can be at greater risk during COVID-19 social distancing. Rogers provides tangible suggestions for family members who are worried about older adults with memory loss, including sending them care packages with activities like simple puzzles, helping set up grocery delivery, using technology to connect with them, and helping them establish routines. The post also points family members to Immanuel’s memory support services, where Rogers is active teaching best practices through national-level memory loss programs. Immanuel’s memory support services tailor programming to each individual, understanding that everyone has unique memory support needs.

Experts at Immanuel are also providing resources to help seniors thrive during the pandemic. Its Thriving at Home for Seniors resource page includes resources for seniors and families with information on connecting during social distancing, how to stay well, eat well, and others.

Thank you to Immanuel for your work to support seniors holistically during the COVID-19 pandemic!

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is Mosaic, whose Direct Support Professionals are going above and beyond in the time of COVID-19.

Andrea Young began working with Mosaic in Macomb, Illinois in 2018, and has truly shown to live for Mosaic’s values of belonging, faithfulness, connection, and grit during the uncertain times of COVID-19. The virus entered one of Mosaic’s group homes in March, and four people within one home tested positive. The team members in that home all responded with great courage, but Andrea’s work stood out, in particular. As residents were required to isolate in their rooms, Andrea took extra time with each person and maintained a regular schedule with them. She consistently reassured them and ended her evening shifts each day by going into each person’s room for a visit. Andrea asked the residents to name something they would enjoy, like a special dinner, an activity the two of them could do together, or virtual visits with loved ones, and she ensured those things happened. She volunteered to work extra hours, and paid close attention to ensure that the home had proper protective equipment for the staff and medication supplies for the residents. Andrea kept a positive attitude and helped the fellow staff when they were feeling worn. According to her supervisor, Andrea made the day bright, even when things were scary.

Erika Estrada is employed at Mosaic’s Central Nebraska agency, and when various staff, including Erika’s supervisor, were force to self-quarantine and work from home, Erika took on new roles. There is no job title Erika has not filled or supported during this time of crisis; she has served as a manager, DSA, trainer, behavior support specialist, co-worker, supervisor, friend, and the list goes on. At the beginning of the pandemic, Erika purchased a sewing machine and materials to sew cloth masks for herself and her co-workers to protect them. When stores were short on supplies, Erika made trips day after day to various stores until all the sites had the supplies they needed. On weekends, Erika has been called into work with just an hour’s notice, but she is committed to ensuring that the homes are staffed. She has adapted to new roles, worked above and beyond her job description, and kept a positive attitude throughout.

Mikayla Jaras works in day service for Mosaic’s Northeast Nebraska agency. Mikayla has been wonderfully creative in engaging the staff and individuals at Norfolk/Hartington day. She has organized scavenger hunts, had daily selfie contests with different themes, scheduled drive by’s to celebrate birthdays, and made sure everyone feels included and connected. She recently started overseeing a new location (Hartington, NE) and has welcomed them to the Northeast team. Mikayla is passionate about the people she serves, and her department reflects that passion.

Thank you to Andrea, Erika, and Mikayla for the love you show to the people you serve, and your commitment to Mosaic’s important work!

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach 

Today’s Front Line Hero is Blue Valley Lutheran Homes, which is forging creative partnerships to access supplies needed to adequately address COVID-19, and remaining transparent and communicative with families throughout the pandemic.

Blue Valley Lutheran Homes (BLVH) is a faith-based senior living facility that has served south-central Nebraska since 1948. Its mission is to care for the elderly and mentally challenged with dignity and respect through Christian love and compassion. Its services include nursing care, assisted living, long-term care, respite care, and rehabilitation services. BVLH is also committed to the spiritual well-being of its residents, and offers worship services of all denominations, as well as Bible studies, and other daily activities that cater to residents’ interests.

As needed resources continue to be in short supply, Blue Valley Lutheran Homes is leaning on its partners to help with access to hand sanitizer. The Nebraska Health Care Association received donations of hand sanitizer from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, so that nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Nebraska can continue protecting seniors in their care. BVLH jumped on the opportunity, and leveraged its partnerships to ensure it has the resources needed to keep residents safe.

In addition to those creative partnerships, BVLH is working hard to be transparent with families throughout the pandemic. Families are understandably worried about their loved ones in congregate care, so BVLH has made concerted efforts to post public updates about the state of COVID-19 in the facility, even as there are no cases. BVLH is also keeping families updated on cases in the county, and the steps it has taken in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the potential for the virus to enter the BVLH building. BVLH has committed to alerting families within 48 hours if there is a case in the building.

Thank you to Blue Valley Lutheran Homes for your creativity and transparency as you address the COVID-19 pandemic, and for your commitment to compassionate care for seniors!