Legislative Breakfast Held at Shady Knoll Health Center
Shady Knoll Health Center sponsored a legislative breakfast providing an open platform for employees to meet and discuss concerns with lawmakers and local commerce. Several staff members joined the breakfast and met with state Representative Themis Klarides, Connecticut House Republican Leader, and state Representative Nicole Klarides-Ditria.
Bill Purcell, President and CEO of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce attended and opening the forum with an inquiry about the status of the center’s mix of private pay versus Medicaid supported residents. Admissions Director Dawn Moore, and Administrator Deborah Torrey delved into the challenges faced as payor sources keep changing due to a new wave of younger admissions. “The big switch seen now is a steady trend from Medicare to Medicaid,” Torrey explained. The challenge with this is not only a mix in payor sources, but also in the much more varied, and in many cases, demanding types of care needed. It was noted that Shady Knoll Health Center is gradually housing more long-term consumers in their 40’s, a reality which is presenting a new ethos change in long term care. The key hurdle being that Medicaid, which caters to younger intakes, only covers room and board. Clinical care for such a population is left directly in the lap of long-term centers to cover.
On a similar note, long time Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Beata Sidorowicz, briefly met with the policymakers while they toured the center and met with staff and residents. Sidorowicz passionately addressed the changes and challenges in nursing home healthcare compared to 20 years ago; the type of care and needs of patients over the past 20 years has changed with the newer population of those under her care. Sidorowicz noted that today’s workload has transformed, becoming more physically and mentally draining as the patient population has become more challenging. As she appealed to the lawmakers, with appreciation for their interest, her lobby to address the need for more help was further urged by her final thoughts to everyone present by emphatically summarizing: “We seek the best for our patients!”
Since its founding in 1984, Athena Healthcare, Shady Knoll Health Center’s parent entity, has long been a strong advocate and voice in the legislative chambers for positive changes in long term care in Connecticut. Joining 20 other Connecticut Athena facilities, Shady Knoll employees have actively visited the Connecticut State Capitol in the past to lobby for their residents and employees, advocating for additional funds to ensure quality care in skilled nursing centers. For those with a strong interest to help support the causes for long term care in Connecticut, the public is encouraged to contact and engage their legislators.
Bill Purcell, President and CEO of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce speaks with employees at Shady Knoll Health Center during a legislative breakfast. To Purcell’s left are Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep), and Themis Klarides, Connecticut House Republican Leader.
Assistant Medical Director Hafsa Nawaz MD for Shady Knoll Health Center (right) speaks with legislators as they tour the facility. Also from left to right are Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep), and Shady Knoll Administrator Deborah Torrey.
Administrator Deborah Torrey from Shady Knoll Health Center converses with invitees during a facility tour after a legislative breakfast. To her right is Themis Klarides, Connecticut House Republican Leader, and to her left are Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep), and Bill Purcell, President and CEO of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Themis Klarides, Connecticut House Republican Leader and Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep) stop for a photo with Shady Knoll Health Center employee Danibella Herrschaft (center) during a tour of the facility.
CNA Beata Sidorowicz (right) shares the struggles facing today’s healthcare workers as they take on more challenging admissions compared to years past. Across from Sidorowicz, Nicole Klarides-Ditria (Rep), Themis Klarides, Connecticut House Republican Leader, and Bill Purcell President and CEO of The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce pause and listen attentively during a tour of Shady Knoll Health Center in Seymour.