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Mont Marie Health Care Center, Inc., a sponsored ministry
of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, is separately
incorporated
as a charitable corporation and is committed to providing
comprehensive nursing home care. The Center, an 84-bed licensed
and certified skilled nursing facility, values the
sacredness of life, respects the dignity of all persons,
and is committed to total quality care. In response
to the mission of the Congregation, the Center serves the
dear neighbor without distinction.
Licensed within Massachusetts, the Health Care Center
provides comprehensive services that promote, maintain
and restore health and foster independence and wellness. A
plan of care that supports a personalized program
promoting wellness is developed and implemented by an
interdisciplinary team. Recreational activities, cultural
events, pastoral care, and social service programs augment
the services that call our residents to holistic and
meaningful living.
What's
New at Mont Marie Health Care Center
Dec. 2008
Mont Marie
Health Care Center Receives 5-Star Rating
The Mont Marie
Health Care Center is one of only two area nursing
homes to receive the highest five-star rating from the
federal government. The 84-bed facility is a sponsored
ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield and
is located on the Mont Marie campus in Holyoke,
Massachusetts. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services rated the facility for health inspections,
staffing and quality measures in the first of what will be
monthly nationwide rankings.
The Center’s
Administrator, Sister Betsy Sullivan, said she attributes
the high rating in part to the longevity of staffing and
good working environment. “The low employee turnover
reaps many benefits for the residents.” Sullivan said.
She added that administrators and staff take care to
provide for the residents’ emotional and spiritual needs
as well their physical needs.
Mont Marie
Health Care Center is a skilled nursing facility that
provides long-term care as well as short-term
rehabilitation. Services include physical, speech and
occupational therapy, wound care, pain management,
nutritional needs and hospice care. Originally built as
an infirmary for the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Center has
been open to the public since 1995.
Additional
information on the new Five Star Quality Rating system for
nursing homes can be found at
www.medicare.gov
Young, Old
Hands Join to Create Unique Artwork
Stanley Park in Westfield
was alive with more than its famous roses on a recent
sunny day. The park was the setting of a unique
intergenerational art project involving children from the
Mont Marie Child Care Center, residents of the Mont Marie
Health Care Center and retired Sisters of St. Joseph of
Springfield.
The outing began
with a tour of the park’s extensive rose garden, which was
followed by the
creation of paintings inspired by nature in the park as
well as the lyrics of the song “What a Wonderful World.”
The seniors and the pre-schoolers paired up for the
painting project, led by retired art teacher Emma
Hayward.
The artwork will
help decorate the walls of the Mont Marie Senior
Residence, a HUD-funded senior housing facility slated to
open in September on the Mont Marie campus in Holyoke.
The event was
funded by donations from the Stop & Shop Supermarket
Company, King Ward Trailways and Chartpak.
Center
Receives Perfect Score from State
The Mont Marie Health
Care Center has once again passed its annual State
inspection with flying colors. In April, 2008, the Center was found to be
“deficiency free” for the seventh year in a ten year
period.
The Center’s
Administrator, Sister Betsy Sullivan, said of the
deficiency-free rating, “These
results support our efforts to work together so our
residents can live in peace with dignity and respect at
this tender time in their lives. I congratulate our staff
who always go the extra mile in responding to the needs of
our residents.”
Once a year, the
Department of Public Health makes an unannounced visit to
health facilities to assess their compliance with
regulations. The surveyors interview residents and staff
and review clinical records and business, personnel,
dietary and housekeeping departments.
The team of
surveyors also includes a Life Safety representative who
reviews compliance with safety regulations pertaining to
fire sprinklers, generator testing, electrical systems,
oxygen storage, fire drills and other maintenance records.
The
Annual Survey Performance tool was developed in
collaboration with the Division of Health Care Quality and
the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation to help
consumers assess the quality of care in nursing homes for
the past three years.
Over the
period, 2006 - 2008, Mont Marie Health
Care Center has met 131 out of the 132 critical
requirements in various categories. The facility's
score is 131. 96% of all facilities had a score of 131 or
lower. The statewide average facility score is 122.
Details
on this survey can be found at:
http://www.mass.gov/dph/qtool/qthome.htm
Ribbon
Cutting Marks New Entrance Opening
The Mont Marie Health
Care Center officially opened its new entrance May 13 with
a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Most Rev. Timothy
McDonnell, State and local officials. The Center had
previously shared an entrance with the Sisters of St.
Joseph Motherhouse and offices.
The new entryway
provides direct access to the nursing facility.
Health Care Center Administrator, Sister Betsy Sullivan,
says the project is, in part, a response to feedback from
family members. "The new entrance will mean easier
access for the public, especially elders, " she said.
"It will also provide additional security for residents
and staff."
 The
eight-month long construction project included the
installation of a new elevator, a 36-space parking lot and
an updated phone system. The $900,000 project was
funded by donations, grants and loans.
Elms Students
Volunteer for a Day
Several dozen students
from Elms College in Chicopee spent April 9 helping
out around Mont Marie as part of their annual
 Service
Day. One group volunteered to visit residents and help
with activities in the Mont Marie Health Care Center.
Another group worked on landscaping around the grounds and
laid stone chips in the labyrinth. Other students helped
out in the Mont Marie Child Care Center and the Weston
Rehabilitation Center for Women. Many of the students
were members of the College’s sports teams and said they
“wanted to do something as a team to represent the Elms
and give back to the community.” Other groups of students
volunteered at other locations in the Springfield area.
Simulated
Sports Game Entertains Residents
 Residents
of the Health Care Center can now go bowling, or play
baseball, tennis or golf right in the first floor solarium
– at least virtually! The Activities Department purchased
the popular simulated sports game called Wii for the use
of the residents. The game allows people to “play” the
sport by swinging and controlling a hand-held remote. The
player’s action is then simulated on a large screen TV.
Although it took
a few practice turns at one recent session, some
residents got the hang of the bowling game, even bowling a
few spares! After watching for awhile, one thing became
evident: there were as many laughs as points scored, but
who’s counting?!
Health Care Center Gets
High Rating from Families
Family members have given high marks
to the care that their loved ones are receiving at the
Mont Marie Health Care Center according to a survey
released by the State Department of Public Health.
The Mont Marie Health Care Center in
Holyoke, a not-for-profit skilled nursing facility owned
and operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield,
scored 4.63 in overall satisfaction, well above the
statewide average of 4.19 (on a scale of 1-5.)
The Mont Marie
Health Care Center is the only Medicaid provider in
Western Massachusetts to score in the top 10% of the
survey rankings. When asked if they would recommend
the nursing home to a friend or family member, 97% of the
respondents said “yes.” Commenting on the high
score, Center Administrator Sister Elizabeth  Sullivan
said, “Our staff works diligently in providing care with a
strong emphasis on dignity and individuality.”
This is the second time the state has
conducted this survey. The first survey, in 2005, was
voluntary. The Mont Marie Health Care Center received an
equally high rating in that survey as well. 
The survey collected detailed
information about nursing home staff, physical
environment, activities, personal care services, food and
meals and resident’s personal rights. It also asked
respondents to rate overall satisfaction and ability to
meet residents’ needs. Surveys were mailed to more than
34,800 family members of nursing home residents across the
state.
Residents Enjoy New Health Care
Center Van
Trips to the Butterfly House, a
local marina and doctors appointments are possible now
that the Health Care Center has a specially equipped van. The vehicle
allows the Center to transport a combination of
wheelchair-bound and ambulatory passengers. Residents
enjoy foliage rides in the
fall and trips to the ice cream shop in the summer. The van was purchased with donated funds
and profits from the Sisters of St. Joseph Golf Classic. The
residents and staff are very
grateful for the efforts of everyone who helped make the
purchase possible.
For more information contact:
Betsy Sullivan SSJ Administrator
Mont Marie Health Care Center, Inc.
36 Lower Westfield Rd.
Holyoke, MA 01040-2739
Tel: (413)
538-6050
Fax: (413) 533-4505
Email:
bsullivan@ssjspringfield.com
Liz Britton
Director of Social Services/Admissions Coordinator
(413) 536-0853 x 221
Email: lbritton@ssjspringfield.com
^ Top
12th
Annual
SSJ
Golf Classic
Great Success - Thank You!
The 12th Annual Sisters of St.
Joseph Golf Classic at Springfield Country Club August 25,
2008
 was
a great success thanks to the countless number of
volunteers, sponsors and players.
After some early morning clouds and
sprinkles, the sun came out and the weather was absolutely
spectacular.
Proceeds from this year's tournament
will be used for the installation of additional fire
sprinklers in our new lobbies and will help us institute a
new dining experience for our residents at the Mont Marie
Health Care Center, a ministry of the Sisters of St.
Joseph of Springfield.
To everyone who worked so hard to
make this event successful, we thank you for your
continued support.
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