FINES & STARS

A couple months ago I wrote in this article

about how CMS (Centers for Medicaid and

Medicare) had levied fines against Wells-

ville Retirement Community totaling over

$50,000! In that article, I issued a request

to anybody and everybody to write our rep-

resentatives in Congress. I VERY much

appreciate hearing from many of you who

did take the time to contact our representa-

tives. I also contacted our congress people

again and, in addition, I made a trip to To-

peka and met personally with the Commis-

sioner of Survey and Certification – Codi

Thurness. I am pleased to report that Codi

“went to bat” for WRC and made a direct

appeal to the regional office of CMS in Kan-

sas City. One of our fines was lowered

from $36,000 to $12,000. While I very

much appreciate the decreased amount, it

is still painful to write a check to the federal

government for $12,000 instead of using it

for the benefit of our residents and staff

members. I intend to maintain a dialogue

with our reps in Congress until the

“pendulum shifts” back to an environment

of fairness and where our surveyors start

acting as “partners” in caring for our el-

ders.

Ironically, we recently learned that WRC is

now a 4 star home according to CMS.

About 10 years ago CMS launched a 5 star

rating system for all nursing homes in the

United States whereby a rating of 5 stars

would supposedly reflect a GREAT home.

In the first several years WRC had a 1 star

rating and I often told people it was a “Gold

Star”! I am reluctant to even mention our

star rating because the system is DEEPLY

flawed. For example the data used to com-

pile a star rating can be several years old

Activities: Life at WRC

Spotlight #1

Kim Cash

Spotlight #2

Peter Wentz

www.wellsvillerc.com volume 9, issue 11

so it does not reflect real time. Also, the

system is designed to have a certain per-

centage of homes at each star level. So in

theory, every nursing home in Kansas

could be EXCELLENT. But despite being

an excellent home, a certain percentage of

them would still have a 1 star rating. IT

DOESN’T MAKE SENSE!

With all this being said, and with the im-

position of thousands of dollars of fines in

recent months, WRC is now proudly(?) a 4

star home. In all seriousness, I must share

that our improved star rating is a direct

reflection of our Director of Nursing, Kris-

tine Martinez, and our fabulous nursing

staff. Kristine has studied the 5 star sys-

tem and has worked diligently to do the

things necessary to improve our rating. So

many kudo’s and thanks to Kristine and

our nursing staff!!

CLINICAL SITE

Over the next several weeks we will be

hosting students studying to become Certi-

fied Nursing Assistants. Neosho Commu-

nity College and Wecareonline will both be

using WRC as a clinical site. We really en-

joy hosting these students as they bring

their enthusiasm and energy to our home.

Also, it gives us a great opportunity to

share with them what we have learned

about “being” a great place to work and

live.

AS ALWAYS, please speak up if you have

any concerns or gritches about the service

we provide at WRC. We are ALWAYS

looking for ways to improve and we de-

pend on your feedback.

‘Til next month,

Scott

NOVEMBER

Scott Averill Owner

Ashley Washington

Business Office Manager

Kim Bogle Reception/Human

Resources

Dorothy Adams Social Services

Tim Sullivan Food Services

Paul Surber

Environmental Services

Jennifer Carpenter

Lifestyle Coordinator

Kristine Martinez Director of Nursing/

MDS Coordinator

Jenn Blaine Therapy Director

Holly Manny Assistant DON/

MDS Coordinator

Arlene Tomlinson Housekeeping/

Laundry

Jane resides in our Meadowlark Neighborhood

and was born in Chicago, IL. She grew up in

Kansas City, MO and has one brother and

three nephews.

Jane was chosen to be a “Belle of the American

Royal”. She participated in many activities

with the BOTAR. BOTAR is a women’s leader-

ship organization that supports the unique

mission of the American Royal. BOTAR con-

nects young women to their community, to

their peers and to many Kansas City women.

These women are encouraged by one another

throughout their lives.

After graduating from SMU in Dallas, TX with

a degree in geography she taught school in the

KC, MO and Shawnee Mission school districts.

Jane went on to receive her doctorate in geog-

raphy from KU and then taught geography at

UMKC and Longview Community College.

Jane lived on the Plaza in KC and enjoyed

shopping, art galleries, and walking downtown.

She still loves to shop and enjoys going to

lunch with her girlfriends. Jane liked to do

needlepoint, paint and travel.

Jane says, “She loves all the people here at

WRC, the young staff and the food is good too”.

Stephanie is the “Queen of our Little Red Van”,

she drives all the residents to their appoint-

ments. She was born in Olathe and raised in

Wellsville. While growing up on a farm, her

first job was driving the hay teams to the field

for her Dad when she was 15.

Stephanie graduated from Wellsville High

School. She has been married to Paul (our

maintenance director) for 38 years and they

have four children and six grandchildren.

Stephanie has been in the medical field for 30

years.

Spending time with her grandchildren, reading

and going to the movies are her hobbies.

Stephanie says, “She loves driving the residents

to their appointments”. She enjoys the time

she gets to spend with them.

Jane Macgee Stephanie Surber

Jane and Stephanie share October honors.

Welcome to WRC And We Will Miss…..

Ladema Higbie

Art Casaert

Lloyd Lacer

Meadowlark

Eva Davis Doris Bridges Sandra Miller

Fay Noah

CountryView

Bud Bridges Eula Watkins

ASH- LEY COOPER THE ENTERTAINER Don’t’ miss him!!!!

We are “EXCITED” Ashley Cooper the enter-

tainer is scheduled for Thursday, November 16th

at 3:30 PM. You must not miss this great Enter-

tainer! Ashley will put clapping in your hands,

tapping in your toes, singing in your heart. We

will make you want to get up and dance...so mark

your calendar‘s and come early to get a good seat.

November brings many days of great entertain-

ment: Friday, 3th @ 10:20 - Wellsville Elemen-

tary school. Saturday 4th @ 3:00 - Johnny and

Adams. Thursday, 9th @ 3:00 -Nicholas God-

bois. Friday, 10th @ 1:30 we will honor all of our

veterans, that same day @ 3:00 we will be enter-

tained by - Jerry Miller. Saturday, 11th @ 3:00 -

Riley Meyerkorth. Monday, 13th @ 3:00 The

Man and his dog. Tuesday, 14th @ 3:00 - Jana

Goup. Friday, 17 @ 3:00 Shirley Meek-

er. Saturday, 18th @ 3:00 - Wicked

Strings. Tuesday, 21st @ 3:00 Odds and

Ends. Saturday, 25th @ 3:00 - The Music Man.

We also invite you to attend any of our Sunday

services: 1:30 - Wellsville United Methodist

Church - first Sunday of the month. Second Sun-

day of the month Faith Lutheran Ottawa at 3 PM,

third Sunday of the month Wellsville Baptist at 3

PM, fourth Sunday of the month new Hope Bap-

tist Church at 3 PM.

Welcome to our new volunteer Jo Kramer she

will be helping with Thursday word games.

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers that

brings so much joy to our community. Special

thanks to Charlie Moore for all of those dips of

ice cream. Thank you, thank you, thank you...we

have really enjoyed ice cream from Big Boppers.

Again, I have a call out for Saturday and Wednes-

day night bingo call/helpers. If interested, please

see Jennifer Carpenter.

Thursday, November 16th at 3:30pm

October was filled

with the first

signs of fall,

pumpkin flavored treats, and most importantly,

National Physical Therapy Month!!! Lydia Kep-

ler, Certified Physical Therapy Assistant for

Wellsville Retirement Community, headed an

afternoon activity each Thursday in October.

Some of the activities included safety wheel-

chair/walker checks and resident vs resident vol-

leyball with the assistance of the Wellsville Mid-

dle School students. Thanks to all who made

these activities possible!

As a reminder, WRC offers inpatient and outpa-

tient physical therapy services. Lydia and the rest

of the therapy team look forward to assisting you

and/or your family member with your rehab

needs.

Therapy Corner

Wellsville Retirement Community

304 W. 7th

Wellsville, Kansas 66092

Our Thanksgiving meal

will be held

Thursday, November 23rd

at 12:00pm

Please call or let Kim know the number of

family members that will be eating with us by

Monday, Novemeber 20th.

Kim Cash

SPOTLIGHT #1 is on Kim Cash, who is the

daughter of resident, Bob Kleier. Kim was

born in Iola, Ks and raised in Wellsville. Kim

has two children. She and her husband, John,

have been together for 17 years and live in

Springhill, Ks. Kim is a frequent passenger on

our Saturday bus trips which we very much

appreciate.

FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY: All the fun activities

– band, choir and cheerleading.

A PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME: Both my parents.

IF I COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN TIME I WOULD:

Go to the Victorian era.

IF I COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER: I’d like to fly

AND be able to read minds.

MY BIGGEST FEAR: Leaving this world without first making

it a better place!

MY FAVORITE WAY TO RELAX: Watch a good movie.

A WEBSITE I VISIT EVERYDAY: Facebook.

3 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: helpful, happy and fun!

IF I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND CHANGE ONE

THING ABOUT THE WORLD: Everyone would follow the

golden rule!

SPOTLIGHT #2 is is on Peter Wentz. Peter is

a LPN in our Assisted Living neighborhood.

Peter is from Lawrence, Kansas and graduated

from Free State High School. He is married

with two sons and a daughter. He has lived in

Baldwin City for almost two years. Peter is cur-

rently in the Army Reserves and has been for 8

years.

FAVORITE HIGH SCHOOL MEMORY: Prom was my favor-

ite memory.

A PERSON IN MY LIFE WHO INSPIRED ME: My father.

IF I COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN TIME I WOULD: Go

back to “the dawn of human existence.”

IF I COULD HAVE ANY SUPER POWER: Manipulate the

elements

MY BIGGEST FEAR: My kids won’t love me.

MY FAVORITE WAY TO RELAX: Exploring the woods on my

land.

A WEBSITE I VISIT EVERYDAY: You Tube

3 WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: Funny, Inspiring, Smart

IF I COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND CHANGE ONE

THING ABOUT THE WORLD: Exchange currency for work-

ing together as a community

Peter Wentz