| Inaugural Edition |
III. The Future of Ecumen
What is your vision for Ecumen?
My vision is that we will be the premier provider of services for people 50
years-old and older and that we will be the standard bearer in creating home for
older adults wherever they choose to live. When people hear Ecumen, I want them
to think of that as a place where they want to be – a place where they can
envision themselves living and enjoying life. I want
them to see that we are a
place that provides choices. And I want that for any senior – whether they have
the resources or not.
I also want us to be on the forefront of dealing with societal change as it relates to aging. That means meeting the needs of baby boomers. It also means working with rural communities and finding solutions for their individual needs. It also means examining particular needs we can meet in the growing immigrant communities of Minnesota. One of our great strengths is that we’re not a "one sized fits all" or a "cookie cutter" organization. Some senior providers go into a community, plop down a building – one that looks like their buildings in every other community – and says ‘we’re community-minded.’ That’s not us. We understand the nuances of the communities we’re in. I think that’s critically important in smaller communities. We’re woven into the fabric of those areas. I want us to leverage that strength and continue to be someone that communities outside the metro area look at and say ‘they get it’ and ‘they make our community better.’ That’s a substantial competitive strength for us.
What illustrates for you that we are moving on the track toward that vision?
A very visible example for me is that our leaders throughout the region are clearly listening to their communities, learning about their needs and working to find ways to meet them. We’re getting more and more requests for physical changes to campuses and expanded community services, such as residences seeking to partner with a parish nurse program, or a nursing home seeking to add a home health care program. I’m hearing lots of buzz out there where people are looking at new possibilities and ways to meet the needs of their particular communities.
Another very visible example is the expansion and transformation of Lakeshore in Duluth. When it’s completed in 2007, it’s going to have 100 absolutely beautiful independent living apartments that cater to couples or singles. It’s going to have 60 assisted living apartments. And it’s going to have 60 private rooms for people who need shorter-term, more intensive nursing care. The Lakeshore project is a prime example of working hand-in-hand with a community to meet its needs.
How do nursing homes fit into the future of Ecumen?
The need will always exist for more specialized, more intensive care that care centers or nursing homes provide. But I think nursing homes are going to change dramatically, particularly as boomers age. I see them as "Centers of Excellence" that will provide a variety of services. The stays will be much shorter. A nursing home will be a place for rehab care. It will be a place for respite care. It will be a place for hospice care. It also will be an anchor for community-based services. In other words, it will be the intellectual bank for delivering community services. We’ll provide the care that we currently provide in nursing homes, but more often it will be outside the walls of an institutional setting to provide more freedom and choice.
Where do you see our biggest opportunities for growth and expanding on our mission of enriching the lives of older adults and others we serve?
Housing and services are the two big growth areas. As I mentioned earlier, we’re beginning to realize those growth opportunities because facilities are looking at ways they can meet the changing needs of their communities. We are going to continue to expand the continuum of care and continue to provide more choices, particularly for younger seniors. I see us building longer-lasting, multi-generational relationships with our customers. We want the 55-year-old caregiver who turns to us for respite care for his or her mom or dad to look at us for independent living for themselves when they’re ready to simplify their life.
One thing that I’m particularly intrigued by is creating a way for people who are purchasing housing from us to truly own their housing and continue to build equity. Most senior housing is rental property, and I think that there are opportunities for ownership. If a person is an owner for a lifetime, and has the resources to continue to own a housing unit when they need services, they should have that option to continue to own.
As team members at Ecumen, what should we be thinking about as we approach our daily roles in helping ensure that Ecumen is the provider and employer of choice?
In terms of care, it is always, always about providing the best level of care that can possibly b
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"Onward and Upward" |
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delivered. That is absolutely critical. It is our foundation. We also need to be
strong communicators with each other. That ties to absolutely every dial on our
dashboard. We need to share ideas and best
practices with each other. We need to look at each other as resources. It’s
imperative that we each look at our jobs and our departments as ‘outsiders.’ By
that I mean try to take an outside look at what you’re doing. Ask yourself ‘is
there a better way to do this? . . . is there a way to approach this that might
be different, but more effective?’ . . .Sometimes we simply get too close to
things. Making yourself an ‘outsider’ can give you a whole new perspective in
how you might approach things and help spur the juices of innovation.
Any final words?
Onward and upward.