Dear Brethren,
It’s hard to believe we’re already preparing for the end of 2022 and making plans for 2023. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished at The Ohio Masonic Home this year and the care and support we’ve continued to provide to our community members and fellow Masons.
In August, LeadingAge Ohio presented us with the Excellence in Innovation Award, recognizing our innovation through the implementation of a practice or activity which contributes significantly to the quality of life of the individuals served. While it’s an honor to receive this award and be recognized for our work, our focus is, and always has been, on our community members and staff. The investments we make in technology and infrastructure are with them in mind. That’s what sets us apart from other senior living communities.
The first part of the new healthcare center is finally ready to open at Western Reserve Masonic Community. This phase features 32 skilled nursing beds and another 18 will be added in 2023. Community members living in the old healthcare center all got to choose their room in the new building. The private rooms are larger than before, and more representative of the care we’re known for providing. Every room even has a view. One of the key differentiators that will set us apart from our competitors is Med Mizer beds in each room. These beds allow our community members to ambulate more easily. We are the only Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Ohio who is using the beds, but they make care easier for our staff and improve the quality of life of the community members. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for November 16 and, if all goes according to plan, our current skilled nursing community members will spend Thanksgiving in the
new building.
Memory care is another area where we’re ahead of the curve using technology; our progressive approaches are why we’re an employer and provider of choice. Embodied Labs is a virtual reality (VR) training offering a firsthand view of what it’s like for the community members with dementia they’re caring for. We’ve been using this training for six years now and we’re still the only CCRC in Ohio using it – but it makes a huge difference in the quality of care our staff provides.
New this year, we’ve started using robotic pets in our memory care programming. The companion pets provide comfort to community members and reduce the feelings of isolation they experience. The Ohio Masonic Home Foundation has been instrumental in bringing this project to life. You can learn more about the pets and the foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign at: ohiomasonichomefoundation.org/Tuesday.
As always there’s a lot going on, but I’m optimistic about what the future holds for The Ohio Masonic Home and our Fraternity.
Fraternally,
Brother Scott Buchanan
CEO, The Ohio Masonic Home
