Lifecare Medical Center: Caring for Generations

caring for generations

A Gift for Generations...

A fundraising campaign to help furnish LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park.
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June 22, 2010 -

UPDATED PROJECT PHOTOS

May 20, 2010 -

New LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park Adds to Community Appeal

The city of Greenbush is now only a few months away from the opening of a new state-of-the-art medical park, which includes a nursing home, assisted living apartments, a primary-care clinic and a wellness center. As construction on the LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park enters the final phase, Mayor Scott Waage reflects on the impact the new facility will have on his community.

“First impressions count in small communities, especially for attracting new residents and businesses,” Waage says. “When you drive into town, you can’t help but notice this beautiful new medical park, and it shows that we are committed to making our city a great place to live. I see this project as a springboard for positive growth for the future, and we are pleased that LifeCare Medical Center chose to build and invest in Greenbush.”

Greenbush resident Brenda Sather agrees with Waage and can offer a unique perspective on the project: she was born and raised in Greenbush, she is a member of the board of directors for LifeCare Medical Center, and she is the director of consumer banking for Border State Bank.

“I am looking at this project from a variety of angles,” Sather says. And like Waage, she is interested in the financial impact the complex will have on her community.

“Any time you have a big project like this, people will want to know how it will affect them financially,” she says. “And with this kind of project, I believe you have to look at the big picture to understand the positive effects it will have. For example, small communities need to grow in order to thrive, and one of the things that attracts new residents is a quality healthcare facility. New residents look for housing, and that in turn increases home values, and also adds to the school district and the tax base. This ripple effect is the kind of long-term financial impact that will have staying power.

“I also think it’s ok to have questions about a major project like this, and our heritage is financially conservative, which is good,” she says. “When an organization like LifeCare is willing to make a major investment in our community, it tells me they have confidence in us and we’re worth it – we have something special here.”

The $8.8 million construction project is being funded entirely by LifeCare Medical Center and is scheduled to be completed early this fall. It is located on 15 acres at the former Greenbush airport site and will replace the existing downtown building.

The greater Greenbush community has already shown its support for the new medical park by raising more than $100,000 to purchase furnishings, landscaping and exercise equipment for the wellness center. The fundraising goal is $130,900 to cover these extra items.

Green, great and growing
Mayor Waage sees this project as another reason to be proud of his community. “Not many communities our size have what we have – a swimming pool, a great school system, a race park, a golf course, four city parks, a gun range, a great library, a new skate park and a new water treatment plant. And soon we will have a new nursing home and clinic.”

He says the new building represents improved quality of life for the residents of Greenbush and the surrounding area. “We can offer people convenient access to health care in a brand new, modern building. Our community will be served by not only the nursing home and assisted living apartments, but also by the clinic, physical therapy department, and wellness center.”

Sather is looking forward to what the new facility will offer her family. “I think the new public wellness center is going to have a huge positive impact, and people are really excited about it. And I am also thankful to have an appealing, comfortable nursing home option for my loved ones someday, right in my hometown, with people I know and trust working there,” she says.

“Green, great and growing – that’s what you see on the Greenbush welcome sign, and I think we’re living up to that.”

Updated Project Photos

February 23, 2010 -

Updated Project Photos

February 10, 2010 -

Updates and Project Photos

New LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park taking shape

Construction of the new Greenbush LifeCare Medical Park continues to run smoothly, with the expected completion of late summer still on target.

“There are some exciting changes to see, especially on the inside,” says Shannon Carlson, administrator of LifeCare Greenbush Manor. “The interior walls are now up and being sheet rocked, so you can see how well the layout works when you walk inside. We are happy with the overall progress, which is very close to the time frame the general contractor gave us.”

Construction began last September on the 53,000 square-foot complex, which is located at the former Greenbush airport site. When completed this year, the $8.8 million medical park will house a nursing home, assisted living apartments, a primary-care clinic and a wellness center open to the public.

Brett Dallager has been following the construction process very closely, with many visits to the site. As maintenance supervisor of the LifeCare Greenbush Manor, Dallager says one of the biggest differences between the old building downtown and the new one is the spaciousness.

“People will be impressed when they see how much more space there is, along with the vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, and lots of windows,” Dallager says. “It’s going to be a real nice facility, and I think everyone will love having more room.”

Dallager says the focus right now is putting up sheet rock on the walls, wiring for electrical and plumbing. All of the windows have been installed, and interior doors are being framed. The four fireplace casings have been built, and the crew is installing decorative fieldstone rock over them. Also important, the ceilings have recently been sealed so they can now heat the building – a requirement for taping the sheet rock and pulling electrical wire.

On the exterior, the shingling is complete and the siding crew is now on-site. The parking lot has been paved with a base layer, and the sidewalks have been poured on the center courtyard.

“The main projects left to do include painting, putting in the flooring, installing appliances and furniture,” he adds. Finishing the landscaping is another project that will happen in the spring.

Before the final move can take place, the new LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park will undergo standard surveys by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Carlson says both the staff and residents are excited about the move, but he also understands that the changes can be challenging, too. “Our staff is working very hard on the transition plans, and they have a really good grasp of the moving process. We want to make it as smooth as possible for the residents and their families.”

January 28, 2010 -

Updated Project Photos

November 11th, 2009 -

Updated Project Photos

November 9th, 2009 -

Strong Fundraising Tradition Continues in Greenbush
Community Supports New LifeCare Medical Park

Strong Fundraising Tradition Continues in Greenbush Community Supports New LifeCare Medical Park The people of Greenbush and the surrounding area have always valued good medical care and their history of giving proves it. They built the first Greenbush Hospital in 1949, using donated money from nearly every family, church and community organization. And now, continuing the tradition, they are giving again to support the new Greenbush LifeCare Medical Park currently under construction.

"Our community has always been in favor of providing convenient, quality health care, and I have seen first-hand how people are willing to support improvements to our hospital and nursing home," says Dr. Al Larson, a retired veterinarian who was chairman of the Greenbush board when the original nursing home was added to the hospital in 1962. Larson served on the hospital board for more than 30 years, and now at 87, he checks weekly on the construction progress of the new LifeCare Medical Park. "My wife and I are excited about the beautiful new building and how nice it will be for our community, and personally we are looking forward to using the new exercise room."

Larson says he is impressed with the plans, and emphasizes the compassionate staff has always been key to keeping residents and families happy. During his tenure on the board, he supported a hospital addition in 1964, a nursing home addition in 1973. Since his time on the board, further developments included the addition of an in-house clinic in 1988. In 1995, the Greenbush Hospital Association and Roseau Area Hospital merged, and in 2007 all of the facilities were grouped under the new name of LifeCare Medical Center .

Located on the southwest corner of Greenbush, the new medical park sits on 15 acres and will include the LifeCare Greenbush Manor, assisted living apartments, and a clinic and wellness center. Construction of the $8.8 million complex is the responsibility of LifeCare Medical Center; however this does not include a few of the features required to make the new building fully functional.

Carolyn Eeg, a Greenbush resident who sits on the LifeCare board, explains that additional funds are needed to cover furnishings and exercise equipment. "Our goal is to raise $130,900, but the good news is we have already raised $70,000," she says. "We received a generous donation from the Ted Peterson estate as well as from individuals who generously gave through some preliminary fundraising. The Greenbush/Badger Lions served a wonderful pancake breakfast, and we continue to receive memorials in honor of loved ones. This facility is for people of all ages -- its so much more than a long-term care facility, it will provide much-needed assisted living services to the community and it’s also a clinic and a wellness center. So when you're giving, you're giving to something you can use right now…..at any stage of your life."

Some of the items needing funding include a treadmill, stair climber and elliptical trainer; furniture for the community room, meditation room and coffee shop; beauty salon equipment, a built-in sound system, flat screen TVs, patio furniture, grills, flower beds and automatic blinds for the two-story windows.

Brenda Sather, a member of the Greenbush Fundraising Committee, says her community has always been good at finding ways to fundraise. "We're asking our community organizations, families, school groups and churches to consider doing a fundraising project to benefit the new medical park. Another great idea is to make a donation in honor of family or friends -- sometimes it's the perfect gift for people who are tough to buy for. We are so appreciative of your support."

The Greenbush LifeCare Medical Park is expected to be completed in June 2010. Sue Grafstrom, LifeCare development coordinator, says they hope to reach their fundraising goal by the time the building opens. Memorial envelopes are available at LifeCare Greenbush Manor and at the Border State Bank in Greenbush. "We're offering a stained-glass keepsake ornament to anyone who makes a gift of $25 or more. It might be a nice Christmas gift to make a donation in someone's name, and then present them with the ornament as a keepsake." Check www.lifecaremedicalcenter.org for construction updates or for more information or any questions, contact Sue Grafstrom at (218) 463-4742. The LifeCare Greenbush Manor Fund is a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation.

August 13th, 2009 -

Here are some recent photos taken August 13th, 2009 of the project progress. (Click the photo for an enlarged view)

Just Like Home at the New LifeCare Greenbush Manor

Picture your senior years in life, a time when it may be necessary to live in a nursing home. For many of us, it's hard to think about giving up our normal lives to fit into the routine of nursing home living.

But it doesn't have to be that way, thanks to a new nursing home model that is being adopted by LifeCare Medical Center of northwest Minnesota. This new home model -- which replaces traditional hospital-based care with resident-directed care -- will be used at the new LifeCare Greenbush Manor that is currently under construction in southwest Greenbush.

"The whole idea is that when you come to live in a nursing home, you shouldn't have to give up your old way of life and drastically change," says Marjean Wolff, RN, and director of nursing at LifeCare Greenbush Manor. "With the new model, residents will have much more say in how they want their day to go. It's better for them to have a home-like atmosphere where they can have more control over their life."

She says one of the biggest changes is that residents can decide when they would like to get up, and when they'd like to go to bed -- just like home. Once they are up, they will have food choices that include pancakes or omelets. The food choices will continue throughout the day, with options like making chocolate chip cookies for an afternoon snack.

"With this new building and home model in place, we are really paving the way for the future, and I know many baby boomers will appreciate the nice big rooms," Wolff says. "And the rooms will even have internet access, so they can bring their computers!"

Wolff credits the design of the new LifeCare Greenbush Manor for making many of the home model ideas possible. "The new building will have two main sections, or 'pods,' that will each have their own fully-stocked kitchens, adjoining dining rooms, laundry rooms, plus two kitchenettes. This will give us way more flexibility in preparing food, throwing in some laundry, and meeting everyday household needs."

Each pod will have two neighborhoods, and will feature comfortable family rooms. Another positive addition is that residents will have their own large dedicated activity room, instead of converting the old dining room for activities. And the new home will also offer complementary alternative medicine (CAM), where residents will have the option of using aromatherapy, light therapy, music therapy, reflexology, and guided imagery. Wolff had applied for -- and received -- a grant through Northland College to make these services possible. "I was surprised and excited to get this grant, and we will have experts come in to train all of our staff."

One of the best changes to come, however, may be having your own room and bed, with your own bathroom and shower, says Wolff, who has worked at LifeCare Greenbush Manor for the past 36 years. "This is something I know our residents will love, because it means more privacy and no more waiting in line for a shower. It will be wonderful."

Universal staffing for home-like atmosphere

A central part of the new home model is a "universally" trained staff that is prepared for all aspects of the nursing home. For example, at a minimum, all staff will have their CNA (certified nursing assistant) certificate. All staff will also be trained in CPR, food safety, and cleaning chemicals use and storage. The staff will also receive training in Alzheimer's and dementia. "It makes sense because it makes us more capable and flexible to meet the needs of the residents," says Kristi Gustafson, RN, and a 16-year veteran of LifeCare Greenbush Manor who is coordinating the transition.

Gustafson has arranged job shadowing with Perham Memorial Hospital and Home to help her staff see how the new home model works, and many of the ideas are already being implemented in the current building. When the new LifeCare Greenbush Manor is complete next fall, there will be two household coordinators trained to oversee the resident's daily schedules. There will also be the traditional RNs and LPNs, and a new position called "homemaker" rounds out the staff.

"Our homemakers have flexibility in their jobs, because they are trained in many areas," Gustafson says. "They will help with making meals, cleaning, laundry, and assisting our residents with their personal needs and activities."

Heather Langaas is a homemaker, and she has been with LifeCare Greenbush Manor for the past six years. "Each day is different -- one day I might help someone get up in the morning, ask them what they want for breakfast, make the food and then throw a load of laundry in, just like you'd do at home," says Langaas. "I'm excited about the new building, it will be amazing and it will make things easier for everyone."

Another homemaker, Sharlene Melvie, points out that sometimes she'll have people who want to sleep in. "In that case I'll probably get caught up with my jobs, and I can help in other areas like taking a group of people to a church dinner," she says. "I like the flexibility because you never know what each day will bring."

Both Wolff and Gustafson credit a wonderful staff for creating a compassionate and social community for the residents and their families, and they believe it will be a smooth transition to the new building.

"I know sometimes when you talk about change, it can be a little unsettling for some people, but we have some really good changes planned for the new nursing home and I know residents and staff will be happy," Wolff says. "I'm so proud of our great staff, and this is a way of enhancing things for everyone."

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June 15, 2009-

Construction begins on new LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park

Drive by the old airport in the city of Greenbush, and you will see exciting changes taking place that will transform the open fields into a state-of-the-art medical park. Construction is now underway on the new LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park, which will benefit the entire community from the elderly to newborns.

The foundations have been poured on the 52,000 square-foot building, which will house a nursing home, assisted living apartments, a primary-care clinic, behavioral health and rehab services and a wellness center. The medical park is designed to look and feel like home, with cozy exteriors and an open-air courtyard in the center of the complex.

"It's important for us to take good care of our seniors, and I think our residents will be very comfortable and happy in their new surroundings," says Shannon Carlson, administrator of LifeCare Greenbush Manor. "But I think everyone will enjoy the benefits as well. A brand new family clinic will be open five days a week, and the LifeCare Rehab center will have a wellness gym open to the public. We want to help people stay healthy and have a good quality of life."

The $8.8 million complex is funded solely by LifeCare Medical Center, with no public financing needed. LifeCare received state approval for the new facility, which is somewhat rare considering Minnesota's current moratorium on nursing home construction. The new facility will replace the existing LifeCare Greenbush Manor and Clinic.

"We've had tremendous support from Greenbush Mayor Scott Waage, the City Council, City Supervisor Bernard Gonshorowski, and City Clerk Anita Locken," Carlson says. More than 1,200 supporters turned out last September for a ground-breaking celebration on the new site, which is just off Highway 11 in southwest Greenbush.

Though LifeCare will be funding the project, financial support will be needed for some aspects of the new facility, such as extra furnishings, landscaping and wellness center equipment. A committee has been formed to help raise money for these items.

Construction will continue to evolve over the next 14 months, with completion scheduled for early fall 2010. Olaf Anderson & Son Construction Co. of Fargo is the general contractor.

When finished, the LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park will feature a 40-bed skilled nursing unit, with 24 private rooms and 16 double-occupancy rooms. The nursing home will have a larger dining room and area for special events. The facility will also include 12 assisted living apartments, and LifeCare Rehab Services will provide physical, occupational, speech and massage therapy in the building. The public will be able to take advantage of the new exercise equipment in the LifeCare Rehab wellness center, with ample parking available.

"We are really excited about this project, and it's going to help us with our goal of providing the best care we can for all generations," Carlson says. "We will keep everyone updated with our progress along the way."

The community is invited to a public presentation on Thursday, June 25th at 7:00 p.m. at LifeCare Greenbush Manor to view building plans, hear about some excited changes and listen to the preliminary fundraising plans.

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October, 2008 -

Med Park Breaks Ground

Nearly 1,300 people attended the Harvest Hoedown to celebrate the ground breaking of LifeCare's new medical park in Greenbush. Located on the site of the Greenbush airport, the facility will include a 40-bed nursing home, assisted living, a wellness center, a primary care clinic, and more
September 6 was a perfect day to break ground on the new LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park. It was also a great day for an outdoor western style barbecue, pony rides, and the sweet musical sounds of local entertainers The Nite Riders and country vocalists Ashlee and Katrice Hewitt. Nearly 1,300 people gathered for this free fall community picnic celebrated as the Harvest Hoedown. Together they watched LifeCare officials line up in front of an open air stage, gold painted shovels in hand. With a "Ready, set, go!" eleven people representing the LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park committee scooped a shovel full of soil and officially launched construction of a brand new medical facility in Greenbush. Scheduled for completion in 2010, LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park will include a beautifully designed 40-bed nursing home, assisted living facilities, administrative offices and work space for physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff and their patients, a wellness center, and a top-of-the-line clinic.

Lowdown on the Hoedown
LifeCare's Harvest Hoedown was held on a sunny Saturday afternoon in an open field that serves as the Greenbush airport.

Guests were welcomed by the country sounds of local musical group The harvest colors. The day featured a free western style barbecue, pony rides, hayrides, and cattle roping games for the young and the young at heart. The official program began at 2:00 p.m. with a welcome from Joe McDonnell, a social worker at LifeCare Greenbush Manor. Speakers at the event included LifeCare President/CEO Keith Okeson, LifeCare Board Chairman Mike Hetteen, LifeCare Board member Paul Everson, LifeCare Senior Leader Shannon Carlson, Greenbush Mayor Scott Waage, and LifeCare Greenbush Manor representatives Veronica Gerdes and Pam Melby. Especially thrilled was nursing home resident Luella Hanson who was invited to speak on behalf of her fellow residents at LifeCare Greenbush Manor. She was among the select group that broken ground during the ceremony. "I am happy and excited they are building a new home for us to live in," she announced to the crowd with help from a microphone. "I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you to visit our new home in 2010."

Above: Ashlee (left) and Katrice Hewitt perform before nearly 1,300 admiring fans at the Harvest Hoedown. Top right: A young paparazzi grabs a quick snapshot. Right: Children enjoyed pony rides, roping games, and other fun events.

Completing the afternoon activities was a live performance by local singing sensations Katrice and Ashley Hewitt, who was featured recently on the nationally televised program Nashville Star. "What a fantastic way to celebrate the start of this new medical park," says Carlson, who is also Administrator of LifeCare Green-bush Manor. "It was clear that Greenbush needed this facility, and today we have over a thousand supporters here to back up that claim. In my book, I'd call this an overwhelming success."

The new LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park is scheduled for completion in 2010. For more information about the facility contact Shannon Carlson at (218) 463-4701.


Mohamed Djalo (right) joins his new friends in helping serve peanuts at the Harvest Hoedown. He is the son of Annabi Djalo, M.D., who joined LifeCare's medical staff in September 2008.	Vayden Johnson is all smiles at the Harvest Hoedown.

hats and red bandannas were all the rage as many residents of LifeCare Greenbush Manor were on hand for the ceremony.
A horse-drawn wagon provided shuttle service from the guest parking lot to the Harvest Hoedown on the west edge of Greenbush	LifeCare employees and volunteers dished up hot barbecued pork, calico beans, and potato salad to guests at the Harvest Hoedown in Greenbush.

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March 2008 -

LifeCare unveils plans to build new Greenbush Medical Park

Shannon Carlson, LifeCare Senior Leader and Administrator of Greenbush Manor shows off an architectural rendering of the new Greenbush Medical Park. With construction expected to begin in 2008, the facility will include skilled nursing, assisted living, a wellness center, and a primary care clinic. Private rooms will accommodate residents with the options of independent living or
assisted care.

You could say the city of Greenbush is bucking a trend. While many rural U.S. communities are slowly losing their healthcare facilities, this one is about to get a major shot in the arm. A state-of-the-art medical park will soon be built on the west edge of town thanks in large part to ifeCare Medical Center.

" It is with great joy that we are able to announce LifeCare has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health to construct a new nursing home in Greenbush," says Shannon Carlson, a Senior Leader at LifeCare Medical Center and the Administrator of Greenbush Manor.

Over the past 18 months, Carlson and a group of LifeCare?s leaders prepared a presentation proclaiming the desperate need for a new nursing home facility in Greenbush. Carlson and his associates completed a 50-page application and presented their case for state approval during a meeting in St. Paul. No small request given Minnesota?s current moratorium on nursing home construction.

"Receiving approval for this facility ensures a healthy future for the Greenbush area well into the 21st Century," Carlson says. Quick to share credit, Carlson acknowledges the project's strong local backing.

"We've had tremendous support from Mayor Scott Waage, the Greenbush
CCity Council, City Supervisor Bernard Gonshorowski, and City Clerk Anita Locken," he says.

Inside the Medical Park
The LifeCare Greenbush Medical Park will feature a 40-bed skilled nursing unit, of which 24 are private rooms. Another eight rooms are semi-private, though these too will allow privacy and include individual space.

A dozen assisted living apartments will provide residents their independence while they receive the individual daily care they need. A primary care clinic and wellness center round out the complex.

Groundbreaking is set for September.

"We are pleased at how well all the pieces are falling into place. Greenbush is in such need of a facility like this and it is exciting to see it all coming together."

Finding a suitable location for the new medical park worked out easier than anticipated too. "The city was interested in finding a new location for its municipal airport and we were looking for a 50,000 square foot parcel of open land.

It was a perfect fit," Carlson says.

Located just off Highway 11, the city-owned airport grounds offer a perfect mix of open fields and wooded surroundings for such an elegant looking
complex.

"We wanted the medical park to feel like home and also to look like home,
so we worked with the architects to give the building an inviting exterior presence. Judging from the architectural renderings, we've captured the look perfectly. I can hardly wait to see it finished," he says

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