SEPTEMBER, 2017 Edition No Images? Click here Dan Liguori named executive director of The ColonnadeSun Health is pleased to announce Dan Liguori as the new executive director of The Colonnade. Dan is responsible for leading, managing and ensuring the overall success of the Life Care community, home to more than 300 residents. He served as interim executive director of The Colonnade for two months before taking the leadership reins this month. Dan’s 10-year career with Sun Health Senior Living (SHSL) began at La Loma Village where he was responsible for all accounting duties at the community. His tenure at La Loma included a stint in 2011 as the interim executive director. In 2015, he was promoted to assistant controller for all of SHSL. “Dan’s dedication to the residents, staff and the organization are clearly visible through his work ethic, commitment to excellence and his calm, practical approach to finding solutions,” said Sharon Grambow, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Sun Health Senior Living. Dan Liguori Dan, who hails from Niles, Ohio, earned an accounting degree from Youngstown State University, Ohio and spent the first 20 years of his career working in corporate accounting in his home state. He landed a marketing job for an assisted living community near Cleveland, where he discovered an affinity for working with older adults. Lured by warmer weather, Dan moved to Arizona in 2005 and shortly after, was hired by La Loma Village. His approach to his new role is straightforward: “My goal is to make the campus a great place for residents as well as staff.” Care Transitions team refocuses the programSun Health Care Transitions is an award-winning program in which nurses help patients recover successfully at home following a hospitalization by providing them with education and support. From May 2013 through January 2017, Sun Health participated in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Community-based Care Transitions Program, a demonstration project examining the value of care transitions programs. Sun Health's program was nationally recognized for having the lowest hospital readmission rates in the country. Since the demonstration project ended, Sun Health has reduced the size of its team and is focusing its efforts in support of community members as well as Sun Health Senior Living residents and Sun Health at Home members. The restructured program continues to earn kudos. A recent Care Transitions patient wrote: “I have both high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation and was in a panic every time I took my blood pressure or experienced symptoms of atrial fib. The one-on-one patient teaching that I received from Stephanie (a Care Transitions RN) helped me understand what was going on with my body and it decreased my anxiety tremendously. I almost declined the Care Transitions program, but I am so happy that I didn’t. Your program has made a huge difference in my life.” Sun Health’s community board of directors is pleased to continue this program as part of its mission to improve community health and wellness. The Care Transitions team is thankful for the generosity of Sun Health Foundation donors for their ongoing support of this vital program. Shred-A-Thon shreds expectationsIt began Saturday morning, Sept. 9, with a manageable number of cars driving onto the Grandview Terrace campus to drop off documents for shredding. Soon after, the lines began to grow, eventually backing up traffic on Granite Valley Drive. By the time the Shred-A-Thon ended at noon, an estimated 500 cars had come through the line and two semi-truck trailers had been filled to the roof with documents destined for destruction. Sun Health Senior Living and Grandview Terrace teamed up with Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich's office to offer the Shred-A-Thon. All parties were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. Employees from Grandview Terrace and Sun Health volunteered to make the Shred-A-Thon a success. Representatives from the Attorney General's Office commented that the Grandview Terrace event was the best turnout they've seen since they began shredding. Sun Health Senior Living is planning to host another Shred-A-Thon in the near future. Watch for info. Crunching numbers at 14,508 feetFair or not, accountants are sometimes stereotyped as mild-mannered introverts who sit behind their desks all day crunching numbers. Warren Tyler, Sun Health's controller, is far from your stereotypical accountant. Sure, he's spent his work life dutifully keeping financial records in order, but at heart, he's an adventurer. The Memphis native recently summited Mount Whitney — the highest point in the contiguous United States — along with his sons, John and Paul, and two friends. "It was a lot of fun, especially to do it with family and friends," Warren says. Mount Whitney, located in the Inyo National Forest in Northern California, tops out at 14,508 feet. The hike is rated as one of the toughest in the U.S. for good reason. It's roughly 22-miles round trip with an elevation gain of more than 6,100 feet. Warren almost summited Whitney two years ago, but was forced to turn back because of bad weather. Reaching the top this time gave him special satisfaction. Warren Tyler (R) and his son John celebrate summiting Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous U.S. Warren's other son Paul and two friends also made it to the top. Warren has hiked the Grand Canyon at least 15 times, scaled Arizona's highest point, Humphrey's Peak on half-a-dozen occasions and completed several long-distance bike rides, including the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, known as the RAGBRAI. Warren is gearing up for his next adventure. In October, he and friends will hike to the top of Humphrey's Peak (12,633 feet) via Lockett Meadow, which if you crunch the numbers, will challenge them with an elevation gain of 4,500 feet. Talk to focus on ways to help caregivers and patients dealing with memory lossDavid Coon, PhD, associate dean for the Arizona State University College of Nursing and Health Innovation, will discuss how caregivers can connect more effectively with a loved one who has progressive memory loss. This free talk, titled "Partners in Care: Communication Strategies across the Continuum," will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, at The Colonnade, 19116 Colonnade Way, in Surprise. To register, please call 623-207-1703. David Coon, PhD Dr. Coon developed a program for family caregivers called CarePRO. Through group meetings and individual phone calls, the program helps caregivers of mid-to-late-stage Alzheimer’s patients to manage behavior patterns and reduce their stress. He also developed EPIC, a program for family caregivers assisting Alzheimer's patients in early stages of the disease. Join Sun Health team for West Valley Walk to End Alzheimer'sJoin the Sun Health SHINE team walking in this year's West Valley Walk to End Alzheimer's, Saturday, Oct. 14 at Beardsley Recreation Center, 12755 Beardsley Road, Sun City West. The opening ceremony is at 8:30 a.m., followed by the walk at 9 a.m. The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. There is still plenty of time to join the walk. If interested, register here. Click on “Support A Participant Or Team.” Look for the Sun Health SHINE Team. Participants who have a Sun Health T-shirt are encouraged to wear it for the walk. Group transportation from Sun Health's senior living communities is available. Contact your community's SHINE rep to learn more. SHINE REPRESENTATIVES
Sun Health residents and staff 'looking good'Residents and staff across Sun Health gathered mid-morning, Aug. 21 to "ooh and ahh" over the 2017 solar eclipse. The fact that only a partial eclipse was viewable in Arizona did not overshadow the mood of the eclipse-seekers. Dozens donned protective eye wear, or used pin-hole viewers to view the eclipse, ate "moon pies," and swayed to prerecorded songs about the sun, the moon and the stars. The 80's anthem"Total Eclipse of the Heart," sung by Bonnie Tyler, was a popular choice. La Loma Village residents and staff enjoyed the solar eclipse. This year's eclipse was the first total solar eclipse to cross the United States from coast to coast, west to east, since 1918. Mark you calendars for the next event in 2024. Fan mailThe Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) classes offered by the Sun Health Center for Health & Wellbeing have helped hundreds of people learn to manage their diabetes more effectively. Comments from two recent DSME participants offer anecdotal evidence that the program is making a difference. "If this course in diabetes is an example of what the Center for Health & Wellbeing provides, then there is much to be learned. Susan (Welter) is an excellent teacher." "Susan (Welter) is articulate, and it is easy to implement the information and suggestions given. Practical solutions." La Loma's new look garners design awardThe remodeled reception, lobby and piano lounge at La Loma Village won an “Honorable Mention” at the 2017 American Society of Interior Designers (Arizona North Chapter) Design Excellence Awards Gala, Aug. 12 in Phoenix. Thanks to Thoma-Holec Design for the beautiful design work. La Loma Village's piano lounge, seen here, won an interior-design award. Grandview Health and Rehab excels on surveyCongratulations are in order for the staff at Grandview Terrace Health and Rehabilitation. They were surveyed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) in August and came away with near-perfect results. The center received zero deficiencies for life safety and the overall DHS survey yielded excellent results. "We are so proud of the team for all their efforts throughout the year. Sincere thanks to Toni for leading the process. Many thanks to Emily Ann, Mary M., Ben S., Daniel, Leslie for all the efforts to ensure a successful survey," Grandview Terrace Executive Director Bhakti Gosalia said. EVENTSUpcoming Sun Health events:
To Live Well, Read LiveWellEach month, LiveWell magazine covers the people, places and things that make Sun Health a hotbed of health. Each issue also includes the monthly calendar of health and wellness classes offered through Sun Health. Read all about it in the current issue. This month's issue includes a special report on the Banner Health/Sun Health partnership, forged in 2008. |