Wearing a broad smile and expressing his sincerest of thanks, Gov. Peter Shumlin and the state’s top nursing home officials made a stop at the state’s top nursing home Friday afternoon.
Gov. Shumlin, Vermont Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living Commissioner Dr. Susan Wehry, Vermont Health Care Association Executive Director Laura Pelosi, Division of Licensing and Protection Director Suzanne Leavitt and Assistant Director Fran Keeler all visited Randolph’s Menig Extended Care Facility to meet with residents, their families and staff and to offer words of praise.
Menig has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s best 39 nursing homes. The findings are from a review of more than 15,500 nursing homes nationally. Chosen as winners were those that received four straight quarters of perfect five-star ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all three areas that CMS evaluates – health inspections, nurse staffing and quality of care.
Menig, part of Gifford Medical Center, was the only Vermont nursing home recognized. It was also the only in the two-state region of Vermont and New Hampshire, where, according to Medicare, there are 118 nursing homes.
Praising both Gifford and Menig, the governor noted “It’s widely known … that this is the best little hospital around.” He called Menig a “professional, clean, quality, compassionate place to grow older” and a “tribute to the community.”
On a statewide level, “It makes us proud. We’re proud of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Dr. Wehry said it wasn’t her first trip to Menig to hand out quality awards and it surely wouldn’t be her last.
“I have the best job,” she said. “My job is to make Vermont the best state in the nation to grow old with dignity and I can’t think of a better partner.”
Leavitt thanked residents for inviting her into their home and thanked staff, especially those who come in at “Oh-dark-30,” for the job they do. “You are the folks who are the foundation of success of a facility like this and it doesn’t go unnoticed,” Leavitt said.
Hospital and Menig leaders too thanked the staff, described the nursing home’s past and its future.
Menig got its start in 1998 to help meet the community’s need for nursing home care following the closure of larger, 53-bed Tranquility Nursing Home in Randolph. Part of non-profit Gifford, the nursing home initially had 20 beds but grew to 30 beds with an addition that opened in 2006.
The only nursing home in Orange County, it has repeatedly been recognized for its quality, including receiving seven consecutive Nursing Home Quality recognitions and Gold Star Employer awards from the state. It has also earned national awards and has a substantial waiting list for care.
The hospital is now striving to meet more of the community’s needs for senior living opportunities by constructing a new nursing home to replace the existing Menig, a 40-unit independent living facility and possibly one-day assisted living in a picturesque rural setting near Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center. The existing nursing home would then become private, inpatient rooms.
Gov. Shumlin offered his support for the senior living community project, noting he’d stand behind the project “all the way.”
The governor and other state officials all spent considerable time with the nursing home residents, introducing themselves, chatting and posing for pictures.
Many residents were delighted to meet the governor and other state officials. “He’s gone over big,” said resident Leland Flint.
Many were also delighted to hear kind words about their home.
“You can’t find anything better,” was a common theme. Glen Eldredge said it. His wife Shirley lives in Menig. Stu Reynolds said it. He lives in Menig with this wife and his mother-in-law.
Flint said it too. “Everything here is great. Nothing could be better.”
U.S. News and World Report, Medicare data and the state’s leaders seem to agree.
