Author Archives: jonathanhaggis

Wrapping Up at the Village

The past 8 weeks interning in a senior living community have been eye-opening in several ways.    Many residents have passed on even during my short time here, serving as a constant reminder that death is a constant presence in this environment.   I have learned about the multi-faceted operation that makes up a nursing home.  Housekeeping, laundry, accounting, legal support, janitorial services, and even a person for medical supplies are needed to keep it going.

Recently, since many of the departments have run out of things for me to do, I’ve been spending a lot of time with my boss in his office.  Some of the most personally enriching moments of the fellowship have been the conversations we’ve had on a variety of business topics, from the nature of healthcare to career and leadership advice.  My final major trip with him was to the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) meeting at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Crown Point.  An ACO is a concept created by the Affordable Care Act that encourages different health institutions to collaborate and reduce the cost of care.  We represented one of several nursing homes/rehab hospitals in the ACO.  Patients from St Anthony’s needing long term care are sent to one of us to maintain consistency and ease of follow-up.

I’ve also done some soul searching as I’ve been immersed in long term care, and I’ve decided that this field is not for me.  This conclusion is based on a variety of factors:  1) The license exam to become an administrator is very difficult and is roughly equivalent to nursing boards.  Both the state and national exams must be passed, and it is quite common for takers to fail them.  2)  Once an administrator is licensed, he or she is constantly put in a no-win situation where the state, residents, families, and staff must be kept happy when it is impossible to keep everyone happy.  As someone who is not naturally a people-pleaser, I have learned that I’m not wired to be an executive of a care center.  However, I would excel in the role of department head, in which I would lead a specialized section of the operation.  While my future calling and purpose in society is not in the field of my internship, I am nevertheless grateful to the Institute for Leadership and Service for the opportunity to discover that early on.

This isn’t to say that it was all work and no play.  As I mentioned in my last post, my boss invited me to go sailing with him and some of his crew on Lake Michigan.  On the second to last day of the fellowship, we left from Belmont Harbor in Chicago to go on a 3 hour cruise on the lake.  I learned about sailing terminology and how teamwork plays such a pivotal role in sailing and in leadership.  I also got some pretty cool pictures of Chicago from the boat.  It was a great way to wrap up a fantastic learning experience.

The front of the sailboat going out into Lake Michigan

The front of the sailboat going out into Lake Michigan

The view of Chicago from the sailboat

The view of Chicago from the sailboat

Adventures at the Village

A senior living complex, whether it be independent living, assisted living, or a nursing home, serves to help the elderly live out their final days in peace and comfort.   As an intern at Wittenberg Village in Crown Point, IN, I am getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to achieve this mission. Wittenberg creates a community by incorporating all three living models on the same campus.  Starting on the first day, I shadowed my highly experienced supervisor as he introduced me to both the staff and the residents.  I traveled to the company headquarters, preferably called the “ministry center”, in Arlington Heights, IL to sit in on a budget meeting and meet the executives.  Since then, I have shadowed and worked on projects for the various department heads.  For example, I have helped reorganize the filing system in medical records, conducted government-mandated cognitive function questionnaires to residents for social services, and followed the culinary director for a day.  My work days are usually open-ended and flexible, allowing me to also attend resident programs.  I sat in on a bible study led by the campus chaplain and rode on a bus trip through the countryside, stopping at Dairy Queen along the way.  I have also attended resident council meetings and spent time chatting with residents to learn about issues they face and about their Wittenberg experience.

While these activities can be done on any given day, I am lucky to witness two major events that sporadically occur.  First, some of Wittenberg’s staff has reached out to the Teamsters to assist them in unionizing.  I have been able to sit in on some union discussions (although most are so confidential I cannot attend) and have learned about unions from the perspective of management.  Since my supervisor has rarely dealt with unions, he said it was an excellent learning opportunity for me.   Second, a complaint was filed by the family of a resident, so inspectors from the Indiana Department of Public Health were sent to conduct a complaint survey.  My supervisor, wanting to set an example of how to treat inspectors, introduced me to them as he would if they were professional contacts.  I sat in on a meeting between staff and inspectors that served as a collection of evidence, covering everything from the incident that occurred to how reporting procedures were followed.  Wittenberg received a minor citation, for which my supervisor was required to write a plan of correction for the state.  Throughout this process, my supervisor and I talked frequently about the role of inspectors, the nature of inspections, and how to prepare a facility to deal with these challenges.

My experience has been challenging, but I’ve also had fun, too.  Two weeks ago, I enjoyed the staff picnic.  I attended an open house for a local competitor that served as a cocktail party.  Musicians, martinis, and endless food helped to showcase their lavish senior accommodations.  Last Wednesday, my supervisor took me to Chicago to tour another Lutheran Life Community, and we went out for dinner afterwards upon our return to Indiana.  He regularly sails with a group of friends on Lake Michigan and has invited to take me sailing as they train for the Mackinac Race.  I’ll be sure to tell you about it in my next post!