Nazareth Home’s Groundbreaking Palliative Care Program Utilizing “It’s Never 2 Late” Technology

Nazareth Home’s Groundbreaking Palliative Care Program Utilizing “It’s Never 2 Late” Technology

Funding provided by Civil Money Penalty Funds through the KY OIG and CMS

Nazareth Home and Nazareth Home−Clifton is partnering with It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L) for a groundbreaking palliative care program called Connected Affirmation Project (CAP). Nazareth Home was awarded over $200,000 for the CAP program from Civil Money Penalty (CMP) funds, through the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Nazareth Home’s CAP program is the first of its kind in the U.S. by affirming the life of elders by utilizing iN2L technology to help tell their life-story and create a legacy keepsake for families. iN2L technology allows elders to use interactive tablets to stimulate intellectual curiosity with easy access to the internet, view personal photos and videos that prompt joyful memories and stay connected with family and friends. It also increases education and fosters communication about palliative care with residents, their families and Nazareth Home staff.

“This first-in-the-nation project represents our pioneer spirit and commitment to fostering person-centered care,” said Michael J. Buckman, director of development for Nazareth Home. “We appreciate iN2L as a partner that is willing to go outside the box with us. We chose to partner with It’s Never 2 Late not because of who they are, but rather who they want to be as a company. They have a culture of serving others.”

Palliative care is medical care that specializes in providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness to improve the elder’s quality of life. It is provided by a team of compassionate caregivers who partner with the physician to deliver an extra, specialized layer of support.

Buckman noted that palliative care is often misunderstood, causing people who could benefit from this treatment to go without it. “Our goal is to educate the community of the benefits the CAP program offers, breaking down barriers that consider palliative care taboo and allowing more people with serious illnesses comfort and better quality of life.”

“iN2L is honored to be partnering with Nazareth Home in this meaningful project. For 20 years, we have been providing our engagement technology solutions to senior living communities throughout the United States. This is our first project 100% focused on palliative care,” said Jack York, president and co-founder of iN2L. “We will all learn from this project, and with the help of the Nazareth Home team we will provide meaningful comfort and engagement.”

“By finding new ways to meet today’s challenges, we make the lives of people around us better. Nazareth Home is proud to be a trailblazer for a palliative care program using the iN2L technology,” said Mary Haynes, president and CEO of Nazareth Home. “And we are grateful for the CMS grant and the opportunity it provides to develop the CAP program.”

CMS launched the Civil Money Penalty that benefit nursing home residents and that protect or improve their quality of care or quality of life.

“We are humbled and honored to have the Kentucky Office of Inspector General and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognize our efforts to create community through innovative compassion. Receiving the CMP funds allows us to enhance our mission of person-centered care,” said Buckman.

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Alzheimer’s support & education group provides relief for caregivers

Alzheimer's support & education group provides relief for caregivers

Alzheimer’s disease changes lives for both diagnosed individuals and their loved ones.

Family members frequently take on the caregiver role for someone with Alzheimer’s. In many cases, those loved ones find the experience of providing care to be isolating and stressful. It is a hard road to walk, but in the words of Lao Tzu, “From caring comes courage.”

It’s important to know that caregivers do not have to face this trying experience alone. By joining a caregiver support group, individuals can connect with others who face similar challenges, helping to build each other’s courage. Sharing and finding encouragement along the way is revitalizing.

In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Nazareth Home is committed to helping all families who are affected by this disease. Our caregiver support groups offer a place to exchange information, talk through challenges and learn about resources in our community.

Join us and let’s work together to be courageous as we care for our loved ones. Monthly sessions are held at Nazareth Home and Nazareth Home Clifton. Learn more about our support groups here.

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Connect, Create, Contribute

Celebrating Stories

May is Older American Month (OMA), a time to celebrate and embrace aging! Each year, more and more older adults are making a positive impact at Nazareth Home. As volunteers, employees, employers, educators, mentors, advocates and more, they offer insight and experience that benefits the entire community.

This year’s OAM theme, Connect, Create, Contribute, encourages older adults and their communities to:

      • Connect with friends, family, and local services and resources.
      • Create through activities that promote learning, health and personal enrichment.
      • Contribute time, talent and life experience to benefit others.

At Nazareth Home, we are grateful to see many examples of these ideas brought to life. Community members of all ages can take part in helping Nazareth Home thrive. We encourage you to:

Connect: Contact us to learn more about our innovative compassionate care and the resources and support provided to elders and their families.

Create: Living an active and engaged life with opportunities to grow and learn is essential at every age. Take a look at our Activities Calendar to see the abundant opportunities to fulfill the social, physical, spiritual and educational needs of those we serve.

Contribute: Nazareth Home is thankful for everyone who gives of their time, treasure and talents. You can learn more about giving and volunteering here.

Communities that support and recognize older adults are stronger! Join us in strengthening our community!

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Celebrating Stories

Celebrating Stories

Grandparents celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss. Pianists and painters. Survivors of the Great Depression. Honored war veterans. Grandmothers who bake the perfect apple pie. Gardeners who grow beautiful peonies. The lives of elders are rich in history and knowledge, and our community is home to decades of experiences, millions of memories and several lifetimes of learning.

At Nazareth Home, we are touched and inspired daily by our residents and their rich stories. We’re grateful that they’ve allowed us to learn and grow from their experiences and their commitment. We continue to serve so they may continue to write their own stories.

It’s an honor to care for those who have cared for us, and a privilege to provide a place where elders can age with dignity and grace. When you give to Nazareth Home, you’re improving the quality of life for people as they age.

“Gifts are important to Nazareth Home for many reasons but it’s mainly about affirming the lives of the elders who live here and providing an environment where they can thrive,” said Director of Development Michael Buckman.

Nazareth Home’s Hospitality Fund supports our healing ministry. Gifts to this fund assist operations, including our services and programs, and allow us to create an empowering environment where elders can live and enjoy life. You can learn more about our Hospitality Fund here.

Your gift, in any amount, will enrich the lives of elders in countless ways, and support our vision of person-centered care, focusing on each individual’s needs, preferences and abilities. With your help, we provide a home where each elder’s story is celebrated. Thank you for your generosity!

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The Joy of Caring for Others

The Joy of Caring for Others

At Nazareth Home, we believe in a person-centered healing ministry, and so do our employees. This is not just a job; it is their passion. Our staff serve, love, respect and provide a helping hand to an aging generation. The work they do at Nazareth Home is treasured and life-affirming. Our staff is called to care for others; therefore, we must care for our staff.

“We work hard to create a workplace that supports happy employees,” said Jennifer Smith, Director of Human Resources. “Our employees feel the type of caregiving they provide at Nazareth Home is a special mission to which they are called. We want to make sure we are creating an environment to fulfill that mission.”

Person-centered care is at the forefront of how we serve elders. It’s also how we care for our employees. Creating a workplace that is respectful, compassionate, empowering and engaging allows employees to focus on the importance of their work and the joy of caring for others.

It’s imperative that we start a person’s Nazareth Home career off on the right foot. New employees attend a Commissioning Ceremony where the Pastoral Care Director and other staff share the beliefs and mission of Nazareth Home. The event also includes a blessing of the hands, signifying the care employees provide is essential. The call to care for others with the use of their hands is a beautiful and meaningful part of their journey at Nazareth Home.

Camaraderie and communication among staff members builds lasting and trusting relationships, leading to improved happiness and productivity. To spark conversations, we have a large world map where staff and elders pin where they were born, have visited and lived. Many lively discussions occur around the map. It’s a great interactive way for staff to engage and learn more about each other and the elders.

We also encourage fellowship among staff members with our weekly employee lunch. Staff gathers to eat a meal on us and enjoy time together, getting to know one another better.

To keep communication lines open we check in with employees regularly to gauge their level of satisfaction. On Shift, a software program for employees, provides a platform to openly offer feedback at any time. Managers also use this platform to provide training and resources and to track our employee reward program.

Keeping our staff healthy and making it easy for them to manage their own health is another aspect of our person-centered care. We offer an annual health fair, blood drives and biometric screenings along with free vaccinations for flu, pneumonia and Hepatitis B.

We have also joined the movement, #BeGolden, through our partner, Catholic Charities of Louisville. This is a national campaign to bring the Golden Rule back to our communities. Part of living the Golden Rule is empathy and putting oneself in someone else’s shoes, including immigrants, which we have the pleasure of working with each day at Nazareth Home. It’s a message of unity, civility and empathy. As a reminder to #BeGolden, photos of the staff’s shoes are being made into a mosaic which will be displayed at Nazareth Home.

We’ve achieved success in building a culture that allows us to provide elders with a compassionate, welcoming, person-centered community. Our team is engaged, passionate and dedicated, providing top-notch person-centered care. Nazareth Home is much more than just a place to work. It’s a place to thrive.

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Stories in Mind Provides Engaging and Interactive Activity for Elders with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Stories in Mind Provides Engaging and Interactive Activity for Elders with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

“There is no greater power on this earth than story.” – Libba Bray

Stories in Mind, a program facilitated by Tony Dingman, brings the magic of storytelling to life and the power of connection to elders living with dementia and Alzheimer’s at Nazareth Home.

Stories in Mind is a perfect example of our person-centered approach to care. Creative storytelling allows us to connect with each elder and provide an enjoyable and empowering moment. Elders can express themselves without any pressure or expectation. The activity doesn’t require memory; therefore the focus is on them being engaged, active and present.

Connecting with others is at the core of being human, and that doesn’t change when a person has dementia or Alzheimer’s. With Stories in Mind, we connect, instill hope, spark imagination and make the best of each moment.

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Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshop Engages Elders

Feet to the Fire Writers' Workshop Engages Elders

Living an active and engaged life with opportunities to grow and learn is essential at every age. Regularly participating in life enrichment activities promotes brain health and lowers health risks associated with isolation and loneliness.

Nazareth Home offers programs that are designed to nurture the mental, physical, spiritual and social aspects of elders. And creating community partnerships that focus on establishing relationships foster an empowering environment.

One of these partnerships is with Angela Burton, founder of Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshop. This workshop ignites memories and engages elders through writing and reminiscing. It focuses on creating an experience that provides a sense of community and purpose, fitting perfectly into Nazareth Home’s person-centered approach to care.

“Partnership is a profoundly important concept at Nazareth Home. One of our key values is collaborating with others who have the same type of drive and commitment,” said Nazareth Home Clifton Administrator, Lisa Biddle-Puffer. “Through these partnerships we enhance elder’s spiritual and emotional fulfillment, providing excellence in care.”

At Nazareth Home, it’s important to provide a healing ministry for the mind, body and spirit. Our dedicated team focuses on this mission by building partnerships that contribute to enriched, engaged and purposeful lives. Programs like Feet to the Fire Writers’ Workshop, empowers elders to make the most of life each day.

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We Love our Superheroes!

We Love our Superheroes!

It has been said that superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. And at Nazareth Home we know this to be true. We see it every day with our employees and the innovative, compassionate care they provide to the elders.

Our employees get to know the elders, along with their families, by building relationships and wholeheartedly supporting our person-center focus. They make Nazareth Home the special place that it is, and they are the reason we succeed. In fact, the extraordinary compassion and care that our staff provides is mentioned repeatedly in our reviews.

“Part of our mission at Nazareth Home is to embrace our staff, and serve them with the same innovative, compassionate care that we provide the elders,” said Human Resource Director Jennifer Smith. “It’s important that we make it easy for our staff to come to work, and enjoy what they are doing. Happy staff makes a happy workplace.”

We love our superheroes! Thank you to each of you for all your hard work!

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Volunteer at Nazareth Home

Volunteer at Nazareth Home

Make a difference in the lives of elders by volunteering at Nazareth Home. Spending time with older adults is a fulfilling experience, just ask our volunteers and staff. For every moment you share with them, you are blessed with a smile, laugh or life lesson.

Nazareth Home volunteers are a vital part of our person-centered care philosophy, offering their time, talent and gifts to love and serve others in every stage of life. And there are many ways you can help, from special events to everyday tasks.

Our volunteers work with our expert staff in all areas, from playing cards, reading to the elders, helping with the grounds, assisting elders to Mass, and so much more. It’s a great way to spend time with others and even make some new friends.

“I love the personal interaction with the residents. Many days I receive more than I give, and I hope I have returned to them the love they have given me,” said Charon Clayton, a 14-year volunteer at Nazareth Home.

If you’re interested in making a difference in the life of an elder, there are numerous volunteer opportunities available at Nazareth Home and Nazareth Home Clifton. To learn more or to fill out our volunteer application, visit nazhome.org/volunteer.

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