Spring 2008

During the fall of 2007, Dock Woods Community initiated a satisfaction survey, conducted by Holleran Consulting. This was the third time that we have used Holleran to measure resident satisfaction; surveys were also completed in 2002 and 2005.

Survey results indicate a high level of overall satisfaction throughout Dock Woods Community. “I’d like to thank all the residents and family members who took the time to share their thoughts with us through the resident satisfaction survey,” said Edward Brubaker, President and CEO. “I am very pleased with the results. I am proud of our staff for their diligence in supporting our mission and core values that make us a strong organization. I am equally proud of our residents, board, volunteers, donors and other friends of Dock Woods who, together, make our organization a true community. It takes all of us to make Dock Woods the healthy community it is, and I believe our satisfaction survey results are a reflection of this reality.”

Including Dock Woods Community, 12 facilities from the Anabaptist Providers Group (APG) participated in the 2007survey. By conducting this survey at the same time as other APG members, we were able to compare our results to APG benchmarks, as well as national benchmarks established by Holleran based on results from hundreds of other facilities (see table below).

Overall satisfaction in Independent Living is the highest since we began the survey process in 2002, and is well above both the APG and Holleran benchmarks. While we recorded a slight decline in Assisted Living and Nursing Center scores, we are pleased to be above the APG and Holleran benchmarks in all levels of service. We will be working to further enhance our service in all areas, to help ensure that satisfaction remains high.

Action teams have been developed to work on two specific areas of opportunity: transportation services and education regarding level of service transitions. These teams will create action plans with the goal of improving overall services to our residents. Additional areas of opportunity were identified at departmental levels and will be addressed by leadership in those departments.

Again, a special thanks to the residents and families who provided feedback so that Dock Woods Community can provide the best possible services to our residents.

At Dock Woods Community, we are fortunate to have a great group of residents, volunteers and employees who make this place a thriving community. Our residents create community in countless ways. Looking through this newsletter, you’ll see that our residents presented a Christmas Cantata for others in Dock Woods, as well as the wider community. Residents from our Woodworker’s Center created a unique gift cart for residents at Dock Meadows to enjoy.

Likewise, our volunteers help us foster a sense of community on a daily basis. We chose to highlight the efforts of a volunteer, Liz Nyce, in this issue. We are also fortunate to have volunteers from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School who serve as tutors for our students at Dock Village. In total, we have well over 200 volunteers who give of their time and talents each year to help us fulfill our mission of enhancing the lives of older adults and families.

And then there are the gifts and talents shared by our employees 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Two examples of community building efforts by staff are included in this issue. First, Tammy Rodebaugh, a nurse in Oakwood Court, had a vision for a program that would capture photos and memories for each resident throughout their time at Dock Woods. This program helps residents tell their story, while also engaging families and staff members. She recently launched the program, and called it Memories in Motion. It is already having a positive impact in Oakwood Court.

A second example is a scavenger hunt that the Dining Services employees sponsored for the children of Dock Village. This idea came from staff, and staff ran the event. The results: smiling children, happy Dining Services employees and, most important, a positive, caring community.

Thanks to all our residents, volunteers and staff who work to make this a truly unique community!

-- Edward D. Brubaker,President/CEO

How long have you been volunteering at Dock Woods, and how did you get started? I’ve been volunteering for about eight years. My mother Erma Alderfer lived at Dock Woods for quite a few years. When she passed away, I didn’t come as often, but I would still stop by occasionally to visit my aunt Sallie Clemens. During one of my visits, a nurse said, “We don’t see you anymore—why don’t you volunteer?” So I said sure, I’d volunteer.

Why do you choose to volunteer at Dock Woods? I chose to begin volunteering here due to a nurse’s encouragement. I continue to come because I know the community, and know Dock is a really nice, clean place. Having spent so much time in Dock Terrace, I really got to know the nurses, and they are all so nice. Other staff members are nice as well. In particular, I think of America, a housekeeper in Dock Terrace—she
keeps the place looking good, and she always has a smile on her face.

While here, what do you do? Almost every Wednesday, I come in and hand out fresh water in Dock Terrace. I also really enjoy talking to the residents as I deliver the water. Occasionally, I bring a family member along to help. I remember bringing my granddaughter from Seattle to help pass out water one time when she was in town. I think it was a very good experience for her.

What do you see as some of the benefits of volunteering? It’s nice to be able to help others. I also enjoy being with older people. Volunteering helps me feel like I’m doing something useful—it’s fulfilling.

Question asked of Julie Moyer, Director of Volunteers:
What are the characteristics of a great volunteer? Like Liz, great volunteers are compassionate and dedicated. They learn to know the residents, and live out our mission of enhancing the lives of older adults. I’d like to thank Liz and the many other volunteers who help us create and sustain a healthy community here at Dock Woods on a daily basis.

Liz lives on a farm in Lower Salford with her husband, Arlen. She is an active member of Zion Mennonite Church in Souderton, where she has been organizing fellowship breakfasts for older adults for 22 years.

Memories in Motion was begun by Tammy Rodebaugh, LPN. Tammy has worked in Oakwood Court since it first opened eight years ago. Beyond being an excellent charge nurse, Tammy clearly sees the residents and their families as individuals, each with a story to tell. This past fall Tammy initiated the development of Memories in Motion.

(left) Resident Assistant Kathy Schubert and LPN Tammy Rodebaugh were instrumental in getting the Memories in Motion program started.

For Tammy, the catalyst behind this project was eight years of watching our residents “age in place,” which included the implementation of palliative care and hospice services in Oakwood Court. Tammy realized that family members frequently focused on their loved one’s end of life at Dock Woods Community. She knew residents have a full and active life within the community, which their families may not always see.

Tammy’s concern was that if the family misses out on the quality of the resident’s experience, they might only associate “end of life” care with the community. Preserving residents’ memories through photos and quotes is a way to help families feel good about the resident’s experience. It also facilitates the resident’s ability to pass on their life heritage and values to the next generation of their family.

In appreciation of Tammy’s efforts, she has been nominated for recognition as PANPHA’s “Innovator of the Year.” PANPHA is the Pennsylvania association of nonprofit senior service providers.

(pictured at right) Mary Ellen Musselman and Tammy Rodebaugh pose with residents Betty and Earl Dixon during the Mardi Gras party.

“On Sunday, January 13, 2008, 17 Salford Mennonite Church workers arrived in New Orleans after making a quick stop in Knoxville, TN, to pick up the last of our crew members. It has been almost two and a half years since Hurricane Katrina, but the damage is still evident in New Orleans. A third of the homes are boarded up and FEMA trailers are parked in front of many houses. Many businesses are still closed.

“Our group worked on four different MDS sites, including the future location of the MDS New Orleans office/volunteer housing building. Work included tearing out walls, installing windows and doors, hanging drywall, mudding and taping, and listening to personal stories about the hurricane. These wonderful people are just like us, except right now they are struggling day-to-day to get their lives back together. They didn’t expect perfection in our work, but that is what we as a team strived for each day we worked for them.”

“From January 21-25 my wife, Lucy, and I were fortunate to beable to serve in Pass Christian, MS, with a group of folks from ourchurch and other persons from around the country. While most of the debris had been cleaned up in the two years since Lucy was last there, the extent of the devastating damage was still quite evident. Quite a few persons were still living in FEMA trailers.

“As we listened to their stories and observed their circumstances, we marveled at the capacity of the human spirit to weather the storms of life, both literally and figuratively. Many folks are still struggling with the effects of this hurricane, which will still be felt for many years, but their appreciation of the help we could give was shown every day. One local construction worker, when speaking of his experience said, ‘it has brought us closer together as a family.’ His words challenged me in my own life, reminding me to to focus on my blessings rather than on my challenges—which is not easy, but likely a key part of a healthy, happy life.”

United Way Contributions: