Are You Making Zero Harm Possible? They Are!

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Each day, dedicated staff in LeadingAge Minnesota member settings across the state are going above and beyond to create safe, trusted environments for the people they serve and their fellow team members. Today, we recognize four individuals and four staff teams with our Make Zero Harm Possible award.   

We will profile each of these recipients in future articles in Advantage; in the meantime, here is sneak peak at our Make Zero Harm Possible award recipients. 

Mitch Boser, Environmental Services Director, Elim Care & Rehab Center in Princeton

Having worked at Elim Care & Rehab Center for just over a year, Mitch is helping to create a culture change that is making zero harm possible. He is a keen observer, takes the time to talk with staff and residents, and is quick to respond to potential safety issues.

Amanda Wik, Licensed Social Worker, Ecumen-Detroit Lakes

Currently serving as the co-champion for Safe Care for Seniors at Ecumen-Detroit Lakes, Amanda is creating a stronger safety culture by identifying situations that could prevent harm, actively working to prevent harm with a broader interdisciplinary team, and sharing the learnings through a campus wide newsletter.

Rob Hendrickson, Occupational Therapist, and Matt Johnson, Physical Therapist, Perham Living

Rob and Matt approach their work each day helping the people they serve see their potential and not their limitations. They treat everyone with respect, taking the time to know their interests, understand their concerns and value how they want to live their lives. They then develop individualized therapy plans to help people feel confident, safe and experience the highest quality of life possible.

Divine Providence Community Home Activities Department in Sleepy Eye

The Activities Department at Divine Providence are defined in one word: awesome! They create individualized programs for residents and group activities to spur engagement, fun and participation from all residents. They bring in guest entertainers, focus on intergenerational programming and host special events that create a positive experience for all who participate and enhance the quality of life for the residents at Divine Providence Community.

Ecumen Diversity & Inclusion Committee

To ensure respect and dignity for everyone they serve, Ecumen has made a priority of addressing the unique challenges of aging among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). This team partnered with Training to Serve to offer high-quality training on LGBT sensitivity to all Ecumen team members and to identify ways to be more welcoming to LGBT older adults. To date, they have offered 14 sessions with more than 300 staff participating – and more are planned, including online sessions for those unable to attend training sessions in person. They are also finding more residents are open and interested in learning about the LGBT community. Ecumen and its Diversity & Inclusion Committee is committed to keep residents and staff safe from all forms of harm, including discrimination based on sexual preference or gender identity. Their commitment and leadership is making Ecumen a more welcoming organization for LGBT residents and staff.

Granite Falls Health Care Center Health Dietary Department

The members of the Health Dietary Team are an integral part of the quality care and support older adults receive at Granite Falls Health Care Center. From ensuring compliance with regulations and knowing the individual accommodations for each resident’s dietary needs to planning events with staff and families and working with the nursing department when they notice concerns regarding a resident, the members of this dedicated team are creating a safe, positive environment for all who live and work there.

St. Therese of Woodbury Safety Champions

The Safety Champions at St. Therese of Woodbury are a dedicated team united in their mission to treat everyone with respect and dignity and create safe environments for all who live and work there. This team is composed of individuals from all departments who work together to identify potential safety concerns, prevent harm before it occurs and create a positive living and work environment that is helps them achieve and others experience the St. Therese mission – to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. 

Know Someone Who Is Dedicated to Respect, Safety and Dignity? Has Someone on Your Team Taken Proactive Steps to Prevent Harm?  Nominate them for a Make Zero Harm Possible Award.

Learn more at Make Zero Harm Possible.