Manzano, Geraldine C. 3/5Dixon, Malcom 3/6Butler, Detric D. 3/11Shepard, Crystal 3/12Hope, Helen 3/15Booker, Shemika 3/21Ramirez, Manuel 3/22Kessel, Carl 3/24Olofin, Oluwakemi 3/27White, Tiffany L. 3/29

Almanza, Romelia 3/1Grear, Sonia G. 3/2Czerniak, Chery 3/2Lindsey, Senior 3/2Earp, Christine 3/3Harris, Tracey 3/5Moses, Michele 3/5Krause, Kacie 3/7Delacruz, Angela 3/8Rosell, Angie 3/8Wareyko, Taylor M. 3/8Drake, Anthony L. 3/9Castanon, Veronica 3/11Davidson, Tara 3/11Luna, Juan M. 3/11Berry, Monesha 3/11Quiroz, Rosemary 3/12Wright, Jimisce 3/13Swift, Warren 3/14Holloway, Angenette 3/15Huffman, Jennifer 3/16Fleming, Kourtney 3/18Sleeper, Amanda M. 3/18Pettigrew, Deborah 3/20

Brill, Bianca M. 3/12Duong, Linh H. 3/22Martinez, Celeste 3/24Owens, Laquesha S. 3/26Thandi, Harpreet K. 3/27Morsovillo, Nicholas R. 3/29Musvibe, Norma 3/30Soudagar, Priyanka 3/31Spina, Karen A. 3/31

Caldwell, Lakisha M. 3/2Lietz, Kathleen M. 3/7Hutcherson, Yolanda 3/8Garcia, Stephany 3/13Alvarez, Narcisa 3/18Renteria, Melissa 3/19Cerami, Salvatore 3/23Geldes, Tanya M. 3/24Brown, Robin D. 3/24Njoroge, Sharleen W. 3/27Naoussi De Fonkou, Elvis 3/31

Layug, Judith D. 3/1Juarez, Maria R. 3/1Jones, Cherita 3/2Mitchell, Trenese 3/3Awotwi, Nyamekeh A. 3/3Bacevicius, Lisa 3/5Morrow, Mackenzie 3/17Perez, Josefa 3/19Wilkinson, Loretta 3/20McCullum, Vantelle 3/22Cooley, Latwanya 3/25Bertelson, Jessica 3/26Meyers, Eric 3/26Kackert, Alyssa 3/26Schmitz, Stephen 3/27Hammond, Sheena 3/27Peretti, Jacqueline 3/31

Branch, Latonya 3/1Mahome, Denise 3/1Caldwell, Jasmine 3/5Snipe, Ciara 3/9Austin, Bernadette 3/9Cherry, Gladys 3/11Smizer, Ruby 3/11Kendrick, Tammie 3/12Short, Kristin 3/16Pajak, Jean 3/26Servin, Amelia 3/30

Bainbridge, Taylor M. 3/2Thompson, Linda 3/6Rudolph, Lawana D. 3/6Hayes, Kenyatta S. 3/11Mueller, Arinda A. 3/12Bryant, Kathryn R. 3/13Thompson, Katie 3/14Bigham, Haley J. 3/16Greco, Sherri A. 3/16Bailey, Courtney J. 3/19Burton, Gloria J. 3/21Multon, Kristin M. 3/22Simpson, Lisa A. 3/24McCann, Tasha L. 3/28Daniel, Stephanie L. 3/29Cofran, Julie A. 3/31

Malave, Ingrid 3/2Genciana, Mary G. 3/4Doody, Melissa M. 3/5Miller, Devan D. 3/5Olano, Virginia 3/7Hodge, Latoya 3/13Fauci, Cindy 3/19Tetchi, Cyriaque 3/22Ruiz, Patricia 3/29Narayanan, Nirmala 3/31

Happy Birthdayto our ECC Family!

Iglesias, Nico A. 3/2Rose, Linda L. 3/4Lee, Julia M. 3/9Fronek, Nolan J. 3/10Parent, Arionn M. 3/12Farley, Lisa 3/14Gunther, Janice 3/18Pachoska, Kristina 3/18Steele, Roshanta L. 3/20Lynch, Vincent J. 3/21Marinceska, Roza 3/24Goffin, Porshca 3/25Dean, Evette 3/27

Porter, Telicia G. 3/6Crawford, Jackie 3/11Luellman, Debra 3/15Wright, Marcel 3/16Starkes, Sharon S. 3/18Wilcoxson, Michelle L. 3/20Arcuri, Susan E. 3/22Carter, Asia M. 3/29Guevarra, Verna K. 3/31

Mack, Baron 3/10Bugg, Siobhan L. 3/12Ellis, Jasmine L. 3/19McDowell, Delma M. 3/19Keys, Chelsea S. 3/19Hubbard, Jada A. 3/24Yonke, Margie L. 3/25Lindsey-Dean, Isaiah D. 3/26Bradley, Nora J. 3/31Bass, Marilena K. 3/31

Person, Lillie 3/4Hester, Muriel E. 3/5Muhammad, Shirley R. 3/6Duncan, Mary J. 3/8Chappell, Pamela L. 3/9Barclay, Paula E. 3/9Wilson, Jasmine J. 3/10McClain, Simon 3/11French, Corey S. 3/16Thompson, Tezsia M. 3/17Donovan, Susan M. 3/18Altman, Lashaundria 3/20Kortum, Beth 3/20Fouladi, Yashar 3/21Drane, Maria 3/22Szany, Celeste 3/27Kennedy, Kennedy 3/28Watson, Niche N. 3/29Russell, Vicki 3/29Aquino, Greg 3/30

Boateng, Comfort 3/2Ronquillo, Myrna 3/2Zeller, Joshua 3/3Saffold, Shamikia 3/3McDaniel, Veronica 3/15Smith, Monekka 3/16Winston, Diane 3/18

Cavazos, Anna Alicia J. 3/3Mars, Lisa A. 3/6Hill, LaTonya M. 3/9Tungol, Andre B. 3/11Caffey, Jacqueline V. 3/16Brown, Amy L. 3/17Lowe, DeAnna N. 3/19Bynum, Mia D. 3/24Daniels, Crystal 3/24

Wheeler, Jenna L. 3/2Steward, Daron 3/2Brewer, Jena M. 3/3Smith, Aaron M. 3/6Baskin, Sade 3/8Neal, Tania C. 3/9Gemmato, Mary 3/10Runyon, Brooke M. 3/11Moreno, Candace L. 3/12Frost, Alan M. 3/14Anderson, Nicole 3/15Green, Sharice C. 3/18Maxwell, Frances 3/18Steele, Vanessa 3/22King, LaToya 3/23Allen, Christia M. 3/24Espinosa, John 3/26Adlam, Aaliyah D. 3/27Dean, Evette R. 3/27Lee, Laurine 3/27

Lewis, Frank A. 3/1Fadonougbo, Riskat O. 3/1Pryor, Cynthia. 3/10McCant, Jonathon 3/11Williams, Michelle 3/12Holley, Vincena 3/13Buchanan, Burnessa 3/14Greco, Sherri A. 3/16Adams, Cedric 3/20Oquendo, James 3/22Alexander, Vernita L. 3/24Jones, Roderick A. 3/30Drayton, Porsche 3/31

Extended CareChronicles

Siegal, Martin J. 3/1Dahlke, Laura A. 3/2Warnock, Darria 3/5Janulis, Wendy 3/10Morg, Karen 3/10Mahoney, Samantha 3/11Ward, Evelyn L. 3/11Gallo-Walter, Dina A. 3/14Greco, Sherri A. 3/16Niles, Shannon 3/27Thomas, Mamie 3/31

M A R C H · I S S U E 3 · V O L U M E 6

Baker, Jonathan D. 3/12Senchak, Maryann 3/14Thomas, Tonya L. 3/17Mosher, Melanie I. 3/30

As most of our staff know in Illinois the Medicaid program generally pays for about 75-80% of all residents in Nursing Homes. Over the years, the cost of care for residents in Nursing Homes in Illinois, compared to the reimbursement has suffered greatly:

• Medicaid reimbursement rates in IL do not cover the actual cost of care for Medicaid residents in skilled nursing facilities: Research shows the average cost of care for a resident with Medicaid in IL is approximately $41 higher a day than Nursing Homes are reimbursed.

• In Illinois, it costs an average of $70,000 per year to care for a skilled nursing resident; however, the state only reimburses an average of $55,000.

• 20-year-old property taxes are used to determine reimbursement. Real estate taxes divert funds from resident care and employee wages.

• There is no balance for minimum wage increases. The statewide minimum wage is set to increase and City and Counties have already increased. Medicaid reimbursement rates need to be adjusted to take these increases into account. For example, a $1 increase statewide cost as much as $110 million to facilities across the State.

• The current Medicaid Support rate for skilled nursing facilities is based upon 2004 costs. The rate does not account for inflation or any increased costs. Support costs includes costs of food, laundry, housekeeping, utilities, maintenance, administration, insurance, dietary, and general office services.

As anyone who reads this can tell – the State of IL considers that Food, Utilities, Insurance, Property Taxes are all at the same level they were 15-20 years ago. How is this possible?

So why do I share this information today? Several reason: Because IL has a new Governor and possibly someone who will listen to our pleading. I wanted staff to know about the financial struggles we face daily in our operations. And because at some point soon I will be asking employees to help advocate to their State legislators on our collective goals of getting this Medicaid process changed.

Spring in coming soon! Best regards,

Ron NunziatoCEO, Extended Care Clinical

THE FACTS ABOUT MEDICAID FUNDING IN ILLINOIS SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES: IT IS A CRISIS

Gary Rainaldi, the Alzheimer’s Unit Director at Sebo’s attended the Indiana State Advocacy Day on Feb 13th at the Indiana State House. The Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana brought many people together to advocate for services, funding and resources for those with Dementia. Current trends in research were addressed as well as medications going through trials. They were able to meet with legislation in Congress and the Senate in regards to the support for an incoming bill focusing on Alzheimer’s. Gary felt very enlightened and rejuvenated after attending this educational advocacy event and along with others, will continue to support this mission and advocate for our seniors!

SebosCHECK OUT THE EVENT AT

St.JamesCHECK OUT the Events at

PrairieCHECK OUT THE EVENT AT

Kelly has worked for ECC for over 5 years. She has vast experience in nursing, having worked as a floor nurse, MDS nurse and unit manager at St. James Manor & Villas. Kelly also comes to Prairie Manor with 35 years nursing experience, 25 of which have been in long term care.

Kelly loves working with people and is a very hands on DON. She feels that the comfort and satisfaction of her resident’s experience during their stay at Prairie Manor is very important to her.

St. James Manor would like to celebrate their fabulous nursing staff that put their best foot forward not only for our residents on a daily basis, but making themselves better than they were the day before. Karen Allen, RN who is currently our Director of Nursing since 2010 is currently in school getting her MSN/Ed. Micaela Adams-Carr, BSN who is our Assistant Director of Nursing since 2014 is working on her MSN/Ed. Rhonda Barajas, LPN is our MDS Director and is currently is currently in school to be a RN. Alaina Wilson and Christina Wilson are both CNA’s and are working on their LPN. Danyelle Fearance is also a CNA in school for pre-med. Lastly but not least, Courtney Hudson is a CNA who is working on her Dialysis Technician Certification. From all of us at St. James Manor, and as DR. Seuss once stated “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” Best of Luck to you all in making your dreams a reality.

In February, Lakewood said our good bye to our MDS Director, Marge Senne. She had been part of the Lakewood family in MDS since 2003. Marge was hard working, sweet and always a helpful co-worker. She will be greatly missed.

We also said good bye to our Administrator of the past seven years, Margie Thompson. She has been with the company for nine years. Starting at Chateau in Social Service and moved up to Assistant Administrator before taking over Lakewood as Administrator. Margie was always a hard working and dedicated team leader. She will be missed by so many.

While it pains us to bid them both farewell as they start a new phase in their careers, we sincerely wish them continued success in all their future endeavors.

Bidding Farewell

Marge Senne Margie Thompson

Great Things Never Come from Comfort Zones!

This team has been working together for the better part of a decade. Cumulatively they have over 134 years caring for residents here at Naperville Manor! When asked what keeps them coming back each of them answered similarly. “I couldn’t imagine working anywhere else; we aren’t just a team, we are family.”

Yeldez, PT (1996), Maryfran, OT (2007), Kathy, ST (2001), Sherrie, OT (2006), Kim, PT (2004), Priyanka, OT (2009), Donna, PTA (2007), Pat, DOR (2001), & Dayza, PT (2006).

Chateau Center would like to thank Jean Porch for her 30 years of service! Jean came to Chateau July 25th 1989. The love she has for her residents keeps her going. She has developed a trusting rapport with her residents. They look forward to her coming every day. Jean has the knack to win over even the most challenging residents.

The residents and their family members feel that Jean is a part of their family as she feels they a part of hers.

The CNA’s love working with her and her dedication as a team member helps her unit run smoothly.

In her free time, Jean loves spending time with her daughter and grandchildren.

Meet our Therapy Team at Naperville Manor!

Prairie Manor is excited to announce their new DON, Kelly Gervasi!

Welcome Kelly!

ChateauCheck out the event at