Welcome to Green House Living for Sheridan
For job and volunteer opportunities, please see our Employment page
We’re closing in!… These are exciting times for the Green House Living for Sheridan team–the board, task force and the new management team that is developing…
Elders will be welcomed to the first two homes January 11, 2012 at the Village at Cloud Peak Ranch. The household team will orient the elder and their family and assist in making everyone feel comfortable in their new home. The second two homes will follow in March 2012.
Green House Living for Sheridan–Management Team
From Left to Right: Claudia Wellborn, Social Service Worker; Beth Brewer, Financial Manager; Chris Szymanski, Guide/Administrator; Martha Newman, Director of Nursing
Chris Szymanski came on board in January 2011 to serve as the Guide/Administrator and to lay the groundwork for the successful opening of the homes. She has focused on the development of policies and procedures and the recruitment, screening, hiring and training of almost 50 staff that will eventually be a part of the Green House team. Chris has a unique combination of knowledge and experience in nonprofit and business management, health promotion and community outreach. She arrived here from Alliance Nebraska working as the Administrator, overseeing the operations of a long-term care campus of skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living. She holds a Master of Public Administration and Master of Science in Physical and Health Education. Chris quickly joined the team and has made giant strides since January in building community relationships, developing short and long-term budgets and generally beginning to create a strong and caring team that will lead the change in the culture for long-term care. When the doors open, Chris will coach the self-managed work teams in the homes, monitoring the quality of care and quality of life for elders. She will also oversee regulatory compliance and operational issues.
Martha Newman, Director of Nursing, joined the team in August. For the past 12 years she served as the school nurse in Big Horn in Sheridan County School District #1. She also worked for Sheridan Women’s Health and in various hospitals, including the Sheridan Veterans Administration Medical Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Regis University. Currently she is assisting Chris, the Guide, with policies and procedures and hiring and training staff. When the doors open she will serve as a supervisor to the nurses on the Clinical Support Team and will be responsible for maintenance, completion and preservation of the medical records for the Elders.
Beth Brewer, Financial Manager, joined the team in September. She has many years of experience in the financial aspects of working in nursing facilities, serving as the Accounting Services Director at Sheridan Manor from 1992. She has extensive experience with Medicare, Medicaid and insurance billing and will payroll, accounts payable, and computer software. She will oversee all financial aspects for Green House Living for Sheridan and will serve as advisory to the Guide regarding financial and business issues, as well as maintain an integrated financial management system with electronic medical records.
Claudia Wellborn, Social Service Worker, joined the team in late September. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Work and a Bachelors Degree in Communication with a minor in Psychology. Claudia has 3-1/2 years experience in social work and case management with RiverStone Health in Billings, MT and Sheridan Veterans Administration Medical Center.She will be involved in admissions, financial assistance, assessment of Elders’ needs and discharge planning. Claudia will provide psychosocial support to Elders, families and staff which will enhance the quality of life for Elders and will promote the health of the intentional community of the Green House.
- Green House Management Team
Thank You!
| Money will continue to be raised to support the Green House project in Sheridan. Even though the basic contingencies for the infrastructure and long term financing were met, there will still be a need to raise additional funds to assure that all innovations are in place. You can help by donating or pledging for the long-term health of this new culture change: | ||
| 1. Donate
You can make a donation of any amount by sending your check to: Green House Living |
2. Pledge
Pledge Form : You can pledge any monetary amount by filling out our online pledge form (also available as a download? Go to the tab “Donate or Pledge“ |
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We continue to add to our donor list all the wonderful people and organizations that are helping us reach our goal.
We are continually updating the site to provide you with the latest information available about the progress of our project and upcoming events. All announcements, news articles and upcoming events can be found under Latest News in the column to the left. Project background, board members and other information can be found in the General Info section in the column on the left.
Most Recent Updates
Dear Friends, As I write this on Christmas Eve 2011 and think back over the last five years, I feel a great sense of joy and shared accomplishment because of all each of you has done for our wonderful project. I know that you are as thrilled as I that we are nearing completion on [...]
After conducting an extensive national search, the Board of Directors of Alternative Elder Living, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Szymanski as the Guide for Green House Living for Sheridan as of January 24, 2011. Most recently, Szymanski served as Administrator for the Good Samaritan Society, a non-profit long-term care campus in [...]
USDA pic Seated: Doug Osborn, President, AEL, Inc., Lorraine Werner, Area Director, WY USDA RD. Standing: Ron Callantine, Project Director, AEL, Inc. Board Members: Jim Fuller, Peggy Callantine, Keith Wilson, Carmen Rideout, Guy Fowler, Kay Wallick, Program Administrator Doug Osborn, President, announced on August 2nd that formal notification had been received from the United States [...]
Seated: Doug Osborn, President, GHLS, Lorraine Werner, Area Director, WY USDA RD. Standing: Ron Callantine, Project Director. Board: Jim Fuller, Peggy Callantine, Keith Wilson, Carmen Rideout, Guy Fowler. Kay Wallick, Program Administrator.
Doug Osborn, President of Green House Living for Sheridan, announced on August 2nd that formal notification has been received from the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, for approval of the long-term finance loan in the amount of $5,240,000. All conditions have been agreed to for the loan that will be funded from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Funds will soon be released from the Wyoming Business Council for the infrastructure grant in the amount of $891,217. The total project cost is $8,219,777.
Doug Osborn stated that “we are ‘shovel ready’…The Green House Living for Sheridan board and task force have worked over the past few months with the city to plan for the infrastructure and with the architect to assure that all design work is complete.”
The Green House cottages will enhance Sheridan community’s elder care alternatives. Under this model, elders receive needed assistance and care in small homes that meet all required state and regulatory and reimbursement criteria for licensure as skilled nursing facilities. In the Green House cottages 12 elders will live in a home where the centerpiece is a hearth and open kitchen. A small self-managed staff will provide personal care and meals, joining the elders at the table. Nurses and other professionals will provide clinical care. Family, friends, pets and plants will be a part of daily living, as they would expect in their own homes. These homes accept private payments, private insurance, as well as Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. The cost is the same, or in some cases, somewhat less than in a traditional nursing home.
Sheridan is the first community in the nation to accomplish this as a grassroots effort. Doug Osborn extended his thanks from the Board and Task Force stating, ” through the generosity of the community and hard working volunteers, this has become a reality for elders and their families in Sheridan.” He further shared that “it has been a long, difficult and wonderful experience working with citizens, foundations and government people at all levels. It will serve as a beacon to other communities and will result in a culture change that will benefit elders here and across Wyoming.”
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