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 construction of the four cottages and administration building at 2311 Shirley Cove in Sheridan. The Scott Cottage, the Watt Cottage, the Whitney Cottage, the Founders Cottage and the Don Roberts Building will introduce this change in nursing home care to the state of Wyoming and help other communities as they consider providing the kind of care and fulfilling lives our elders deserve.

Especially gratifying is watching our new employees in training, wrapping their minds and souls around the concepts and methods which define the Green House model. We have a great group of enthusiastic people, eager to practice their new profession. Our core management group, supported by the Task Force and Board has done an outstanding job of recruiting, hiring and training this group of caregivers. They have received classroom training in the Green House Way and hands on culinary training in the Watt Cottage, albeit with some competition and complications of move-in and construction punch list work.

We will be taking occupancy of the the Scott and Watt cottages over the next two weeks and the Roberts building is now ours – our folks are unpacking from their move from the downtown office. The Whitney Cottage and the Founders Cottage will be completed in February (watch for a grand opening announcement). We hope to begin serving elders in the first two cottages early in January. A second group of nurses and Shahbazim will be hired and trained for the third and fourth cottages.

All of this is happening only because of all the work you have done and the outstanding support provided by the community. And by community I mean that in the largest sense – people of Sheridan and Johnson Counties and the state of Wyoming, donor organizations, government folks at all levels and individuals from all walks of life. I dare not mention names – the list is long and impressive.

The volunteer effort that has been there for every step of the way is fantastic. Each of you knows how much you have contributed of you time, talent and treasure and in total it is amazing to me. I do not think that any of us understood the total effort that would be required when we decided to form up and proceed with the project. This blissful ignorance at least on my part allowed me to go ahead with what in retrospect appears an insurmountable task for a volunteer organization. It was meant to be. . .

Thank you all from my heart for your effort, enthusiasm and belief in this extremely worthwhile undertaking. Happy Holidays to you and your families.

Doug

Doug Osborn
President
Green House Living for Sheridan

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 Alliance, Nebraska.   This campus included skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living and HUD housing.  Chris holds a Master of Public Administration with a minor in Nonprofit Management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  She attended the University of Wyoming and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Physical and Health Education.  Chris has proven skills in building community partnerships and facilitation and training as well as in developing and overseeing health programs and the regulations that support them.   Her previous positions including serving as Health and Nutrition Manager of the Rocky Mountain SER Head Start in Pueblo, CO and positions as a health counselor, administrator and educator for various health organizations.

Chris will lead the organization in the start up of the first Green House in Wyoming at the Village at Cloud Peak Ranch.  When the cottages open later in the year, her duties will focus on guiding, coaching, directing and monitoring the quality of life of the elders in the Green House homes, as well as overseeing regulatory compliance and operational issues.

Bids for the construction of the four Green House homes and Administration Building will be opened on February 8^th and construction should begin in March of 2011.

We’re fortunate to have someone with Chris’ expertise to lead the organization in this important culture change and to further our important mission of transforming long-term care to the Green House model, where the focus is on elders continuing their life’s journey with dignity and respect.

USDA pic