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

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 Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, for approval of the long term 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 infrastructure 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  to complete the designs.
Through the generosity of the community and hard working volunteers, this has become a reality for elders and their families in Sheridan. 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.

Whitney Benefits helps Green House meet deadline through $250,000 pledge to fund a partnership with Sheridan College

Whitney032310

The Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation has agreed to match donations dollar for dollar up to an additional $400,000 for Green House Living for Sheridan.

Click here for full press release.

By Cissy Dillon
The Sheridan Press
Opinion
February 8, 2010

To everyone who has a friend or family member who needs or may need elder care:

I first learned of about the Green House concept for elder care about eight years ago when my friend, Hank Songer, asked me to watch a video with her.  The video showed how the Green House model differs from traditional elder care, and it was heartwarming.

While the traditional nursing home model has worked, it is less than optimal in many cases.

A few key points:

• The core difference between a traditional nursing home where the focus is on tasks is that the focus is on building relationships with people in a Green House.
• Elders who had not been talking, eating or feeding themselves in nursing homes were, within a week of moving to a Green House, sharing stories and gaining weight. One woman even took a fork from her son, who thought he had to feed her, and began to feed herself.

Read More in the full article.

Last Tuesday our community celebrated the imminent success of building Green House cottages in Sheridan – places where the focus is on elders continuing their life journey with dignity and respect.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal flew in to be with us and cheer us on.  He echoed the sentiments of many of the more than 120 people attending the event – that this is an effort similar to a “barn raising.”

He commended our community for taking this on with a true Wyoming “can do” spirit.  We are the only location in the nation that is accomplishing this through the efforst of passionate citizens and not through an existing facility or institution.

Just one year ago our goal was to raise $3.3 million.  Today this goal has decreased to $812,000.  Even though this was one of the most difficult financial environments in near history, our dedicated fundraising team, led by Barbara Walter and Dr. Sy Thickman, did not give up.

One hundred percent of the board and task force have made substantial contributions in time and money.  They became involved because of their individual experiences with older loved ones and their anticipation of the future.

read more,  Kay Wallick, Center Stage

Governor touts project at fundraising reception:

By Kristen Salamon
The Sheridan Press
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

“I think this project is a harbinger of things to come for the treatment and perception of how people are supposed to spend their golden years,” Gov. Dave Freudenthal said at the Tuesday night’s Green House Living for Sheridan fundraising reception at Sheridan Country Club.

Full Article from Green House Living for Sheridan Fundraising Reception. (2MB)

By Kristen Salamon
The Sheridan Press
Friday, January 2010

Doug Osborn, president of Green House Living for Sheridan, announced earlier this week that the Wyoming congressional delegation signed a letter of support for the Sheridan project.

According to a Green House press release, a loan request was made to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facilities Loan Program in late December for $4.7 million in long-term financing.

Read more in full article.

The Sheridan Press
From staff reports

Doug Osborn, president of Green House Living for Sheridan, announced in a press release Monday that the Joe and Arlene Watt Foundation on Dec. 10 approved a $400,000 grant to Alternative Elder Living Inc.  for the Green House Living for Sheridan project.

Robert Eberhart, president of the Watt Foundation, said the board agreed to commit the $400,000 in addition to its initial $100,000 in 2008 for a total commitment of $500,000 payable in minimum installments of $100,000 over five years.

Cost of the project is now $7.6 million, according to Green House Development Director Kay Wallick.

Osborn announced earlier this month that the estimated cost of building and opening four Green House cottages has been reduced from $9.7 million to $7.6 million due to lower construction costs and lower long-term financing rate than originally planned.

The new fundraising goal is now $960,000.  All fundraising and financing must be in place by March 31 to receive a $891,217 grant from the Wyoming Business Council for infrastructure.  If fundraising succeeds, project plans are to break ground next summer and open by 2011 at Cloud Peak Ranch west of Sheridan Memorial Hospital, according to Wallick.

(read more)

Printed in the Sheridan Press
Thursday, December 10, 2009
From staff reports

A sign describing the Green House Living for Sheridan project was placed at the former Maverick store location on Coffeen Avenue at Main Street Wednesday to celebrate progress at the Green House Cottages development.

Doug Osborn, president of Green House Living for Sheridan, announced this week that estimated cost of building and opening the grou Green House cottages has been reduced from $9.7 million to $7.6 million, due to lower costs of construction and a lower long-term financing rate than originally planned.

(read more)