In keeping with its well-established holiday tradition, The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center invites community members to enjoy festive Christmas activities. “This kicks off the holiday season in a spectacular way," said Ashlee Monarco, administrator of The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “We love to share the experience of holiday cheer with our visitors. This truly helps enhance the joy of the season for all of us." The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center supports the local community by holding numerous events throughout the year as part of its mission to be a good neighbor. “We are ingrained in the fabric of Mancos, and it is that relationship that has allowed us to meet the needs of our residents,” said Monarco. “We look forward to continuing to serve the local community throughout the year with fun events such as our annual Easter egg hunts and visits from the Easter bunny, as well as Halloween trick-or-treat events, community clinics, healthcare information sessions, food and clothing drives, and more,” she added. Special Holiday Event on Dec. 20 The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center is hosting a special event for the community at the facility’s campus at 211 E. 3rd Ave. in Mancos on Fri., Dec. 20, from 2 p.m. through 3 p.m. The free celebration includes: Hors d’oeuvres A visit from Santa Christmas games and other festivities For more information about the event, please call 970-533-9031.
Each year, National Nurses Week, May 6-12, provides an opportunity for The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Mancos, to honor its talented and compassionate nurses. While nurses are appreciated throughout the year, this recognition week often features special events to mark their many contributions to the community. The following week, May 12-18, the center began its annual observance of National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW), starting on Mother’s Day. Sponsored by the American Health Care Association, the week recognizes the important role of skilled nursing care centers in providing specialized care to seniors and individuals with disabilities. The theme of this year’s NSNCW was Radiant Memories – A Tribute to the Golden Age of Radio. “Like cherished moments shared through music and stories on the radio,” said Ashlee Monarco, the facility’s administrator, “skilled nursing centers, residents and staff, contribute to the creation of radiant memories.” Monarco also noted that, “It is appropriate that National Nurses Week concludes each year on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.” The social reformer and founder of modern nursing led the way not only in professionalizing the field of nursing but in modeling compassionate care, even under the most difficult circumstances. “Our nurses, through their awe-inspiring blend of competence and compassion, are especially sensitive to residents’ need for one-on-one social connections,” said Monarco. “We are all very grateful for their hard work and continuing commitment.” The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center has been marking the two week-long observances with several special activities: Appreciation gifts were given to nurses, celebrating their compassionate care towards residents.For National Skilled Nursing Care Week, the facility celebrated by having parties every day, along with individualized themes to include games that put smiles on our residents’ faces and filled the halls with laughter. About National Nurses Week To acknowledge the contributions of nurses and call attention to their working conditions, the International Council of Nurses established May 12 as International Nurses Day in 1974. The celebration was extended to a week a few years later, and National Nurses Week was officially born in 1994. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. Sponsored and promoted by the American Nurses Association, the week-long event highlights the crucial contributions that nurses make to the community. About National Skilled Nursing Care Week National Skilled Nursing Care Week recognizes the essential role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s elderly and disabled. Established by the American Health Care Association in 1967, the week-long observance starts each year on Mother’s Day and is celebrated through the following Saturday.
The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center is hosting its annual “Trick-or-Treat” on Tuesday, October 31, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The free community event will be held at the skilled nursing facility at 211 E 3rd avenue, in Mancos, Colo. The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center staff, many in costume, will decorate the facility and fill their buckets with candy for the trick-or-treaters. In addition to candy, free snacks such as cider, hot chocolate and caramel apples will be available for the visiting children and their families. “Events such as these are not only fun but are among our ways of giving back to the community we serve,” said Ashlee Monarco, administrator of The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “We look forward to this every year. Seeing local kids in costume is our Halloween treat!" In addition to wearing costumes, children are encouraged to bring shopping bags, pillow cases or pumpkin baskets for the goodies. “Many staff members will also be in costume, demonstrating both their holiday spirit and their pleasure in celebrating together with the community,” said Monarco. “In addition to Trick-or-Treat, we host a large holiday light display in December, visits with the Easter bunny and egg hunts in the spring, and more. We take pride in supporting the region we serve.” The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center will be creatively decorated for the holiday. There will be more than 40 candy givers, and the treats and snacks are donated by The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “This is both a fun and a safe way for our local kids to enjoy the holiday,” said Monarco. “It meshes perfectly with our commitment to provide genuine hometown care while serving as a vital partner in the community.” Please call 970-533-9031 with questions about the Trick-or-Treat event. Reservations are not required, and the event will be held rain or shine.
After taking stock of its growth and accomplishments over the past year, The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, the 110-bed subacute and skilled nursing facility in Mancos, notes that its growth and development are directly related to the backing it has received from the local region, in addition to community-supporting initiatives of its new ownership team. “We find it is more important than ever to partner with the community in as many ways as possible and to focus our development on the needs expressed by our local residents,” said Ashlee Monarco, administrator of The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “With this in mind,” she said, “we have taken very seriously our commitment to be a good neighbor and have actively solicited new ideas for ways we can provide better caregiving for residents and become the community’s trusted healthcare center. We’ve seen terrific support in the community’s response – as evidenced by its enthusiastic participation in the holiday celebrations and other outreach activities we’ve held.” The new ownership team, which took over last fall, consists of a group of skilled nursing facility managers and operators based in Colorado and the Midwest. “The ownership group has significant experience in overseeing operations at similar-sized care centers,” Monarco noted. “We already see the value of incorporating new ideas that have been successful at their other facilities as we work to advance our mission of excellence in care.” Notable Milestones Among the improvements over the past year are: Census increased by 10 long-term care residents after touring the facility and seeing the improvements Zero complaint surveys within the past year Added a new low-stimulation unit that specializes in dementia care Upgraded service offerings by incorporating onsite services such a beautician, podiatry and physician visits. The facility is also currently preparing to launch a mobile dentist program for residents. Closer community relationships, including more support of local senior centers by hosting bake sales, holding school supply drives for local schools and attending resource fairs Holding a variety of free community events including a visit from the Easter Bunny, Fourth of July BBQ, Halloween trick-or-treat, and holiday lights displaysMonarco attributes the center’s increasingly effective performance to the core principles stressed by the new ownership team. “They have implemented three key tenets: ‘genuine hometown care,’ community integration, and treating employees as family. We’ve given a strong focus to these philosophies over the past year and it has helped us better service the community.” Enhanced Employee Support The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center seeks to remain a local employer of choice, therefore among the innovative programs introduced this year is the facility’s Emergency Assistance Fund, through which employees in immediate financial need can now get economic help to tide them over during difficult times. This unique fund is set up as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and is administered for the skilled nursing facility by a third party, ensuring employee confidentiality. “This is another way we fulfill our mission,” said Monarco. “While our commitment is to provide genuine hometown care while becoming a vital partner in the community, none of that can be accomplished without ensuring the health, safety, and happiness of our valued teammates.” Workplace Excellence Winner Also of note, The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center earned Align’s “Workplace Excellence Award” for its dedication to workforce engagement during the past year. “This employee satisfaction award underscores our effort to create the best workplace for our staff,” said Monarco. “At The Valley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center we feel it’s important to engage every member of our team to make ours a positive, supportive workplace. That helps our staff to provide the highest quality patient care.”
Call: 970-533-9031
Email: admin@thevalleyrhc.com
Visit: 211 E 3rd Ave, Mancos, CO 81328
