Presbyterian Village North (PVN), a faith-based nonprofit continuing care retirement community, was recently recognized for the third year in a row on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 list of best senior-care communities in America. The ranking is based on evaluations and scores in three categories: state-conducted health inspections, how much time nurses spend with residents and the quality of medical care.
“We strive to enrich the lives of those we serve by extending exceptional care and services in a faith‐based culture. It is a privilege to receive this recognition from U.S. News and World Report, as it tells us we are successful in our mission,” said Ron Kelly, executive director of Presbyterian Village North. “It’s the little things our team members do every day to ensure they are following healthcare standards while simultaneously meeting the needs of our residents that have made this recognition possible. Our staff’s dedication to excellence and commitment to compassion help us achieve these kinds of accolades. We want to extend a special thank you to each and every team member at Presbyterian Village North for contributing to the wellness of our residents and the livelihood of our village.”
The data foundation for this ranking came from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in January 2015. A more in-depth rating and report is available online showcasing how PVN met health and safety standards for food preparation, National Fire Protection Association standards and other standards of nursing-home activities in the latest three state inspections.
“Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave us “above average” ratings in every category. We are very proud of that,” said Toni Walker, director of nursing at Presbyterian Village North. “Looking ahead to the future, we plan to focus our energy on developing programs that help progress our sub-acute care delivery model. We welcome and care for people who need varying levels of assistance, and we want to continue delivering the best care possible. By continually expanding our knowledge of evidence based best practices and current developments within that realm, we can stay focused on our mission of enriching the lives of those we serve.”
Presbyterian Village North hosts regular meetings called Moments that Matter, in which teammates share positive experiences and recognize people who have demonstrated outstanding acts of kindness that support PVN’s culture of uplifting those they serve. Recently a man in housekeeping was acknowledged by several team members for his devotion, his gentle spirit, his warmth and the compassion that he exudes when interacting with residents. Many noted that he was an inspiration to them. When approached with this positive feedback, he teared up and said, “I look at all of these residents, and I treat them as I treated my own mother when she was in my care. They deserve to be treated just like I treated my mother, with the very best care and utmost respect.”
“We were moved greatly by this man’s testimonial,” said Kelly. “It is imperative that we treat others the way we would want to be treated or the way we would want our loved ones to be treated. I recently had the privilege of speaking with the head of a local hospital network who has been involved with PVN since the development stages of the village more than 35 years ago. He relayed to me that it is truly amazing to see that the team at PVN is accomplishing the mission set from the very beginning by the community’s founders. We are still passionate about providing a full continuum of care, in an environment that supports dignity and well-being. That is a remarkable feeling.”
“Simply put, we are a ministry of people who are here to serve others,” said Godwin Dixon, president and CEO of Presbyterian Communities and Services. “We end every conversation with, ‘Is there anything else we can do to assist you?’ We do not want residents to feel like they are burdening us. We want them to feel secure in knowing that they can come to us with whatever their needs may be. This level of security lessens their anxiety and leaves them feeling more confident about their lives. Our goal is to go above and beyond in the quality of services we provide each and every day.”
ABOUT PRESBYTERIAN VILLAGE NORTH
Presbyterian Village North, a Presbyterian Communities and Services community, is a faith-based nonprofit continuing care retirement community for active adults aged 62 or older offering independent living, assisted living, short-stay rehab services, skilled nursing and certified memory care. Nestled among 63 acres of wildflower gardens and putting greens in North Dallas, independent living residents may choose from executive homes, patio homes or garden apartments. Assisted living residents enjoy private apartments, and private and shared suites are offered for licensed nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, memory care and hospice care. Amenities include an 1,800- square-foot wellness center, computer center, billiards room, salon, meeting rooms, woodshop, library, business center, sewing center, pottery and craft center, fulltime chaplain and weekly worship services and a 250-seat performing arts center. In 2011, Presbyterian Village North opened the nation’s most innovative therapy pool, the HydroWorx 3500, with underwater treadmill, gait monitoring and massage jets, as part of its comprehensive wellness program. The retirement community was named one of the nation’s best for 2013, 2014 and 2015 by U.S. News & World Report and Medicare, which ranks it 5 star. For more information, please visit www.prescs.org.
ABOUT PRESBYTERIAN COMMUNITIES AND SERVICES
Presbyterian Communities and Services, located in Dallas, is a faith-based nonprofit organization comprised of U.S. News & World Report-recognized continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)—Grace Presbyterian Village and Presbyterian Village North—and the leading hospice services of Faith Presbyterian Hospice. The organization fulfills its mission of empowering individuals to live their lives to the fullest by providing a standard for excellence, premier training, quality services and compassionate care. With a 79-year shared legacy, Presbyterian Communities and Services was established in 2008 to join the two CCRCs and hospice organization. For additional information, please visit www.prescs.org.
Photos Courtesy of Presbyterian Village North
Photo 1: Presbyterian Village North