Thursday, April 19th to Saturday, April 21st — Emmanuel Christian Center, Spring Lake Park, MN

We’re heading to the District Council for three days of learning, networking and fun.  Along with exhibiting our products and services, we look forward to connecting with you.  See you there!

Parkview Home in Belview, Minnesota completes its transformation next week when the last item of their rebuilding and renovation takes place.  Last July 1^st, and then a week later, Parkview (and the town of Belview) was hit first by an EF-1 tornado, and then a severe thunderstorm with damaging straight-line winds.  The roof was stripped off of the skilled care portion of the home and dumped unceremoniously into the courtyard, and torrential rains soaked the interior.  A week later, the temporary tarps were ripped away, and again torrential downpours added more headaches.  Fortunately, residents had just finished eating and were in the dining room, and no one was injured.  Staff calmly escorted the residents to the adjacent attached assisted living dining room.  Most residents were not aware that their home had just been severely damaged.  As a result of the damage, the skilled care portion of this facility was uninhabitable, and residents had to be relocated to facilities in surrounding communities.  After considerable time and effort, and a committed effort by the City of Belview, the administrator, and a dedicated staff, the doors are once again open, and the facility has undergone a complete interior facelift (plus a new roof).  It is a testament not only to their dedication, but also to the dedication of smaller communities to be committed to providing care for our seniors.  Congratulations to you, Parkview!

Stop by and tour the new Elmwood Funeral Chapel. Dave TeBrake of Miller Architects & Builders will be available to answer your questions and to give tours Saturday, April 14th.

The new 7,926 sf. facility is a one-story, full-service funeral home with an on-site crematory, and is fully handicap accessible. It features a drive-under canopy at the front entrance that opens into a spacious lobby. A large chapel will accommodate over 200 people and can also be divided to handle two visitations at one time. An arrangement room suite, a large family lounge with children’s area, business offices, public rest rooms and ample off-street parking round out the amenities.

Miller Architects & Builders is proud to have had the opportunity to work with the Betkowski family from architectural services through construction. We thank the Betkowski family for making us a part of their success.

If you would like more information on this project, or how Miller can assist you with your facilities architectural and building needs, please contact Dave TeBrake at: 1.800\772.1758 or davet@millerab.com / www.millerab.com

Expanding the services you provide to find new revenue streams is one of the options out there to deal with declining reimbursement.  Memory care and enhanced assisted living delivered from a cottage-style environment can be a boost to any program, providing a new look and marketing opportunities.  Updating a facility with new interior finishes can also give a new look, and in the case of a SNF, could be reimbursable through the threshold depending upon size and scope.

Has everyone adjusted to the cuts in Medicare yet?  Don’t take me wrong, it’s a big adjustment and almost all facilities have had to make hard choices to make up the differences.  Finding new revenue streams, or enhancing existing ones are obvious paths rather than to compromise the quality and level of care offered.  Outsourcing is an option, but must be carefully considered in community perception.  In any event, the “times they are still a changing”, and we in care for the aging have to keep adapting and scrambling.