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 July 2006 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: WNY Caregivers Welcome Home! By Gail Nicholson
GN: How did you begin your career? Robert Meiss: I was born and raised in the Buffalo area and attended Canisius College. Following military service I returned home. My best friend was a social worker at a nursing home and encouraged me to consider a career in long term care. I always had an interest in health care and this led to an opportunity to complete the internship necessary to sit for my licensing exam. Soon after, I accepted my first position as a nursing home administrator. GN: When did you join Beechwood? RM: I have just started my 18th year at Beechwood. Previously, I served as Senior Vice-President and Administrator at Wesley on East in Rochester, NY. Since both Beechwood and Wesley have their roots in the United Methodist Church, I became aware of my predecessor’s plans for retirement. I submitted my resume and the rest is history. GN: What are your specific interests? RM: Throughout my career I have worked as a hospital administrator, nursing home administrator and now CEO for a continuum of care. I find my role as CEO to be the most interesting and challenging. I have a passion to always be on the lookout for what is new and innovative in our field and have been fortunate to have worked in an organization that grants me the freedom to investigate how new approaches to care could work for our residents. The whole idea of changing the concept of nursing home care from a medical-institutional model to a resident-centered model is the latest example of what has energized me. GN: Discuss your career highlights. RM: Having been in the field of administration for 28 years, I am grateful for having received meritorious service awards from the WNY Association of Homes and Services for the Aging as well as the Network in Aging of WNY. I was honored that my colleagues from across the state elected me Chair of the NY Association of Homes and Services for the Aging in mid-1990s. Presently, I am very proud to have been a driving force to transform the culture of care in our facilities to the resident-centered care model, which we call Welcome Home.
RM: Welcome Home is the name that we have chosen to describe our efforts to transform our approach from the medical-institutional model to one in which our residents direct us as to how they wish their care to be provided. To be successful we need to change the way all of us as staff, residents and families have been trained to think — that there is only one way to provide good efficient care. Early data has proven that a wide range of positive resident quality of life outcomes can result from this change in culture. We thought the name Welcome Home reflected our efforts in that we want our residents to feel that this life experience is not living in an institution but rather another one of the many homes that people live in throughout their lives. GN: What is exciting about this new program? RM: To see first hand through scientific research, but perhaps more importantly on the faces of our residents, the effect that empowerment and deeper personal relationships have on people who, under the former model of care, would have been denied. We have seen dramatic reductions in the need for antidepressants, supplemental nourishments, and in various medical supplies because our residents are eating better, increasing physical activity and being cognitively stimulated. GN: Are you reinventing senior care? RM: That is an interesting question because our residents still receive the same care that they were receiving under the medical model. What changed are the priorities and the focus. Rather than the staff in the facility developing the schedules and procedures by which our residents are asked to follow, we have empowered our residents to make these everyday life decisions such as when they wish to get up in the morning, when to eat, who to sit with. What we have reinvented is an approach to care that attempts to return back to our residents a lifestyle which mirrors, as closely as possible, their life prior to moving here. GN: Does this help staff and residents? RM: Yes, they take control of their lives and their work day, deciding how life in their household will evolve.
RM: Knowing from the beginning that we could not completely rely on anecdotal stories but rather needed scientifically measured qualitative and quantitative research we entered into a relationship with the UB School of Social Work. In addition, we are talking with other schools within the university as well as other local colleges. Keep in mind that our residents, despite this new approach to care and comfortable-living environment, remain very sick and chronically ill. Nonetheless, we have seen reductions in the need for various drugs, supplemental nourishment and medical supplies. In addition, our residents are more active and we have seen across the board improvements in their daily activities. In addition, our staff are feeling less stressed and we have seen a marked reduction in turnover and call-ins. GN: Is WNY aware of Welcome Home? RM: At this point our efforts towards culture change and the institution of resident directed care is receiving some local attention, and efforts by our peers throughout the country have begun to receive national media attention including CBS News, the Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio. Every audience to whom we have shared our work has been enthusiastic and I suspect as we move further down our path that our community, our state and our region will be as excited about this transformation as we are. GN: Where can people get information about residing at the new facilities? RM: I suggest they begin with our Marketing Department at 504-1888. They can provide general information and answer most questions. When a person is at that point when they are ready to join our family, they can then contact Admissions at 504-2888. GN: What do you consider to be fulfilling moments in your life and career? RM: On the job I am able to see our plans and dreams come to fruition exactly as we had hoped. Working for an organization that has enormous respect for people, beginning with the board of directors, gives me great pride. In my life, being involved with my family and just enjoying their company and spending time with them is all the fulfillment I need. back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |
