cm-foundations

The Country Manor Foundation Fiesta: What You Need To Know

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:08 GMT

Join us this spring for our Employee Pledge Event!

Of all of the fundraising events we host, the Fiesta may be the most near and dear to our hearts...

We are continuously inspired by the stories of the people we serve at Country Manor. The Country Manor Foundation was founded as a result of this inspiration, in an effort to provide events, projects, and programs that would not only meet our residents' and patients' expectations - but exceed them. These quality-of-life initiatives would not be possible without charitable contributions from those who believe in our mission.

Country Manor staff know first-hand the importance of this mission, and that's why each year, the Country Manor Foundation asks Country Manor employees to support us by pledging a small amount of their paycheck.

And each year, Country Manor staff respond with tremendous generosity. In fact, employee payroll contributions are the third largest source of funding for the Country Manor Foundation, and we couldn't be more proud.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Foundation Fiesta event, we wanted to answer a few questions!

What is the 'Foundation Fiesta?' The annual Fiesta is our Employee Payroll Deduction Pledge Drive event at both Country Manor, Sartell, and Woodcrest of Country Manor, St. Joseph. All staff are invited to attend, where they'll enjoy free lunch and giveaways, as a thank you for their continued support.

How are these funds used? The Foundation chooses up to three projects to fund using the proceeds from employee withholdings. Every dollar counts. Individually, $1 per paycheck may not seem to make a big difference, but cumulatively, their generosity has helped us toward an adaptive wheelchair bike, VR goggles, raised garden beds, Serenity babies, Skylight digital photo frames, and much more!

How do I donate? Donation forms are available to employees in the weeks leading up to the events, or can be downloaded any time on our website. Additionally, staff wishing to make a one-time contribution may do so using the online donation system - unfortunately, we cannot process payroll deduction pledges online at this time .

How else can I support the Foundation? We understand that everyone's situation is unique. Support comes in all forms - not just financial! It would mean the world to us if you helped spread the word about the Foundation! Follow our journey on social media, interact with us, and share it with others!

Country Manor staff - we hope to see you at our upcoming event! Thank you for joining us on our mission. We are so grateful for each and every one of you.

The Impact of iN2L on Seniors: Pull Together 2023

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 17:09:59 GMT

"Its ability to calm anxiety and restlessness, and redirect residents to meaningful and engaging paths has been a Godsend. It’s a beautiful technology."

Virgil's Story

Country Manor resident, Virgil, had a long history and deep love for singing. However, as dementia gradually clouded his world, his joy for singing also began fading away. It was a heartbreaking transition for him, his family, and for us, to witness.

Virgil was amongst the first to try out our iN2L systems when they were introduced to our communities. We were hopeful for iN2L’s potential therapeutic capabilities, but underestimated just how impactful it would prove to be. Set up with sing-alongs to a treasure trove of his favorite songs, the digital companion began to reinvigorate Virgil’s love for singing. It was like a musical lifeline thrown into the depths of his memory.

Day by day, with the iN2L system by his side, he began to rediscover the melodies that had once brought him so much happiness. It quickly wove itself into his daily routine, becoming an inseparable part of his life.

The transformation was nothing short of astonishing. Virgil’s voice - once silent - soared again, filling the halls. And it didn’t just brighten his day; staff all throughout our Health Care Center grew accustomed to the heartwarming tunes, stopping regularly to take in the sound.

It was a beautiful testament to the extraordinary impact technology can have on enriching the lives of our cherished seniors.

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The annual Pull Together fundraiser is hosted by Country Manor Foundation. All proceeds from this event go directly toward expanding Country Manor's mission to enrich the lives of residents living with memory loss.

This year, our efforts are focused on growing our iN2L program.

What is iN2L?

The nationally-recognized iN2L (It’s Never 2 Late) program by Lifeloop is an intuitive and innovative touchscreen computer system specially-designed for seniors. The advanced system is known for its expansive and easy-to-use content library that delivers a person-centered experience.

The interactive content library includes more than 4,000 items providing memory care, therapy sessions, and wellness activities at your fingertips. Plus, each resident has their own unique profile that they can customize - from personal family albums, a library of their favorite songs, special interest and hobby simulators, and more! When personally relevant to the senior, content is a powerful tool, capable of creating sparks, igniting joy and laughter, renewing interest in learning, revitalizing connections with others, and reawakening precious memories of a life well-lived.

Country Manor Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 organization - EIN#26-1846407. All gifts are tax-deductible.

We understand that everyone's situation is unique. Support comes in all forms - not just financial! It would mean the world to us if you helped spread the word about the Foundation! Follow our journey on social media, interact with us, and share it with others!

The Country Manor Foundation Fiesta: What You Need To Know

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 16:23:07 GMT

Join us this spring for our Employee Pledge Event!

Of all of the fundraising events we host, the Fiesta may be the most near and dear to our hearts...

For those of you who aren't familiar with the Foundation Fiesta event, we wanted to answer a few questions!

What is the 'Foundation Fiesta/Festival?' The annual Fiesta and Festival are our Employee Payroll Deduction Pledge Drive events at both Country Manor, Sartell, and Woodcrest of Country Manor, St. Joseph. All staff are invited to attend, where they'll enjoy free lunch and giveaways, as a thank you for their continued support.

Country Manor/Woodcrest staff - we hope to see you at our upcoming events! Thank you for joining us on our mission. We are so grateful for each and every one of you.

20th Annual Hometown Classic

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 16:33:08 GMT

We broke our record...AGAIN!

The clouds made way for a beautiful day...for the 20th Annual Hometown Classic at Blackberry Ridge Golf Club this June!

The Hometown Classic is so much more than an annual golf outing - it is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to support a precious cause....

The money raised at this event is crucial in supporting and expanding Country Manor Campus 's ability to provide the very best end-of-life care to the seniors we serve. These funds ensure that our end-of-life efforts can continue in a way that celebrates, honors, respects, and brings comfort to patients and their families during the final stages of one's life.

We are humbled, and beyond excited, to announce that this year's event raised over $70,000!

To our sponsors, donors, and golfers, many of whom are pictured here: Thank you for joining us on our mission. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Please know that your gifts will be used to assist those in need, at a time when added support is needed most.

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We could not have done it without you!

Minnwest Bank · Colliers · Allstar Construction · Alliance Building Corporation · Mahowald Insurance Agency · Dacotah Paper Co. · GLT Architects · Jimmy's Pour House · The Kelm Family · Continuums Foundation · Hansen Flooring Gallery · Gabrielson Law Offices, Ltd. · St. Croix Hospice · Premier Real Estate Services · Sysco · Bremer Bank · Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes · Precise Inc. · Alpine Cabinetry · Amy Hedtke-State Farm Insurance Agent · Stoeckel Decorating · Moments Hospice · Red's Transfer and Storage · PreferredOne · Molin Concrete Products · CliftonLarsonAllen LLP · Ryan Plumbing & Heating, Ryan Electric · Rapid Container Service · Fairview Gardens · Simonson Lumber · Bad Habit Brewing Company · Eich Motor Company

Thank You, Country Manor Staff

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:10:19 GMT

To our team-

We don’t have to tell you that this past year has been exceptionally difficult in many ways...

COVID completely turned our world upside down. However, the resilience shown by the residents, families, and staff of Country Manor has been nothing less than inspiring; it has been truly amazing to see our communities rise to this incredible challenge and come together to maintain a safe, comforting, and engaging environment for the people we serve.

When we were no longer allowed to assemble as large groups, our Chaplains performed 17 separate, small-group worship services each week. Countless 1:1 visits and Bible Studies were done in each community. Resident Chaplains remained available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for residents, family, and staff.

Senior Housing Community Coordinators found creative ways for residents to feel connected, while remaining safe. Social calendars shifted to outdoor events, small-group activities and 1:1's. Additionally, staff made sure residents were able to stay connected with family through virtual capabilities, and assisted in scheduling hundreds, if not thousands of outdoor visits. Housing staff performed safe deliveries between residents and families, 7 days a week.

Staff in our Health Care & Rehab Center altered every aspect of their daily routines to ensure residents were safe, well-cared for, at ease, connected, and highly entertained! Staff increased daily 1:1's, and incorporated new safe events, like virtual in-room field trips, parades, and special surprise appearances by “celebrity” guests.

Staff performed all meal deliveries, taking time to sit, and conversate with each resident during meal times. Staff arranged all resident/family virtual and outdoor visits, scheduling and setting each one up. Staff helped with safe deliveries between resident and families, 7 days a week.

From donations of PPE, essential items, and meals for our intensely committed, compassionate, and brave staff; to homemade masks (some made by our very own residents), cards of gratitude, and signs on nearly every door showing appreciation for all the extra efforts by everyone in our community to keep one another safe, there has certainly been no shortage of love and appreciation throughout our buildings.

_________________________

To our team-

We don’t have to tell you that this past year has been exceptionally difficult in many ways. A year ago we went to war with a virus we knew very little about. We felt the pains of countless new safety regimens, fearful patients and families, long days and even longer nights, as well as our own worries of safety and what was to come. “Two weeks” turned into two months, and eventually, the finish line drifted from our sight.

Admittedly, there were days that felt overwhelming. Frustration, sadness, fear, and even helplessness grew to be common emotions. Our hearts were heavy. Our bodies… physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted.

We often felt defeated.

We couldn’t control the virus, nor the fact that it proved especially dangerous and deadly to the very population we serve.

We couldn’t control others.

We couldn’t control the spread.

We couldn’t save everyone.

Very few people understood what it was like.

We grieved alone, together.

.. we grieved for our patients, their families, our families, our neighbors, our state, our country, and our world.

.. we grieved for each other, for the powerlessness we felt in not being able to take the burden or pain away.

.. we grieved because we knew nothing would ever be the same again.

We leaned on each other as much as we could, but the external narrative surrounding the work we do took its toll.

“It’s just the flu,” “I don’t need to wear a mask,” “they must be doing something wrong for so many people to be dying,” all became common headlines thrown in our faces time and time again.

We know it is simply because they did not/do not understand.

But the words cut deeply.

They bred an entirely different kind of sorrow and loneliness.

We are so sorry you to had face this on top of everything else.

So many of you have devoted your lives to this service. You don’t desire recognition. You don’t want to be called heroes.

We want to remind you that the people who know you, and have witnessed and/or felt all that you have done and sacrificed this year, are humbled, honored, grateful and proud of you.

Listen to those words. Hang on to those stories. They far outweigh everything else.

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As we prepare for our final vaccine clinic, and brighter days ahead, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate and thank you- our teammates, our friends, our heroes.

You have shown up this year, in a way we swear is superhuman.

The following video is a tribute to you all. The TEAM that it took to survive this immensely challenging year. We have been collecting candid moments throughout the past 12 months. Moments that may have been “normal” to you, but we are certain were life-changing to others. We reached out to your families (the best we could while keeping this a surprise), and were not surprised by the words that came pouring in in respect and admiration.

We hope this video reminds you that what you do matters. Despite what you were personally feeling, you continued to find new ways to create joy, comfort, and encouragement for others. You protected thousands of innocent lives. You saved just as many through your actions and care.

Please know that the impact you have had on us, our patients, their families, and our community is irreplaceable.

But most of all, we hope you watch this video, take a deep breath and know that together.. we made it.

Thank you.

A Country Manor Christmas (2020)

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 20:55:31 GMT

It's the night before Christmas...but we've been celebrating all month long!

Country Manor Christmas celebrations are always a highlight of our year. While this year isn't traditional - we've found plenty of ways to celebrate!

Santa stopped by to visit, drop off treats and take photos. Of course, everyone here was on the nice list! On the warmer days, he let us take the sleigh (adaptive wheelchair bike) for a ride. We made wish lists; believe it or not, a few of us wished for yesterday's snow. Thanks, Santa... We decked the halls, and won prizes for our Holiday spirit. Our wonderful Activities Team caroled, danced and paraded through the halls. Everyone in the Health Care and Rehab Center received a Secret Santa gift, hand-chosen with love from an anonymous staff member. Today, we were treated to a live nativity scene.

And it's not even Christmas yet!

While we were of course disappointed to not be able to welcome families and friends to fill our campuses, we want you to know that Christmas is alive and well at Country Manor!

Special thank you to all those who have submitted videos to our internal campus TV channel. Our Christmas program featuring your photos and videos will be airing all month long for tenants and residents to enjoy!

To our local community and all of the families of residents, tenants and patients at Country Manor - THANK YOU for your support this challenging year. It has been such a gift to us. We wish you all a healthy, memorable and Merry Christmas!

Country Manor Brings "Hunting Wish" to Life for Residents

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 19:46:12 GMT

As summer nears an end, we are already busy gearing up for fall. The sights, the sounds, the crisp air... and the activities...

Recently, we spent time chatting with Country Manor Health Care & Rehab Center residents about all the things they hope to do this fall. It was during some of our routine pet visits with Country Manor's resident therapy yellow lab Sadie, that we started to notice a theme. The conversation kept navigating its way back to a familiar topic... hunting.

As we listened to residents excitedly reminisce about their days in the field with their own beloved four-legged friends, we knew we had to find a way to recreate that magical feeling for them.

We are blessed to have Sadie as part of our CM "team." Sadie is a trained therapy dog and one of the most gentle animals we have ever met. But Sadie also loves to retrieve, hunt, and entertain! We knew that one call to Sadie's owner, Gary Frericks, was all it would take to set up an afternoon of "adapted hunting" for our residents who were missing their days in the field.

We ventured across the street to a beautiful open field at Val Smith Park and did our best to recreate that "magical" feeling for these avid outdoorsmen!

There, eagerly awaiting our arrival, were Sadie and Gary. Gary instructed Sadie through many of his training rituals. Sadie couldn't have been more excited to show off her favorite drills and skills.

Residents watched intently, grinning from ear to ear as they enthusiastically shared their own hunting stories and memories with one another.

Thank you to Gary, Sadie, and the CM team for helping us bring this special moment to life!

COVID-19 Can't Stop True Love

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:31:59 GMT

Though Shauna and Travis had much different plans for their wedding celebration, the couple decided covid-19 was not going to stop them. This beautiful bride had just one request - that her Grandma Janis still be part of her big day.

Janis is a patient at Country Manor’s Rapid Recovery & Aquatic Center. When Country Manor staff heard about the story, they were determined to make it happen.

A plan was created to allow for this once-in-lifetime moment to take place, while ensuring the safety of Janis and all involved.

Country Manor staff helped Janis pick out the perfect outfit, and got her feeling her very best, as Grandmother’s should feel on their Granddaughter’s wedding day.

"The anticipation is killing me; I love that girl so much!” told Janis as she anxiously awaited her granddaughter's bridal debut.

The moment Shauna stepped out of the car, the love radiated between them.

Happy Wedding Day to the new bride and groom! We wish all the best!

cm-foundations

The Country Manor Foundation Fiesta: What You Need To Know

Join us this spring for our Employee Pledge Event!

The Impact of iN2L on Seniors: Pull Together 2023

"Its ability to calm anxiety and restlessness, and redirect residents to meaningful and engaging paths has been a Godsend. It’s a beautiful technology."

Virgil's Story

What is iN2L?

The Country Manor Foundation Fiesta: What You Need To Know

Join us this spring for our Employee Pledge Event!

20th Annual Hometown Classic

We broke our record...AGAIN!

Thank You, Country Manor Staff

To our team-

We don’t have to tell you that this past year has been exceptionally difficult in many ways... ﻿

A Country Manor Christmas (2020)

It's the night before Christmas...but we've been celebrating all month long!

Country Manor Brings "Hunting Wish" to Life for Residents

As summer nears an end, we are already busy gearing up for fall. The sights, the sounds, the crisp air... and the activities...

COVID-19 Can't Stop True Love

Though Shauna and Travis had much different plans for their wedding celebration, the couple decided covid-19 was not going to stop them. This beautiful bride had just one request - that her Grandma Janis still be part of her big day.

We don’t have to tell you that this past year has been exceptionally difficult in many ways...