Legacy Park leader champions employees, residents
Staff reporter
If you were to ask Vicky Nichols what the most valuable asset at Legacy Park was, the administrator would say, without hesitation, the employees.
Being the largest employer in the city with 65 workers, Nichols has nothing but praise for them.
"We have the best employees," Nichols said. "Many have been here 10, 20, even 30 years."
Nichols has been on the job for about four months. She lives in Mulvane but has a special place in her heart for Peabody.
"I'm familiar with the area and appreciate the German heritage," she said, particularly the work ethic.
One employee, Jane Johnson, commutes from Strong City. She has worked at Legacy Park for 5 1/2 years.
"It feels like home here," Johnson said.
Nichols, who has been a nursing home administrator for four years, said Legacy Park is a jewel.
"This (facility) is a diamond in the rough," she said. "It's a great facility."
Among her goals as administrator is for her staff to discuss better ways to care for residents instead of being told how to do their jobs.
"They're a great staff and should be told how 'great' they are," Nichols said.
She also wants residents to have input about activities, accommodations, and care.
"We're building toward person-centered care," she said.
When new residents move to the facility, Nichols wants residents and their families to consider it as just another move, not necessarily a move away from home.
"This is their home," Nichols explained. "They can bring furniture, hobbies — whatever will fit in the rooms. We want them to be comfortable."
Even pets are welcomed.
The facility was built in 1963, originally as a hospital. Since that time, numerous facelifts and redecorating projects have made the facility more conducive with today's standards for nursing homes.
The rooms are brightly painted with personalized touches such as border trim. Colored curtains to match wall paint and trim also add a "homey" feeling, taking away the institutional look.
A nurses station will be removed and replaced with an indoor courtyard area with a fountain and trees.
An activities room will be renovated and updated in the coming months. Nichols said plans are to make the room accessible for families to be able to prepare meals.
In addition to three levels of care, the facility has a dementia or Alzheimer's unit which can accommodate up to 16 residents.
"We try to keep the residents of the unit as oriented and independent as possible," said Pam Oursler, who works in the unit. When medical problems occur or residents cannot be oriented, they can be transferred to the regular care unit at the home.
There are 19 apartments in the basement that serve as an assisted living facility. Koni Yoder has worked at the facility for 15 years.
"There are call buttons in the apartments," she said. Meals are served and medications can be dispensed while residents enjoy independent living.
Studio, one-bedroom, and large one-bedroom apartments are available.
"This is the only assisted living complex in the county where the entire facility is part of SRS funding," Nichols said.
A pool table, craft room, laundry facilities, and Internet access with a computer terminal are available to residents.
Nichols wants the facility to not only serve its residents but the community.
"We invite and encourage people to come eat meals with us," she said. It is helpful to call ahead that day to reserve a meal.
She also wants employees to volunteer to serve the elderly meals in their homes on the weekends.
"The Meals on Wheels program is only during the week. I don't know what these people (who are served the meals) do on the weekends," Nichols said.
A conference room that seats 39 people also is available for the community to use.
Outpatient physical therapy is available at Legacy Park for area residents. Encouragement is given to local health care providers to refer patients to Legacy Park for therapy.
"We want to become more an elderly resource center for the community," Nichols said.
