Sprenger Health Care Bluffton has been named the 2022 Silver Award Winner for “Best Nursing Home” by in The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette.
Members of the community voted for Sprenger Health Care Bluffton online as part of the publications’
2022 Lowcountry’s Best Competition. The annual competition relies on the support of the community to
cast their votes in order to highlight the very best of area businesses across multiple industries.
Sprenger Health Care Bluffton is proud to be selected by the community and looks forward to continuing
helping community members stay active, be social and “live their best life” through its skilled nursing,
long-term care, respite care, assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation services.
For information about the facility, please contact our Sprenger Bluffton Admissions Team at (843) 548-
2500.
Sprenger Healthcare’s Smithville Western campus is excited to announce the addition of NxStage Hemodialysis directly at our facility – without having to be transported to an off-site location.
Residents can benefit from on-site hemodialysis 4-5 days per week vs. the conventional 3 days per week in-center. This means shorter treatments, no need for transportation, and more time for rehabilitation and socialization. Treatments are performed in as little as 2-3 hours, per session, in our exclusive den. More frequent hemodialysis treatment reduces the amount of time there is for fluid and toxins to build-up between treatments, resulting in an overall healthier, happier resident.
Since frequent hemodialysis mimics how healthy kidneys function, residents typically experience the following health benefits after treatment:
- Increased energy and vitality
- Improved appetite
- Fewer cardiac-related hospitalizations
- A decrease in the number of medications taken
- A reduction in the amount of stress placed on the heart
- Improved survival
It is not every day a couple celebrates 65 years of marriage, but at Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge a couple got to celebrate theirs. Howie and Marge Walch celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 11th, 2020 at Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge. The couple met at Howie’s cousin’s wedding, while they were both dating other people. Howie and Marge dated for two years before getting married on June 11th, 1955, and went on to have three children and nine grandchildren. 500 of their friends and family were in attendance at their wedding in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. The couple had plans to celebrate this milestone with their family at Olive Garden, their favorite restaurant but due to the global pandemic, those plans had to change. The Anchor Lodge staff decided they needed to make the day special for the Walch’s. There was sparkling cider, cake, a toast, and the presentation of a wall canvas the staff made to honor 65 years of love. Tears were shed as the couple sang their wedding song, My Happiness by Connie Francis to one another and their daughter surprised them and joined the celebration of her parents’ love through the facility window. When asked what makes a marriage last Howie responded “A good woman.” The 65th wedding anniversary is represented by the blue sapphire which symbolizes wisdom, virtue, and holiness. It is not every day you get to be a part of a celebration so special and filled with love, but the Anchor Lodge staff was able to make the couple feel as special as possible on this monumental day.
Sprenger Health Care Autumn Aegis Nursing Home, Sprenger Health Care Health Knoll, and Sprenger Health Care Massillon were recently recognized as four star facilities. This is a very distinguished honor and we are proud of the level of care Autumn Aegis, Heather Knoll and Massillon have shown its residents. Sprenger Health Care Autumn Aegis, Heather Knoll, and Massillon are award-winning retirement communities with a dedicated team committed to offering the highest quality of care to residents.
We want all of our residents to experience the high-quality care we strive for in all of our facilities. This is a standard we at Sprenger Healthcare want each and every one of our facility to achieve. Sprenger Health Care Massillon offers skilled nursing and assisted living within a personal, home-like setting. Our friendly team will treat you and your loved ones as family, giving you the care and dignity you deserve. Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll Nursing and Rehabilitation in Tallmadge, Ohio offers a serene environment and a lodge-like setting. Residents and guests appreciate its modern amenities and private rooms in the designated rehabilitation wing. Sprenger Health Care Autumn Aegis in Lorain is an award-winning retirement community with a dedicated team committed to offering the highest quality of care to residents. The campus offers skilled nursing and senior apartment living options with an emphasis on the reclaim Excellence in Amputee Care Program.
Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll Earns AHCA/NCAL 2018 Bronze National Quality AwardTALLMADGE, OHIO – Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll Nursing & Rehabilitation has been recognized as a 2018 recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award for its commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the National Quality Award Program, presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the leading association for long term and post-acute care. The program honors association members across the country that have demonstrated their dedication to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.
“We are honored to be recognized for our commitment to improving residents’ lives through quality care at Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll,” said Kevin Kauffman, Vice President of Operations for Sprenger Healthcare. “Working together to reach this milestone has made our team even better. We will never stop improving.”
The National Quality Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision, mission statement, and key strengths and challenges. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system. Trained Examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. As a recipient of the Bronze – Commitment to Quality Award, Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Silver – Achievement in Quality Award criteria.
“I applaud Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll for taking this important step towards quality improvement,” said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Alana Wolfe. “I encourage Sprenger Health Care Heather Knoll to continue on its path to achieving superior outcomes.”
The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 69th Annual Convention and Exposition in San Diego, California, October 7-10, 2018.
About Sprenger Healthcare
Sprenger Healthcare is a leading developer, owner and operator of senior living communities in Ohio, Indiana, and South Carolina. Through our 12 communities encompassing nearly 2,000 beds, we provide exceptional health care services for the aging, including long-term nursing care, assisted and independent living, memory care, hospice, respite care and short-term post-acute rehabilitation.
From a small family-owned nursing facility to an expansive enterprise employing 2,000 professionals, Sprenger Healthcare is actively growing and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the communities we serve. With a strong focus on innovation and quality, Sprenger’s third generation is building a legacy while maintaining the same philosophy of personalized care initially established by Grace Sprenger in 1959.
ABOUT AHCA/NCAL
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represent more than 13,600 non-profit and proprietary skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, sub-acute centers and homes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By delivering solutions for quality care, AHCA/NCAL aims to improve the lives of the millions of frail, elderly and individuals with disabilities who receive long term or post-acute care in our member facilities each day. For more information, please visit www.ahca.org or www.ncal.org.
John Morrison always led an active and exciting life. During different parts of his life, he was a police officer, a paramedic fireman, and an Army Reservist. There wasn’t much that could slow him down.
Until one day, in 2010, John lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. After the crash, he was determined to move on with his life as much as he could. And he did. However, seven years later he was struck with a medical condition that caused him to lose his other leg.
Faced with an outlook that seemed bleak, John had just about given up hope of having a healthy, active life where he could walk again. His biggest fear was being confined to a wheelchair. Not ready to give up, he admitted himself into Sprenger Health Care Rose Lane to start therapy and gain a new perspective on his life.
He didn’t know it, but at that moment his journey to one day walk again was closer than he could imagine. He would soon be fitted with prosthetic legs. With a determined therapy team and support staff at Sprenger Health Care Rose Lane, John underwent extensive therapy and rehabilitation, which included a myriad of exercising such as core work, strength training, and stretching.
Shawn Beltz, director of rehabilitation at Sprenger Health Care Rose Lane, commented, “John’s therapy team, which included myself, Tyler Sponaugle, physical therapist, and John Price, physical therapist assistant, helped him practice standing and walking when John had just one prosthetic. These exercises would help to improve his upper body strength and help him to learn a walking pattern again.
Once he received both prosthetics,” Beltz continued, “we could practice on the parallel bars with weight shifting – learning how to transfer his weight back and forth. We then progressed him to using a walker, giving him the tips to assure his walking pattern was normalized. Eventually, we were able to get him to use just a cane.”
While the therapy and rehab started to help him physically, John also attended Sprenger Health Care Rose Lane’s amputee support group so he could begin to heal emotionally as well. John said, “The whole experience has been eye-opening. The staff at Rose Lane refused to give up on me.”
John continues to improve every day and is happy with the direction he is headed at this point in his life. He looks forward to the day when he can be more independent. For now, however, he is not going to let anything slow him down.
Sprenger Healthcare offers a wide variety of services including therapy, independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice care. No matter what your situation, we are here to support you at every step of your journey. If you would like to schedule a personal tour at one of our communities, please call us at 800-772-1116 or visit www.sprengerhealthcare.com to explore all we offer.
Sprenger Healthcare has been providing personalized senior care with compassion and understanding since 1959. During this time, we have worked tirelessly to consistently exceed our patients’ and residents’ needs.
These concerted efforts have garnered us many positive reviews and awards regarding our services and our facilities. One such award is the U.S. News and World Report’s annual review of nursing homes across the country.
Since 2009, U.S. News has been reporting data on nursing homes from Nursing Home Compare (https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare), a program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes. The reported ratings are scaled on a star grade of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest achievement. The stars are determined by the nursing home’s performance in three areas – state-conducted health inspections, nurse staffing and medical quality measures.
Three Sprenger Health Care facilities in Lorain County received the highest 5-star rating: Sprenger Health Care Elms Retirement Village in Wellington, Ohio; Sprenger Health Care Amherst Manor in Amherst, Ohio; and Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge in Lorain, Ohio. The administrators at each community are thrilled to have been recognized for their hard work and dedication. Their comments regarding the award are as follows:
“It is an honor to be acknowledged for the effort the staff at Sprenger Health Care Elms Retirement Village puts in every day. I love that our nursing home provides a comforting environment and individualized care for each of our residents.” Jenna Fawley – Administrator, Sprenger Health Care Elms Retirement Village
“It is an honor for us to receive this award from U.S. News. With so many options to choose from in our industry, we are proud to be chosen as one of the best in the area by this organization. My community has recently been updated with an addition of 30 private rooms with private baths, and new, comfortable common areas. Our state-of-the-art therapy gym now features Biodex equipment, Jintronix motion capture technology and Vital Stim with Biofeedback. In addition, we are offering the latest programs for those recovering from a stroke, backed by a well-known area neurologist and therapists who are certified in neuro-development training.” – Kristen Gollinger – Administrator, Sprenger Health Care Amherst Manor
“Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge offers a continuum of care with skilled nursing and rehabilitation, long-term care and assisted living all on the scenic shores of Lake Erie. This award continues to show the community that Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge strives for exceptional customer service and to exceed their expectations every day.” Janelle Shaw – Administrator, Sprenger Health Care Anchor Lodge
Sprenger Healthcare offers a wide variety of services for the aging. From independent living to skilled nursing care, we are here to support you at every step along your journey. If you would like to schedule a personal tour at one of our facilities, please contact us at: 800-772-1116 or visit www.sprengerhealthcare.com to explore all we offer.
Feeling stressed out? Learn ways to calm the stress in your life.
Feeling stressed out? Most Americans do.
Not all stress is bad. A certain amount of stress enables executives to perform at their peak, but too much stress can be harmful. Stress is linked to chronic conditions, such as heart disease and depression.
The trick is to manage or control stress to keep it within healthy limits. If your stress meter is soaring, learn to relax. Here are some soothing ways to handle the stress in your life.
1. Breathe
Have you heard the expression, “take a breather”? Sometimes just five minutes of deep breathing is enough to ban stress.
Most people take shallow breaths that fill only part of the lungs. Deep breathing gets more oxygen into the lungs and can help calm the brain. Try these steps:
- Sit or lie with one hand on your belly.
- Breathe in through your nose, filling your lungs. Focus on making the hand on your belly rise
- Breathe out through your mouth, trying to empty your lungs as much as you can. The hand on your belly should move in as your muscles tighten.
- Continue these deep, slow breaths – in through your nose and out through your mouth – making your belly rise and fall.
This simple, but powerful, exercise can be done almost anywhere. It can be combined with meditation or muscle relaxation.
2. Relax your muscles
Progressive muscle relaxation is another simple way to ease stress. Practicing it can help you become aware of when you are holding stress in your body. Relaxing your muscles can help your mind relax.
- Lie down in a quiet place. Take a few minutes to breathe slowly and deeply.
- When you feel relaxed, start with your right foot. Squeeze the muscles as tightly as you can. Hold while you count to 10
- Relax your right foot. Take a few deep breaths./li>
- Next, squeeze the muscles in your left foot while you count to 10
- Relax and breathe.
- Slowly work your way up your body (legs, belly, back, chest, arms, neck and face), squeezing and relaxing each group of muscles.
3. Say yes to yoga
Yoga is a system of exercises (called asanas) for gaining bodily or mental control and well-being. The philosophy is that the breath, the mind and the body are so closely linked that whatever you do to one will affect the other. In addition to easing stress, yoga can improve strength, balance and flexibility.
Yoga is a gentle form of exercise that is safe for most people when it’s practiced correctly. Consult a trained yoga teacher. Make sure you ask your doctor before you start any new activity.
4. Try tai chi
Tai chi is a series of postures that flow into one another through connecting transition moves. These slow, graceful and precise body movements are said to improve body awareness and enhance strength and coordination. At the same time, they are supposed to help the practitioner achieve inner peace. Like yoga, it is designed to enhance both physical and emotional well-being.
Tai chi is a low-impact aerobic activity, so you can chill out and burn some calories at the same time. Another advantage to tai chi is its low risk of injury.
Take a tai chi class or buy a book or instructional video. Once you learn how to do tai chi, you can practice almost anywhere.
5. Meditate
Meditation is a centuries-old spiritual practice that is also a powerful stress-buster. Here, you learn to relax while focusing on a word, a sound or your own breathing. It can have a deeply calming effect.
There are many different types of meditation. One type is mindfulness meditation. You can practice mindfulness while sitting in a quiet place or while walking. The key is to keep bringing your focus back to your breathing or your steps. When distractions come into your mind, observe them without judging and let them go. The technique is simple, but achieving the desired result takes practice.
6. Get a massage
In massage therapy, the hands (or sometimes forearms, elbows and feet) are used to manipulate the soft body tissues. A good massage is not only relaxing, but it may also have some real healing benefits. Some studies have shown that the kneading and pressing of muscles slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation, relaxes muscles and helps reduce stress levels.
If you can’t fit in or afford a visit to a spa, ask your partner or friend for a neck, back or foot rub. Trading massages can be a relaxing way to reconnect after a stressful day.
Sprenger Healthcare offers a wide variety of compassionate, senior services. From independent living to skilled nursing care, we are here to support you at every step along your journey. If you would like to schedule a customized tour at one of our facilities, please contact us at: 800-772-1116 or visit www.sprengerhealthcare.com to explore all that we have to offer.
Sprenger Employee Nominated for Supervisor AwardCongratulations are in order for Amanda Krieg, occupational therapy assistant at Sprenger Health Care Amherst Manor. She was nominated by Jennifer Loeser, S/OTA, for the supervisor award through the EHOVE mentorship program. Specifically, Amanda worked with Ms. Loeser through that EHOVE’s adult career center occupational therapy assistant partnership.
Amanda has been with Sprenger Health Care for 4 years, and has worked in the healthcare industry for 20 years. During this time, she has hosted many students and is an excellent teacher. Ms. Loeser wrote the following about Amanda:
“I would like to nominate Amanda Krieg for the supervisor award. I could not have had a better experience for my first level II rotation. She, and the whole Sprenger therapy team at Amherst Manor, made me feel comfortable and allowed me to ask questions as well as giving me feedback and help where I needed it. Amanda was encouraging and always knew when I needed her to jump in for help, and for advice. I feel she truly allowed me to grow into becoming a COTA. She planted a good seed for me to build on, and showed me how to talk to patients with true compassion. She was a teacher without making me feel out-of-place or inadequate. I truly feel she should earn this award. It is difficult to put into words how wonderful she made me feel throughout my first rotation and how much I learned from her.”
For more information on the occupational therapy assistant program at EHOVE, please visit: http://www.ehove.net/adult-education/programs/occupational-therapy-assistant/
Photo from left to right: Teri LaGuardia, MOT, OTR/L – EHOVE Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Jennifer Loeser, S/OTA, Amanda Krieg, OTA – Sprenger Health Care Amherst Manor
Sprenger Healthcare Opens First Dedicated Memory Care Assisted LivingMedia Contact:
Amanda Yandell, Corporate Marketing Coordinator
Sprenger Health Care Towne Center Community Campus
500 Community Drive
Avon Lake, OH 44012
(440) 930-6627 / AYandell@SprengerHealthCare.com
Location Contact:
Jason Coe, LNHA, Regional Director of Operations
Sprenger Health Care Towne Center Community Campus
500 Community Drive
Avon Lake, OH 44012
(440) 930-6603 / JCoe@SprengerHealthCare.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Avon Lake, OHIO – July 6, 2017 – Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living, a unique memory care assisted living facility located inside Sprenger Healthcare Towne Center Community Campus, is now open and accepting residents.
“Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living offers quality care for residents in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other related dementias,” said Jason Coe, LNHA, Regional Director of Operations with Sprenger Healthcare. “With safety, continuity of care, and sensory cognition in mind, Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living optimizes quality of life while encouraging residents to maintain a healthy level of activity.”
Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living is Sprenger Healthcare’ first memory care assisted living community. The unit features 30 private studios, each with individual bathrooms and specialized safety features; a large dining area featuring chef-designed meals; saltwater aquarium; a common area with a 30-foot glass clerestory to let in plenty of natural light; and a secured courtyard for residents and their loved ones to enjoy.
The addition of a memory care assisted living facility on our campus will give us greater capacity to meet the evolving needs of our community,” Coe continued. “Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living will not only be a safe and comfortable home for residents, it will provide a constructive environment to promote activity and socialization.”
Parkway Memory Care Assisted Living at Sprenger Healthcare Towne Center Community Campus also features a Life Enrichment team, which offers residents specialized programming, including fitness programs, planned outings, and weekly happy hours, as well as art and pet therapy, among other services. Residents can also take advantage of Sprenger Healthcare’ Certified Dementia Care Specialists and 24-hour staff to assist with everyday needs.
