6
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2018
Perfect scores
Adult Foster Care passes consecutive relicensing reviews with zero findings
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
Passing an annual state inspec-
tion with zero findings in 293 cate-
gories is considered a difficult task
for those who run adult foster care
homes in Oregon since one missed
signature on a patient chart is suffi-
cient to be found out of compliance.
When Tribal Adult Foster Care
Director Peggy Shaver learned
her team had gone two consecu-
tive years with zero findings – a
feat that has never been accom-
plished before at the Tribe – she
was thrilled.
“This is the result of an effort of
all of our caregivers,” Shaver said.
“It’s a big group effort.”
Shaver said it isn’t merely em-
ployees who work at Adult Foster
Care, but also those in Facilities,
Elders Activity Center, Governance
Center and the Health & Wellness
Center.
“What is commendable about this
is when you are audited, they really
look (at every detail) because they
don’t want to feel the job isn’t being
done,” Shaver said.
Relicensing inspections are con-
ducted by the Oregon Department
of Human Services. The on-site
portion of an audit takes a full day.
Auditors inspect facility records,
caregiver records, resident records,
facility safety and standards, and
operational standards.
“They check everything, from
Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez
Caregiver Carmen Parren , center , helps Elder Gladys “ Sis ” Bolton to a van
for an excursion at the Cougar Lodge on Tuesday , Nov. 6. Elder Dorothy
Leno , left , joins in the fun. For the second consecutive year , the Adult Foster
Care program had passed its annual review with no findings , which has not
happened before for the program.
whether we have a three-day wa-
ter supply for each resident to the
medication closet being locked to
caregivers signing off each time
they give a medication,” Shaver
said. “It is the exception to the rule
to not have a finding.”
Oregon Department of Human
Services Communication Officer
Elisa Williams said that between
Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018,
only 250 of the 1,055 adult foster
care homes statewide had zero
citations. The data doesn’t include
Ad created by George Valdez
homes in Multnomah County,
which are regulated by the county.
Shaver has been working at
Grand Ronde Adult Foster Care
for 2.5 years. She said her favorite
part of the job is participating in
activities with residents.
“It’s fun because we all come
together and have a good time,”
she said. “For example, we go to
movie day at the library and have
popcorn, or out to lunch and shop-
ping. It is just fun to do activities
with them.”
Other highlights are when Tribal
Librarian Marion Mercier visits
and reads to the residents, when
the preschool students sing tra-
ditional songs in Chinuk Wawa
and daily lunch deliveries from
Nutrition Program Manager Kristy
Criss-Lawson.
“I love that about working out
here,” Shaver said. “This commu-
nity really does take care of its El-
ders. Kelly Rowe (Health Services
executive director) is very support-
ive of our efforts. So is (general
manager) David Fullerton.”
Adult Foster Care includes two
lodges, Cougar and Elk, which
provide services for up to 10 people.
Currently, three residents are be-
ing cared for and 19 full- and part-
time employees work at the lodges.
Rowe said caregivers and admin-
istration of the Adult Foster Care
lodges have done an outstanding
job taking care of Tribal Elders
while following state regulatory
standards.
“The staff has passed annual
inspection without any findings for
two consecutive years, which was
not accomplished before,” she said.
“Peggy and the staff have created
an exceptional living environment
for our Elders who need some assis-
tance with their activities of daily
living while ensuring the safety
and security of the residents. I’m
so thankful for their service and
dedication to our Tribe.”
Shaver is quick to direct the
praise away from herself.
“I’m actually kind of embarrassed
to be recognized here,” she said.
“This is not my success, it is the
success of a community.”
Adult Foster Care Senior Admin-
istrative Assistant Candi Buswell
began working at her job at approx-
imately the same time Shaver did.
“I think we work really well togeth-
er,” Buswell said. “We have imple-
mented everything that needed to be
done. My part in this is keeping re-
cords current for our employees and
making sure they have a background
check. Everyone has responded well
to Peggy here. She has been awesome
for AFC and made good changes
among the staff.”
One of the biggest changes was
making employees’ schedules con-
sistent.
“This really helped in attract-
ing quality people to work here,”
Buswell said.
Ad created by George Valdez