~ by Trevor Phipps ~
One of Teller County’s most recent additions, Forest Ridge Senior Living, is already being recognized for excellence.
Forest Ridge is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, located near Pikes Peak Regional Hospital on Highway 24 just west of Woodland Park. The center opened its doors less than two years ago and last week was given a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS.
The CMS is the national government-run agency that regulates all Medicare and Medicaid programs. The CMS gives all skilled nursing facilities a rating based on a number of different criteria. The organization rates facilities based on several categories.
Currently, Forest Ridge is the only facility that has received the five-star rating. There are a few facilities in Colorado Springs that operate with ratings of two or three stars. Forest Ridge owner Bob Schleicher believes that the rating proves that they have hired the right people. “We want to be known for the level of service our facility offers,” Schleicher said.
Forest Ridge Administrator Roger Call is proud of his team’s accomplishment due to the large numbers of facilities that CMS rates. “This is a tremendous accomplishment and the result of a real team effort.” stated Call, “CMS compares over 15,000 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities across the nation. They only award a Five-Star rating to those facilities that have excellence in health inspections, staffing, and quality of resident care.”
Jamie Hutchins, Director of Nursing at Forest Ridges, agrees with Schleicher that the employees deserve much of the credit for the five-star rating. “The basis for our quality of care and service comes from the dedicated staff that we have been able to assimilate. People are attracted to our mission of providing ‘Compassionate Care with Heart.’”
Forest Ridge, though, is not resting on its recent laurels. In fact, the facility is also planning a special week during May to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Care week. According to owner Lorie Schleicher, “the week was nationally established by the American Health Care Association in 1967 and always beginning on Mother’s Day, this week provides an opportunity to recognize the role of skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities.” This year’s theme for the week is “celebrating life’s stories” and they have planned a week of exciting activities for the Forest Ridge Family to celebrate the work done by their skilled nursing staff from May 13-19.
Here are some of the highlights:
National Skilled Nursing Care Week May 13 – 19, 2018
Theme “Celebrating Life’s Stories!”
Activity Schedule
May 13 2 pm Mother’s Day Fashion Show. Gala Attire
May 14 10 am Little Glass Shop – Doing Mini Mosaics with the Residents
May 14 3 pm Elvis Live and in Person
May 15 10 am It’s All About Me Collages (Family / Resident Activity)
May 15 1:30 pm Intermural Beach Volleyball (Staff and Residents)
May 16th 10 am Bible Word Competition
May 16 All About Me Collages finish up
May 17 Resident Art Display of Colleges and Mosaics
May 17 Second Annual Dog Show
May 18 Employee Appreciation; 2 am Night Shift Barbecue; 10 am Day Shift Barbecue; 4 pm Afternoon Shift Barbecue