The Lutheran Home Association Wins 2015 Age and Disabilities Odyssey Innovation Award
BELLE PLAINE, MINN. June 22, 2015 — The Minnesota Department of Human Services and the Minnesota Board on Aging awarded The Lutheran Home Association (TLHA) the 2015 Age and Disabilities Odyssey Innovation Award.
“TLHA is honored to receive the Innovation award and we are proud of our team members and technology partnering organizations who have embraced our grant initiatives to increase quality and caregiver satisfaction, and positively impact the older adult lifestyle,” said Michael Klatt, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Lutheran Home Association.
“It is exciting to build creative and effective strategies, pilot new models, and observe the impact that this innovation provides for older adults and caregivers,” said Catherine Berghoff, Director of Grant Resource Development and Program Administration, The Lutheran Home Association.
Over the past 6 years, TLHA has designed service models and technology based strategies, developed new approaches for care delivery through grant programs with the State of Minnesota, federal grant programs, and foundations. These innovative grant programs have been instrumental in advancing the quality of services and delivery models for older adults, families, and caregivers.
TLHA’s state grant initiatives include several Community Service and Service Development (CS-SD) and Home and Community Based Service (HCBS PIPP) and Nursing Facility (PIPP) grants through MN-DHS.
- Implementation of health monitoring technology across multiple settings including low income housing and private homes, health monitoring education and community outreach and the development of the online MN Home Health Technology Resource Center.
- Development of Care Well®, an innovative model designed to reduce caregiver turnover and improve the quality of care for older adults and families. Care Well is an award winning model that includes multiple technology based strategies designed to work seamlessly together to support caregivers, increase competencies and care efficiencies, and improve service quality.
An additional TLHA state grant initiative, Dementia Care Solutions® launched a new model comprised of several strategies to improve services for older adults with dementia and their families. The Dementia Care Solutions® model maintains dementia care strategies including: Cares® Online Interactive Dementia Training, It’s Never 2 Late Engagement Technologies, advanced art and music therapies, Psychotropic Med Reduction Program, and Dementia Friendly Environmental Modifications.
“HealthCare Interactive is pleased to be a part of The Lutheran Home Association’s Care Well technology collaboration to help promote staff retention,” stated John V. Hobday, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, HealthCare Interactive. “We applaud TLHA for their hard work in designing the collaborative effort and congratulate them for winning the 2015 Odyssey Innovation Award. This is well deserved recognition.”
“TLHA’s success with our systems has been remarkable; they have taken our engagement technology to a whole different level,” Jack York, Chief Executive Officer, It’s Never 2 Late Technologies. “The culture of their organization is built around allowing people to flourish regardless of age or disability. They make it happen on a daily basis.”
TLHA’s comprehensive grant program has developed and incorporated an extensive range of industry experts and partnering organizations.
- Dr. Joseph E. Gaugler, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Center on Aging
- John V. Hobday, CEO and Founder, HealthCare Interactive
- A.R. Weller, CEO, Healthsense®
- Paul Wessel, CEO and Founder, The Genesis Institute Initiative
- Jack York, CEO and Co-founder, It’s Never 2 Late Technologies
- Terry Hill, MPA, National Rural Health Resource Center
- University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, Area Agencies on Agency, Alzheimer’s Association, Ridgeview Medical Center, Mardag Foundation, and the MN Department of Human Services.
“The Lutheran Home Association adopted a careful, thoughtful approach to the integration of technology in the care of the people and families they serve,” said Joseph E. Gaugler, PhD, University of Minnesota, Department of Nursing Center on Aging. “Such efforts have led to the delivery of truly person-centered care, and this award demonstrates how The Lutheran Home Association is embracing older adult- and family-friendly technologies to boldly address the challenges of the geriatric workforce shortage.”
About The Lutheran Home Association
The Lutheran Home Association is a not-for-profit ministry dedicated to providing for the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of people in our care. We offer a wide variety of health care, housing, technology strategies, dementia services and outreach, and spiritual services with campuses in several states and congregational programs serving seniors and individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities nationwide. Services and programs include: senior living, skilled nursing care, memory care, disability services, rehabilitative therapies, spiritual services, and property management. Learn more at www.tlha.org, follow @TLHAword on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook.
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