Modern-day nursing home facilities provide a wide range of care for their residents -- individualized to the particular needs of each. At Price Memorial, such care also is designed to provide each resident with the greatest opportunity to live life to his or her fullest potential.

But, who's giving that care? Who's managing it? Who's providing services that support the goal of high-quality resident care? In other words, who's who in nursing home care?

The Brothers and the Board of Directors
At the top of the pyramid, there are the Franciscan Missionary Brothers themselves who -- together with lay people from the community -- form the Board of Directors.

In the broadest sense, this governing body is charged with deciding how the nursing home will be run, and under what philosophies and general policies. Owned and operated by the Brothers, Price Memorial ultimately has its course set by the Board.

The Administrator and Associate Administrator
The facility's top administrators are charged with operating the nursing home in accordance with decisions made by the Board of Directors.

At Price Memorial, Brother John Spila -- with many years of experience -- serves as administrator. Also highly experienced in nursing home care, Sandy Kombrink is the associate administrator.

The Medical Director
All residents at Price Memorial are provided with appropriate care under physician orders. While residents are welcome to continue their relationships with physicians of their own choice, the medical director at Price Memorial helps to ensure that each resident receives care tailored to his or her individual needs.

The Other Doctors
In addition to an assistant medical director, the facility has a number of consulting physicians covering fields such as ophthalmology, surgery and podiatry. There are several admitting physicians, and dentists also are available to residents at Price Memorial.

The Director of Nursing
Because high-quality nursing care is at the heart of services provided by nursing home facilities, a heavy focus is placed on the management and supervision of that care. The director of nursing at Price Memorial works to ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place, and that nursing services at the facility meet every resident's overall and individual needs.

The Charge Nurses
Each unit of the nursing home is run on a three-shift basis under the supervision of a charge nurse. These nurses work with varying numbers of assistants and technicians, depending upon the shift involved.

The LPNs, CNAs and CMTs
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and certified medical technicians (CMTs) -- all work in direct resident care at Price Memorial. Usually under the direction of a charge nurse, these caregivers serve individually and in teams to meet the day-to-day needs of residents.

The Therapists
Because it is the philosophy of the Brothers that each resident have the greatest opportunity to live life to his or her fullest potential, professionally trained therapists provide specialized care tailored to residents’ needs. Recreational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy are included in the skills represented by the facility’s therapists. Occupational therapy enables residents to participate in daily activities that are meaningful to them and that produce a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

The Dietican
Proper nourishment clearly is an important factor in residents' well-being, and a dietician oversees the preparation of all meals at Price Memorial. Whether a resident is on a regular, special or prescribed diet, care is given to serving tasty, attractive food that encourages healthy eating.

The Pharmacist
Because many residents have problems for which a physician has ordered medication, the facility utilizes a pharmacist who ensures that doctors' prescriptions are properly filled. The pharmacist also is available to consult with physicians and nurses about the effects of particular medications and their interaction.

The Chaplains
Pastoral care is an important part of many residents' lives. Price Memorial admits and cares for people of all faiths, and religious feelings and expressions are encouraged. Chaplains of all faiths are available to residents, and visits by their own clergy are welcome.

The Director of Social Services
Deciding to admit a loved one to a nursing home is a complex and often difficult decision. In addition, financing nursing home care can present an array of bewildering choices and a maze of bureaucratic paths.
The social services director at Price Memorial provides pre-admission and ongoing counseling to family members and friends of residents -- helping them to understand the many aspects of nursing home care. With regard to financing such care, the Price Memorial social worker explains self-financing, Medicare and Medicaid options.

The Many Others
In a brief description such as this, it's impossible to cover all of the bases and -- inevitably -- important people in the Who's Who grouping of caregivers are likely to be overlooked. Among the many others who contribute to residents' well-being are the dedicated people in housekeeping, the laundry staff, the maintenance crew, as well as people in administrative, records and secretarial roles.

The External Essentials
Beyond the grounds of the Brothers' nursing home, other important - and essential -- caregivers form part of the Who's Who list. Chief among them, the family members and friends of residents usually can contribute measurably to their well-being. There also are people who give generously to assist the Brothers in providing the total spectrum of caring for residents. Two groups comprise such selfless people: The Society of Joseph and the Society of Josephines. Additional information on these groups can be found in the menu of this website.