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Gary Ventola Named Chief Financial Officer

Gary Ventola, CFO
Gary Ventola, CFO

On March 23, Virginia Lutheran Homes, owners and operators of Brandon Oaks Life Plan Community, welcomed Gary Ventola to their staff as Chief Financial Officer.

Ventola comes to VLH with 15 years of experience in the financial sector of senior living and the continuing care retirement industry.  Most recently, Ventola served as Chief Financial Officer for Terrace Communities, located in Manchester, Vermont, where he directed the financial operation of seven senior retirement communities. He has also served in the CFO capacity at St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System, a not for profit system of twenty-three senior retirement communities including three CCRCs.

Ventola is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance. Ventola also has earned multiple master’s degrees including an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan, Masters in Accounting from the University of Connecticut, and a Masters in Healthcare Law from Wake Forest University.

“We are excited to welcome Gary to Virginia Lutheran Homes. His extensive knowledge in senior living management and finance will be a great asset to our team,” says Heather Neff, President, and CEO of Virginia Lutheran Homes.

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Charles Downs Joins Staff as Corporate Counsel

On February 3, Virginia Lutheran Homes, owners and operators of Brandon Oaks Life Plan Community, welcomed Charles L. Downs, Jr. to their staff as Corporate Counsel.

Charles is a seasoned attorney who has practiced law in Virginia for over 20 years. Over the years, Charles has focused his practice on health law and the representation of health care providers and institutions in various legal matters.

Most recently, Charles was a partner at the Roanoke office of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, an AMLaw100 law firm with offices across the United States.

“With the business of healthcare becoming more complex, we knew it was the right time to add corporate counsel to our staff, as many other healthcare organizations have done over the past few years,” said Virginia Lutheran Homes’ President and CEO, Heather Neff. “We are so fortunate that Charles comes to us with the background in healthcare law and an appreciation for our mission,” Neff added.

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Brandon Oaks Assisted Living Achieves Tier 4 Status for National Quality Initiative Recognition Program

Brandon Oaks Assisted Living has been recognized as the only assisted living in the state of Virginia to be named a Tier 4 Achiever for their national quality initiative program.

The NCAL Quality Initiative Recognition Program is designed to recognize member assisted living communities that demonstrate the attainment of one or more of the four NCAL Quality Initiative goals:

    • Staff Stability: direct care staff turnover is 50% or less
    • Customer Satisfaction: 90% or more of residents and/or family members are satisfied with their experience​
    • Hospital Readmissions: readmissions within 30 days of hospital discharges are 20% or less
    • Antipsychotics: off-label use of antipsychotics is 15% of residents or less

Tier 4 achievers are facilities that have reached all 4 of these goals during the past 12 months. Only 16 assisted living facilities were named Tier 4 achievers nationwide.

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Brandon Oaks at Home Named A Top Agency by Two National Organizations

Brandon Oaks at Home, the home care and home healthcare division of Brandon Oaks, was named a top agency by two national organizations.

 

Fazzi Associate’s Top 25
The HHCAHPS Patient Satisfaction Award of Distinction is presented annually to home health organizations subscribed to Fazzi’s Patient Satisfaction Service that have demonstrated superior performance in overall patient satisfaction results. These national best practice agencies are proven leaders and have placed in the top 25% of Fazzi’s patient satisfaction national database based on a comparative analysis of overall satisfaction. Brandon Oaks at Home is one of only 135 home health care agencies nationwide to achieve this honor.

 

Ability’s HomeCare Elite Top Agency
Brandon Oaks at Home has been named a HomeCare Elite agency for the second year in a row. The HomeCare Elite is a recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. For 14 years, HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified agencies and highlighted the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Those named as a top agency are determined by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, best practices implementation, patient experience (HHCAHPS), quality improvement and consistency, and financial health. In order to be considered, an agency must be Medicare-certified and have data for at least three outcomes in Home Health Compare.

Brandon Oaks at Home Administrator Marisa Peacock adds, “We are honored to be recognized by two organizations this year based on the high performance and customer satisfaction from our patients; this highlights the high quality of care we provide the Roanoke Valley.”

If you or a loved one is in need of home healthcare services, call our office at (540) 283-8649.

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Brandon Oaks Receives 7 Senior Living Awards

Brandon Oaks was honored to receive 7 awards and 4 honorable mentions from Our Health magazine’s 11th Annual Senior Living Awards.

Gold
Independent Living
Nursing Home

Silver
Assisted Living
Inpatient Rehab
Outpatient Rehab
Post-Acute Rehab

Bronze
Speech Therapy

 

Honorable Mention
Skilled Nursing Care
Stroke Care
Companion Care
Home Health Care

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Two Brandon Oaks Nurses Recognized in Our Health Magazine

Two Brandon Oaks nurses have been recognized by Our Health magazine as Outstanding Nurses in the Roanoke Valley!

This is Our Health’s 2nd edition of Outstanding Nurses and we are so proud that two of our nurses were selected. This year they focused on the various traits one needs to be a successful nurse. See their profiles below (click here to view the digital edition of this month’s issue).

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Remembering the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

As a provider of care and accommodations for the senior population, we at Brandon Oaks have had the immense honor of caring for veterans of various wars throughout our history. Of the world wars, WWII veterans are the oldest that are currently still surviving. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs statistics, 496,777 of the 16 million Americans who served in WWII were still living in 2018.

One of the major battles of WWII was D-Day, the largest every amphibious military invasion. The Allied Forces faced horrible weather, seemingly insurmountable odds and the looming cliffs surrounding Normandy’s beaches. Nonetheless, they defeated the Germans which ultimately ended WWII.

As mentioned, we have had the privilege of caring for numerous veterans but we were so humbled to celebrate two of our residents at the 75th Anniversary of D-Day at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia on June 6, 2019.  James “Jim” White, a WWII veteran and a D-Day survivor, Charles “Chuck” Neighbor.

Jim White served during WWII as a Finance Officer and Comptroller and traveled across the European and Pacific theaters. Jim was promoted to a Brigadier General before retiring in 1975.

 

 

 

Chuck Neighbor, served as a private first class in the 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division during WWII. He and his comrades landed on Omaha Beach the morning on June 6, 1944. During the events of the 75th Anniversary Commemoration, Vice President Mike Pence quoted one of Chuck’s diary entries after the invasion, as his words were so poignant and fitting for how the whole scene of the day unfolded.

While harsh, his words are a reminder of what has happened to get us to where we are as a nation today. The freedoms we celebrate, the lifestyles we live, are all thanks to those who gave their lives for their fellow man, even 75 years later. Imagine what our world would be like had they not been successful. This ceremony was seen to be the last major milestone anniversary before the WWII generation of veterans disappears. The main theme was remembering and thanking all who served. Although, many don’t think they did anything anyone else wouldn’t do. Most will just say they were doing their job. This endearing, humble attitude towards such a harrowing experience they survived is a testament to the true heroes in all of them.

Other residents, many who were also veterans of other conflicts, and staff members were able to travel to see this incredibly moving ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, each veteran present was named and they were presented with a special commemorative coin specially made for the event.

Below are some of our pictures from the day’s events and a few words from our staff members who went.

Ben Burks, Executive Director: “The D-Day celebration honored those who risked and sacrificed their very lives for a cause much greater than their own individual feelings and preferences.  I took the time to attend because I thought it was important, and I wanted to express my gratitude for their selflessness.  Their heroism and legacy should never be forgotten or taken for granted.”

Susan O’Malley, Assisted Living Administrator: “It was a special honor to attend the D-Day celebration to honor Charles Neighbor (D-Day survivor), Jim White and the other veterans of WWII. The memories from the veterans of their experiences were especially moving and the fact that most of them were so young. The loss of so many lives is difficult to realize now. It is hard to imagine the bravery and strength of character it took and still takes, to serve in the military and provide protection for all Americans.”

Meg Rodman, Arts and Education Manager: ” It was a time for reflection and remembrance and truly a remarkable event.  Charles (Chuck) Neighbors and Jim White were recognized as WWII veterans Charles is a D-day veteran.  Words cannot express the emotions and stories that were shared at this large gathering of veterans and the public together.  It was an amazing tribute to all those who gave so much.”

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Inspiration for the New Year: Each Day is a Gift

At 98 years old, Brandon Oaks resident Betty Pence has seen quite a bit. She will tell you she’s had a wonderful, full life – which she has. If you talk with her for just a few moments you will see how grateful and happy she is. What you will also see when you visit is beautiful illustrations, paintings and cross-stitching. Betty is an artist and an author. Yes, still an artist at 98 years old. She loves to stay busy – keeping her mind sharp with puzzles, illustrations, cross-stitching, reading and writing. Betty has authored a few books since the age of 91! In one of her books she writes:

Since God has given me some extra time, I feel as if I don’t want to waste a minute of it. If you feel discouraged by so called old age try to make it a gift that you didn’t expect and make the most of it!

With the New Year approaching and many thinking of how to plan out resolutions for losing weight or organizing spaces, try to treat every day as a gift and make the most of it, like Betty does! Below are a few of Betty’s pieces of art she’s created, most of which has been done since she’s turned 90. Inspiring to think how much you can do when you don’t let the constraint of age hinder you.

Postcard Illustration & Watercolor

Flowers of Virginia Cross-Stitch
Sunset at Brandon Oaks Watercolor Painting
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Nursing and Rehab Center Program Featured in National Healthcare News

We are always trying new things to make sure our residents feel valued, appreciated and vibrant no matter what level of care they may be in. Our team at the Nursing and Rehab Center started a “Star for the Day” program and it has taken off. We were recently featured by a national healthcare news outlet, McKnight’s Long Term Care News! Click the photo below to see the story.

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Volunteering in the Roanoke Valley

Although Brandon Oaks is a “retirement community,” there are two things residents want you to know:
1.) You don’t have to be retired!
2.) Retirement doesn’t mean less active or busy!

Brandon Oaks Residents Winnie Bloom (second from left) and Margaret Zerbst (third from left) volunteering at Center in the Square. Photo courtesy of Center in the Square.

Along with the numerous activities, clubs and social events at Brandon Oaks, many residents also devote their time to other organizations in the Roanoke Valley.   From local hospitals to arts organizations, residents’ passions are as unique as they are. Many residents describe retirement as their opportunity to truly immerse themselves into community organizations that mean the most to them. In addition to the fun you’ll have, volunteering has been found to be good for your health. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 25% of those over 60 years of age volunteered, and their mental health and emotional well-being benefited from it. The larger networks, mentally or physically stimulating tasks and social aspects of devoting one’s time to a cause were seen as reasons for the positive trend.

Resident Janet Johnson unloading supplies for the Rotary Club of Roanoke’s “Pack-A-Snack” Program. Photo courtesy of Rotary Club of Roanoke.

Many of our residents volunteer, or serve on boards, for organizations such as:

  • Rotary Club of Roanoke
  • Roanoke College
  • Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
  • Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry
  • American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop
  • Opera Roanoke
  • Center in the Square
  • Virginians for the Arts
  • Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehab Center
  • Many more!