Biz Briefs: NCHC receives safe resident assistance grant

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – West Bend Mutual Insurance Company announced recently it has given its Safe Resident Assistance Endowment Grant to North Central Health Care in Wausau.

In partnership with LeadingAge^™ Wisconsin, West Bend established the Endowment to provide state-of-the-art equipment to improve transferring or transfer assistance for residents and caregivers of long-term care facilities across Wisconsin, while easing the financial burden for facilities. Since the Endowment’s creation in 2014, West Bend has awarded more than $125,000 in grants to over 30 Wisconsin facilities.

“The grant provided by West Bend will give us the opportunity to purchase an EZ Way Smart Lift ^®, which will allow our staff to provide advanced resident support that promotes mobility in a safe and dignified manner,” said Kim Gochanour, Nursing Home Administrator at Mount View Care Center/North Central Health Care. “The equipment will provide a safe, efficient way to move residents, minimizing risk of injury to both our residents and caregivers.”

“Patient and caregiver safety is of utmost importance to us,” said Jim Keal, vice president of Argent, West Bend’s monoline workers’ compensation division. “Our Safe Resident Assistance Endowment and our partnership with LeadingAge^™ Wisconsin provide us with the perfect opportunity to help ensure the safety and comfort of both caregivers and residents at quality facilities throughout Wisconsin.”

“LeadingAge Wisconsin applauds West Bend’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality care to our state’s nursing home and assisted living residents,” said John Sauer, LeadingAge Wisconsin’s President/CEO. “Through this company’s generosity and charitable giving, more direct caregivers will have access to state-of-the-art equipment designed to safely serve residents in need of assistance with transfers and related cares.”