Ten residents were honored at our PEER graduation ceremony
on April 19. Pennsylvania Empowered
Expert Residents, or “PEER” is a program developed to train residents to become
advocates for themselves and their peers.
The training began on February 19 and was conducted weekly until April
19.
Donna Beck, Betty Betta, Barb Canale, Anna Ewing, Ethel
O’Hara, Bob Worthington, Mary Miknis, Millie Sebring, Mary Shaffer, and Bobby
Woodall attended each session and met the requirements to become official PEERs
for the facility.
The residents were trained in a variety of areas including
welcoming new residents, participating in resident council, suggesting ideas,
assisting with resident rights or other issues, and essentially being the
resident ombudsman for anyone who needs them. They were provided with posters for their doors indicating their PEER involvement so they will be easily identified to other residents.
Our personal care residents have already developed programs
such as a “Welcoming Committee” as a result of PEER training. They are encouraged to implement as many
ideas as they can and have proven to be self sufficient with their programs.
Jeanne Urban, ombudsman from the Clearfield County Area
Agency on Aging, directed the program with the help of Joan Bracco and Gale
Washick, both from the AAA. Debbie
Mohney and Debbie DeChurch, staff at CKM, were instrumental in the program from
recruitment, transportation, liaison with AAA, and the organization of the
graduation festivities.
