CONTACT: Cheryl H. Wade, Executive Director, Kendal Charitable Funds, at 610-335-1223.

October 2011

Kendal Underwrites Free National Conference Call Series to Empower Nursing Home Residents

“Advocacy Basics for Residents of Nursing Homes” and “Resident-Directed Care” will be the topics of two national conference calls available free to nursing home residents on Nov. 9 and Dec. 6, respectively.  

Kendal System affiliates and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care are sponsoring the teleconferences to create a forum for nursing home residents to speak with each other about issues directly affecting their lives.

Advocacy Basics for Residents of Nursing Homes (2 to 3 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Nov. 9) will provide a basic overview of residents’ rights under federal law, the role of the long-term care ombudsman, how to file a complaint and ways residents can be involved in advocacy for quality of care and life in a nursing home.

Resident-Directed Care (2 to 3 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Dec. 6) will provide basic information for residents looking to be their own health care advocate and will include information on individualized care planning and other ways residents can be involved as active participants in their health and care.

“These teleconferences will help give voice to the hopes and aspirations of people living in nursing homes nationwide,” says Cheryl Wade, Kendal’s Director for Philanthropy. “This initiative promises to reach a diverse and significant population of older people as part of our efforts to benefit the larger communities in which we are located.”

Residents are invited to join the calls on their own, or with a group of residents or their resident councils using speakerphones. Participation is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. Click here to register for one or both conference calls.

This is the second year that Kendal and Consumer Voice have jointly sponsored national teleconferences aimed at improving care for residents of skilled nursing facilities. In its first year, the call series engaged more than 300 residents in discussions about:

Breaking down Communication Barriers: Cultural Sensitivity and Verbal and Listening Strategies;
Staffing for Quality Care: Important Elements and Resident Involvement; and
Education and Empowerment for Fall Prevention. 

With results and recommendations from the consultations posted on Consumer Voice’s Web site, the conference call series provided information and insights to far more than the 300 people who participated in the national teleconferences.

Kendal on Hudson, Kendal at Lexington, Kendal at Granville, and Kendal-Crosslands Communities have joined Kendal Outreach and Kendal Charitable Funds as 2011 teleconference sponsors.

With communities and services for older adults in eight states, Kendal advocates for and empowers older adults to achieve their full potentials. Kendal communities are located on Chicago’s lakefront and in Hanover, N.H.; Ithaca and Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.; Northhampton and Easthampton, Mass.; Oberlin, Granville and Cleveland, Ohio; Lexington, Va.; metro Washington, D.C.; and Kennett Square and West Chester, Pa. For more information, visit discoverkendal.org.

Consumer Voice (formerly the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform) was established in 1975 as a response to public concern about substandard care in nursing homes.

Crosslands Health Center Campaign a Big Success

“The breadth of participation in the Crosslands capital campaign has been impressive,” said Paulding Phelps, a co-chair of the resident-led campaign committee. About 80% of Crosslands residents who could be contacted have responded to the campaign, raising over $1,850,000 in charitable donations to support the renovation of the Crosslands Health and Wellness Center. The campaign got underway in the fall of 2010, drawing to a successful conclusion in the late summer of 2011.

The campaign was led by a committee of Crosslands residents that included Harrie Lewis, Dee Nelson, Elva Pepper, Paulding Phelps and Joyce Shaffer who served as campaign planners and initial solicitors. “As we learned about the vision for our health center and the scope of the project, we realized that only a major commitment of time and enthusiasm could make it successful,” said Elva Pepper. “So with the help of Bill Ravdin, a Kendal resident, we went to work. And our residents rose to the challenge!”

A total of 18 residents joined in making personal visits with residents to present information about the projects within the renovation which could not be accomplished unless additional funding was committed through charitable donations. “The campaign became a joy for all of us,” said Joyce Shaffer.

Major features of the Crosslands renovation will include a new pool and fitness center, a new Resident Care complex and substantial upgrades in Audland (personal care) and Firbank (nursing care). The major transformation of personal care rooms to studio apartments will make Audland more homelike and the transition from independent living easier for residents who need personal care services. A major improvement in Firbank includes the addition of a kitchen in each of the nursing care “households” of 20 residents so that residents may dine on freshly cooked food near where they live.

Other Firbank improvements include more daylight in the common areas, private rooms with considerably less exposure to the public and conversion of the old hospital style tub rooms into comfortable private bathing and dressing areas.

The heart-warming desire of Crosslands residents to be part of this project, even those with very limited funds, was a highly motivating factor for committee members. Dee Nelson reported one resident who gave up several concerts to find money to contribute.

June 2011

Windmuller Legacy Benefits Kendal at Ithaca

Betsey Roberts tells the story with satisfaction in her voice—even though the interview is at 7 a.m.! Her parents thrived at Kendal; they discovered that they had more resources than they would need, and the discovery enabled them to become philanthropists in their later years. Betsey said she and her brother Tom were surprised—and pleased—to discover a listing of small but regular charitable gifts her mother had quietly made to more than one hundred organizations!

Ruth H. and John P. Windmuller were founding residents at Kendal. Health concerns made the new community up on the hill a welcome option, and life at Kendal proved just the right choice for them. They had lived in Ithaca nearly 50 years, and had many friends there. John had built the kind of professional reputation that later would earn him the honor of the John P.Windmuller Chair in International and Comparative Labor, established in Nov. 2008. Ruth raised two children, managed their home, and took the lead in community life.

Ruth and John knew each other as teenagers; both were Holocaust survivors aboard the famous SS St. Louis that sailed from Hamburg, Germany on May 13, 1939 but was turned away from port in Havana and Miami, so it returned to Europe and both children went to a children's home in France where they met. Sailing on different decks of the same ship, they did not know each other until they both landed at the French home!

Decades later Ruth observed Kendal's full range of care as John's health required first assisted living and then skilled care. Gratitude for the quality of his personal care and the relationships that went along with it motivated Ruth. She endowed the Windmuller Classical Concert Fund in John's memory. Through her estate, Ruth made a generous bequest to the Rainy Day Fund.

And her children are following suit. Betsey and Tom gave Ruth's car to the community, and have planted trees in memory of their parents. Betsey observed that her mother wanted other people to have the same Kendal experience as she and John did; planting trees is a statement about someone else sitting under trees they did not plant, just as they inherited in our time the shade of someone else's labor.

What passion did Ruth exhibit in her later years? Betsey answers without hesitation—Ruth was a staunch advocate for Kendal's residents and employees -- and their rights. She knew first-hand that the staff are key to the experience of residents. And how in keeping with John's career in labor relations!

Now one of several second generation philanthropists to Kendal, Betsey looks forward to a future when she will leave Southern California for Ithaca, to take up residence at Kendal. There are friends waiting for her at Kendal, among both staff and residents. Friendships just happen when you start spending time at Kendal, she says.

September 2010

Kendal at Lexington Receives Significant Gifts to Benefit the Fellowship Fund

Inspired by the gifts of others, an anonymous donor has gifted a property to Kendal at Lexington. Read an interview with the donors. And The Evelyn W. Huntley Fellowship Endowment was established as a surprise Christmas gift to Evelyn at year end 2009. Read more about this gift.

January 2010

Kendal Charitable Funds Expands Support to the Kendal System

In 2009 a number of enhancements were approved by the Kendal Charitable Funds board of directors. Donors can now:

• Access a new Kendal Charitable Funds online giving platform; this makes it possible to conveniently give to any member of the Kendal family;

• Take advantage of win-win life income gifts that will benefit their communities at a future date;

• Receive help on planning real estate gifts that will provide income at present and benefit their communities in future;

• Visit affiliate web sites which featuring their own planned giving pages with testimonials from donors across the system.

In making these services possible, the board of directors focused on a number of behind-the-scenes requirements including due diligence, required registrations, mission, and governing documents. The goal is to ensure that donors can turn to Kendal Charitable Funds with confidence that it meets the most rigorous regulations and guidelines in service to the entire Kendal family of affiliate communities and services.

Kendal~Crosslands Communities Staff Rally to Support Helping Hands

Suppose you were a senior citizen living in southern Chester County who finds basic housekeeping just beyond your health capacity these days. Even so, you are determined to stay in your own home. Where would you turn for help? READ MORE.

Kendal at Granville Founders Dave and Dee Richards Gift Property to Kendal

For many people around Granville, Ohio, the names Dave and Dee Richards conjure the image of the community known as kendal at Granville. That is because of the role they played in initiating the effort that brought this community from wish to reality. Although they are reticent to say it, most people agree that there simply would not be a Kendal at Granville without their persistence and faith. READ MORE.

September 2009

Kendal at Ithaca Receives Generous Gift to Rainy Day Fund

After nearly eight years of living a full life at Kendal at Ithaca, Pete Rider has made a generous bequest of $68,181 to the Kendal at Ithaca Rainy Day Fund. The fund helps Kendal residents in need of special financing. Patricia Williams, for The Community Development Committee, writes, "We were surprised and pleased by his thoughtfulness but it typifies his long life of service to others." READ MORE on Kendal at Ithaca's web site.

August 2009

Kendal Outreach, LLC Receives Grant from Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

Kendal Outreach, LLC has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare for $619,380 to extend the Pennsylvania Restraint Reduction Initiative (PARRI) through June 30, 2010. Initially a two-year pilot grant awarded to Kendal Outreach in 1996 and focused exclusively on helping Pennsylvania-based providers, the program has produced impressive results: through December 2008 physical restraint use in Pennsylvania’s long term care facilities has been reduced 90% from 28% to 2.9%. READ MORE about PARRI.

Kendal Outreach, LLC Receives Three-year Leading Nurses Grant from Department of Health and Human Services

Kendal Outreach, LLC has received a grant in excess of $800,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration to launch a nursing education, practice and retention initiative called Leading Nurses. Kendal Outreach, LLC and Widener University are collaborating on the grant program that will provide leadership training to 60 Director of Nursing (DON) and Registered Nurse (RN) leaders working in nursing homes in the Delaware Valley. The grant is for the project period 7/1/09 through 6/30/2012. READ MORE about the HRSA grant.

February 2009

Kendal Affiliates Reach Out to Their Wider Communities - With Support From Kendal Charitable Funds

Kendal Charitable Funds, in February of 2008, awarded a $5,000 grant to each Kendal affiliate to be used in a manner of their choosing to reach out to their greater community. Reports of their successful efforts are now coming in. Read about Kendal affiliate outreach initiatives.

Kendal at Lexington Breaks Ground for Sunroom Addition to Benjamin Borden Health Center

Having raised over $150,000 for this sunroom addition, ground was broken on February 6. According to Kim Snyder, Administrator for Health Services, “the broad-based community support for this project exemplifies what the Borden Center is – our community’s quality home for older adults.” Read more about Kendal at Lexington's sunroom project.

September 2008

Kendal~Crosslands Communities Contributes to Promising Innovations

Kendal~Crosslands Communities Board has approved participation in the Promising Innovations campaign. The Board has approved a $20,000 incentive to be used to match gifts given by residents, staff, and board members of Kendal~Crosslands Communities. Read more about the Promising Innovations Campaign.

May 2008

Kendal Establishes Fund In Honor Of Lloyd Lewis

The board of Kendal Charitable Funds approved the creation of the Lloyd Lewis Fund at its meeting in October 2007. The purpose of this new fund is to support  improvements in serving older adults through the Promising Innovations campaign. The new fund and this campaign were initiated by the generous gift of $250,000 from the Janet Comey Foundation, a private foundation established through the estate of former Kendal at Longwood resident Janet Comey. READ MORE.

April 2008

Kendal at Hanover Receives Generous Memorial Gift

A fund has been established in memory of Mary and Bryce Lyon through a generous donation from a very supportive donor.  This fund was established to help maintain the high standard of Kendal at Hanover’s medical care into the future. READ MORE.

February 2008

Kendal at Hanover Receives Environmental Sustainability Grant to Study Energy Efficiency

Kendal at Hanover has received a grant from Kendal Charitable Funds in the amount of $10,000 to undertake a community-wide, resident-driven program to investigate and fully understand electricity usage in their community. The underlying goal of this study is to find effective ways of reducing the level of carbon monoxide (CO2) emissions that the facilities contribute to the atmosphere each year. READ MORE