​In October of 2019, Sunporch of Smith County excitedly moved elders from the old nursing home to their newly built, small homes on the new Sunporch campus.   As part of the Green House Project, the model for long-term care at Sunporch returns control, dignity and a sense of well-being to elders, their families and direct care staff. In the Green House model, elders live in small, self-contained homes organized to deliver individualized care and meaningful relationships.
 
Julie Troy, Fund Development and Life Enrichment Coordinator, shared “It has been an amazing 3 years.  Relationships have been built and lives have been enriched between our team, elders, and families.  The pandemic was rough, but it brought us all closer and made us even more thankful for our small home design.”  The small homes are intentionally designed with private, elder bedrooms and bathrooms surrounding an open living, dining, and kitchen area.   The layout encourages interactions as would happen in a family home, merging quality of care with quality of life.
 
Sunporch of Smith County is planning an expansion that would add an additional 4 rooms to each of the small homes.  Since moving to the new small homes, Sunporch of Smith County has continued to remain 99.9% full and now has a large waiting list.  “We now have 40 people on our waiting list interested in moving to Sunporch.  The only time we aren’t 100% full at Sunporch is the few days needed for families to remove personal items when an elder no longer resides at Sunporch.  We are respectful of the need for that time.  With the expansion, more elders will be able to receive the person-centered care we provide at Sunporch.” said Troy.
 
Troy continued, “We are early in the process of what this expansion will look like, but we are very excited!  Architects are very aware of the need to continue the small home feel and design.  Our initial timeline is to finalize architectural drawings, obtain cost estimates, and begin a fundraising campaign within the next couple of months.  The community was incredibly supportive when Sunporch was initially built, and we are encouraged that this support will continue to help with part of the funding for this expansion as well.” 
 
For more information about Sunporch of Smith County or the expansion plans, feel free to contact Julie Troy at (785) 282-6722.

​According to CMS.gov, a nursing home's Overall Quality rating on Nursing Home Compare is based on its ratings for Health Inspections, Quality Measures (QMs), and Staffing. Ratings for each domain and the overall rating range from 1 star to 5 stars, with more stars indicating higher quality.  Sunporch of Smith County recently received a 5-star rating from Nursing Home Compare. 
 
Whitney Dill, Administrator at Sunporch, gave credit to the entire team.  “We all work really hard to provide quality services, and to receive this recognition is the outcome of that hard work.  With so many challenges and changes that occur in health care, it is easy to let things drop but each of our team members does amazing work every day which is reflected in receiving this 5-star rating.  We see it here at Sunporch, but to have a federal agency also recognize those efforts is truly appreciated.”
 
To learn more about quality ratings for nursing homes, hospitals, and other health care providers, go to www.Medicare.gov.  If you have questions about Sunporch of Smith County, call Whitney at (785) 282-6722.

​During the past year, the pandemic has touched the lives of everyone.  Within the healthcare industry, countless hours have been spent on implementing newly required processes, families have been restricted from visiting their loved ones, and completed vaccination clinics offer a light at the end of the tunnel.
 
At Sunporch of Smith County, positive cases have been minuscule.  Tammy Pettijohn, Administrator, shared, “as of today, only 1 elder and a small handful of staff have tested positive for the Coronavirus.  We believe that is directly tied to the small home design and dedication of staff following processes.”
 
Sunporch, one of 346 Greenhouse certified homes throughout the United States, participated in a study which compared the small homes with the traditional nursing home industry.  The data collected showed that the average number of elders testing positive in the Greenhouse certified homes was 51% less than industry standards, many with zero – 2 positive cases.  Deaths were 72% less in the Greenhouse homes.  The components of the Green House homes that may be critical for infection prevention and control are that they house only 10-12 residents and have consistent and universal staff assignments, thus limiting the number of ancillary staff.  Each elder has a private room and private bath which also minimizes exposure to others that may have contracted the virus. 
 
Research on the Greenhouse homes, including Sunporch of Smith County, has found their benefits include better resident quality of life, fewer hospital readmissions, reduced Medicare spending, and less staff turnover.  Now, they can add fewer positive COVID cases to the list of benefits as well.  

KHF ANNOUNCES GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR 2020 IMPACT AND CAPACITY GRANTS – COVID-19May 13, 2020

MEDIA CONTACTKristi Zukovich, kzukovich@khf.org, 316-491-8419WICHITA, Kan. – The Kansas Health Foundation recently announced the grant recipients for the 2020 Impact and Capacity Grants (ICG) Initiative. The ICG Initiative provides one-year grants of up to $25,000 for nonprofits mission-aligned with KHF, focused on COVID-19 response and recovery. There were 91 grants awarded to nonprofit, faith-based and government organizations, totaling more than $2 million.
“The KHF board embraced the opportunity to repurpose these funds to quickly react to the impact COVID-19 is having on our state,” said Matt Allen, chair of the KHF Board of Directors. “These funds will assist organizations as they respond to Kansans in need and provide core operations support to sustain their organizations during these uniquely difficult financial times.”
Prompted by the urgent need to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, KHF advanced the application launch date, and due to overwhelming response, closed the initiative within two weeks. KHF fielded 477 funding proposals from organizations across the state.
“This surge of requests for COVID-19 assistance demonstrates clearly that Kansans are experiencing overwhelming need as we grapple with this unprecedented crisis,” said Reggie Robinson, KHF president and CEO. “We’re proud to support these vital organizations as they continue to serve their clients and communities.”
To date, KHF has authorized more than $16.3 million to support emergency COVID-19 response and recovery efforts across Kansas.
The following organizations are 2020 ICG recipients (divided by region served):
STATEWIDE:
American Cancer Society – $25,000
American Red Cross South Central and Southeast Kansas – $25,000
Central Kansas Foundation for Alcohol and Chemical Dependency – $25,000
Child Start – $14,400
Children’s Mercy Hospital – $25,000
Great Plains Development – $25,000
Kansas Association of Local Health Departments – $22,000
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters – $25,000
Passageways – $25,000
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Wichita – $25,000
Saint Francis Community Services – $25,000
NORTH CENTRAL:
Central Kansas Mental Health Center – $25,000
Cloud County Health Center – $25,000
Ellsworth County Medical Center – $25,000
Great Plains of Republic County dba Republic County Hospital – $22,489
Lincoln Carnegie Library – $550
Sunporch of Smith Center – $25,000
USD 435, Abilene School District – $10,000
NORTHEAST:
AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission – $25,000
American Stroke Foundation – $25,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City – $25,000
Choice Health Services – $25,000
City of Paola – $3,000
Colonial Presbyterian Church – $14,175
Delivering Change – $25,000
Douglas County CASA Program – $23,400
Douglas County Dental Clinic – $25,000
Elizabeth Layton Center – $25,000
Evergreen Living Innovations – $25,000
Family Promise of Lawrence – $15,000
Friends of Johnson County Developmental Support – $15,000
Gilda’s Club Kansas City 20 – $5,850
Giving the Basics – $25,000
Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas – $25,000
Greater Manhattan Community Foundation – $9,260
Johnson County Developmental Supports – $25,000
Lawrence Schools Foundation – $25,000
Medical Missions Foundation – $25,000
Midland Care Connection – $25,000
Nemaha Valley Community Hospital – $21,000
Sent – $25,000
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church – $25,000
TDC Learning Centers – $15,000
The Willow Domestic Violence Center – $20,000
USD 380, Vermillion – $10,000
Van Go – $25,000
Women’s Community Y – $5,000
Wyandot Center for Community Behavioral Healthcare – $25,000
NORTHWEST:
Cheyenne County Village – $25,000
High Plains Mental Health Center – $22,496
Phillipsburg Child Care Center – $25,000
Rooks County Senior Services dba Redbud Village – $25,000
Sherman County Health Department – $10,000
Thomas County Health Department – $18,820
Wallace County Community Care Center – $20,450
SOUTH CENTRAL:
American Baptist Estates dba Prairie Homestead – $25,000
Anthony Community Care Center – $25,000
Barton County – $25,000
Derby Community Foundation – $10,000
Envision Foundation – $25,000
Family Promise of Great Wichita – $25,000
First Metropolitan Community Church of Kansas – $25,000
Guadalupe Clinic – $25,000
Horizons Mental Health Center – $24,742
Hospital District #6 of Harper County, Kansas – $25,000
ICT SOS – $25,000
Independent Living Resource Center – $25,000
Joyfulhouse – $25,000
Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped – $25,000
Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation – $25,000
Kansas State Research and Extension – Barber County – $25,000
Main Street Ministries – $25,000
Mayflower Clinic – $25,000
McPherson County Health Department – $25,000
Mirror – $25,000
Starkey – $25,000
Union Rescue Mission of Wichita – $25,000
United Way of McPherson County – $25,000
United Way of Reno County – $25,000
Village League – $25,000
Wichita Family Crisis Center – $17,000
SOUTHEAST:
Community Mental Health Center of Crawford County – $25,000
Crawford County Health Department – $25,000
S.E.K. Multi-County Health Department – $25,000
Spring River Mental Health & Wellness – $25,000
St. Patrick Catholic School – $16,800
SOUTHWEST:
Iroquois Center for Human Development – $25,000
Kansas Senior Living – $25,000
The Salvation Army of Dodge City – $25,000
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center – $25,000
Young Men’s Christian Association of Southwest Kansas – $25,000
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ABOUT THE KANSAS HEALTH FOUNDATIONThe Kansas Health Foundation is based in Wichita, but statewide in its focus. With a mission to improve the health of all Kansans, KHF envisions a culture in which every Kansan can make healthy choices where they live, work and play. To achieve this, KHF focuses its work in four impact areas: access to affordable health care, healthy behaviors, civic and community engagement and educational attainment. During its history, KHF has provided more than $500 million in grants to Kansas communities and organizations, and looks forward to working toward its mission and vision for many years to come.

Senior Housing News is a nationally recognized expert in the senior care and services industry.  In a recent newsletter, Sunporch of Smith County was included to share best practices from industry leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check it out:  https://seniorhousingnews.com/2020/04/14/covid-19-tests-senior-living-creativity-in-engagement/?utm_campaign=SHN%20Daily%20Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=86301976&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9jMA_aYlbdpH1rzsf9pQRrmx9IBh4W3_Uc0jsj5m7__jIjCSSwQ1tBzk-EQOBljyK0XjrMMV8lynGKULDiUWtz02m7Hz86tx88dukxnlztf-sMX60&_hsmi=86301976