National magazine gives top rating to Lubec nursing home

Oceanview Nursing Home in Lubec is one of only two nursing facilities in Maine to achieve the top rating of five stars in all three categories examined by U.S. News and World Report magazine.

Nathan Brown, administrator at the facility, received notification in July of the five-star rating in each of the following areas: nurse staffing, quality measures and health inspections. "Wow, are you kidding?" was Brown's reaction to the news.

The facility in Lubec, family owned for 32 years, has 39 beds and provides nursing level care, skilled care and assisted living services. With nursing home services highly regulated by both state and federal agencies, complex regulations and shifting funding scenarios, administrators, department heads and staff must stay current in this knowledge while daily keeping the care-giving aspect foremost in their minds and practice.

"Without the longevity and continuity of our staff, we can't have the adherence to regulations [that we achieve]," states Brown. Citing the fact that the core group of 53 employees has a tenure at the facility of greater than seven years and department head stability, Brown says "it's the commitment to taking care of residents" that allowed the nursing home to accomplish this rating. He notes that it is the willingness and ability of each department to jump in and help when needed that make the difference at Oceanview, a small facility compared to others statewide.

Brown and long-time employee Mary Ramsdell cite the family environment at Oceanview as a big factor in the care residents receive, as well as long tenure of the employees. Employed at Oceanview for 42 years, Ramsdell cites "friendliness of staff C they treat the residents like family" C as one of the top features at Oceanview. Ramsdell started working in the laundry and for the past 35 years or so has been activity director. "We have a supportive administration. They do what is best for residents. They are our consumers," says Ramsdell, while noting a personal feeling of inspiration working with the residents.

Concerning the most difficult challenge in maintaining high quality care, Brown refers to the legislative environment, constantly changing in health care, whether it is regulations or reimbursement for care. At least two separate areas of the government govern the care of elders and payment of services in Maine. The human services side "decides what you are going to do," the appropriations side separately decides "here's what you get to do it with." With 88% the current residents' care funded by the Medicaid/Mainecare program, nursing homes are vulnerable to funding shifts. Even the minimum wage scale changes the budget. For starting pay at some levels, two years ago Oceanview was paying 150% above the minimum wage, and now they are raising wages to be above minimum wage in October, and "it's still not enough to live on," says Brown.

With a $1.2 million payroll and as one of the largest employers in Lubec, the nursing home, Brown says, is committed to "living within our means" and avoiding expenses such as travelling nurses. Brown also works as maintenance director to avoid an additional cost. "We want to continue to be an excellent employer to folks in the community as long as able."

Nurse aide Julie Matthews, who holds several credentials in healthcare, has worked at Oceanview for 13 years. "One-on-one interaction with the residents allows us to become quite close with them C that's the best part of the job," she says. Echoing Brown, Matthews talks about the great staff and teamwork at the nursing home. "We have a great bunch of people working here!"

Charles A. Dean Memorial Hospital's nursing home facility was the other top-ranked facility in Maine, and Atlantic Rehabilitation Center in Calais achieved a ranking of fourth in the state of Maine.