Hallmark House Nursing Center
Hallmark House Nursing Center
2501 Allentown Road
Pekin, IL 61554
Phone:(309)347-3121
About Hallmark House
The Pioneer Project
Our Vision: A culture of aging that is life affirming, satisfying, humane and meaningful. We recognize our need to create ways of living and working together differently from the traditional models. The Pioneer Network supports models where elders live in open, diverse, caring communities. Pioneers are working for deep system change by other evolutionary and revolutionary means, using Pioneer values and principles as the foundations for change. Change in the individual's and society's attitudes toward aging and elders; change in elders' attitudes towards themselves and their aging; change in attitudes and behavior of caregivers toward those for whom they care; and in-depth change in systems require change in government policy and regulation. We refer to this work as culture change. Our aim is nothing less than transforming the culture of aging in America.
The above statement of vision is taken directly from literature from The Pioneer Network. The Illinois Department of Public Health has endorsed this movement. The focal point of this movement is to move from the traditional "medical" model of care in long-term care facilities to a more resident-centered "social" model. The social model encourages and welcomes residents to have individualized care to the maximum extent possible in a home setting through changes in environment, schedules, and resident care. The goal is to change the culture within the facility by restoring control to the residents and creating an environment that is a more socially and biologically diverse human habitat.
Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin has undertaken this culture change in the beginning stages in several different areas. The main change has come about in the dietary service. Traditionally, long-term care food service has consisted of a tray line, where the same meal was served to all residents. It might have been altered mechanically to meet the need of the particular resident, but all were served essentially the same meal, with one substitute available. At Hallmark House Nursing Center, the entire kitchen was revamped, new equipment installed, and staff trained in a totally different way of cooking. Equipment not normally found in traditional long-term care kitchens, such as a char-broiler, deep fryer, and cold station for making sandwiches and salads, as well as a cappuccino/hot chocolate machine and a juice bar were installed. The residents can order the special of the day, or from a menu that includes anything from an omelet to surf and turf. The kitchen is open 24 hours a day, five times a week, and from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., twice a week. Residents may eat at any time during the day. The staff was retrained from large batch cooking to individual order cooking. Staff from all aspects of service have been trained to take orders and serve the residents in the dining room.
© 2006 Hallmark House Nursing Center
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