Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen was presented with a Governor's Award for Quality Care Monday. Paul Netsch, executive director of Cornerstone Senior Communities, owner of Happy Siesta, presented staff members like Karen Paulsen, director of activities, a commemorative pin in recognition of their hard work and dedication. [Click to enlarge]

A wish to ride in an airplane, watch a play in a theater, take a fishing trip, hear an auctioneer cry -- all came true for Happy Siesta Health Care Center residents.

Happy Siesta's Dream Program and other activities earned the center, in Remsen, a Governor's Award for Quality Care in Iowa Health Care Facilities for 2008, presented Monday.

Dean Lerner, director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), the department that evaluates all nominations and does site inspections for finalists, said the award is meant for facilities that go "above and beyond the ordinary."

Happy Siesta's Dream Program, where staff try to make wishes of its residents come true, is an example of that innovation, Lerner said.

Since the Dream Program began about a year ago, 12 people's wishes were realized and more are in the plans, said Charlotte Braun, administrator at Happy Siesta Health Care Center.

"It's been a wonderful program," Braun said. "We've put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces."

But it's not only the Dream Program that earned Happy Siesta the governor's award.

The center is also commended for its birthday club, its dinner-out activity when residents get together for a meal at area restaurants once a month, the dedication of the staff and more in the two nomination letters submitted by residents' family members.

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"Those are the kinds of things that really catch the attention for a governor's award," Lerner said. "These awards really do come from the heart of the family, the residents."

A resident, family member of a resident, or member of a resident advocacy committee may nominate any Iowa-licensed nursing facility, residential care facility and intermediate care facility for the award.

Facilities may not nominate themselves.

The first governor's quality care award was given in 2001. Seven were issued in 2008 for the 2007 year for a total of 35 given since the program began.

Paul Netsch, executive director of Cornerstone Senior Communities, which owns Happy Siesta, said the care center built in 1966 has succeeded thanks to a five-member board of directors, exemplary staff and administration.

"They (staff) respond to family's needs. They're professional, they're responsible and they're honest," Netsch said. "You all are the reason we have received this award. Charlotte (Braun) does a super job as a leader and coach of some 65 dedicated staff."

Bruce Mehlhop, managing member of Signature Care Centers which manages Happy Siesta, agreed the staff and its care of residents earned the award.

"In the long-term care business, in the health care business, the current buzz word is resident-centered care," Mehlhop said. "We're all trying to create the residents centered care environments for the people we take care of because of the need to enrich their lives, enhance their lives in every way possible."

Some facilities are struggling with that idea, others are learning and becoming good at it and still others like Happy Siesta Health Care Center have been doing it for years, Mehlhop said.

"It's the appropriate way to take care of people," he said.

Larry Hinman, director of operations for Cornerstone, said Happy Siesta and its award are a blessing to the residents, families and Remsen community members.

"I think you should all look at each other and be thankful to the Lord because this is really a blessing," Hinman said. "This is a really rare facility to have."

But not even Happy Siesta Health Care Center can maintain perfection year after year, Lerner, of the DIA, said

In October 2007 Happy Siesta was cited for several noncompliance issues with government regulations. Those have since been corrected, Braun said.

"This award is not about deficiency," Lerner said. "It's about some special initiative."

And the DIA would have a hard time finding a "perfect" facility, he added.

"Nursing homes get a lot of bad press and it's wonderful for us to be able to focus on the positive," Lerner said. "You see the wonderful programs that are started and hopefully these kinds of programs become a best practice at all our facilities across the state."