Skilled Nursing Facility Sparks Joy with Free Drive-Through Attraction

The annual holiday light display at Vista Grande Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center is now lit, continuing its sparkling tradition by inviting members of the Cortez community to celebrate the season as they drive through the facility’s free nighttime attraction.   Running from December 11 through December 31 – from dusk until 9 p.m., at the facility’s campus at 680 E. Hospital Drive in Cortez – the display is open for the community to drive through and experience festive lights and holiday decorations.   “It’s become a special tradition that kicks off the holiday season,” said Carla Lydic, administrator of Vista Grande Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center. “We love seeing the community transformed and welcoming visitors of all ages and from throughout the region as they drive-through the display and experience the joy of the season.”   Vista Grande supports the local community by holding numerous events throughout the year as part of its mission to be a good neighbor. “We are ingrained in the fabric of Cortez, and it is that relationship that has allowed us to meet the needs of our residents,” said Lydic. “We look forward to continuing to serve the local community throughout the year with fun events such as our annual Easter egg hunts and visits from the Easter bunny, as well as Halloween trick-or-treat events, an annual car show, a Thanksgiving pie give away, opportunities to share healthcare information with the community, and more.”  

Vista Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Earns Align’s “Workplace Excellence Award”; One of Just Four in Colorado Named to List

Award Recognizes Skilled Nursing Facility’s Commitment to Employees

Vista Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Cortez, Colo., has earned Align’s “Workplace Excellence Award” for its dedication to workforce engagement during the past year.   Vista Grande was one of only four skilled nursing and senior living providers in Colorado to receive the Workplace Excellence Award, and among just 160 in the U.S. to earn it. The award was determined through a third-party employee engagement survey conducted in 2022, where eligible facilities needed at least a 25 percent employee response rate, and had a minimum of 80 percent of survey participants respond either “Excellent” or “Good” to the statement “Rate us as a place to work.”   “This employee satisfaction survey underscores our effort to create the best workplace for our staff,” said Carla Lydic, Vista Grande’s administrator. “At Vista Grande Rehab, we feel it’s important to engage every member of our team so they can provide the highest quality patient care.”  “Attaining a high level of favorable responses to ‘Rate us as a place to work’ is an indication of Vista Grande Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center’s attention to creating a positive work environment,” said Neil Gulsvig, CEO of Align. “Their achievement clearly demonstrates that they care about their people and are committed to their engagement and success.”  Align, the applied research and quality-improvement solutions provider that presents the annual award, supports leaders across the entire senior care profession with tools to measure staff engagement and make meaningful improvements to create a more engaged workforce. Learn more at www.align30.com.

Helping Healthcare Staff Through Tough Times

Vista Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center Launches Unique Staff Assistance Fund to Support Employees with Immediate, Unforeseen Financial Needs

Employees in immediate financial need at Vista Grande Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center can now get economic help to tide them over during difficult times, courtesy of the facility’s just-created employee assistance fund.  The unique fund, which is set up as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is administered for the skilled nursing facility by a third party, the Emergency Assistance Foundation (EAF). Employees can apply for financial grants – which may range from $500 to $2,500 – to help meet expenses for unforeseen disaster or personal hardship. The applications and awards are handled directly by EAF, without the facility knowing who was awarded grants or their purpose, to maintain strict confidentially. Carla Lydic, Vista Grande administrator, said the facility wanted to create a benefit for its staff that reflects part of its mission – treating employees as family – and can help employees in their times of need. “There are many reasons extra money may be needed, whether to deal with natural disasters, accidents, epidemics, illness, domestic abuse, or a death in the family,” she said.  “In this season of giving, Vista Grande is grateful for our staff and is providing additional means to support their well-being,” Mitchell said. “This is another way we fulfill our mission. While our commitment is to provide genuine hometown care while becoming a vital partner in the community, none of that can be accomplished without ensuring the health, safety, and happiness of our valued teammates.”