×

FRIENDSHIP HAVEN: Making a home

Creating a haven: ‘We define home as a feeling of comfort, love and security’

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Friendship Haven Wellness Center assistant Andrea Doster gets a little air time recently as she demonstrates a water exercise for a group of Boomer Program participants in the Wellness Center pool.

Without any major building or renovations projects in 2018, Friendship Haven is working hard on making the facility the best home that it can be, for residents, staff and the community.

Julie Thorson, president and CEO, said they want it to be home, not just home-like.

“Our focus is on creating a home,” she said. “We define home as a feeling of comfort, love and security. Nobody wants to live in a home-like place. People want to live at home, We’re responsible for creating that home.”

Thorson said that their employees are the key to doing that.

“We are working and moving forward in our effort to create a culture where employees feel an ownership in the work they do,” she said. “Leadership here has little to do with our titles and everything to do with our character.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Physical therapist Alma Casteneda gives Catalyst Program participant Jerry Schnurr a thumbs up after he completed his step walking during a recent rehabilitation session. The Catalyst Program at Friendship Haven also offers its services to the community at large.

“We’re creating an atmosphere where people look at work as more than just a job,” she said. “When our employees feel happy, that adds to the residents’ experience and how much they enjoy living at Friendship Haven.”

She said that they are also continuing to grow their relationship with the community.

One of the ways they do that is through the Boomer Program which lets members of the community ages 55 and older access the Wellness Center.

“They can come work out and enjoy the Wellness Center,” she said. “They can use the pool and work with our personnel. It’s really taken off. People enjoy using it and our instructors. It’s a really great thing.”

Friendship Haven also offers a variety of therapy services through it Catalyst Program, Trinity Therapy Program and the READI program for continued therapy.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Friendship Haven President/Chief Executive Officer Julie Thorson, center, stops to chat with a group of residents along with Karen and Gary Carr who visit the facility as Boomer program participants but still live at home.

“We set the benchmark really high,” Thorson said. “It’s second to none and we’re leaders in the field and the programs continue to grow.”

The therapy services are not just for residents of Friendship Haven. They all also serve the greater community.

Past and current patients also get the benefit of continuing use of the Wellness Center.

“Once someone has used our therapy they can use our Wellness Center too,” she said. “It’s a benefit we offer.”

Friendship Haven also partners with the Fort Dodge Community School District through its The Link program, in which local businesses share their work place experience with students.

Northland Travel also has its offices at Friendship Haven.

“That’s a partnership that’s working really well,” Thorson said.

She added they are not going to rest — she and her staff will working on their REACH Higher! goals in 2019.

“It stands for Residents and Employees All Creating Home,” she said.

The program focuses on several ongoing objectives, including workforce recruitment and retention, resident satisfaction, bond covenants, maintaining and improving quality and investing time, talent and treasure toward those goals.

“We’re focusing on doing the right thing really well,” Thorson said. “It’s pretty simple but sometimes simple is best.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today