Gifford’s Nursing Home
Wins Awards

Commissioner Joan Senecal of the Vt. Dept. of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) visited the Menig Extended Care Facility, part of Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, last week to deliver what she called a "very coveted" award and the check that accompanied it.

The DAIL offers up to five quality awards to nursing homes statewide each year, but so difficult are the awards to receive that this year only four of the state’s 39 nursing homes were eligible and only one went to a central Vermont nursing home—Menig. This is Menig’s fourth consecutive year receiving the recognition, and the state awarded Menig and its 30 residents $18,458.73.

"It’s not easy to achieve this award," Senecal said. "It took a lot of hard work, and the staff deserves a lot of credit. You can look around here and see the residents are well-cared for, and that’s the staff."

Menig Director of Nursing Brooks Chapin praised her staff for that hard work, adding, "They care from the bottom of their hearts," she said.

Hospital President Joseph Woodin agreed, saying, "I don’t think Brooks and the staff strive for this award; it’s just what happens here," he said.

The Quality Award is based on the results of resident satisfaction surveys, a lack of substantiated complaints for the entire year, limited deficiencies and low employee turnover.

Also awarded to Menig for the fourth consecutive year was the Gold Star employer award from DAIL and the Vermont Health Care Association, a nursing home organization. The Gold Star award recognized Menig’s efforts to recruit and retain employees.

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