Movers & Shakers — Ascension Health Senior Care Names New CEO

Jesse Jantzen Named President, CEO of Ascension Health Senior Care

Ascension Health Senior Care — part of Ascension Health, the health care delivery subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ascension — has named Jesse Jantzen as its new president and CEO, effective March 27.

Jantzen replaces Mark Frey, who has served as CEO of Ascension Health Senior Care since its launch last year, when Ascension united the majority of its senior-focused programs under a new national organization, creating the second-largest nonprofit long-term care provider in the country. 

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Ascension Health Senior Care oversees a total of 5,568 senior care/senior living beds and three PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs totaling 725 enrollees. 

Frey continues in his roles as Illinois market executive for Ascension Health and president and CEO of Ascension’s Alexian Brothers Health System.

Since 2008 Jantzen has been president and CEO of Elder Care Alliance based in Alameda, Calif., where he has been responsible for overall operations, vision, strategy and strategic plan implementation. 

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He began his work in senior care as a skilled nursing home administrator, and has held leadership positions in the senior living field for more than two decades.

His career has spanned operations of skilled nursing facilities and continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), development of CCRCs, and responsibility for a provider system. 

“As the baby boom generation ages, the need for high-quality, holistic care for seniors continues to expand,” said Sandra Johnson, chair of the Ascension Health Senior Care Board. “We’re so glad Jesse will be bringing his passion and expertise to the organization.”

Virginia Baptist Homes Selects New CEO, Corporate Director 

Nonprofit Virginia Baptist Homes, which operates four CCRCs in the state, has named Jonathan R. Cook to succeed Randall Robinson as president and CEO. Additionally, the organization has hired Wendy K. Satchell to fill its newly created role of corporate director of health services. 

Cook previously worked for Life Care Services, LLC where, in his tenure, he has served as both executive director and in a regional position as director of operations management. 

He has more than 19 years of experience in the senior living/elder care field, including experience with multi-site CCRCs. 

Cook began his work with Virginia Baptist Homes on Dec. 3. 

Satchell previously served in several operational roles including senior vice president for Virginia Health Services. She also worked as a private consultant. 

As corporate director of health services, she will play a key role in clinical operations oversight and decision-making, quality assurance, internal clinical audit and outcomes review, regulatory and corporate compliance, complaint and conflict resolution, contract management in the health services arena, the promulgation of best practices across the Virginia Baptist Homes communities and the development of health services management strength. 

The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens Names 3 New Leaders

ABHOW’s The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens has named Julie Whiteside as health care administrator, Christie Yingling-Swanton as director of nursing and Diana Sherwood as lifestyle director.

Whiteside and Yingling-Swanton will be responsible for ensuring residents receive quality care at The Village skilled nursing and rehabilitation residences, which is part of the full continuum of care at the Fresno, California-based senior living community.

Whiteside brings more than 20 years of experience to her role as health care administrator, and is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of community staff, while ensuring the needs of residents are met in skilled nursing.

Her professional experience includes serving as an administrator and human resources manager at a number of skilled nursing communities throughout California. She holds a nursing home administrators license from the California Department of Public Health.

Yingling-Swanton has nine years of nursing experience, and recently worked as an assistant RN director of nursing at a skilled nursing community in Visalia, Calif. 

As part of her new responsibilities, Sherwood will be responsible for planning and managing the more than 75 activities and programs offered at the community, where she’s worked for more than a year. She’ll also lead the Masterpiece Living programming within the community — a program that focuses on successful and healthy aging, and is customized to benefit each resident.

Prior to her promotion, Sherwood served as lifestyle assistant at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens. She also worked as an event coordinator at the Pines Resort at Bass Lake, in Bass Lake, Calif., before joining The Terraces team.

Florida Community Fills 3 Key Positions

Village on the Green, a Life Care community, has welcomed three new team members to the senior living community. 

Karen Precord is the new director of marketing. She’s responsible for helping active seniors in Central Florida learn about the benefits of choosing a Life Care community.

Precord has more than 17 years of marketing experience in the field of senior living. She most recently served as the director of One Senior Place, a resource center for senior living products and services in Orlando. Prior to that, she worked as the regional director of operations for Senior Partner In-Home Care.

Julie Lidfeldt is the new admissions coordinator of the on-site Health Center. In her position, she oversees the admission process assisting residents and their families with their move to the Health Center.

Lidfeldt has six years of social work experience. She has served in roles as a crisis coordinator, as well as a social service coordinator.

Sue Taleb is the senior living community’s new external business coordinator. She’ll be responsible for developing relationships with area hospitals and health care providers to showcase the services, amenities and quality care that the Health Center offers to area seniors.

Prior to working at Village on the Green, Taleb worked for three years as an admissions and marketing director at a skilled nursing provider, where she hosted all community events and helped developed relationships with area physicians.

Senior Housing Valuation Firm Announces 4 Promotions 

HealthTrust, LLC, a provider of real estate valuation and advisory services to the health care and senior housing industries, has promoted four individuals. 

Ilya Gaev has been promoted to director. Gaev joined the firm in 2013, bringing more than 10 years of appraisal experience to the position. He currently manages the day-to-day activities of the firm’s Boston office and specializes in seniors housing and health care valuation.

Shane Lovelady has also been promoted to director. Lovelady rejoined HealthTrust in 2012, having worked with the firm previously for more than five years. He currently divides his time between the firm’s Birmingham and Los Angeles offices and specializes in the appraisal of medical office and health care facilities.

Kim Walther has been promoted to director as well. Walther has been with HealthTrust since 2007, working from the position of associate appraiser up to director. She specializes in agency valuation and is located in the firm’s Sarasota office.

Jason Skalko has been promoted to senior associate. Skalko joined the firm in 2010 after completing his master’s at the University of Florida. Jason got his start in the firm’s Sarasota office and has since relocated to Boston where he focuses on various seniors housing and health care appraisal assignments.

Georgia Community Welcomes New Executive Director

Jennifer McLendon has been named executive director of Legacy Village at Park Regency, a senior living community that offers assisted living-type services and Alzheimer’s care services in Moultrie, Ga.

Prior to her appointment, McLendon served as the director of business development for a senior living community in Thomasville, Ga. Before that, she was recruiting and training manager for several years at a life insurance agency in Warner Robins, Ga.

McLendon’s appointment is part of an overall effort by the parent company, Legacy Senior Services, to enhance services and surroundings at Legacy Village at Park Regency.

Earlier this month, Legacy Senior Services announced it is conducting a significant renovation of the Moultrie facility. This includes the addition of The Harbor, a nationally recognized memory care concept, which aids in the life enrichment and delivery of care to people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other memory loss disorders. In addition, all common areas throughout Legacy Village at Park Regency are receiving a facelift.

Written by Emily Study

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