Pilgrim Place - What's New

Building a Green Campus!

Development Project Moves Closer to September 2008 Groundbreaking
Asserting our commitment to the healthy future of our environment, the Campus Development Project, scheduled to break ground in September, will incorporate rigorous energy-effecient and stustainable standards allowing the project to be awarded LEED-certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Pilgrim Place may be the First free-standing retirement community in the United States to have not one, but three such buidlings!

Click here to view our two-Phase plan

Even as we enhance our residential campus life, Pilgrim Place is joining other long term care providers across the country to change people's attitudes about nursing homes. Moving away from the traditional model that forces residents to adapt to the daily routine of the staff, Pilgrim Place is moving toward a much more resident-centered model. We anticipate that a "greenhouse" or "Eden Alternative" option will transform the culture of the entire Health Services Center in the coming months and years. For more information

One of the first steps to be taken to change the culture of our Health Services Center will be to introduce steam table or buffet-style dining, since centralized tray service seems to be incompatible with enhanced dining in long term care. A steam table or buffet service brings the signs, sounds and smells of good food into the residents' dining room, allowing choice, change of mind and appetite stimulation with point-of-servcie dining. We are grateful to Morrison Senior Dining for their creative approach to resident dining satisfaction.

To achieve a more comprehensive approach to culture change at the Health Services Center, capital is being sought to hire a consultant who will guide our clinical and administrative staff through the initial process of re-thinking how we operate and make decisions about resident care during 2009.

Much has been written about this concept of enhancing the quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents by de-institutionalizing long-term care and tranforming the nursing home environment into one centered on the residents. You will find the following articles helpful and encouraging.

Culture Change

Almost Home

Almost 200 residents, community volunteers and staff swayed to the rhythms of a Jamaican Steel Drum Band, dined on Papaya Salad, Jerk Chicken/Skewered Shrimp and Pigeon Peas, and delighted in the songs of the "Pilgrim Pickers" led by resident Jim Manley, as Pilgrim Place celebrated Volunteers of the Year at the 2nd annual "Catch the Spirit of Pilgrim Place" dinner. Read more...

A Program of Educational Outreach
The Pilgrim Place Petterson Museum of Intercultural Art contains revolving exhibits of international fine art, folk art and material culture covering many centuries of human history. Now teachers and other groups can check out boxes of these beautiful treasures from various geographic regions of the world for the purpose of providing a hands-on educational experience for students and group members. Learn more...

Pilgrim Place Resourcing Services was launched several months ago to link the talents of Pilgrim Place residents with specific needs in the wider community. Under the leadership of resident Paul Minus, Board president John Mills and a steering committee, the group has indentified specific areas where Pilgrims' expertise and experience will be offered to institutions in the greater Southern California area. Learn more...

Larry Minnix, President/CEO of American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging, wrote about Pilgrim Place as an example of a community where residents focus on "big ideas. Read full article. Larry Minnix Message

Marilee Scaff was celebrated as a "Claremont Treasure" in an Inland Valley Daily Bulletin article written by Mayor Ellen Taylor. Claremont Treasure

Willard Hunter was honored for his 31 years of service to The Fourth of July Committee, declaring him "The Conscience of Claremont" by starting the Speakers Corner ... hereafter to be named the "Willard Hunter Speakers Corner."

Mary Hill was invited to attend the ground breaking ceremony for the permanent headquarters and Public Information Center of the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. Mary husband, the late George Hill, was one of the founders of the Peace Institute in the 1980's.

Dean Freudenberger was the recipient of the Claremont School of Theology's 2008 Responsible Social Engagement Award for his "lifelong commitment to ecological development, sustainability and justice."Click here for complete story that appeared in the local paper, The Claremont Courier:

Environmental leader recognized

Dean Gilliland received an award for 30 years on the faculty of Fuller Theological Seminary. Along with a monetary gift, his citation said: "Both academic achievement and experience on the mission field enabled Dr. Gilliland to teach in many curricular areas, including contextualizatin, mission and church in Africa, folk religions, mission theology, and Islam."

Janice Newborn was awarded an honor Doctor of Divinity degree by Christian Theological Seminary in recognition of her "pioneering efforts, vision, tenacity and skills for her groundbreaking work in women's leadership issues."

Ernest Newborn receoved a similar degree in recognition of his "faithful ministry providing visionary leadership to all your work, but especially in the area of fighting racism and poverty..."

John Cobb, professor emeritus at Claremont School of Theology (CST), was honored with a major conference entitled, "The Legacy and Lure of John B. Cobb, Jr." in celebration of his intellectual legacy and 50 years of work at CST. A gala dinner raised awareness of and funds for an endowed chair in Cobb's honor. Over 400 participants attended conference and dinner.

At its Annual Meeting, the Pilgrim Place Board of Directors elected six new members: Norm Werthwein served as senior accounting officer for Avon, later CFO of their adventure into home health care, while remaining in the health care field after a move to California, serving as CFO of Beech Street (a health care firm) until his retirement. Eleanor Brown, the James Irvine Professor of Economics at Pomona College, is an applied micro-economist, particularly focused on the role of private philanthropy, volunteer labor and non-profit organizations. With a 35-year-career in the banking industry that has focused on helping minority businesses find skills and resources to be successful, Andre Ellis is currently the branch manager of the California Bank & Trust in Claremont. Barbara Jefferson serves as Director of Advancement at the Claremont University Consortium, while also involved in the local community, currently chair-elect of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce. A 45-year resident of Claremont, Shirley Rude is trained as a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist with a real concern for health issues in general, but specifically those involved with aging and caregiving. An active member of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce, having served a term as president, John Howland is an attorney with the Claremont firm of Buxbaum and Chakmak in Claremont, focusing on business law, employment law, trusts and probate. Joining four other residents who also serve on the board is new member Tom Duggan, a retired Presbyterian Pastor.

McCabe Grant Enhances Quality of Care at the Health Center

Thanks to a $69,000 grant from the B.C. McCabe Foundation, Pilgrim Place will be installing a wireless nurse call system so that our staff can communicate silently, more efficiently and with less distraction to residents, staff and visitors. In addition, new flat-screen, 19-inch televisions with specialized wireless headsets will be purchased that will enhance the quality of life for residents...especially for those who are non-ambulatory and rely on television for their connection to events around the world, as well as for those who have varying degrees of hearing loss. Moreover, without the intrusive noice from existing TV sets, each resident will be able to use and enjoy his or her own television.

Claremont Named #5 Best Small City in USA
Money magazine has updated its list of the best 100 Best Small Cities in the United States, and Claremont ranked #5. The article extols the city's attributes which inlude our charming Village of shops, restaurants, an Art Movie Theater and a new upscale boutique hotels, its many trees and the colleges (the "the city of trees and PhD's"), its proximity to mountains, Pacific coast beaches and LA.