Insurer supports Wisconsin long-term care facility with equipment grant to make patient moving and lifting safer for residents and caregivers

West Bend Mutual Insurance Company announced recently it has given its Safe Resident Assistance Endowment Grant to Heritage of Elmwood in Pierce County, Wis. In partnership with LeadingAgeTM Wisconsin, West Bend established the Endowment to provide state-of-the-art equipment to improve transferring or transfer assistance for residents and caregivers of long-term care facilities across Wisconsin, while easing the financial burden for facilities. Since the Endowment’s creation in 2014, West Bend has awarded more than $175,000 in grants to over 35 Wisconsin facilities.

“The grant provided by West Bend will allow us to invest in state-of-the-art equipment so our staff can ensure the best resident support possible,” said Ellen Thompson, administrator at Heritage of Elmwood. “We’ll have the resources to efficiently move residents in the safest, more dignified way possible, minimizing risk of injury to both residents and caregivers.”

“Patient and caregiver safety is of utmost importance to us,” said Jim Keal, vice president of West Bend’s monoline workers’ compensation division. “Our Safe Resident Assistance Endowment and our partnership with LeadingAgeTM Wisconsin provide us with the perfect opportunity to help ensure the safety and comfort of both caregivers and residents at quality facilities throughout Wisconsin.”

“LeadingAge Wisconsin applauds West Bend’s ongoing commitment to improving the quality care to our state’s nursing home and assisted living residents,” said John Sauer, LeadingAge Wisconsin’s president and CEO. “Through this company’s generosity and charitable giving, more direct caregivers will have access to state-of-the-art equipment designed to safely serve residents in need of assistance with transfers and related cares.”