Ostrander Care & Rehab feels like home

There’s been a nursing facility in Ostrander for approximately 50 years, but the staff there can tell you that it’s not “business as usual.”  Janice Howe, administrator of Ostrander Care & Rehab explains, “We are a family-owned company, the owners are Grant and Andrea Thayer, out of Batavia, Ill.  They own five facilities in Wisconsin, and then this facility.  And Grant was actually the administrator here years ago.  We are a 25-bed skilled nursing facility, with a six bed assisted living attached.”

Howe stated that the facility offers a variety of services besides 24-hour skilled nursing, including post-surgical therapy, IVs and tube feeding, hospice service, and memory care.  She added, “We also have outpatient therapy services.  And we actually have our facility van so that we’re able to transport them and then take them home.”

Although Howe has been the administrator only since October 2017, she said the facility has a number of staff who have worked there for many years.  Tracy Adams (director of nursing since February 2018) added that she started five years ago as a floor nurse.  Adams also shared that several employees have begun as high school students and ended up making a career at the facility.  Approximately 30 employees work at the facility, but Howe and Adams encourage anyone interested to come in and apply for a job.  Howe also stated that, “We have a lot of local staff.  We have a mother, daughter-in-law, friends, cousins, aunts… everybody’s kind of related.”  She said the small town atmosphere naturally lends itself to quality care.

When asked what else makes the facility special, Howe replied, “I think one of our huge advantages is all of our rooms are private rooms, and they’re very large rooms.”  Adams agreed, and pointed out that because it’s a smaller facility, “We’re able to do more resident-centered care, more of their preferences.  We did obtain some grant money and we were able to remodel our dining room… and we also remodeled and made a bistro in our day room, and it’s utilized every day.”

Adams and Howe said the meals and activities are also strong features.  Adams said the facility is small enough that meals are, “Home cooking; nothing out of a box.”  She also highlighted a few of the activities and outings, led by Activity Director DeeDee Payne, including trips to an apple orchard, pumpkin patch, fishing at Lanesboro, bowling, bingo, and parties and events such as “Haunted Hallways” for Halloween.  The residents and tenants also enjoy strong involvement from the local auxiliary group, as well as a quilting group that comes in weekly.  Howe added, “It’s a nice small town.  We’ve got volunteers from the community that come in.  We have a coffee group a couple times a week.”

Howe mentioned that the staff is expecting the annual audit from the State of Minnesota anytime soon.  This is a requirement for all nursing facilities in Minnesota, and some staff may be stressed as they await the audit.  But she added that her philosophy is, “I always tell our staff, if you do the same things every week, the (State audit) will go off without a hitch.”

Looking toward the future, Howe mused, “I’d like to see the community increase, so the nursing home would increase.  There are still people who like the country (rather than city life), so I’d like to see this town prosper.”

Howe and Adams pointed out that the facility residents and tenants are very active in local events, such as participating in Ostrander’s annual Uff Da Days and other nearby parades.  Located at 305 Minnesota Street in Ostrander, the facility’s phone number is (507) 657-2231.  Howe summarized that the best thing about the facility is, “Everybody gets treated like family.”  She welcomes anyone interested to call or stop in and see for themselves.