Siemon’s Lakeview Manor Residents Graduate the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s PEER Program

At the beginning of August, five residents at Siemon’s Lakeview Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Somerset, PA, were recognized as graduates of the Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents (PEER) program. Administered by the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, this program provides residents with the resources and knowledge to become advocates at their care centers.

The PEER program trains residents at nursing homes, personal care, and assisted living centers to become advocates for themselves and their fellow residents. The program works together with the administration and staff at the facilities to identify and help solve all of the residents’ concerns. Together with the residents, the program representative also offers suggestions to help improve residents’ quality of life.

Linda Abbotts, Carolyn Ament, Rosemary Frampton, Robert Friedline, and Jeannie Weible completed the program with excellence and are excited to build a deeper connection between all the residents and the center’s team. The training process lasted over a month with multiple 2-hour long sessions on various topics and fostered an open environment for productive conversation.

Somerset County ombudsman Brenda Nicholas and Siemons Lakeview Manor’s Executive Director Martha Mosley presented the certificates and a starfish pin during the graduation. The starfish is the PEER program’s symbol, signifying it only takes one person to make a difference in another person’s life.

The program helps foster the partnership between residents and facility staff  aiming to improve their quality of life and quality of care. “This program helps give residents a voice, and educates and empowers residents to advocate for themselves and fellow residents. PEERs can develop a strong relationship with facility staff and fellow residents,” Nicholas explained.

Marta Mosley, Executive Director, says the team at the care center is exceptionally proud of the five residents that graduated from the PEER program. We want to thank the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging for putting together this comprehensive program. Also, a special thank you to Brenda for her dedication and commitment to our residents this past month.