Burr Oak Manor has been blessed, figuratively and literally.

Tuesday, April 17, 2001

Burr Oak Manor has been blessed, figuratively and literally.

For the past two years, the senior housing facility, which in the past has contended with stains on its reputation, is benefiting from new owners – the Benedictine Health System. With this new owner comes welcome changes, according to staffing director Liz Bankes.

On April 10, Father Hubert Boschert, a Catholic priest, blessed the manor for the first time in its history, Bankes said.

"As part of the process of joining the Benedictine Heath System, Burr Oak has begun to place emphasis on the spiritual care of the residents in its care," Bankes said. "The building blessing is seen as a part of this process."

During the blessing, Boschert moved through the building, blessing rooms and residents alike.

"Facility blessings help to focus on the spiritual life of the residents and the staff who help them," Boschert said. "We bless this building to help all to trust in one another and God as we face difficult situations."

Today, the manor will host a tea for Dr. Cynthia Dube and Dr. Julie Olson, the outgoing and incoming medical directors, respectively. The tea is for the staff and those who have worked with the facility over the years, including pharmacists, doctors and Mayor Bonnie Rietz.

Bankes said basic principles of the BHS give the manor a strong foundation: "The core values give us something for a base."

The core values the BHS stresses are hospitality, stewardship, respect and justice. Hospitality involves being friendly to residents, co-workers and visitors, as well as being open in communication and to change in the work environment. Stewardship involves using time wisely and pitching in to help others in the workplace.

Respect is given to co-workers and residents. The description of the core values states an employee’s focus should be on "valuing and respecting the dignity of every human being we meet during the day," be they resident, visitor or co-worker.

Justice focuses on praising and giving credit to others for their accomplishments and taking responsibility for your actions. Empowering yourself and others to initiate change also falls into this category.

"Feeding people’s spirits are just as important as anything else," Bankes said of the merit of the core values and the spiritual basis of the BHS.

The need for quality facilities is clear in Austin, which is comprised of a large senior citizen population. Burr Oak Manor once was someone’s home. With additions to the north and south, the manor is divided into four wings: first north, second north, first south and second south. Two north is designated as a unit for residents suffering from dementia.

The age of the buildings shows, but Bankes said improvements are steadily being made, including painting.

"We did very well the last time the state came in," Bankes said, of the results of inspections.

The inside of the building contains woodwork original to the mansion, complete with several fireplaces. After a staffwide cleaning of the attic, they found original stained glass windows. Bankes’ son-in-law, Steve Richardson, is encasing the windows together in a frame, free-standing and lit from behind. The windows will sit in a room the staff plans to convert into a small chapel.

The BHS is a Catholic organization, but Burr Oak Manor is a non-denominational facility. In other words, all are welcome. It is also a non-profit facility since the BHS took over. Administrator Bill Lindberg and Denise Mayer, director of nursing, have been at the facility for about a year and are working to improve the manor and its relations with the city and its people. Bankes also has been working at the manor for about a year.

"We’re trying to be more community-oriented," Bankes said.

One way they have reached out to the community it to involve them in their fund-raising. Churches in the Austin area have raised funds to purchase wooden crosses from Philomathian Religious Books and Gifts for each resident’s room. Money can be donated to Burr Oak to purchase a cross for someone or in someone’s memory for use in the home.

With the coming of BHS two years ago and last week’s blessing, Bankes is sure the manor is in the midst of a new era of growth and improvement.

"We’ve taken a lot of bad raps," she said, of the past. Now her sights and those of the staff are looking to a newly blessed building and a blessed future with the BHS.

Call Kevira Mertha at 434-2233 or e-mail her at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.