Kendal at Longwood has launched a major new initiative, the Kendal Center for Nursing Education and Leadership (KCNEL), made possible by two bequests from Kendal at Longwood residents. The residents left generous gifts to benefit Kendal at Longwood but did not restrict their use, allowing the board to decide how best to use the funds. The programs offered by KCNEL will be funded initially through proceeds from the two bequests.

“Red Plates and Rumba,” a symposium for health care professionals on “Care Practice and Innovations in Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease” held May 24 at Kendal at Longwood, was KCNEL’s inaugural event. It is expected to be the first in a series of annual symposiums named in honor of Kathryn S. Binkley Barrow, the former Kendal at Longwood resident whose bequest made KCNEL possible. Continuing Education Contact Hours will be awarded through Kendal Outreach, LLC.

KCNEL will be a virtual center that is located organizationally at Kendal at Longwood, but has activities occurring in a variety of settings. The Center will focus on strengthening and expanding educational and leadership development opportunities for nursing staff in the Kendal System of communities to support the development of nursing leaders in long-term care. KCNEL will offer its programs to the broader nursing community, as well, to advance the practice of gerontological nursing and to promote the sharing of information about innovative nursing practices. KCNEL will work to enhance the clinical knowledge and skills of all levels of nursing staff concerning cognitive impairments and the older adult. A number of other programs to be offered through KCNEL are being considered. Among them are:

• Certified nursing assistant training
• Prep courses for various nursing certifications
• Internships/mentoring/training for nursing leaders, including directors of nursing, supervisors, and managers
• Scholarships to assist staff to attend nursing programs
• Career counseling for nurses and others interested in nursing
• Outreach programs to local high schools, colleges, and schools of nursing
• Programs on cognitive impairments in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association
  

“After nearly a year of research, discussion, and analysis, the Board determined that a major portion of the bequests should be used to address critical issues in nursing care,” says Rich Lysle, Executive Director of Kendal at Longwood.

“The Kendal-Crosslands communities have always been known for high-quality health care, as well as innovations in care for older people. In making the decision to use these bequests to establish the Kendal Center for Nursing Education and Leadership, the Board has demonstrated Kendal at Longwood’s ongoing commitment to maintaining best practices in nursing care to improve the quality of life for older people.”

For more information about the Kendal Center for Nursing Education and Leadership, or to make a donation, call Celia Agustin, Health Services Administrator, at 610-388-5517, or Rich Lysle, Executive Director, Kendal at Longwood, at 610-388-5512.