Episode 94. What Care Looks Like (Minnesota Masonic Home)

This week it’s some of the greats: Jonathan Ruiz, Anna McCleary, Stacey Brown, and Alex Lee from our Masonic Home. Compassionate, quality care is our mission, but what does it take to maintain such a highly rated care facility? 

Hear more about authentic relationships with residents, genuine passion for excellence, and expanded volunteer opportunities at your Masonic Home. 

More info: mnmasonichomes.org or call 952-948-7000

Transcript

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You saw the headline that said Our 20th annual gala was a true celebration of Masonic legacy, an evening of fellowship storytelling, and shared commitment to care. Deeply grateful to the Masons Eastern Star members and friends who joined us to honor the tradition of Minnesota Masonic home and the people who make it extraordinary. For 105 years, Minnesota Masonic Home has stood as a testament to the values of our fraternity. Compassion, service and community, but the legacy is not self-sustaining. To ensure the home continues to rise above the competition and serve future generations, we rely on the generosity of Masons who carry forward this vision today. Today we're happy to be joined. In studio by Stacy Brown, Jonathan Ruiz. Anna McCleary and Alex Lee, all employees of Masonic Home. Everybody, welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Alex, why don't we start off with you today. You are the administrator of the home. Tell us about, well, not only your role, but how you ended up here. Well, I am a University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Healthcare Administration grad. So for 20 years, Masonic Home has had interns from the university. It's a one year long preceptorship, and so I was lucky enough to end up at the Masonic home after looking around at the, the several nursing homes on the list and the Masonic home stood out for five stars. The CMS rating that we have. and just like the tenure of staff and, and everything else that was on the website and all the great things. So I ended up here as an intern for a year and then was lucky enough to get the assistant administrator job. Um, we hadn't had one in many, many years, and so ended up in that role and then I was in that for two years and then got promoted to an administrator. Did you ever think as being an intern that you would someday be. The man, the, the administrator. Not at all. And I, I remember sitting and, and the office is right next to the administrator at the time and thinking, I could never do that. It was so daunting. And I didn't even, I'd hear conversations and think, I can't, I can't do this. but there was such a support here that in time I knew without the tenure of staff, I couldn't have done it. Um, still couldn't do it. but that was absolutely a thought that I don't think I could ever do this. I know we could talk for hours on end about all of your deep dive job descriptions, but I'm curious to you, Alex, what is something that the outsider has no idea that you're overseeing in terms of multiple layers, details, some sort of standards that you have to uphold? what does that look like? I think it's interesting. People often say that nursing homes are the most regulated industry next to, and we could argue all day on this nuclear power. Uh, so that comes with the whole gamut of we have osha, we have CMS, we have what's CMSC Center for? Medicare and Medicaid Services. Okay. And we've got a plethora of people who can come in on a local, state and national level for inspections. Um, anytime. Can they drop anytime, really drop in? It could be two in the morning, it could be a Saturday night. It could be really anytime by anyone. So you have to be inspection ready pretty much all the time. Yeah. So how much stress, let's pivot to you. Stacy is involved in that to keeping everything at a certain level of service and of compliance. It's very difficult. You would not be able to do it without, the staff that we have. We have amazing people that do their jobs, that go above and beyond. And to care for our residents. So to be survey ready. A lot of that is really behind the scenes and knowing the regulations, knowing all of the things, um, that a lot of people don't wanna dive into. So a lot of it is really going into all of the regulations, making sure we meet those criteria, if not exceed them. A lot of it also is keeping watch of our quality measures to make sure we exceed those. So it's an ongoing process. Uh, they can change. Dramatically. We've been a five star facility for many, many years, with our staffing, we, we staff in such a way that we are well over, above the state and national averages for, for tenure, for everything really. Yeah, for turnover, for, we meet the metrics and exceed the metrics and. All areas. So just to put some context around that. Each position, whether it be a nursing assistant, a nurse, or a therapist in an OT or PT or anything like that, CMS breaks down. How much time do they spend down to the minute with each patient and in all categories, we well exceed state and national averages. Yes. Just because you're awesome or how do you do that? How do you exceed that so easily? It's been, you're making it sound easy, and I know it's not. Well, I think with, first of all, it comes from the top. We have support, as a group we can meet and at high levels and really quality of care. That is, that is really it. That is our mission. Our mission is our residents. Our mission is to provide the absolute best quality care we can. So that. When we remember that and we know why we are here, then it's, everything does fall into place. It's very hectic. I juggle a lot of different things where we all do and very random, random things. Right now, my passion has been working on, the electronic health record forms, so doing those things, that's not something I'm a nurse by trade, so that's not something that is necessarily my skillset. It's just something that. I've merged into, and so that is something I'm passionate about. Now, I'm passionate about all of these quality programs we have in place right now. We are, we're the first, uh, nursing facility in Minnesota to join the um, American Heart Associations Stroke Initiative. Trying to elevate stroke care in Minnesota and we are doing that. And part of that we are going to be in two years with them. And then we are going to try for actual certification as a stroke rehab facility. So that's just one part of some of the things that we are doing to enhance resident care and outcomes. And Stacy Brown, you've been a nurse for over 25 years. 20 years, is that correct? Here at Minnesota Masonic home? Yeah. A little over that for sure. I've, um, I've lived many places. I've done many different things, but I have stayed true to staying with this organization. I believed so strongly in service to others and, and I just, you can't get a better team of people. You, you just can't. I think often in the world we see companies that have core values or mission statements, but the reality of those things are just platitudes. Those are just things that the company says in their marketing material or on their website, and then the reality of the culture is either not even close to that or maybe sometimes the exact opposite of that. but here at the Masonic home, things like quality, attention to detail. You guys are really living it and passionate about it. This isn't, you're not doing this because you're being forced to, but it really feels like a sense of comradery and team. That is the real deal, for sure. Absolutely. And speaking of long-term tenure, Jonathan Ruiz, you've been at the home for what, almost 10 years now? Yeah. Yeah. About, uh, I think 11 this August. I just, you know, I started very young, so I'm 30 now. What did you start, when you were first were hired? What were, what role were you doing? Yeah. At first, I, I, I came over here. after working obviously in, in cleaning overnights, I started as a housekeeper. like I said, you know, I was very young, so then I just didn't know what exactly I wanted to do in life. And that kinda like just showed out in me like, well, I'll be here on a year or two and then, you know, I'll see what comes forth. And almost a decade later, here you are. And what your current role, you were recently promoted, I believe? Yes, yes. Uh, just, um, six months in, uh, environmental services supervisor. Uh, which involves, uh, the housekeeping, laundry linen, a little bit other stuff that, you know, that goes and goes. Does the to-do list for you and your team ever end, or does it feel like you're just, you accomplish a couple things and you add three more new items to the list? Yes, of course. Um, as my colleague said, this is a facility that is, is heavily, you know, um, regulated. Regulated. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And so because of that, actually we're treating, uh, human beings, you know? Yeah. And the elderly, uh, you don't know with like COVID and all that time, it was just drastically like changing everybody's life. You know, and how we all treat each other and how we actually share the time together. So in those difficulties, um, my, my job obviously is, is the cleaning, you know, uh, maintaining a healthy environment and making sure that, uh, we don't get infections because of, um, hand hygiene and, uh, you know, dirty messes, uh, in the, in the rooms. Mm-hmm. Clothing, all that. The way you described that, it really, honestly was a light bulb to me because you, like you said, you're dealing with people. Sometimes elderly people don't feel well, but you're, you're keeping a level of standards here that's a lot different than running a hotel. Like the, the linens, the details behind the accommodations. It's, it's more than just. People coming and going, but they're here for an extended amount of time. They don't feel well. They're undergoing some sort of treatment, whether it's transitional care, whatever their, their condition might be. It's complex. Yes, yes it is. And like I said, uh, it's the, the level that we have to show. And that's why I, I accepted the supervisor role is because, through my time, I started in housekeeping, then, uh, transferred a little bit into central supply. Got a little experience on that. Okay. Uh, came back to the, um, custodial side, which is more janitorial on the, on the evenings. Then recently, six months in, took the job for supervisor. And with all that, again, experience, um, I always said, and I told Alex, I was like, because me, the way I'm coming out, it's more of a hands-on approach and it'll take me time to adapt to a supervisor level. Sure. Um. But I'm willing to take the challenge, and I'll be honest, this whole week I was, uh, pretty down. Yeah. Because of certain situations that were, you know, thrown at me. But, um, I, I got a level up. There are a lot of people behind me and that support me and, um, want to see me, um, advance right and achieve something that I don't think I've, uh, recognized in myself yet. And where did you grow up? I grew up here in Minnesota. I came, uh, I came over here, well, they brought me here when I was, uh, five from Mexico. And so I, um, I definitely, sometimes people say I have the memory of an elephant, um, because I do, yeah. Uh, you know, in certain, certain situations. I, I can't remember. Certain things. And I remember when I was, uh, I came over here the first day of school and I was in second grade, I believe, and. For some reason, I, I only, I only knew how to say I want to go to the bathroom. And so, uh, that's the only thing I, I, I remember, you know, for a whole year, I want to go to the bathroom, I want to go, but then later on I just, you know, started speaking English and getting more comfortable. But that memory is just locked in your mind from back then. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I, every time I say I. When people ask me,'cause um, obviously with the, with the role here, I have a Spanish speaking personnel. Yes. Mm-hmm. And they themselves aren't fluent in English. A hundred percent. Um, so obviously I share with their experience and I tell'em, um, yeah, it's hard at first speaking another language. Once you, you, you, you kind of outgrow that shyness, then obviously that's gonna, you know, your, your own words are kind of gonna be put together by themselves. Yeah. I think your story really encapsulates the support that exists here amongst all of the teams too, you and yourself may be feeling. Am I up to this promotion? And here you are and you're doing the job great, and you have a support team behind you. Thank you. And, and, uh, Alex said the same thing. There's that moment when, man, I can't imagine being in that position. And now here you are and you're thriving. In that culture of collaboration and support is, is really something. Thank you. Anna McCleary, we did not forget about you. Welcome. Thank you. Now, you've been here for a couple years. Your role has changed, but first tell us, where'd you grow up? Where'd you go to school? A little more about you. Yeah. I grew up in Minneapolis and still live here today. I went to college at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and majored in healthcare administration, uh, same as Alex. Your first role when you were hired here was what? I came here as an administrative intern and shadowed under Alex for a full year, and as that internship came to a close in May, I had the opportunity to stay on starting in July in my current role of community marketing and volunteer manager here. And how is it so far? I know you're very busy. I see you moving with a purpose all the time, but how was, how was it going? It's been great to transition in this new role. It's a new role here at the Masonic Home that was created and just filling some gaps. Gaps, but it's been really great to, um, pull out all the pieces together. What led to the new role? Did you identify some areas you could enhance the. The experience for our residents. Yeah, through the internship. we were talking about areas that we could grow within the Masonic home, and I was brought forward this opportunity to stay on and kind of fill those gaps, which I was very grateful to stay on board at the Masonic home and help out and do that. What are your hours like? Are you here? All the time. Does it vary? Is it different sometimes? Yeah. Well, it definitely varies depending on the different, um, opportunities and things we have going on here. Sometimes we have volunteers here staying late and I'll stay out and help stay around and help at that. Or sometimes on the weekends if there's volunteer opportunities. But I'm t typically here during the week. I saw that we recently had that October Fest event for staff. It was really cool to see on the announcement that there was the daytime version of that, and then another one at two 30 in the morning. Was it two 30 for the Yes, it was for the over.'cause obviously our team is here. Someone's here. Mm-hmm. All night. 24 7 365. They must appreciate that, that the. The other shifts aren't getting, are aren't missing out on things that would normally just take place during the day at a regular company, basically. Yes, absolutely. We wanna make sure that we are thanking our staff at all shifts, no matter what time they're here.'cause we're grateful for all of them and the quality of care that they give. And that comes from all staff. Stacy, what has been your favorite part of working here? And that's a tough question. Maybe because you've been here for over what, two decades now? The residents they have beautiful stories. You may see somebody that maybe, um, has dementia or is in a wheelchair, and then you peel the pieces away and the layers away. Maybe this woman was a pilot in one of the wars, or this person escaped. There's just so many stories. One lady was a ballerina and you know, she, it was just beautiful to see the residents and I think that's. What I just constantly go back to and and remember, other than my coworkers too, I just, I love the people I've been seeing for 20 years. How common or maybe uncommon is it to have more of that personal rapport with a resident? Because I don't think that, does that exist everywhere I hope so. I think our staff is really good at. Especially the people that are here longer term. We do have our rehab where people are here shorter term, but even even that, they are developing relationships really fast and really quick. Our therapy is top-notch and our, our nursing assistants and nurses and housekeeping, you know, they go in and sometimes they'll see things that someone else doesn't see. Yeah. Mm-hmm. I think the family vibe. it's the standard here and I've been with loved ones at other facilities over the past few years. Mm-hmm. And it was not, maybe there was an effort to personalize it a little bit, but it felt very transactional compared to the vibe here at Masonic home. You're really not only treating and caring for people, but also taking the time. like you said, to hear the stories about them, their history, where they came from, their careers, their hobbies, what their passions might be. I think that's a obviously huge detail. Important one for sure. I think just to, to jump in on that, I didn't really hear during my time, and I've just started saying it more and more, but the home has always been a home for residents as it was designed, a place for mom and dad. but I think it really has become a home for staff. And our tenure really shows that our, our average employee tenure is nine years. When you look across any industry, that's unheard of, but when you look at long-term care, that is absolutely What's the average elsewhere, nationally? So across all industries it's around four years. So the fact that we've doubled it in a, an environment like long-term care with COVID and the scrutiny Yeah, regulations and just the tough work environment that comes with this setting, it's, it's amazing to, to step into and I think that's why we all feel lucky here to be a part of it and to be a part of the family that this has become. I also think a fun story with Stacy talking about her relationships with residents. And so one of the, the biggest portions of her job when I came on was COVID. She knew COVID like no other. The state would call her if we had questions. She just, as I said, brilliant, but there's this story or just kind of now it's, it's the norm where if we do a, a vaccination clinic and Stacey gets put on a resident floor, she's gonna take it easily tripled. The time of any other nurse. Yeah, because, oh, what can I get for you? Oh, can I, can I get you, you some water? Oh, she's chatting it up. But they love it and she leaves with 20 new best friends, so it's really special. Not very efficient, but special for me. Sometimes the relationships outweigh the efficiency. Sometimes I think that's far more, far more worth it. Alex, I know you have some hobbies of home improvement projects. You're a yard work guy. Three cats. Three cats. I know two wasn't enough and three's almost too many, right? Three's Almost too many. Were you a barista through college? I was. I worked at Starbucks and I absolutely loved it. Did you? I did. Even for the the picky order, can I get a, you know, sometimes I hear people ordering and think, are you reading that out of a book that's, it's sometimes a little complex. Yeah. And then you see the dollar that comes with that complex drink and you think, I can't imagine every day, every day. Jonathan, when you're not here, and I know that's probably not very often, what do you do for fun? I have three kids and uh, and my oldest, she's about to be 10. so for fun, I, I spent a lot of time with them I'm kinda, I wouldn't say an outdoors person or like camping and stuff, but I do like ex exercise. I, it doesn't show, but, but I, um, yeah, I like the exercise. I like to motivate, you know, I stay moving. Yeah, I think sometimes. I mean, kids don't follow me around that much now, but you know, if I could have like something on the side, it would probably be like a camp counselor. You know, I think that would be fun for me. But, yeah, just, just stay out outdoors biking stuff. So if you hear Alex say that three pets seem like a lot, that's a whole lot different for you having three kids that are following you from room to room, correct? Yeah, that's correct. I, I get home and, uh, which I live, uh, one hour from here. Really? Yeah. Where do you live? Arlington, Minnesota. Oh man. Yeah. So, um, yeah, I, I get there around like 6:20 PM and, uh, I, I love that they do come to the door as you see in TV shows and movies. Yeah. And, uh, you're living it. Yeah. Yeah. And they do come to the door and then they greet me and they're always searching my backpack, what did you bring us today? What did you bring us? I, uh, and Alex knows at one time I did bring a turtle. I found a turtle. You just found a turtle? Yeah. I found a turtle in a parking lot, and I was going so slow that I, I saw that it moved and I, uh, said, you know, I, I think I'll take this home. How surprised were they when they're expecting candy or, uh, who knows what And there's a turtle in the backpack. Yeah. How'd that go? Yeah. No, they were, they were very excited. Uh, I, in my home. We never had any pets. Okay. Uh, we tried it, uh, but a cat or a dog, but it was like a week's worth and then nobody would want to like really take care of it. Mm-hmm. So it's your problem now. Yeah. Yeah. So bringing the turtle, they were excited and that was excitement for my, for me too. And, uh, we had it for I think like two weeks and then one time I set up a yard tail and I said, well, I have the turtle drink a little water. And, uh, 15 minutes later it was gone. And we never saw it again. Oh, no way. Really? Yeah. So we're not doing so good on pets, so we're, well, you got your hands full enough with three kids, but it sounds like no matter what your day's been like, and even if you're tired and ready to maybe be done for the day, you've got three excited kids to see you at the door and it's game on when you get home no matter what. Yeah. Yeah, that's correct. Sorry to hear about the turtle though. they still want another one, but I don't think so. Anna, did we hear that you had some big news recently? Did you get engaged? Yes, I did. Congratulations. Thank you. Um, we have a date set for next October. Excellent. Yes. You went exciting. You went on a fun trip somewhere before your role began in July. Where'd you go? Yeah. After I finished my internship, I took a month long trip with my now fiance and we went all across the United States. Went to Colorado, Utah, Vegas, California. So saw lots of things. What did you see that was maybe the most surprising or unanticipated? That was really cool. Well, I was not anticipating getting engaged on the trip. We hiked a 14,000 foot mountain, but that was just a crazy experience. Wait, a four, 14,000, yeah. Thousand foot a fourteener in Colorado and that's where the puzzle happened. Got engaged at the top, but. That was an amazing part of the trip, but we saw five national parks too, so that was definitely a highlight as well. Come on. Did you have any idea that as you're going up, did you think maybe. No, but I do have a funny story. I was going up the mountain. I was like telling Sam my fiance and his best friend Carter, I think I'm gonna collect a rock from the top of the mountain just to like keep as a souvenir. And I did get a rock, but not the rock I was thinking I was gonna come down with. When you said that, did they look at each other, like Sam expected that he had spilled the beans? Maybe. Yeah. Afterwards they told me they, they both panicked a little when I said that, but, but I had no idea. Anna. What fictional place do you wish you could visit? I read a lot of books. I'm a big reader, so I feel like. In the books. There's lots of fictional places. I'd love to see, like there was this one, well, I don't know if maybe it's real somewhere. It's a huge bookstore with like multiple different coffee shops and treats inside, and that sounds like my dream. I would love to go somewhere like that. during your trip across the country, did you experience any great restaurants, any food that you hadn't had before? I tried, um, alote and I tried, um, Mexican Korean corn dogs, which was unique and very good. What do you think would be on the menu at the only restaurant in Hell? Oh, really spicy, maybe something kinda slimy. Those don't really go together, but something like that. Stacy, what have you managed to avoid your whole life? Besides death, that's a pretty obvious one, but Sure. Did you have any near experiences? I did actually. Well, we'll save that for another, another podcast. Uh, what have I managed to avoid? I can't even think of an answer to that one What first made you realize you were getting older? I needed reading glasses. Oh, that's a tough one. Mm-hmm. When I, now I, I can't see anything without it. Yeah. Yeah. It's, for many people, they turn 40 and it's like a light switch goes off that you just immediately need, I was 38, so Really? Oh, that's just cruel. Yeah. That was very cruel. Alex. What is something you no longer care about? I would say for me, I was really big into social media growing up, and now I'm very much removed from it. Does it feel better? Life. Is it less? Uh, yeah. I'm so out of the know, just across the board, whether it be news or current events, I'm without the office, uh, yes. Situation. I really have no clue that things happen. And so I think it's, there's some piece to that. Uh, But it's kind of now, while I know. Do you miss it though? Do you think maybe someday I should get back into Instagram? Yeah. Every now and then I'm like, I wonder, you know, you think, what do other people think of me after I fell off the face of the earth? Yeah. And just curious what people are up to. But there's a little mystery to that though, and I'm gonna give you advice you didn't ask for. Don't go back to Facebook. I never started. Good. So don't go back to any of it if you can avoid it. Social media is the laboratory for the things that make people unhappy. So it seems for the most part, if we could only get back to social media being stories about work that are like that you shared today, pets, kids, grandkids. I can tell you young people that back in the day, that's what it was like before it became this political cesspool of arguing with strangers. Mm-hmm. But that's not why we gathered here today. Jonathan, what ingredients always ruin a dish in the recipe? tough one too,'cause I'm not into the kitchen, but. Uh, too much salt. Really? Yeah. You know, that Too much salt. I, I like lime, you know, lemons, like at, at a restaurant I get like a Southwest, chicken salad. Mm-hmm. And then, you know, I have a little cilantro and a pepper, and then the lime that, that helps the rice. Too much salt really is, there's no comeback from that, you know? Especially on a soup. Oh yeah. Yeah. It just tastes like a bowl of, of salt shaker. Yeah. And if you weren't thirsty before, after that, you'll just like, you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and say, have I become a blowfish overnight? Like suddenly my rings don't fit. And it's past the water. Yes. Yes. This one could be for anyone. What commercial is so annoying that it made you vow to avoid the advertiser? Stacey, you gotta have one. I I actually don't watch commercials. I was gonna say, are you watching TV at all? Barely. If I do watch, I, I'm Netflix and watching a movie maybe, but I, I, I despise, uh, commercials and wasting my time. I think one commercial that's pretty much on YouTube. And, and I, myself, I just got into the CPAP thing and, uh, you know, I'm trying to like doze off and I, I got the instrumentals and then all of a sudden I like shop like a billionaire and it's just like, oh, the. I just don't want that. That interrupts your Yeah. Circadian rhythm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. So I'm like, I'm already dozing off and I gotta skip the ad. Or if it's like, I don't know if they're paying more to not skip the ad. Yeah. Because sometimes you can't, you can't skip it. You gotta pay for the upgrade. Yeah. Alright, last question. What fragrance do others like that you can't stand? Not a fragrance, but the like Bonfire smoke Yeah. Is not, not into it. And it's everywhere Right now as we are recording in October, I was driving home last night. Mm-hmm. And a few blocks from home and thought there's either something's burning down or there's an epic pep rally size bonfire happening someplace because you can, it sticks with you, right? Yeah. Yeah. Anyone else? I'm shocked that the room has gone silent because have you ever gotten onto the elevator? You get on the elevator and there's nobody in it, but you can smell the perfume or the cologne of somebody that was so brod up with so much fragrance that it just lingered in the air. Okay. Maybe brute. That was an oldie. That was, yeah. Now we're aging ourselves. Yeah. Yeah. That's true. I wanna bring something up. It was, it was just a cute story about, uh, about pets and, and tenure here. So we have an occupational therapist, uh, Emily, I've known her for, you know, 20 some years also. And she, um, had gotten two cats from a farm and she talked to me about the cats. So then I went and got two cats from the farm. Same farm. Mm-hmm. So we, we had the same brothers and sister cats for 16 years. I just lost my last one. Oh. Um, a couple weeks ago. Sorry to hear. but it was really just very, very sweet. You know, we would talk over all these years about our. Sibling. Mm-hmm. Sibling animals is just too cute. And I have five animals. Five. I got you, Pete. Do tell. Well, I have the three cats now. Of course, I'm down to the two, but, uh, two cats, two dogs. how chaotic. Love them. Do they, do they get along? Yeah. Every, everybody gets along. I love animals. I would have a farm if I could, as long as I had a farm hand. Have the farm, but maybe not do. Mm-hmm. All the work yourself. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Do our residents and guests realize how far our history goes back here at Masonic Home that we were officially opened in July of 1920? I don't think so. I think that's probably a mix of yes and no to that. The, the residents really love the, stories. Sometimes we'll have, uh, one of the activity gals, uh, talk about the history and I think, I think that's really fun for them. They love having different visitors and Jumping into that. Uh, I think a lot of people, like the residents, they're starting to know, uh, Dan Patch. Yeah. Because every, everybody here say sometimes, you know, uh, the Dan Patch room, you know, the event center down there. And so they say, oh, what is Dan Patch? You know, what does that mean? And so talking about animals, that's the horse. I said, you know, and, I was just hearing the other. The podcast about, you know, how it all started here, you know? Yeah. Because you know of, um, that house that someone gave up, right? Mm-hmm. Marian Savage. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And, um, and then Dan Patch, and then his, um, his owner, you know, passed away, uh, a day later. Mm-hmm. And so. I think a lot of Masons are even unaware that it was as far back as the year 1860 first spoken at our Grand Lodge annual communication. seeking to build something, a home to care for members of the Masonic Family, Mason's Order of Eastern Star. And it took many years for that to come to fruition that the, the fundraising was massive. It's hard to imagine fundraising in a day of letter writing very little access to transportation. It was a lot of. taking what a horse and that time to visit someone to the, the communication, the level of relationships were, were just vast. But yes, the, the Marian Savage, we talked about this in a recent episode. Marian Savage, the owner of Dan Patch, Dan Patch the horse, was literally the biggest athlete rockstar in America at that time in the early 20th century. And that all happened. It all started on the land that we're sitting on right now. I saw it written and have shared this before. The most heartfelt address on the occasion of the opening of Masonic Home was given by Gideon Ives, and he was a very prominent Freemason. And these were his last remarks that any Masonic ceremony when he went on to say. The building of this home affords a great solace to the members of our fraternity who are thus assured that in any case of misfortune, incident to old age or otherwise, they will find here a haven of rest provided for them where they will be securely protected from the storms of life he lived to see his dreams come true. He unfortunately passed away a couple years later. And now a Masonic home is open to the public. Originally it was for members of the organization. It's Come, one, come All Now, and I really salute all four of you and your entire teams. I wish we had the ability to chat with a dozen of you at the same time. The dedication, the passion for excellence, the commitment is, is truly unparalleled and is also demonstrated. By the fact that Masonic home in Minnesota has been named the number one care facility in our state multiple times, and there's over what, 600 facilities in our state alone to to be top 50 would be something to really be proud of, to be number one. Mm-hmm. It's really hard to fathom. I think it is important to go back to um, and realizing that yes, it's, we're number one. And to stay that way, to stay such a high quality facility, it really does take effort. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of heart, and I've. I know that we all share that vision, that mission to care. And, and like Annika tell you, our recent sweatshirt win was this is what care looks like. That's, yes, that's what people voted for. And that's because our staff, we all believe that we, we really, really believe that. And we just wanna keep, keep that going. And keeps striving and keeps striving. You can always get better. You can always do more. Alex, where should listeners go to learn more about the services and opportunities here at Masonic Home, whether it's for employments or for a loved one for care. Yeah, I would say you can visit our website or our social media. We have a great Facebook page that you can just see some of the activities that we put on here and the smiling faces of residents. Uh, some people use their Facebook a little bit more branding and, and kind of salesy, and I think we're really focused on capturing, it's almost like a scrapbook of everything that we've, we've done throughout the years. If you scroll back, you just see smiling faces and corn on mac cob and, and all sorts of things that are really fun. So you can visit us there. Otherwise, on our website. Our charities marketing officer has done a great job really highlighting what we do, who we are, and how you can, you can learn more. And if you're interested in volunteering, Anna would be a great person to reach out to. We've just continued to expand our volunteers program since Anna's joined our, our team, um, in this role, and it's, it's really exciting. There's opportunities for all, whether it be, and, and I can speak to this, but dogs, if you have a dog oh, who does well with. With people and, and new faces, uh, that's an opportunity. Or we, you name it, call Bingo or mm-hmm. Scor or just hang out with someone and chat about if you're a Mason and, and can share and talk to a brother about your experiences or what's going on. There's so much opportunity. We do have a growing list of Masons and members of the Masonic family that want to volunteer and we're working. Anna, you and I are working actively with them on that process, but. Open to the public, like Alex said, with pets or calling bingo or companionships to hang out for a little bit. There's pretty wide range of options to volunteer. We have a wide variety like Alex had mentioned. Also, shopping trips with our assisted living, helping out in the library, finding books for residents. We have someone doing tech time helping with technology, so a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for everyone. Will you give the website one more time? Yeah. It's mn masonic homes.org. Alex Lee, Stacey Brown, Anna McCleary, and Jonathan Ruiz. Thank you for being with us today on Minnesota Masonic Histories and Mysteries. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.