News

April 11, 2024 | Riverview Retirement Community

Katrina Brecht has been awarded the WHCA Red Carpet Quality Excellence in Service Award 2024!!!

Katrina, our own personal indoor “Kat”, is a physical therapist who has worked for Riverview Lutheran Retirement Community of Spokane for the last 5 years.  She has worked in long term care/SNF and rehabilitation for the past 22 years. Kat’s dedication, compassion, and tireless efforts have significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of life for residents and fostering a positive work environment for staff within the assisted living community.

Kat’s commitment to excellence in service is unparalleled. She consistently goes above and beyond her responsibilities to ensure that residents receive the highest standard of care and support. Her genuine empathy and warmth create a welcoming atmosphere where residents and their families feel valued, respected, and cherished. Through her compassionate approach, Katrina has forged deep connections with residents, providing not only physical assistance but also emotional support and companionship.

Her contributions extend beyond her interactions with residents. She is a wonderful mother of 2, wife, volunteer for Hospice, and active in the Spokane Community. She actively collaborates with her colleagues to implement innovative programs and initiatives aimed at improving the overall quality of life within the assisted living community. Whether it’s organizing engaging activities, facilitating educational workshops, working directly with colleges to promote education for our profession in long term care, or advocating for resident rights, Katrina’s leadership and initiative have been instrumental in fostering a vibrant and fulfilling environments for all.

Moreover, Katrina’s dedication to creating a better work environment for the assisted living community’s staff is exemplary. During Covid and at times of clinical staffing shortages, she has worked on the floor to assist her clinical team to ensure the residents get the care they deserve, and her fellow caregivers are supported. She is known for her unwavering support, mentorship, and encouragement of her colleagues, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork. Her positive attitude and willingness to lend a helping hand have earned her the respect and admiration of her peers, making her an invaluable asset to the team.

In summary, Katrina “Kat” Brecht embodies the qualities of excellence, compassion, and dedication that define a true healthcare professional. Her contributions have had a profound impact on the lives of residents and staff alike, and sincerely deserving for the WHCA Red Carpet Quality Excellence in Service Award for 2024.

April 1, 2024 | Riverview Retirement Community

We are excited to announce that we have a new edition to our Finance Department! Pamela Lersbak is our new Director of Finance. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, and we are excited to have her on board. Pamela will be responsible for overseeing all financial operations and strategic planning within our organization. She is eager to collaborate with each of you to ensure the continued success of our financial department. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Pamela to our team.

March 21, 2024 | Riverview Retirement Community

I am pleased to announce the promotion of Mike Schleigh to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Riverview. Mike has been an integral part of our team. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and dedication to Riverview’s success.

In Mike’s previous role as Director of Plant Operations, Mike consistently showed a strong commitment to excellence and has played a key role in driving Riverview’s growth and success. With Mike’s proven track record of delivering results and leading teams effectively, I am confident that Mike will excel in his new role.

Please join me in congratulating Mike on his well-deserved promotion. I have no doubt that he will continue to make significant and high-quality contributions to Riverview’s continued success.

February 16, 2024 | Riverview Retirement Community

On June 11, 1956, the property where Riverview Retirement resides today was sold to Emmanuel Lutheran Church and later donated and accepted as a site for a retirement home. Months later, on January 9, 1957, the site became Riverview Retirement, formerly known as Riverview Lutheran Home of Spokane, WA.

Still today, Riverview Retirement Community is a non-profit corporation consisting of participating congregations of Lutheran churches of the Inland Northwest. The Terrace was originally built in 1958 and opened on October 15, 1959, being the first home in the United States built under the FHA homes for the Aged Program!

Resident Spotlight Featuring Lanny Burill

February 14, 2024 | Avista Utilities

Quoted from Lanny Burill and Avista Utilities: 

Even though Lanny Burrill retired decades ago, you’ll find him putting in a full day’s work inside the woodshop at Riverview Retirement Community. Here, Lanny takes pieces of scrap wood and turns them into pocket-size hearts and heartfelt moments for anyone he meets.

“I hope people feel that they are special and that they are loved,” said Lanny Burrill.

Over the past two decades, Lanny has handmade thousands of tiny hearts. But, as he’ll tell you, it’s a passion that started by accident.

“I was in my basement and came across a pretty piece of wood, so I made a heart for my wife. She loved it, and so I made more,” said Lanny.

Lanny draws each heart, cuts it out, and sands it using three different grits of sandpaper, so it’s silky smooth. It takes about 20 minutes to make just one heart. Lanny has always loved woodworking. As a kid growing up on a farm in Oregon, he’d make popcorn bowls and truck racks to take their livestock to the fair. Now, he’s using his talents to make a difference in the lives of strangers.

“I work hard to make sure everyone has a heart. Anyone I come into contact with, a waitress, a store clerk, and little kids. I make sure their mom is okay with it, and I ask if they want a little heart,” said Lanny.

Lanny doesn’t leave the house without a pocket full of hearts. He handed a woman in line at Costco a special heart marked with a knot.

“I gave it to her, and she had tears in her eyes, and she told me “There’s a hole in my heart from when my son died,’” said Lanny.

About a decade ago, Lanny started donating his wood hearts to several local schools. When a student has a tough time, counselors will break out the heart collection and ask them to choose one to keep.

“Each counselor at the schools has stories to tell. One time a little boy came into a school counselor’s office, unhappy, and they let him pick a heart. The grain of the wood looked like a man with arm’s stretched out, and the boy said, ‘it’s got my angel on it,’” said Lanny.

It’s moments like this that keep Lanny in the woodshop, sanding, cutting, and sanding a little more so each heart is just right. So, everyone has a pocket-size reminder of how much they are loved.

“It’s worth doing; it makes me feel like I need to keep going. There’s an awful lot of people with broken hearts. It’s not about me; it’s all about the heart,” said Lanny.

Congratulations Danna!

January 30, 2024 | Riverview Retirement Community News

Congratulations to Danna Oliver on the well-deserved promotion to the position of Assistant Director of Clinical Wellness!

Danna has been an integral part of our Riverview family since March 2023, and her dedication, wealth of experience, and exceptional skills make her an ideal fit for this role. She consistently demonstrates unwavering commitment and a passion for providing excellent patient care at Riverview.

We look forward to witnessing her continued impact on our nursing services and the positive influence she will undoubtedly have on the entire Riverview community. 

Riverview Therapy interviews with KSPS PBS!

January 17, 2024 | Riverview Physical Therapy & KSPS PBS

Behind the scenes! Kat getting ready for an interview with KSPS PBS about Riverview Therapy.

Watch Kat’s video here! 

Congratulations Scott!

November 27, 2023 | Light A Lamp & Riverview Retirement

Employee shoutout! In recognition of Kindness Day 2023, Light A Lamp awarded Scott with a Kindness basket! Congratulations Scott! 👏 🎉

Congratulations Chef Tony – Big Winner at Cooking for a Cause!

October 20, 2023 | Internal Riverview Retirement Community News

This year, Riverview, was a Rose Sponsor for the Cooking for a Cause Event, put on by the Senior Action Network of Eastern Washington. The theme was Phantom of the Opera, and the gala was held at the Davenport Grand Hotel Ballroom. It was a wonderful night, with everyone dressed up for the occasion.  Chef put together a bites menu that consisted of stuffed mushrooms, chicken skewers and pumpkin spice bundt cakes.  The team also decorated with a mask made in our woodshop, candles, rose petals and an amazing arch that brought the entire Phantom theme together.  Chef and team won for Best Presentation, which is best overall food, and best overall decorations to the theme.  They put in hours of work, and it was exciting to see the results as well as win the trophy.  The best news for our residents is that the food Chef Tony cooked there, he also cooks every day in our retirement community.  Our residents at Riverview Retirement Community always complement the Chef, and now the proof of his expertise is sitting in our trophy cabinet!  Proceeds from this event were donated to Greater Spokane Meals on Wheels Organization.  We are proud to be a part of a great network of retirement communities and support great senior outreach programs like Meals on Wheels.

2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Sponsor

October 3, 2023 | https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2023/WA-WashingtonState?fr_id=16843&pg=entry

As a memory care provider, Riverview Retirement is relentless in its fight to end Alzheimer’s.  We care for families, friends and people diagnosed with dementia, or with Alzheimer’s.  As a result, it only makes sense to be a sponsor and participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s at alz.org.  We put the “fun” in fundraising during the month of September.  We had a Veranda Open House, inviting the community to come view our memory care facility.  We had activities to win prizes for donations and asked for donations as well.   We ended up raising just short of $1,500 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s cause.  Our Riverview walkers brought 10 staff members together to tackle the 2.5-mile course, and we had a booth at the walk to share our information with the community.  We met many people and are looking forward to what we can raise for next year’s event!  We hope you join us and our memory care team to end Alzheimer’s.   Interested in learning more about our Veranda, a state of the Art Memory Care Facility?  If so, call marketing at 509-482-8174, email us at marketing@riverviewretirement.org or fill in our contact form! 

Please welcome Perry Rosenbaum!

August 15, 2023 | Riverview Retirement Community News

We are excited to say Perry Rosenbaum has joined our business office as our new AR Billing Specialist with seven years of experience in AR resolution and medical billing. He will be preparing and sending invoices each month for Terrace, Village and the Veranda. His goal is to ensure each resident’s file is accurate and up to date for billing accuracy. We are excited to have him join our team and look forward to all the great things we will accomplish together! If you have questions on your bills, please give him a call at 509-482-8151, email him at prosenbaum@riverviewretirement.org, or visit him in his office at the administrative building entrance from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Outside of Riverview, Perry enjoys spending time with his wife and their cat and dogs, staying in touch with friends and family, trying new restaurants, and relaxing in his backyard with a good book. If you see him around the facility, don’t hesitate to introduce yourself, and welcome Perry to Riverview!

Mike Schleigh’s New Table

July 14, 2023 | Riverview

“The story of this slab of wood started five years ago when Riverview acquired the last old home on our campus. The home was located next to our community garden on Ross Court and had a very large chestnut tree in the front yard. The home was removed, and the tree was cut down. I asked the tree company to preserve a slab so I could make a table. After drying the piece in my garage for four years I started the project at the workshop. Tommy John was instrumental in making this project successful. The table took a year for me to finish and turned out so well it is now a centerpiece in our home. Many thanks to Tommy and the other residents in the workshop. Their input (mostly unsolicited) was appreciated! My wife Heather thanks you all for helping to create what will be an heirloom piece for generations to come!” ~ Mike Schleigh, Director of Plant Operations

Questions about our workshop? Call us today at 509-483-7667 to learn all about it!

Senior Action Network of Eastern Washington

June 23, 2023 | Senior Action Network of Eastern Washington

SANEWA, the Senior Action Network for Eastern Washington is proud to announce an updated senior resource guide.  As a member, Riverview Retirement Community is listed as well as in-home care companies, law and finance services and many other resources.   We hope that you find this useful as you navigate senior living from independent living, to assisted living and other types of care to keep you safe, protected, and intellectually challenged. 

Senior Resource Guide