Services & Departments

            The Arizona Pioneers’ Home is a state funded, continuing care retirement home, providing care and services to individuals living independently, or who require assisted living, intermediate or skilled level nursing care, provided the resident or disabled miner meets statutory admission criteria.  The Arizona Pioneers’ Home opened its doors in 1911, pursuant to a 1909 territorial statute, and today can care for up to 150 residents.  The current population includes individuals from throughout the State of Arizona, and most pay a portion of their care based on their income.

            The Arizona Pioneers’ Home is comprised of several departments who coordinate efforts to effectively and efficiently provide individualized care and services to each resident.  The following describes a little about what each department does:

Activities:  The Activities department is designed to provide recreation therapy, comprehensive leisure services and meaningful activities that enable each resident to develop and maintain an enhanced quality of life.  The Activity Director, Lark Cyr (lark.cyr@azph.gov), along with two additional Activities staff members, provide comprehensive leisure services and activities that may include:  whiling away an afternoon with one of the many musical groups who visit each week; a trip to one of a variety of entertainment programs at the Yavapai College Performance Hall or Prescott Fine Arts Center; being a part of the Pioneers’ Home own rhythm band that performs locally and sometimes out of town; enjoying an impromptu concert by fellow residents who are musicians; a day out to the Prescott Rodeo (World’s oldest rodeo—since 1888); a day out to the Yavapai County Fair; a talent show put on by the staff and residents; planned excursions to here, there and who knows where; a fishing trip to one of the local lakes; gold panning; weekly bowling in our lobby, playing billiards on a table from the 1890’s (extracted from the Palace Bar of Prescott’s infamous Whiskey Row during the 1900 Whiskey Row Fire); or choosing from a variety of the other activities and events that include, but are not limited to:

                   OR, pursue your own individual interests—but come join us!!!

Business Office/Accounting:  This is often the first point of contact for newcomers to the Pioneers’ Home. Located off the Lobby and the main stairs leading to the second floor of the Home, this is the natural place to stop and ask for help. Key personnel you will find here are Ted Ihrman, Acting Superintendent (Ted.Ihrman@azph.gov), Dale Sams, Administrative Service Officer (dale.sams@azph.gov), and Jere Thomas, Accounting Manager (jere.thomas@azph.gov).  The receptionist and co-workers here…

• answer and direct incoming phone calls
• manage admissions
• contract for outside services
• write and revise policies and procedures
• facilitate Human Resource functions including hiring, orientation and benefits
• process payroll, accounts receivable and accounts payable
• manage the financial operations of the Home
• offer mail, notary and copy services
• provide historical information
• coordinate the sale of Pioneers’ Home Cemetery interment rights
• sell a variety of items to raise funds for employee recognition
• accept donations

The office is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays.

Food Service:  The Food Service department is responsible to provide three nutritionally balanced meals each day.  These meals, along with snacks in between, accommodate therapeutic diets and special needs, as necessary.  Our dining room provides for a pleasant atmosphere that is enhanced by the friendly service at each meal.  Additionally, room service is available for those who may not be feeling up coming to the dining room.  Ideas and suggestions are always welcome in order to provide a variety of foods, and enhance the dining experience.  The Food Service Manager is Craig Namanny (craig.namanny@azph.gov).

Housekeeping/Laundry:  The Housekeeping/Laundry department is responsible to maintain the cleanliness of the Home, and make sure that linens are clean and readily available for residents and staff.  The housekeeping crew cleans every resident’s room 2-3 times a week (daily in our infirmary areas), maintains the floors to a respectable sheen and generally makes the Home (established in 1911) look like a 5 star hotel.  The laundry personnel deliver fresh linens to each floor daily, which are changed out at least weekly and per resident request.  The Housekeeping/Laundry is Steve Fitzhugh (steve.fitzhugh@azph.gov).

Maintenance:  The Maintenance department is responsible for the well being of the building and surrounding grounds, along with the Arizona Pioneers’ Home Cemetery located on Iron Springs Road.  As for the building, the maintenance department is responsible for its condition from its roof to the dirt below and everything in between, inside and out. This includes electrical repairs and installation, plumbing repairs and installation, floor covering, remodeling, painting and fixing anything that breaks.  As for the grounds, the maintenance department cuts, trims, plants and cleans—the grass, bushes, flowers, landscaping and driveways at the Pioneers’ Home and its cemetery.  The Maintenance Supervisor is Steve Fitzhugh (steve.fitzhugh@azph.gov).

Medical Records:  The Medical Records department is responsible for monitoring and maintaining each resident’s medical record.  Foremost in this is the responsibility to maintain resident confidentiality, and compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).  This includes how Protected Health Information is used internally and shared externally.  Additionally, Medical Records performs audits to assure accuracy and consistency in documentation.  The Medical Records Librarian is Cynthia Goodson (cynthia.goodson@azph.gov)

Nursing:  The Nursing department is responsible for the health and welfare of all residents of the Pioneers’ Home.  Specifically, Nurses are responsible to administer medications, perform physical assessments and treatments as necessary, obtain specimens for lab work, address resident’s medical complaints to their doctor, transcribe doctor’s orders and document the progression of medical care provided to each resident.  Additionally, Nurses supervise Nursing Assistants, Rehabilitation Assistants and drivers who provide; hands on care (assistance with bathing, dressing, oral care, eating, toileting, ambulating, and other activities of daily living), physical rehabilitation (range of motion, exercise, ambulation training and transfer training), and transportation to and from medical and doctor appointments respectively.  The Director of Nursing is Ted Ihrman (ted.ihrman@azph.gov)

Resident Services:  The Resident Services department is responsible to provide medically-related social services to each resident to assist in maintaining psychosocial well-being; with a focus on attaining the highest practicable level of same.  In this, Resident Services will support each resident through individualized care plans addressing social and emotional needs, visiting residents regularly, help in maintaining contact with family and friends, assisting with community and medical resources (including insurance assistance, help with medical and other bills, medical equipment, medical supplies, errand shopping for residents on the infirmaries, etc.), safekeeping of valuables, maintenance of the patient trust fund, etc.  Resident Services coordinates advocacy for each individual resident, and assists in the training of both staff and residents in resident rights.  For the Resident Services Office, contact Jolynn Thomas (jolynn.thomas@azph.gov)

The Arizona Pioneers’ Home departments work together in near seamless coordination to provide care and services to each resident.

We enjoy what we do, TOGETHER, and welcome you to come LIVE with us.