Retreat Healthcare is certified Gold

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho’s Retreat Healthcare celebrated receiving The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval Thursday, Sept. 26.

“This place is the best place I have worked, and I have worked here for 12 years. It is such a different program,” Human Resource Administrator Marie “Vicky” Garcia said. “There is so much love, there is so much kindness; it’s just an amazing place to work.”

Retreat Healthcare is a dementia-focused campus that uses holistic practices in their delivery of care to those living with cognitive impairments.

Featured speakers at the celebration included Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, New Mexico Deputy Secretary for Aging Antoinette Vigil, New Mexico Alzheimer’s Association Development Director Lorey Esquibel, and co-owner Dr. Lena Ernst.

“I am out here today to honor and recognize the tremendous effort that Retreat Healthcare has gone through to earn this certification,” Esquibel said.

The Gold Seal of Approval is awarded to facilities that demonstrate continuous compliance with its performance standards and care initiatives.

Retreat Healthcare is the first in New Mexico to achieve this accreditation for assisted living.

“There is an accreditation through an organization, a national organization called The Joint Commission. They certify that health care communities, and health care organizations, are reaching their best,” Ernst said. “We are the first in New Mexico to reach the accreditation level for assisted living for seniors, and we’re the first ones in New Mexico to receive what’s called a Memory Care Certification.”

Retreat Healthcare additionally was first to receive a Memory Care Certification (in collaboration with the National Alzheimer’s Association).

The Memory Care Certification signifies that a facility met additional elements of program performance specifically for people living with memory disorders.

Available to all was an assortment of food, cookies and drinks. Staff members, residents and guests also enjoyed music from a live band.

According to Retreat Healthcare, Alzheimer’s Disease affects nearly 7 million Americans, and New Mexico’s prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease has grown this year by nearly 12%; 46,000 New Mexicans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease while other forms of dementia affect even more New Mexicans and their care partners, and most of these individuals live at home.