The primary mission of the Evergreen Community of Johnson County is to provide the best possible long-term care services to Johnson County residents, including residents with limited assets. The secondary mission is to provide clinical, educational, and research settings and opportunities in geriatric medicine and gerontology for care providers who will serve the older population.
- Respect the rights of each resident by allowing him or her to make their own decisions.
- Provide a homelike environment that will enhance the quality of life for residents.
- Promote the growth and development of all.
- Protect the sanctity of each resident's home.
- Promote person first and resident centered concepts to bring value and honor to each resident.
- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
- Each person, whether resident or employee, deserves respect which is demonstrated through listening, empathy, honoring differences of opinions and responding with understanding.
- Each person, whether resident or employee, can and does make a difference.
- Conduct affairs with integrity and make good stewardship of all resources.
- Respond to spirit as well as mind and body.
- Celebrate life and recognize that aging is a natural process, beginning at birth and continuing through until death.
Evergreen Community of Johnson County (formerly called Johnson County Nursing Center)was first established around 1864 by Johnson County, Kansas for the purpose of providing care for seniors who could not afford, nor had family to provide for them in their later years.
In 2002 the Board of County Commissioners in Johnson County moved toward privatizing the operation of the nursing center, yet remain committed to ensuring that the mission continues on for the seniors of the county.
Thus January 1st, 2003 operations transferred to what is now called Evergreen Living Innovations (formerly ‘Friends’ of Johnson County Nursing Center, Inc.) a non-profit 501 (c ) (3) organization. The organization was first founded in 1997 as a charitable giving corporation to help support the efforts of the nursing center. It has expanded its scope to take over the operation. Johnson County has committed to still provide some services and financial contribution to help with the transition.
In 1988 Johnson County did an Elder-net Study which wrote the second mission for the nursing center which was to become a geriatric training center dedicated to research and education.
Through the years we have built relationships with KU Nursing School, Johnson County Community College, Baker University, Olathe School Board, Research Hospital, University of Missouri, Kansas City, along with Penn Valley Metropolitan Community College to help carry out the mission for research and education.
In 2003 classrooms were added and courses were developed for long-term care to enhance the education and preparation for those who will serve our seniors now, and in the future. Several of our courses are funded through grants from Kansas Department on Aging, Bank of America and other foundations and grants.
GERTI (Grow with Evergreen Resources for Transforming Innovations) is our education component. Through GERTI we help to enhance care through education for not only our own employees, but anyone in the healthcare field. Since October 2003 as of January 2009 over 1780 students from over 189 various healthcare organizations have gone through our education programs.
To learn more about GERTI, please visit www.gerti.org
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