CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County PEER Program now has 75 PEERs in four facilities with the graduation of an additional six PEERs at Mountain Laurel Health and Rehabilitation on June 16.
PEER stands for Pennsylvania Empowered Expert Residents Program. This is the third class of PEER graduates at that facility; the first class graduated in 2008 and the second in 2009.
PEERs were presented with certificates of completion by Staff Ombudsman, Joan Bracco, on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office.
They also received starfish pins with the story “Making a Difference One at a Time” and door signs to inform other residents that a PEER resides at the facility. Maintenance Supervisor, James Cutler, offered the invocation and benediction.
Mountain Laurel Administrator, Julie Fenton, welcomed the PEERs, family members and staff in attendance. Activities Professional, Lois Kephart, lauded 12 staff members who completed staff training. Jeanne Urban talked about the graduates’ accomplishments. Also in attendance was Activities Aide, Donna Gallager.
Entertainment was provided by James Cutler, who led residents in singing favorite hymns, including “In the Garden” by Charles A. Miles. PEER and guests enjoyed light refreshments, punch and ice cream cake.
Five, two-hour training sessions were conducted by Urban and Bracco.
For additional information on this program and others offered by the CCAAA, please visit its Web site at www.ccaaa.net or call 814-765-2696.
Programs and services of the agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., Mature Resources Foundation, and local and consumer contributions.
