Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Kanan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Karen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My entire life has revolved around healthcare. I attended the University of California, Irvine, where I majored in Biological Science. During my college years, I was hired on with ScribeAmerica at our pilot site in Newport Beach (Hoag Hospital), which is a company that provides scribes to physicians. From there, I discovered my passion for the business side of medicine, so I went on to obtain my MBA, rather than continue pursuing medical school.
After graduating with my MBA, I expressed my desire to work with the elderly population, which is something I committed to doing when my Grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s and had to be placed in a facility. My family moved him several times because we could not find the right place that offered proper care and dignity. It was then that I knew I wanted to change the industry. I was fortunate to have gotten a position as an Administrator in Training and then went on to become an Administrator for various skilled nursing facilities in San Diego.
After eight years, I was connected to Hank Kurtz at Olivenhain Guest Home. We worked together on another project so when he needed Administrative help, I agreed to come on board. I can’t say enough about how special this place is. Everything I have been looking for, career-wise, is here. The residents are like family and most importantly, I feel as though I am truly able to give all of my strengths and efforts into something I have full control of. Leaving the corporate world has been nothing short of the best decision of my life. I am connected again to the one thing that brought me into this world: Alzheimer’s. I believe I am honoring my Grandfather by taking care of others, the way my family had wished he was taken care of.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Definitely not a smooth road! I faced several challenges that mainly revolved around:
1. Learning how to manage people. I made a lot of mistakes but discovered what leadership in the healthcare field really means.
2. Being a young woman, running a business (at the age of 27), was very difficult. Employees constantly doubted my abilities and knowledge. Sadly, I found that many WOMEN were not keen to have a young woman as their leader. In the long term care industry, men have always lead the way so to have a woman come in and “run the show” was not easily welcomed.
3. Discovering what it is I really enjoyed doing was difficult. The industry has changed SO much, especially for aging seniors and what it was when I started in 2010, is nothing like what it is now. I learned that my passion lies in dementia care/Alzheimers and I truly do much better on my own. Being a puppet in a corporate world does not lead to effective change for the better. No matter what, you end up doing what others want, the way they want it.
Please tell us about Olivenhain Guest Home.
Olivenhain Guest Home: A privately owned memory care/Alzheimer’s home that specializes in full care for those on any point of the spectrum. Our caregivers, med techs, nurses and all other team members are fully committed to providing the best QUALITY of life for our loved residents. The detail we put into helping both the residents and their families is not like anything I have seen.
We have daily activities, which include a live musician every single day! From flower arrangements to hand and foot massages, we simply love on every resident. Our families are engrained in our culture and together, we are one big family. It is an honor to take care of such beautiful people. This job is not easy, by any means, which is why there is such a need for compassion. Our caregivers have that because believe me, it’s much easier to work at Chick fil a or Nordstrom, but what we do, brings joy and happiness to each one of us.
Our home was built in 1966 as a six-bedroom home. Our current owners, Hank and Suzanne Kurtz, purchased it 16 years ago and have since remodeled and added on an additional 16 bedrooms. Our home now stands at over 15,000 square feet with a massive patio, but walking through it, you’d never know. We pride ourselves on providing a very home-like environment, but at the same time, very spacious so that residents don’t feel as though they are “trapped.”
Our home is licensed for hospice care, which means that for those that transition to another phase of the disease process and eventually need the assistance of hospice care, they are able to stay with us here at OGH. Normally, RCFE facilities would require a resident to move, because they cannot accept anyone on hospice. We offer Respite care, which provides families time to take trips, relax and reset, or simply focus on their life needs. With respite care, residents can move into OGH for two weeks at a time and receive the full care they would be getting at home.
Our activities are unlike other similar homes. The amount of arts and crafts, music, mental stimulation and sensory stimulation, is priceless. Our residents never have to feel or think they are alone or “bored”. We take advantage of the California sunshine and outdoor space to enjoy music performances and meal services. At OGH, we believe in any possibly natural approaches to handling the manifestations of the disease. One big difference is our advocacy for the use of CBD oil (with or without THC), for residents experiencing moments of agitation or sundowning behaviors. It has been tremendous to see the difference, with minimal drug influence.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We don’t have any big changes planned for the future because healthcare is always changing. Needs change, as does demand/market outlooks. We thankfully can adjust to any shifts and change our offerings, as needed. However, we do look forward to expanding our services to other locations.
Contact Info:
- Address: 350 Cole Ranch Road
Encinitas, CA 92024 - Website: www.olivenhainguesthome.com
- Phone: 7607535082
- Email: oghmemorycare@gmail.com
- Instagram: @oghmemorycare
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/olivenhain.guesthome
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/olivenhain-guest-home-encinitas
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