Co-coordinator Dilts named state Caregiver of Year

by Logan Gruber

operations@thenewsleaders.com

A 45-year veteran of the Good Shepherd Community received the state Caregiver of the Year award earlier this month.

Sandy Dilts, a co-coordinator of life enrichment at Good Shepherd, was honored by LeadingAge Minnesota at its conference Feb. 10-12 in St. Paul.

“I was flustered,” Dilts said in a Newsleader interview. “It’s such an honor!”

State Sen. Tony Lourey and State Rep. Joe Schomacker presented the award to Dilts in front of nearly 4,500 professionals in all aspects of older adult services. The event also allowed attendees to learn about new and innovative programs, share best practices and network with their peers.

Dilts has worked all 45 of her years at the Good Shepherd Community. She began as an LPN, working overnights.

“I was interviewed by Mrs. Blanch Payne, the director of nursing,” Dilts said. “My first and only interview was while the nursing team was taking a coffee break.”

She said she graduated from nursing school on a Thursday, interviewed on the following Monday and started working the next day.

“Mrs. Payne had me kneel on the floor at the end of the interview to make sure my skirt touched the floor,” Dilts remembered. “Things have changed a lot!”

She says when she first started with Good Shepherd it was considered an old-folks home, but it is now so much more.

“People come here, go through rehab, heal and they can go home,” Dilts said.

She does note nursing homes are still the last place some people live, but says people can still live while they are there. Dilts organizes many activities with the other co-coordinator for life enrichment, Lori Hanson. They oversee many projects which improve the lives of residents including senior prom, happy hour and the gridiron-to-grandparent program which engages residents with members of the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School football team in projects.

“The residents wanted a happy hour, so now every Thursday at 2:45 p.m. we serve alcohol, hors d’oeuvres and play music,” Dilts said. “Why should they have to stop doing what they love now that they are in a nursing home?”

“Sandy breathes life into all the varied positions she has held and brings sincere passion to each and every project,” said Barb Rebischke, vice president of outreach services at Good Shepherd. “She thrives on new ideas, helps to create and develop better caring practices and shares her insights with everyone on our team.”

Food, provided by the dietary department and created by Doris Brisk, the production manager, could be barbequed wings one day, homemade pizza another or fantastic chili on National Chili Day. Five or six bands rotate through the happy hours, a different one every week, and many family members visit during the happy hours, including Dilts. Her two brothers, mother, nieces and more help tend bar and serve for the happy hour.

Her brother, John Peckskamp, a Sauk Rapids resident, was an orderly working under his sister at one point. He put himself through college that way and is now a counselor at the St. Cloud Correctional Facility.

Her sister, Gail (Peckskamp) Dockendorf, now deceased, was a nurse at Good Shepherd as well. Many other family members of Dilts have also worked at Good Shepherd throughout the years.

Dilts said she believes if everyone would introduce a young person to a “golden oldie,” they would treasure the wealth of knowledge they would find.

“Sandy’s experience and insights on compassion, trust and respect toward residents and direct-care team members are invaluable,” Rebischke said. “She works tirelessly to ensure residents’ needs are first and foremost.”