Angela Durrell - Special to the Sun

Over 18 community organizations, including the Kern Valley Hospital Foundation, Kern Valley Hospital Auxiliary ’ÄòPink Ladies,’ ECHO Academy, the Kern County Probation Department, and the Kern Valley Art Association joined with Kern Valley Health District on Sunday for an open house for the Skilled Nursing Facility.

The facility provides care to 72 residents, giving not only care, but social and community activity opportunities that help improve quality of life and stimulation. Sunday’s event showcased some of the improvements, staff, and volunteers that make the facility one of the most comprehensive in California.

Left to Right: Jeanette Rogers, Thad Kennedy, Judy Deems, and Jim Davis at the Kern Valley Hospital’s open house at the Skilled Nursing Facility on Sunday.

This was the first major event the Art Association has done in conjunction with the hospital; examples of members’ work lined the hallways, featuring diverse media such as paintings, gourdwork, sculpture, figurines, sketches, and intricate woodwork.

'The work in the Skilled Nursing Facility is just marvelous,' Art Association Director Jim Davis says. 'We thought it would be a nice way of supporting the hospital; just make it a nice, big party.'

The Association, comprised of 100 local artists, does several shows a year at Circle Park and also offers classes and demos. Davis is pleased that they have been able to help add some color and atmosphere to the Nursing Facility with new murals adorning the rooms in an ongoing project.

'It gives a little life and color to these halls, which is great for the people who live here,' he says. 'For some, that hallway is their entire lives.'

KVHD Marketing Director Jeanette Rogers agrees. 'We’re honored to have the Art Association partner in this endeavor, because it has brought beauty to our residents, for whom this place is home,' she says.

Volunteers included the ECHO Health Academy, who acted as docents and guides for Open House visitors, offering assistance, answering questions, and making introductions. Local high school students can join the academy, and are often directly hired by the hospital as certified CNAs after graduating.

'The level of community support has been wonderful,' Rogers says, emphasizing that such heartfelt and dedicated cooperation and partnership 'offers more resources for the hospital that improves quality of life and care for our patients.'