Believing that older adults who have spent their lives working and caring for others, deserve to enjoy their later years to the greatest extent possible. This belief motivates the staff to work hard to provide a home-like environment and the same lifestyle opportunities that residents previously enjoyed.
To Foster This Quality of Life, We Offer:
- An on-site health care clinic that provides a variety of medical services
- Chaplaincy services and visits from local denominations on a regular basis
- Multiple access to personal security systems in each resident’s room so assistance and health care is only moments away
- Social activities
- Around-the-clock housekeeping and laundry services
- Four spacious patios and an open courtyard
- An attractive dining area, where we consider dietary needs and provide menu options daily
- A tastefully appointed lobby, two comfortable television rooms, a large activities room and a conference room, where residents can enjoy visits with family and friends or private time for personal pursuits
Testimonials
Cathy Matney
My name is Cathy Matney and I am a Licensed Practical Nurse and one of the House Supervisors on day shift at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. I began working at Good Shepherd as a nurse aide in 1986. After working as a nurse aide, I attended some classes and became a Certified Medication Aide. Seven years later, I decided to become an LPN and started classes to become a nurse.
I have worked at Good Shepherd for twenty one years, twenty one wonderful years. I enjoy working with the elderly and my employer treats staff like family regardless if you have been here twenty one years or if you are newly hired.
Not only do I work at Good Shepherd, I am a volunteer. I assist with whatever activities are going on in the facility, be it a fund raiser for the residents’ Christmas, or a trip for the residents to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We help our residents and their families to have fun and enjoy life.
At the end of my shift, I will not leave the building until I make sure that I have done everything I can do for each resident in my care, and I insure there is adequate staff on the floor to continue the care that has been provided to our residents. We work as a TEAM. I am blessed to be a part of this organization.
Sherri Spencer
My name is Sherri Spencer and I came to work at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center in June, 1981, as a dietary aide. I had just graduated from high school. My dad taught me that if I was going to have a good life, that I needed to work for that good life.
The reason I have stayed so long at Good Shepherd, is because I believe this is where the good Lord wanted me to be. I want to do what God wants me to do and I believe He puts individuals where He wants them to be. This place is my mission for Him. I love being here.
I have two wonderful families, one at home and one at work. Some of my best friends are here. They are people that I can count on when I need them.
I love my job, the residents, and my co-workers. I hope that I never have to leave this place. If I ever need nursing care, I hope there is a place like Good Shepherd for me.
Thelma Sue Dotson
My name is Thelma Sue Dotson. I am currently a resident at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. I had knee surgery and am here for some therapy from the rehabilitation department at Good Shepherd. One of the reasons I chose Good Shepherd for my rehab is because I live in the Phelps area. Another reason is because I used to work here as a nurse aide in 1985. The final reason is because I felt that I would receive good care here. When we were told by the doctor that I would need to go to a rehab center for additional therapy, there was no question where I wanted to go, needed to go, and would be going. We all agreed that Good Shepherd was our choice.
This morning we met, staff and residents, in the facility dining room, joined hands, and prayed. This is a daily activity at Good Shepherd. Requests were taken and we prayed for all the residents, the staff, our soldiers, our families, our neighbors, and etc. The staff not only cares for the body, they care for the soul as well. My son visits the facility on a regular basis, providing prayer to the residents and staff, and providing church services in the facility dining room for anyone who wishes to attend.
I will be returning home in the near future. I will continue to pray for this place and the residents and staff. If I should need nursing care in the future, there is no doubt Good Shepherd would be my facility of choice for obvious reasons.
Meady Hardin
My name is Meady Hardin and I am one of the House Supervisor on day shift at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. As a young mother, I made the decision to begin to work at the facility to help out with our finances and a growing family that needed my support and care.
Initially, I worked as a nurse aide. I enjoyed the work; however, I wanted to do more for the residents. With my interest in helping others, I decided to further my education. I received additional training and became a Certified Medication Aide which allowed me to administer medications to the residents and provide services that a nurse aide was not allowed to do. As time passed, I grew restless again, wanting to get deeper in the care needs of the residents. I quit my job, went back to school, and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, LPN.
After securing my LPN license, I went to work at a facility closer to my home. I was not happy. I realized that I was missing something, and that something was Good Shepherd, the residents, and the staff. I missed my second family and I realized that “family” cannot be replaced. I felt that I was a lost sheep and I needed to find my home. I called Good Shepherd and they were happy to hear from me. They had missed me too.
My work enables me to become acquainted with people of all ages. I feel that I make a difference in their lives. I enjoy making other people happy and helping them to adjust to their environment here. This facility provides the residents with a homelike environment and a second family.
When residents become rehabilitated and leave our home, we continue to call and check on them. Some of them call and check on us. Some of them visit with us on a daily basis. What a blessing.
As I continue the work that I have grown to love, I am now satisfied. It is my plan to greet people and to help them overcome problems and situations they face. Everyday at Good Shepherd brings new challenges, challenges that I look forward to meeting and overcoming.
Meet the Staff
Ms. Priscilla L. Hager
Executive Director
Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center (Phelps)
My name is Priscilla Hager and I am the Executive Director at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center. I am married to James Hager, a Supervisor for MHSA, Mine Safety and Health Administration. We have two children, Janelle White, a nurse at Pikeville Medical Center, and a son, Jamey Hager, a family practice physician in Pike and Floyd Counties. James and I have three wonderful grandchildren.
I came to work at Good Shepherd in October, 1979, when the doors first opened to receive residents. I have worked in several positions including receptionist, director of medical records, billing director, assistant administrator, and now, executive director. Being in any specific job has never limited my obligation to the residents to do whatever is needed or requested by them, whether it be drafting a letter for them, making a phone call, assisting them to the dining room for meals, preparing a special dish for them, to cleaning or painting their rooms.
Through the years, the facility has been owned by several entities. I have worked for most of them. In 1995, the facility was purchased by a group from Louisville, Kentucky. Immediately, changes started taking place, changes we had not seen in the past. The facility was completely remodeled, new furniture purchased, and additional parking made available to residents, staff, and visitors. Our facility became a religious, nonprofit organization whose main goal was to fulfill a mission of providing compassionate care and superior service to those entrusted in our care, a mission that we try to fulfill each day. We feel blessed to be a part of an organization that puts action into their words.
In addition to meeting the physical needs of each resident, we initiated an “Angel Program” to address other needs of each resident. This program was recognized by Health Care Excel – A Medicare Quality Improvement Organization in the Summer of 2004. This program involves each resident and each staff member. Residents are “adopted” by an employee, and that employee spends a portion of their shift with that resident insuring that every need of that resident has been addressed for the day. Angel checks done by dietary staff and housekeeping staff have identified the need for nursing and physician intervention. At other times, the need may be more simple, the placing of a phone call, reading scripture, securing an additional blanket, adjusting the room temperature, and etc. Staff are required to report their findings to the appropriate personnel and to document their findings in the angel check binder.
We have a wonderful community that supports our work and helps us to achieve whatever mission that we undertake. Our churches provide leadership, inspiration, and direction for our residents and our staff.
All the words that I could write could not describe the good that is accomplished at Good Shepherd, what the residents do for us and what we do for the residents. I am a part of a wonderful team at Good Shepherd. A team of experts who provide our residents with the care they would provide to a family member. What could be better than having a loving family member caring for your needs? I feel blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization.
Patricia Elaine Hatfield
Director of Nursing
Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center (Phelps)
My name is Patricia Elaine Hatfield and I am the Director of Nursing at Good Shepherd Community Nursing Center.
I began my employment at the facility when it was known as Phelps Community Nursing Center. I was a nurse aide. I enjoyed working at the facility so much that I decided that I wanted a more active role. I attended Mayo Vocational School and became a Licensed Practical Nurse, LPN. I returned to the facility in August, 1985.
In 1989, our Director of Nursing was injured in a car accident. I was called upon to fill that vacancy until she returned. As fate would have it, the temporary position became a full time position. As time passed, state regulations mandated the Director of Nursing position be a registered nurse. I returned to school once again to become a registered nurse. In December, 1995, I returned to the facility as the Director of Nursing and have been here ever since that time.
In January of this year, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I have received a wide range of different treatments, including surgery, for this illness. Many days, I was too sick to come to work; however, I knew staff and residents were depending on me, and I was depending on them. We helped each other through my sickness. They became the reason I got out of bed each day. Without my family at Good Shepherd, I don’t think I could have made it through this difficult time in my life.
Several of my family members have been residents at Good Shepherd, aunts, uncles, grandfather, and mother. My grandmother is currently a resident at Good Shepherd. If the need arises, I plan to be a resident at this facility also.
The staff at Good Shepherd really cares about our residents. They are elated when a resident progresses to independence, a better life inside our walls or the walls of their own homes if the progress enables them to return home. Our staff and our residents are one huge family, loving each other, caring for each other, and praying for each other.
