Keswick Celebrates National “Healthcare Worker” Week
From May 14th-18th, Keswick will celebrate National “Healthcare Worker” Week to recognize the hard work and dedication of our many talented employees.
The theme for this year’s event is Celebrating the Journey. “This theme reminds us that every life’s story needs to be told and every day we have the chance to begin writing a new chapter,” explains Clifton Scott, Keswick’s Director of Human Resources. “Through the quiet routines of daily caregiving, our residents, participants and employees are co-authors and leading characters in each other’s life story.”
Special activities and events are scheduled throughout the week to thank employees, including a scavenger hunt, an employee cook-out, a spirit-building “Colors Campaign” in which employees are encouraged to wear designated colors for the chance to win prizes, and a Service Recognition Awards Celebration and Dinner honoring employees who have reached a milestone service anniversary this year.
We hope you will join us in thanking Keswick employees for their service!
Keswick Volunteer Ellen Morris featured in Baltimore Messenger
Keswick Multi-Care volunteer Ellen Morris was featured in the April 26, 2012 issue of the Baltimore Messenger. Morris recently recieved recognition for her devotion to volunteering with Keswick during the Volunteer Appreciation Garden Party. Last fall Morris stepped in to fill the position of chapel pianist for Keswick. The Baltimore Messenger featured the above photo of her playing at a Sunday service this April.
Keswick Multi-Care Center Partners with Roland Park’s 5th Annual “Park to Park Ciclovia” May 5
Keswick Multi-Care Center is pleased to be one of the partners in Roland Park’s fifth annual “Park to Park Ciclovia,” to be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012 from noon to 4 pm. Ciclovia is a Spanish term that translated into English means the closing of a street to automobiles for use by others. The Park to Park Ciclovia will be presented by the Roland Park Civic League, Bmore Streets for People and Keswick Multi-Care Center.
“We are so pleased to participate in this fun, community-building event that will bring people together from various neighborhoods for an afternoon of outdoor activities,” said Carmel Roques, CEO of Keswick Multi-Care Center. “Keswick is fortunate to have a campus that is easily accessible to Roland Park, Guilford, Hampden, Remington and Wyman Park, so it only made sense that we partner with our friends for the Park to Park Ciclovia.”
At the Ciclovia, from 1 pm to 4 pm, there will be a Keswick table with a nurse who will be taking blood pressures and giving information on heart health and heart-healthy snacks.
During the Park to Park Ciclovia, vehicular traffic will be diverted from southbound Roland Avenue and West University Parkway as well as Tudor Arms Avenue, Beech Avenue and Wyman Park Drive, allowing participants to bicycle, skate or walk a three-mile course from Northern Parkway into Druid Hill Park.
In addition to the above-mentioned organizations, other collaborators in this first multi-neighborhood Park to Park Ciclovía are the Friends of Druid Hill Park, along with Remington, Hampden, Wyman Park and other neighborhood associations.
Additionally, the intersection of Roland Avenue and West University Parkway, will host festivities to benefit the Roland Water Tower. Live music, children’s games, a bike decorating workshop, a raffle and food will be offered by the Friends of the Roland Water Tower from noon to 3PM. Proceeds will go to help refurbish this century-old City landmark.
Along the course, local bike shops will be on hand to tune bikes and instruct children on bicycling safety. And, back by popular demand, Bike Maryland will organize kids’ bike safety rodeos. In the past, a thousand or more residents have participated in each of the four prior Roland Park Ciclovías.
Devoted Volunteer Honored at Garden Party
Ellen Morris was caught by surprise as she was awarded for her devotion as a volunteer at Keswick
Ellen Morris, a devoted volunteer at Keswick Multi-Care Center, was honored for her volunteerism this past Thursday at Keswick’s Volunteer Appreciation Garden Party. Ellen was one of several volunteers recognized for their service at the event.
“Willene Smith, Keswick’s director of Volunteer Services, called volunteers such as Morris an extension of the staff because they provide services beyond what employees can provide. She also said the volunteers benefit by getting a sense of purpose or of giving back to the community. They add the extra,’ Smith said.”
See the full article on Ellen and her reasons for volunteering on the North Baltimore Patch.
CEO Carmel Roques in Baltimore SmartCEO
Keswick CEO Carmel Roques appears in the April edition of Baltimore’s SmartCEO magazine. She and other local business leaders were asked to comment on their leadership styles. Carmel described herself as a “visionary” leader.
“In healthcare and senior living services during the last few decades, there has been a major shift in expectations and attitudes about what it means to age well. More than once I have been in a leadership position that required preparing an organization for change and supporting them through it. In my leadership role, I had the opportunity to lead the organization to envision the mission or business differently, define new strategies to embody that vision and inspire people at every level of the organization to work toward a common purpose.”
Introducing Carmel Roques, Keswick’s new CEO
It may still be early in the New Year, but 2012 has already been one of change and new beginnings at Keswick. For starters, we’ve welcomed a new chief executive officer (CEO) to lead our team. We are happy to introduce Carmel Roques, an accomplished industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in senior care, and we are excited to have her and her vision at Keswick’s helm.
Prior to joining Keswick, Carmel most recently served as the chief operating officer (COO) for Virginia United Methodist Homes (VUMH). From 2007 to 2011, she directed all aspects of the operation of seven VUMH senior living campuses throughout Virginia. During her tenure there, she oversaw the opening of the newest VUMH continuing care retirement community with a nationally-recognized health and wellness program.
This marks Carmel’s return to the Baltimore area, as she worked as the director of adult day care and director of home care services for Catholic Charities in Baltimore in the early 1990s. Following that, she served in various executive roles for Episcopal Ministries to the Aging.
Keswick’s new CEO has already gained attention from the local media, as Carmel was recently featured in both The Baltimore Business Journal and the Maryland Daily Record. In her interview with the BBJ, Carmel said that she first fell in love with the senior care industry while working in a Jewish Federation nursing home in Chicago, where she was completing her master’s program at the University of Chicago. Now, she is excited that her career has led her back to Baltimore.
“It is a unique opportunity to lead an organization that has all the strength, stability and wisdom that comes with 128 years of service to Baltimore’s frail elderly and the drive and sense of adventure to expand the mission and vision,” she said.
Carmel currently resides in Columbia, Md. with her husband, Steven Beall. In her time away from Keswick, she is a yoga teacher and practitioner and enjoys local classical theater, particularly Shakespeare.
Please help us welcome Carmel to Keswick!
Keswick CEO Carmel Roques featured in Maryland Daily Record
Carmel Roques, Keswick’s new CEO, was featured in the February 10 edition of the Maryland Daily Record’s “On the Move” column. Carmel discussed her new role at Keswick, as well as a few of her personal favorite books, foods and hobbies. Click here to see the full column.
New Keswick CEO Carmel Roques featured in Baltimore Business Journal
Keswick’s new CEO, Carmel Roques was featured in the February 10 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal. She was the subject of the weekly “2 1/2 Minutes” column, and she discussed her return to Baltimore, how she came to work in the senior care industry, and what she enjoys most on a typical day at Keswick. Click here to see the digital edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.
Baltimore Business Journal: Keswick Multi-Care Center CEO Bowerman to retire
After announcing her retirement at the end of 2011, Keswick CEO Libby Bowerman was featured in the December 12 edition of the Baltimore Business Journal.
In the article, Libby said that she is most proud of the facility’s growth from 222 to 242 skilled-care beds and 23 to 55 short-stay beds. She also worked to have the campus nimble enough to prepare for coming changes that could bring different types of patients or a need for more community-based care.
“I feel good that I have the campus at the point where my successor will be able to weigh those options and be able to implement them quickly rather than do renovations,” she said. Click here to read the entire article.
Baltimore Messenger: Keswick Multi-Care Center CEO to retire at end of year
Libby Bowerman, Keswick’s CEO of 13 years, will be retiring at the end of 2011. An article in the December 5 edition of the Baltimore Messenger honored Libby’s many contributions to Keswick throughout her tenure and the legacy she leaves behind. Click here to read the article.