CRYSTAL FALLS – There are 676 county-owned nursing homes scattered across the country. One of those facilities is turning heads as they continue to gain national attention for their outstanding patient-centered skilled care.

The Iron County Medical Care Facility has recently been recognized by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners as a “facility that gets it.”

Jumping out as one of the industry leaders in caring for people with dementia, administrator Chester Pintarelli was asked to speak at the National Convention on Memory Care in Charlotte, N.C.. As the featured speaker for the ‘Driving Innovation’ segment of the National Association of Counties Annual Conference, Pintarelli addressed a full house as he spoke on what the facility is doing that has made the memory care program such a success.

Pintarelli shared the facilities commitment to only staff the Memory Care Unit with employees who are Certified Dementia Care Practitioners. The facility has taken careful considerations as well in choosing a calming and aesthetically pleasing environment.

From color schemes and carefully chosen artwork and dcor to walk areas with no beginning or end to reduce the desire to elope, the facility has considered details large and small, Pintarelli said