THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 15, 1997 TAG: 9702140094
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 81 lines
WHEN THE MALE residents of Marian Manor Retirement Center in Virginia Beach complained last year about there being nothing for the men to do, administrator Irvin Land sprang into action.
Land not only instituted a monthly men's group, but became a member of it. And instead of partaking in your typical retirement home activities like bingo, checkers and cards, Land has his men enjoying the outside community.
For starters, they've gone to Hooters. That was a popular outing, recalls resident Jerry Propster. Land also takes them to the pool hall for one-on-one cue time. And it's nothing for him to take male, and female, residents to a church fair on a Sunday afternoon.
It sure beats watching television alone in your room, residents say.
``We have a lot of fun,'' says Propster, 81. ``He's a hell of a fine fellow. When any of us are incapacitated and can't come out of our rooms, he visits and watches football with us. He's a great guy.''
Land's administrative peers agree. His hands-on approach led the Virginia Association of Activity Professionals to select him as 1997 Administrator of the Year.
The 300-member organization recognized Land for his innovative leadership style and support of ``therapeutic activities,'' said association president Karen Black. The annual award, started in 1994, honors an administrator of a nursing home, retirement facility or assisted living facility in the state.
Land has been the administrator of Marian Manor, a 155-bed assisted living and nursing center facility sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, since 1994. The center has been open eight years.
``This award is given to support those administrators who are very supportive of us,'' says Black, a recreation therapist at The Hermitage in Richmond. ``There was very powerful support for Irvin. He's very deserving of the award.''
Marian Manor activity director Desiree Mitchell nominated Land with an impressive package of letters from former employees, residents, residents' family members and herself. Mitchell says that Land is the answer to every activity director's dream.
``Not every administrator is going to do the hands-on and the close touch thing,'' Mitchell says. ``When I was putting the packet together (to nominate him), I really saw that I have something special here. He really has been incredible.''
Land, who at 34 is one of the youngest administrators in Hampton Roads, says he doesn't consider his approach unique. He was ``shocked and honored'' to be chosen for the award.
``I start each day with a simple goal - to make a positive difference in at least one person's life,'' says the gregarious Land, who constantly wears a wide smile on his face. ``Everyone has needs and we meet those, but more important is meeting their desires. I feel grateful that I can do that.''
And what about those outings to Hooters and the pool hall?
``Hey, they wanted to go,'' he answers, his face turning a slight shade of red. ``They really enjoyed it. Just because they're in a senior living environment doesn't mean they're not a vibrant part of our community.''
Land's interest in older adults began as a 13-year-old, when part of his paper route wove through a retirement community. He established bonds with those residents in the seven years that he delivered papers. He also helped take care of his ailing grandmother.
So it only seemed natural that Land would go into the health-care administration business after college, at age 25. He also has worked as administrator for a nursing facility in Charlottesville and with Sentara Life Care Corp. But 25 is a bit young to be working with people older than his grandparents, he concedes.
``That was one of my biggest concerns,'' says Land, who is married to Karen and has a 3-year-old daughter and a baby due in March. ``But if you respect people, they'll respect you regardless of age.
``I've never been frightened by the fact that we all are going to age.''
And outings to places like Hooters can only help that process become less painful. It was inevitable that Land would hear from some of the female residents afterward who wanted equal time. They wanted to go somewhere similar to Hooters that had male waiters, Land says.
``We found a place in Newport News but it had closed down,'' he says with a laugh. ``But we're still looking. This just shows that they still care and still enjoy living.'' ILLUSTRATION: D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
The Virginian-Pilot
Irvin Land, right, plays checkers with Thomas K. Johnson at Marian
Manor Retirement Center.