Annual Report
of the

&
Hospital for Disabled Miners
for the
Fiscal Year
July 1, 2005 thru June 30, 2006
by
Gary Olson, Superintendent
1

The Arizona Pioneers’ Home and Hospital for Disabled Miners is provided for by law in the
Arizona Revised Statutes, Articles 41-921 through 41-925, 41-941 and 41-942.

The Home is an

institution for aged and infirm pioneers, owned and operated by the State of Arizona in Prescott,
Arizona. It is managed by a Superintendent who is appointed by, and under the supervision of, the
Governor of the State.
The Home is exempt from Arizona Department of Health Services Licensure. The total capacity
is one hundred fifty-five residents. Due to renovation of plumbing in the previous two years, the census
had been lowered to allow for vacant rooms to move residents while sections of the Home could be replumbed. With the completion of the plumbing, admissions were increased during this fiscal year to
bring the census up to capacity. Of the 129 individuals living in the Home on June 30, 2006, 86 were
living in personal care, 21 were living in intermediate care and 18 required skilled nursing care. Those
living on the first and third floors in personal care are largely able to care for themselves and attend the
Dining Room for their meals. Because of their advanced age they require varying degrees of nursing
attention, particularly in the area of administration of medications. All of the residents in the second
floor infirmaries require much more skilled care. The average age of the residents as of June 30, 2006,
was 85, with the youngest being 68 years old, and the oldest 102 years old. There were 36 men and 93
women. The average population for the year was 130.
There were 25 disabled miners living in the Home on June 30, 2006. Those residents not having
disabled miner status were required by ARS 41-923 to pay for their care based on their ability to pay. A
total of $913,396.56 was collected from these individuals and deposited into the General Fund. No
expenditures during fiscal year 2006 were made from the General Fund. All costs to operate the Home
were paid for from the Miners and State Charitable Funds. The average monthly cost of care per
resident was $3,681.00. Total funds expended during the year amounted to $5,822,782.75 as follows:
Salaries & Employee Related Expense
Professional and Outside Services
Travel
Food
Drugs, Medicines & Medical Supplies
Other Operating Expense
Capital Outlay

$ 4,779,586.75
77,892.00
21,515.00
173,156.00
276,496.00
494,137.00
.00

2

Twenty-three residents expired during fiscal year 2006; nine residents were voluntarily
discharged; and 30 individuals were admitted to the Home. Of the discharged individuals, one did not
meet the criteria to remain at the Home, six chose other living arrangements, one was relocated to a
facility that could better care for her dementia, and one passed away while at another facility for
rehabilitation before returning to the Pioneers’ Home.
Although there continues to be a waiting list for entry, the majority chose to decline offers of
residency when contacted. Due to this, the Home’s vacant rooms were open immediately for those
applying for admission without a wait. More than 90 applications for admission were mailed to
individuals calling the Home to inquire about residency, not including all that were handed to visitors
that came to the Home to get an application. A change to A.R.S. 41-923 took effect in August 2005,
changing the residency requirement from 30 years to 50 years, and raising the age requirement from 65
years to 70 years. Those who would not meet these requirements were specifically contacted and advised
that they would need to move in before the statute changed, in order to be grandfathered under the
former statute, or forego moving in the Home until they again qualified. Four individuals accepted the
invitation. Twenty-five percent of those on the waiting lists were removed in August because they no
longer met the requirements for admission.
The residents of the Home have a monthly meeting (Residents Council) with management of the
Home to address all concerns and quality of life issues. This creates accountability to the primary
customer --- the resident. Customer service remains a high priority. Residents and families repeatedly
expressed gratitude for the care provided in the Home.
Superintendent Gary Olson was appointed one month prior to the beginning of the 2006 fiscal year.
In his first year, the following represents some of the more significant items of progress that transpired
through the combined commitment, dedication and enthusiasm of everyone who works and lives at the
Arizona Pioneers’ Home.
•
•

Established consistency in fairness of treatment to employees and support to Department Heads
6/05
Managed John Miller exhumation issues 6/05—7/06

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Clean up of hallways (removal of unnecessary equipment, etc.)—improvement of hallway egress
7/05
Establishment of monthly Safety Meetings 7/05
Return to Cable TV pursuant to resident request 8/05
Elimination of non-essential equipment 8/05—ongoing
Enhanced Risk Management efforts—trained nursing staff in use of mechanical lifts and
transfer protocols—reduced incidents and costs associated with injuries 9/05
Revisited use of Medicare benefits in an outside Nursing Facility for residents requiring
rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay 9/05
Revision of Fire/Disaster Plan 10/05—staff trained
Implementation of HIPAA Policies and Procedures 10/05—staff trained—agreements with
Business Associates—employee confidentiality agreements
Complete Revision and completion of Business Continuity Plan 10/05
Elimination of non-essential jobs through attrition 10/05—ongoing
Enhanced efforts in review of vendor bills to avoid inaccurate bills—this was primarily effective
in Pharmacy services by identifying third party pay sources and offset of APH expense 11/05
Renegotiated lower contracted medication costs with Pharmacy 11/05
Implementation of Abuse Prevention Program 12/05—staff trained
Joined Arizona Health Care Association and established online long term care health care
training for all staff 12/05
Redesigned Employee Appreciation Committee to include individuals from all departments
12/05
Installation of 3 new, professional, exterior signs (including the purchase of National Registry
Historic Building Plaque) 1/06
Upgrade of 2 stairways to wood finish 1/06
Initiation of workplace violence policy 3/06
Elimination of 3 rogue vehicles to Property Surplus 3/06
Implementation of Medicare Part D coverage for residents (resulted in a $10,000 decrease in
medication expenses in the first month) 3/06
Storage area clean up 4/06
Enhanced training for employees via consultants in Medical Records (7/05), Finance (8/05),
Social Services (1/06), Psychologist (3/06), and Long Term Care MDS Assessment/Care Plan
(4/06)
Facilitation of new supervisory guidelines for consistency in how the agency addresses things as
a whole 4/06
Cleaned out records room to align with retention schedule 4/06
Established/implemented (new) Employee Orientation 4/06
Revised Admission Assessment policies/procedures 4/06
Established ISA with ADOA fleet management to make all of our vehicles legal per statute and
not have any more rogue vehicles 4/06
Implemented a new financial management system which includes monthly budget management
and financial tracking 5/06
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Initiated redesign and upgrade of Arizona Pioneers’ Home Website 5/06 (www.azph.gov)
Response/completion/correction to Risk Management in reference to 15 outstanding
Performance Evaluations Assessment deficiencies—implementation thereof 6/05-6/06
In process of upgrading of hallways throughout the building—new paint, pictures (residents
involved).
In process of altering contract timeframes for doctors, pharmacy, and food to coincide with the
fiscal year (residents involved in evaluation process).
In process of revising Pioneers’ Home and Cemetery Management policies.
In process of enhancing paging system in home per resident request.
In process of establishing in-house laundry services and eliminate outsourcing of same.
In process of establishing an in-house Certified Nursing Assistant training program to certify all
current individuals in said position, and train future hires, as necessary.
In process of developing an outreach power point presentation of the Arizona Pioneers’ Home
to take on the road to each county at least once a year.
In process of enhancing the Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Committee for
maintaining a high level of quality care systems and protocols, as well as identifying areas for
improvement to continually enhance the services provided.
Continually in process of identifying cost savings opportunities, while enhancing facility
appearance, care and services.

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Population of the Home as of June 30, 2006, was 129. Distribution by county was as follows:
County
Apache
Cochise
Coconino
Gila
Graham

#
2
2
0
1
2

County
Greenlee
La Paz
Maricopa
Mohave
Navajo

#
0
0
19
2
2

County
Pima
Pinal
Santa Cruz
Yavapai
Yuma

#
3
2
0
88
3

Note: Of those from Yavapai County, many resided in other parts of the state previously and retired to
Yavapai County prior to their admission to the Pioneers’ Home.
Population Movement – FY2006
COUNTY
Apache
Cochise
Coconino
Gila
Graham
Greenlee
La Paz
Maricopa
Mohave
Navajo
Pima
Pinal
Santa Cruz
Yavapai
Yuma
TOTALS

NEW
2
0
0
1
1
0
0
6
1
0
2
0
0
17
0
30

DECEASED
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
0
0
0
0
18
0
23

6

READMITTED
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

LEFT
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
9

Distribution of Population by Age

90 & Over
90
6
91
6
92
1
93
3
94
4
95
0
96
4
97
1
98
2
99
0
100
0
101
1
102
1

80-89
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89

70-79
4
6
11
9
10
6
7
7
8
11

70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79

TOTAL POPULATION:

129

Average Age:

85

Youngest Resident:

68

Oldest Resident:

102

7

60-69
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
2
4
3

60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

ARIZONA PIONEERS’ HOME
LIST OF RESIDENTS as of JUNE 30, 2006
AINAIRE, Laverne

EDSON, Myrtle

ALLEN, Opal

FARIS, Joseph

ALVIS, Clara

FERGUSON, Dave

ALVIS, Glenn

FISK, Dorothy

BETTS, Ruth

FLETCHER, Jewel

BLACK, Leonard

FLOWERS, James

BOSCH, Mary Frances

GARDNER, Ivy Ray

BRADSHAW, Ellen

GIERTZ, Maggie

BROWN, Juanita

GILES, Geraldine

BURTON, Mildred

HAGENMAIER, Virginia

BUSTAMANTE, Ernest

HALLETT, Lois

BUTRUM, Helen

HARDT, Grace

CHESLEY, Delbert

HARMON, Joy

CHURCHWELL, Courtney

HARSHMAN, Gerald

CLARK-GARDNER, Betty

HASTINGS, Claudia

CLARKSON, Mabel

HECKETHORN, Frances

CLOW, Lerene

HENDERSON, Esther

COOPER, Kenneth

HERNANDEZ, Enrique

COX, Audrey

HETTLER, Mary Alice

CREIGHTON, Grace

HUGGINS, Hazel

CUBITTO, Georgia

HUGGINS, Joseph

DENNY, Dixie

HUNT, Dora

DENSMORE, Helen

JARREL, Florise

DESPAIN, Wendell

JARREL, Leota

DODSON, Samuel

JIRON, Matilde

EARL, Andrew

JOHNSON, Aileen

ECKHART, Doris

JOHNSON, Lucile

ECKHOLDT, Julia

JONES, Gladys
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KISSEL, Keith

PRESTON, Ruth

KISSEL, Wilma

RANKIN, Mary Lou

KNABE, Mary

REDDEL, Phyllis

LACEY, Exie Maurine

RENDON, Delia

LAJOIE, Albani

RITTER, Curtis

LAJOIE, Lorraine

RITTER, Nora

LARSON, Vivian

ROBERTS, Ward

LAUX, Theresa

ROBITAILLE, Vesta

LEISCH, Flo

RODARTE, Domingo

LETHEM, Burnadean

ROMNEY, Pearl

LITTLE, Helen

ROSS, Pearl

MANZ, Helen

ROSS, Wilma “Sandi”

MARTIN, Maurice

SCHILLIGER, Virginia

MARTIN, Sadie

SCHNOSE, Hilda

MARTIN, Verna

SHRODER, Stewart

MARTINEZ, Greg

SKOV, Nanette

McCAULEY, Agnes Ione

SMITH, Ada

McCROSSEN, Mary

SMITH, Grace

McNULTY, Donald

SMITHART, James

MEDINA, Candelario

SMITHART, Willie

MERSEREAU, Vida

SOWELL, Larry

MILLS, Edna

STUBBLEFIELD, Audrey

MORRISTON, Lena

STUBBLEFIELD, Wilson “Bud”

MUNCY, Viola

SUEVER, Anna

NAFARRATE, Juan

SYRKEL, Virginia

PANCRAZIO, Anita

TENNEY, Alaire

PATRICK, Lea

TENNEY, Lyman

PATTON, Edna

TERRIN, Anna

PATTON, Fred

THACKER, Loyd

PAYNE, Betty

THACKER, Robbie

PETERS, Esther

THIMSEN, Vernon
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VAWSER, Virginia

WARREN, Edna

VINCI, Mario

WEEMS, Hazel

VINCI, Virla

WHITE, Sam

WALKER, Kenneth

WHITE, Stella

WALKER, Verna

WILLIAMS, Mary

WALTERS, Orma

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