West River Eagle

Medicine Wheel Village hosts open house



Medicine Wheel Village recently increased the capacity to care for elders and on Tuesday, June 18, they hosted an open house in celebration of their successful opening of their Nursing Facility.

Originally opened as an assisted living facility, staff at MWV worked for years to expand its care as a nursing home and in January, accepted its first four nursing facility residents.

According to a press release from MWV, there are 17 nursing facility residents and 19 assisted living residents.

“Over the past three years, there have been seven nursing home closures in South Dakota, greatly impacting residents and the communities where the homes are located. The residents who were displaced by these closures included Cheyenne River elders. The closures driven, by lack of ade-quate funding, have raised discussions around the state about access to long term care. Seeing this need in our community, the administration and board of Medicine Wheel Village worked with legislators to pass Senate Bill 57 in 2017, granting authority to Medicine Wheel Village to offer skilled nursing care,” the press release stated.

Over 150 people attended Tuesday’s open house, including CRST Tribal Council representatives, health administrators, family members of residents, and a drum group and dancers.

“We are proud of this first for the Cheyenne River Reservation. Our facility has the ability to house our elders who are in need of the higher levels of care provided at a skilled nursing care facility.

According to Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator Deb Arbogast, RN , the newly opened-center is a 30-bed facility, with daily and nightly staffing consisting of Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Medication Aides, and Certified Nursing Aides.

“During the day, Medicine Wheel Village employs restorative nurses and aides to work on maintaining functional skills, mobility, and self-cares. Residents have access to the same amenities as Assisted Living, including daily activities with dedicated staff, the chapel, a library, the sunroom and family rooms to socialize, the courtyard, community dining, fitness equipment, and a beauty shop among others,” said Arborgast.

For more information about the nursing facility, call 605-964-8155.

Onlookers enjoy powwow dancing at the open house on Tuesday, June 18. Photo by Alaina Beautiful Bald Eagle

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