Rebecca Gagnon will oversee Holbrook Health Center, the assisted living and skilled nursing care component of Piper Shores.
As Administrator, Gagnon will be responsible for overseeing Holbrook, the assisted living and skilled nursing care component of Piper Shores. Holbrookprovides long-term care, short-term rehabilitationand respite care services to both residents and nonresidents at Piper Shores. As Administrator, Gagnon will manage the day-to-day operations of Holbrook, as well as be a part of the Senior Leadership Team of Piper Shores.
Gagnon will ensure that Piper Shores uphold its reputation as one of Maine’s outstanding retirement communities, and that it continues to exceed all industry standards. This includes upholding the requirements of the recently acquired Five-Year Re-Accreditation by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF–CCAC), the nation’s only accrediting body for continuing care retirement communities. Gagnon joins Pipers Shores with several years of experience in the healthcare industry in Maine and with first-hand knowledge of CARF accreditation.
“Rebecca has done everything from crisis management to adoption services. She has served as a social services director and health care administrator,” said Piper Shores CEO Jim Adamowicz. “She brings terrific experience, insight and a positive attitude to her role. We are delighted to have her on the Piper Shores leadership team.”
A native of Minot, Maine, Gagnon is a licensed social worker who previously served as Administrator of Genesis HealthCare’s River Ridge Center in Kennebunk, Maine, where she just recently oversaw a deficiency-free state survey. She underwent Genesis’ Administrator-In-Training program and the nationally recognized Leadership Development Program. She comes to Piper Shores with a proven track record and a real-world understanding of healthcare administration and accreditation.
Gagnon graduated from The University of New England with a B.S. in Psychology. She lives in Auburn, Maine, with her husband and a collection of furry friends. In her free time, she likes to spend time outdoors running and exercising.
Read more about Rebecca in our exclusive Q&A.
What drew you to the field of health care?
A. I have a true passion for working with the aging population. They have such a wealth of knowledge and experiences, that I believe is beneficial for the next generation. I’m a licensed social worker who began in long-term care not long after graduation from college. I realized early on that this was where I wanted to start and end my career.
What do you love most about being a health care administrator?
While I continued to uphold my Social Work licensure, I also knew that I wanted to look at the broader spectrum of long-term care and quality improvements throughout an organization, which is very appealing. Being an administrator is an encompassing role that allows me to focus on a broader range of operational duties as well as building a successful relationship with staff that make an organization successful.
What do you see as your most important role at Piper Shores?
I am thrilled to build new relationships and cultivate a positive culture at Piper Shores. Getting to know the staff and residents is particularly important to me. Cultivating a successful relationship with community members is an utmost priority. As the ideas and strengths that each person can bring to the team is realized, it will grow and become more successful. In my short time here, I can already see that the residents really do have a true appreciation and interest in the staff.
It looks like you have been involved in CARF Accreditation. Why do you feel that accreditation is important?
Yes, at my previous position, my first CARF experience had taught me a tremendous appreciation for quality improvement. CARF is an international accreditation body and to earn the distinction of accreditation from CARF is a huge accomplishment. I think it’s important not only to be a part of accreditation, but to get that recognition from peers and the community.
You spent about 6 years at Genesis HealthCare? What were the most valuable lessons learned there?
Genesis was an incredible organization to work with. Senior leaders had faith in me as a young employee and promoted me to their Administrator-In-Training program and the nationally recognized Leadership Development Program (LDP). I was recognized as being one of their growing internal leaders and had been invited to sit on a number of regional committees and visit their corporate headquarters in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
What are your favorite pastimes?
I enjoy exercising and running. I ran my first half-marathon last year and I am thinking of running another this fall. I like to spend time with my family, being outdoors, and reading. Most weekends you can find my husband and me visiting my 91-year-old grandmother in Leeds, Maine.
Can you share a little about your home life?
I live in Auburn with my husband and we are thinking of building a new home next year, perhaps in the Brunswick area. We both enjoy spending time in the midcoast area and love the friends that we visit often there. We also have a wonderful collection of furry “children” at home, including an Old English Bulldog, named Raye who is the love of our lives and who is incredibly spoiled. We also have a couple of cats who fill our home with love.