Jump From Front: Stone Hearth

Grant funding recently allowed for the addition of a Tactile Art Gallery in the memory care unit at Stone Hearth Estates in Gothenburg. A variety of textures the residents can touch, sounds they can hear, and colors and shapes they can see provide an interactive experience for their senses. (Leader photos by Ellen Mortensen)
Grant funding recently allowed for the addition of a Tactile Art Gallery in the memory care unit at Stone Hearth Estates in Gothenburg. A variety of textures the residents can touch, sounds they can hear, and colors and shapes they can see provide an interactive experience for their senses. (Leader photos by Ellen Mortensen)

Johnson also took a moment to commend Nuxoll for her continued dedication to providing leadership and training opportunities for staff members, setting the high standard Stone Hearth Estates is known for. Nuxoll then asked each of the three gold star recipients to share something they learned through the PAC program.

“I’ve been here 15 years, and one of the things I’m taking away from this is our approach, how you approach someone,” said Rodriguez. “That doesn’t even just mean someone with dementia; it’s for anyone in the elderly community. You don’t come up from behind; come up where they can see you.”

Ruano joined the Stone Hearth staff in January 2026. “I’ve learned that a lot of things matter when interacting with our residents,” said Ruano. “Going low and slow, being considerate and mee…