Hamilton selected to lead Sunrise Manor

 Crystal Hamilton, Sunrise Manor’s new administrator, knows long-term care because she has worked at so many aspects of it.

Crystal Hamilton

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“I’ve done everything under the roof from activities to social services to administration,” said the Elizabethtown resident who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Eastern Kentucky University.

Hamilton began her duties at the Hodgenville nursing home Feb. 20 after spending the past seven years as an administrator with Extendicare in Hardinsburg and Elizabethtown.

“I resigned my position with that company because I wanted to try home healthcare, but before I began the new position, I received a call from Signature HealthCare (the company that operates Sunrise Manor) informing me of an administrator position opening.”

She accepted the position, explaining, “My heart is in long-term care and once that gets inside you, you can’t change.”

Responsible for more than 170 employees and a facility that can hold 137 residents, Hamilton said her goals are to make life as enjoyable as can be for the residents and also to ensure that the employees are respected and appreciated.

So that she can “get a feel for pressing issues,” she holds a short meeting each weekday where she touches base with nurses and other staff.

She said she has also been impressed with the Sunrise Volunteers.

“They are fantastic and I’m very appreciative to have that group of people,” said Hamilton.

She listed her goals: to maintain the good reputation that Sunrise Manor has always had; and to improve the quality of care and the quality of life (enjoyable activities) for residents.

 “I want residents to go on more outings, to have cookouts and other activities where they can enjoy themselves,” she said, mentioning a group of residents who recently enjoyed lunch at a nearby Pizza Hut.

“We’ll also be taking a couple of residents to Myrtle Beach,” she added.

Concerning cuisine, she is looking to hire a chef.

“The food now is good, but we’d like to improve the residents’ dining experience and give the cafeteria more of a restaurant atmosphere,” she said. “I would also like for us to have a short-order kitchen down the line.”

Hamilton wants to emphasize not only the long-term care available at the facility, but also the rehabilitation services on hand.

The administrator, who is married to Elizabethtown attorney Eric Hamilton and is the mother of a 9-year-old son Colby, remarked about her job, “It never gets boring because no two days are ever the same.”

Hamilton takes the helm after the resignation of Mark Henderson in February.