Molly Crumley, RN, BSN, MBA, is director of operations at two Mercy LIFE (Living Independently for Elders) programs in the Philadelphia area. She oversees a large traditional program of all-inclusive care for the elderly at Sharon Hill serving the needs of more than 100 vulnerable seniors, but it’s the innovation she brought to her second site, Valley View, that best demonstrates her vision, creativity and commitment to the mission of Catholic health care.

A nurse manager with 20 years' experience, Crumley created an unprecedented solution to save a failing residential facility for frail deaf and blind seniors. Under her leadership, that facility, Valley View at Elwyn, became Mercy LIFE Valley View, and the PACE model of care was adapted for the unique needs of its residents and families, making it the first-ever PACE program dedicated to a residential deaf population.

Crumley empowered all the staff at Valley View to learn about the deaf community and how they could better communicate during the transition. Addressing the inherent communication barriers, Crumley arranged for training for staff and brought in additional sign language translators. She provided resources so staff members could learn American Sign Language, and she secured a grant to create a oneof- a-kind Certified Nursing Assistant certification program for deaf staff members. Through the program called "Excellence in Care," staff members take free classes at an area college accompanied by American Sign Language interpreters. The program allows deaf staff members to complete their education and be placed on the Pennsylvania nurse aide registry.

During the rapid transition, she worked with advocacy groups like the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf, the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging and the Disabilities Rights Network of Pennsylvania.

Now, her innovation is recognized as a model for future nontraditional PACE programs, and she is consulting with organizations wishing to replicate this model for deaf and blind seniors and other special needs populations. She is a strong advocate for the expansion of PACE services to additional counties within Pennsylvania, and to persons who require extensive care but may not meet the current criteria, such as age limit.

Her dedication to the Mercy LIFE mission of caring for the whole senior — body, mind and spirit — has led to record low hospital readmission rates for participants at her two facilities. Also, Crumley and her team partner with local organizations to host free health fairs several times a year. At community health fairs, Mercy LIFE physicians provide free screenings for those who can’t afford routine checkups.

With her leadership, the Devoted Caregiver Award was created to recognize a family caregiver for his or her dedication and contribution to a loved one who is a participant in a Mercy LIFE program. The award is unique among PACE programs nationally and speaks to Crumley’s dedication not only to participants in her programs, but to their families and loved ones as well.