MATTHEW R. TRIMBLE is the new CEO and president of Saint Elizabeth Community, a nonprofit organization that provides elder care services in Rhode Island. Trimble joined SEC in 1994 and has spent his tenure as administrator at Saint Elizabeth Home in East Greenwich, where he oversaw the move of residents and staff from the community’s Providence location to a new nursing/rehab center in East Greenwich in 2001. He will assume his new position on July 1 upon the retirement of CEO Steven J. Horowitz, who has led Saint Elizabeth Community for the past 35 years.
What is your reaction to being hired as the new CEO and president of Saint Elizabeth Community? I am excited to lead an amazing group of individuals who are committed to the mission of Saint Elizabeth Community. Founded in 1882, we provide care and services to over 3,000 Rhode Island seniors a year and employ over 800 individuals. With a comprehensive array of services, including home care, apartments for seniors, adult day centers, assisted living, nursing and rehab centers, and Green House Homes – an innovative nursing home model, Saint Elizabeth Community is poised to address the challenges and opportunities ahead.
What attracted you to dedicating your career to serving the organization? I began working at 14 years old in a nursing home in maintenance and housekeeping, and what I enjoyed most was the interaction with the residents, learning about an elder’s life experiences. I carry that experience with me, and the sense of respect I gained from knowing someone’s life story. … I look at seniors not as a line item in our state Medicaid budget whose care may be expensive, but rather as a valued and honored member of our community who deserves the very best care we can offer.
What will be your primary goal during your tenure in the position? Workforce will be my top priority. It is a very challenging environment today to attract, pay and retain qualified, compassionate staff, with strong competition for both CNAs [certified nursing assistants] and nurses. The reimbursement for care has stagnated as employment costs have risen. We hope to partner with policymakers and stakeholders to bring this dire need to the forefront in Rhode Island. As our population ages, the number of individuals who need care is increasing while the available labor pool is shrinking.
What is your assessment of the current climate for elder care in the state, and how can it be improved? The current climate has three major challenges: 1. Workforce, 2. Funding, 3. Demographics. Rhode Island has a dense population of seniors. The 2010 census lists Rhode Island as No. 1 in the country for percentage of state population for those 85 and older. And this population is expected to double by 2040. We need to invest in Rhode Island elders, and to commit to work together to develop sustainable solutions that provide care for elders with the dignity and respect they deserve, providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
