The Morrison Communities
About Us
The Morrison Communities
Our Mission Statement
The Morrison Communities is a caring, compassionate, resident-centered organization that extends our charitable commitment to the greater community. We commit to empowering our residents, their loved ones, and our staff to achieve their optimal well-being in a quality, home-like setting, grounded in mutual respect and trust.
The Morrison Communities
Our History
Dr. George Harvey Morrison was affectionately remembered as a skilled professional and philanthropist who held the well-being of his fellow citizens close to his heart. His devotion to the medical profession and to his community led him to establish the Morrison Hospital and the Training School for Nurses in Whitefield in 1903.
The Morrison Hospital was the only hospital north of Hanover, and it quickly became known for its advanced medicine and innovative surgeries. At the same time, the nursing school, led by Dr. Morrison’s wife, Mae Morrison, who was the hospital’s head nurse and administrator, was graduating more than 100 women from its rigorous program.
Dr. Morrison’s philanthropy was further on display in 1926 when he gifted the hospital to Whitefield, on the condition that it be maintained by the town in perpetuity.
But he didn’t stop there. He continued to contribute financially to the hospital and worked diligently on fundraising to help rebuild and expand the facility.
There have been many improvements since Dr. Morrison’s vision first became reality, and we have continued to offer northern New Hampshire residents the highest-quality healthcare. In 1970, we became known as the Morrison Nursing Home. We added Sartwell Assisted Living to our campus in 1993, and our expansion continued with the opening of the Dana Rehabilitation Wing in 2010 and the Physical Therapy Wing in 2015.
Our most ambitious project came to fruition in 2018 when we opened Summit by Morrison, the first-of-its-kind senior living community in the region. With Summit by Morrison, we can meet our region’s growing need for Independent Living options through beautiful, thoughtfully designed cottages and apartments. Summit by Morrison also features Assisted Living and Memory Care options.
Although many variables have changed over the years, our mission has never wavered. High-quality care and a commitment to the community remain at our core.
The Morrison Communities
Our Leadership
Board of Trustees
The Morrison Communities is governed by a board of trustees, who work as a team to execute the company’s mission by providing guidance and accountability.
Brian Fogg
President
Brian Fogg is a certified general appraiser and New Hampshire Certified Property Assessor Supervisor with a bachelor's degree in business management. A U.S. Army veteran, he brings decades of community leadership to the board, including service as chairman of the White Mountains Regional School Board and as a board member of the Weeks Hospital Association.
Daphne Cassady
Vice President
Daphne Cassady is Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Woodsville Guaranty Savings Bank, where she manages commercial loan relationships throughout the North Country. She brings more than 30 years of experience in commercial lending and credit analysis, along with a B.S. in Economics, M.S. in Accounting, and an MBA from Plymouth State College. Daphne lives in Lancaster with her husband and three sons.
Celeste Pitts
Treasurer
Celeste Pitts brings extensive healthcare financial leadership to the board, having served as CFO at Weeks Medical Center and Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital for 17 years before concluding her tenure as VP of Finance at North Country Healthcare in 2022. She currently works as an interim CFO consultant for healthcare institutions across New Hampshire and Vermont. Celeste also serves on the Education Committee for the NH/VT/ME chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and on the Colonel Town Investment Committee.
Keith Kopp
Secretary
Keith Kopp is a partner in his family's automobile dealership in Lancaster, NH, where he has worked since earning his bachelor's degree in business management from Keene State College in 1995. He brings broad civic experience to the board through local leadership roles, including serving as past chairman of the Lancaster Budget Committee and as a past board member of NCIC.
Brian Beattie, M.D.
Dr. Beattie is a retired family physician who practiced in the North Country for more than 40 years, including a decade as attending physician for The Morrison's nursing home residents. He holds a B.S. in chemistry and earned his medical degree through Dartmouth and Harvard Medical Schools, completing his internship at the University of Utah Hospitals with a focus on pediatrics and internal medicine.
Tammy Dubreuil
Tammy Dubreuil is the Broker/Owner of Northwind Realty in Whitefield, bringing nearly 20 years of real estate experience and active involvement with NH Realtors at the local and state level. A lifelong local, she is deeply engaged in the Whitefield community through her work with several nonprofit organizations, including the Whitefield Lions Club.
Wendy Gair Muello, M.D.
Dr. Wendy Gair Muello is a retired internal medicine physician with 32 years of primary care experience at Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster. During her tenure she served 17 years on the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff, including three terms as its President. She has been a Fellow of the American College of Physicians since 2005 and has served on the ACP NH Governor's Board since 2012.
Richard Rochefort
Richard Rochefort owned and operated The Sullivan Drug Store in Lancaster for 33 years before selling to Rite Aid in 2005, followed by staff pharmacist roles at Rite Aid and Weeks Medical Center prior to his retirement in 2010. He brings nearly five decades of community leadership to the board, including 20 years on the board of directors of Siwooganock Bank, six years as president of the Colonel Town Investment Committee, and five years on the board of Weeks Medical Center.
Senior Management
The Morrison Communities
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Summit by Morrison?
Summit by Morrison is a first-of-its-kind senior living community in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains region. Unlike any other, our community offers multiple housing options for seniors, including Independent Living Cottages and Apartments, Assisted Living studios, and studios for residents who may need Memory Care. It’s a community where you or your loved one may choose to live independently, but also enjoy the comfort of knowing assistance and support is there when needed.
How is Summit by Morrison different from The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility and Sartwell Place Assisted Living?
Summit by Morrison is a senior living community with multiple housing options, based on the level of care needed, for those who wish to live in the region. You or your loved one can live independently while taking advantage of Summit by Morrison’s amenities, knowing assistance and support are there when needed.
The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility and Sartwell Assisted Living provide a comprehensive array of healthcare services designed to meet resident needs and capabilities at several stages, including Skilled Nursing, Rehabilitation Services, Assisted Living, and Long-Term and Respite Care. The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility and Sartwell Place Assisted Living accept private pay, NH and VT Medicaid, and Medicare, while Summit by Morrison is a private pay facility.
Do you accept residents with dementia at Summit by Morrison?
Yes. Residents with mild to moderate dementia, depending on their full clinical needs, may be a good fit for our Assisted Living option. The Memory Care Community is specifically designed for people with dementia.
Do you provide transitional support to Summit by Morrison residents who need hospice care?
Yes, Summit by Morrison provides this support for Assisted Living and Memory Care residents. Should Hospice Care be needed, Summit by Morrison can help residents find local Hospice agencies to provide this service.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living is an option for seniors who are looking for assistance with the activities of daily living, such as meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, bathing, and medication management, while maintaining as much independence as possible. Assisted Living options are available at both Summit by Morrison and Sartwell Place Assisted Living.
What is the difference between Assisted Living and Long-Term Care?
Assisted living helps seniors with daily tasks like bathing, medication, and meals while they remain largely independent, whereas long-term care provides 24/7 skilled nursing for those with more complex or chronic medical needs. In short: assisted living supports independence, while long-term care manages ongoing medical conditions.
What do you mean by medication management?
Our staff is trained to properly provide medication management services to our residents. This service includes medication reminders and guidance for our residents to take their medications at the designated times and frequencies as directed by their primary care provider.
We also coordinate medication ordering and changes through our pharmacy provider, who will deliver medications directly to Sartwell Place Assisted Living, removing the stress of managing and tracking medications and prescriptions from the resident and their family. We work closely with each resident, their responsible party, and their chosen health care provider to ensure the resident's health and safety at all times.
What is Memory Care?
Alzheimer’s and dementia are two of the common memory-loss conditions included under the umbrella of Memory Care. This specialized care spans a spectrum of services depending on the severity of an individual's symptoms. Memory Care goes beyond what is traditionally offered in an Assisted Living setting by increasing support for Activities of Daily Living.
In recognition of the unique care challenges posed by Alzheimer’s and dementia, our Memory Care Household is designed for residents who require this extra level of care. We have incorporated unique design elements that research has shown to lower stress in individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia. These include increased natural lighting, meal choice, and a residential home design that still allows for a sense of freedom.
Does The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility provide private rooms for its Long-Term Care residents?
Semi-private rooms are the norm in the Long-Term Care area; however, we do have both semi-private and private rooms throughout the building. Contact us for more information.
Does The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility have a locked unit?
The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility does not have a locked unit for residents who may be exit-seeking. We have a security alarm system at our primary doors that is triggered by bracelets worn by vulnerable residents. Other doors are alarmed by a code.
Do you accept Medicaid?
The Morrison Skilled Nursing Facility and Sartwell Place Assisted Living accept NH and VT Medicaid. Summit by Morrison is private pay. Contact us for more information.
Annual Report
Read our 2024 Annual Report to learn more about what The Morrison Communities stands for.