Owner

Discovery Care Centre is one of the few privately owned elderly communities in Montana. Built by Bill Watkins and his family in 1990, Discovery was started to provide caring service to the elders of the Bitterroot Valley. In 1995, Bill expanded the building to include the ‘perfect size’ Assisted Living Wing and thus accommodate the out-of-staters who were coming to Montana’s Banana Belt.

Discovery Care Centre is blessed to have such an owner. Because of this man and his responsiveness to the changing needs of this growing industry, Discovery has a great reputation. Because of his dedication to a happy and well-trained staff, Discovery has low turnover and attentive caregivers. Bill Watkins has done a lot for Discovery and will continue to do everything in his power to ensure our residents and staff have the best environment and care possible.

Administrator

Doris Gilbertson leads the entire Discovery team. She has a well-deserved reputation of being a team builder who leads by example. She works with the staff to provide excellent service and care; this commitment allows resident centered care to be the driving force at Discovery. With over 40 years of experience in the healthcare field Doris’s priority is quality staff providing quality care

Chief Financial Officer

When it comes to accounting, we’ve got the best. Kim Malensek has been with Discovery since 1992 and has helped us grow into an upscale nursing and assisted living community that is financially stable with quality comforts. Because of her and her staff, our Medicare & Medicaid reimbursements, payroll, resident accounts, and other business functions run sooooo smoothly.
 

Director of Nursing

Rick Bucheit provides the nursing staff of Discovery with strong leadership and support; this allows our staff to provide the quality care Discovery is known for.

Rick’s 20 years of management experience in surgery and emergency departments provide the Discovery team with stability and efficiency. His goal of creating an environment many call home is witnessed by the satisfied comments of our residents, families and staff.

Director of Social Services

The smiling face of Marian Swartz is Discovery’s  nursing advocate for residents and families. She conducts initial interviews, does health assessments of prospective residents, processes admissions and discharges, is the residents’ personal shopper and handles any issues that come up with grace and compassion. Marian is a valued member of our team!

Dietary Manager

Nikki Hinson has contributed her years of experience in elderly care service to creating a quality dining experience at Discovery. Her team of cooks and aides are dedicated to consistently providing delicious, nutritious meals and snacks that are appreciated by our residents.

Supervisor, Purchasing
Laundry & Housekeeping

Wendy Charlonne heads up a dedicated group of individuals who continually pride themselves in creating a clean, safe, comfortable and cozy environments for our residents and staff. Apartments are always “looking good” and well stocked with attention given daily to purchasing laundry and housekeeping.  Because of Wendy’s dedication to serving the elderly, she received the first ever “Ancillary Service” Award in 2004 from the Montana Health Care Association for her Commitment to Caring.

Maintenance Supervisor/Plant Engineer

Jerry Steele has been overseeing the Maintenance Department since 1991. He and his team do a wonderful job of keeping everything running and repaired. They keep the grounds landscaped and the sidewalks safe. Jerry and his crew are incredibly knowledgeable about almost everything. What valuable assets they are to Discovery!

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