Susan Lemon named vice president, Senior Adult Services

Lutheran Social Services of Michigan has promoted MapleCreek Executive Director Susan Lemon of Grand Rapids to vice president of Senior Adult Services statewide. She will oversee the administration of three skilled nursing centers, three assisted living centers and five independent living programs.

While a search is underway for her replacement at MapleCreek, Lemon will divide her time between administering the full-continuum senior living campus in southeast Grand Rapids and fulfilling her new statewide role from the organization’s headquarters in Detroit. Lemon is expected to work from Detroit full-time in early September.

Under Lemon’s leadership, MapleCreek remained in operation during a two-year $32 million building and renovation project. This comprehensive makeover for the newly re-branded senior living community continues to impress visitors. During her 10 years at MapleCreek, Lemon guided a change in service delivery from a medical model to a resident-focused model. “It will be my pleasure” was the attitude impressed on the staff. In addition, food service transitioned to a restaurant-style service approach with each resident’s meal freshly prepared, plated and served.

Lemon has been employed by Lutheran Social Services of Michigan for 11 years, previously serving as director of quality long-term care and consulting for skilled nursing centers in Michigan and Indiana. She has worked in the senior services field for nearly 30 years, with experience in long-term care in a variety of settings, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and home care services. Lemon is a registered nurse and a licensed nursing home administrator. She completed her bachelor of science degree in nursing at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1980.