SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, October 2007

EDEN ALTERNATIVE – Following is an excerpt from the speech I gave during our House Warming Celebration last month. I hope all who attended enjoyed it as much as we did planning it. “You may have heard some facilities advertise that they are “home-like”. At SEM Haven we sincerely believe that we are home for our residents. Throughout life we all have many homes. You are born into a home (a house or apartment). Your family may move once or many times to different homes. You go to college and your dorm room can become a great, memorable home, like no other. Then you get an apartment and later move into one or more homes of your own. Time goes on and you may move to a condo and then to a retirement home. These are all considered homes. Why is it that, when we become older and frail, and need home the most, we settle for “home-like”? In an “Eden” home like SEM Haven, pets, plants, children and family members are part of daily life. We seek to eliminate the plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom. We believe that every resident, no matter how frail, can and does make a difference. Residents and front line staff are empowered to make decisions regarding care and life choices.”

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS - McCormick Landing - Last month we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and did a little shopping while we were there. We also had a grill-out and a Hawaiian Luau (we made our own grass shirts). We are starting to make holiday crafts for our craft/bake sale (dates to be announced). We are planning a couple of shopping trips so if any family members are available to go with us please let Melody know. We are also going to do some cooking and sell it during lunch to the staff as a fundraiser.
Ripple Ridge - 11 of our residents went to Joe’s Crab Shack in Newport for lunch, accompanied by Connie, Kelli & Kathy. Some of the residents' even got to enjoy an ice-cold beer. On the way home, we stopped by St. Rose Catholic Church and saw the floodwall marked with the years and the levels of the water. The residents are making fall decorations for their doors and are enjoying new live plants in the living room. Carri Cole and Mary Deasy made some wonderful soup for us to enjoy last Sunday. This month we are looking forward to lunch at Cracker Barrel and a bus ride to enjoy the fall leaves.
Milcroft Manor had loads of fun with the Olympics! Each resident made his or her own tie dyed shirt for the big event. This month we will be doing lots of fall crafts and are planning a Halloween Party.
Gatch Grove is also planning a lunch outing and Halloween party this month.
September was an exciting month for Kugler Woods, with National Assisted Living Week, Open House and The Olympics. We all had a great time, but boy are we tired! The Sept 12th picnic was a great success with 102 residents, family members and staff present. We enjoyed good food, great entertainment, and prizes on top of all that. We are looking forward to slowing down a little in October until the big Halloween party on the 31st. Any family member that would like to bring in a costume would be greatly appreciated. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone dressed up? Also, if you have any Christmas craft ideas or donations, please let Vivian know.

STAFF NEWS – Juanita Williams (Housekeeping/Laundry supervisor) has a new grandson, Maddox Owen, born Sept 7 and weighing 8 lb 5 oz. Alvia Roberts (McCormick) also has a new grandson, Connor Gabriel, born September 28 and weighing 7 pounds.

ANNUAL STAFF RECOGNITION BANQUET – This event will be held on Friday, November 9 at Receptions Banquet Hall in Eastgate. Our Booster Club has been working very hard to make this a special evening with wonderful door prizes, music and dancing. We are always grateful to those businesses and individuals who contribute to make the event a success. Please contact Toni in the Business Office if you are interested in making a contribution. Following are staff members to be recognized:

15 years of service – Elaine Plank, Barb Dustrude, Haydee Rivera
10 years of service – Dave Wilson, Nancy Maltry
5 years of service – Nancy Conner, Norm McClure, Gail Morehead, Lois Brown, Karen Jeffers, Amy Mullins

OLYMPIC RESULTS – We had to bring the games inside but we didn’t mind since we need the rain so badly. The Milford Fire Department spent the day with us assisting in all events – they were great! Here are the results – congratulations to all who participated:

First Place	Kugler Woods
Second Place	McCormick Landing
Third Place	Milcroft Manor
Most Spirited Award	Ripple Ridge
Best Sportsmanship	Gatch Grove
Corn Hole	1 - Mary Banks	2 - Ed Sanders	3 - Dodie Ebersold
Jig Saw Relay	1 - Kugler	2 - McCormick	3 - Ripple
Discus Throw	1 - Dorothy Seip	2 - Marion Glos	3 - Dee Strahm
Javelin Throw	1 - Dee Strahm	2 - Ed Sander	3 - Martha Glaser
Shoot the Hoop	1 - Martha Glaser	2 - Virginia Shelton	3 - Dodie Ebersold
Squeeze	1 - Pat Boehm	2 - Margaret Noland	3 - Dodie Ebersold
Stack	1 - Millie Hutzell	2 - Barb Heitkemper	3 - Mary Banks
Twist	1 - Martha Glaser	2 - Dee Strahm	3 - Ruth Baldridge
How long is a Minute	1 - Ed Sanders	2 - Dorothy Seip	3 - Dink Hamman
Cookie Decorating	1 - Dorothy Seip	2 - Millie Linskey	3 - Dee Strahm

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT – Meet Virginia Critchell, born on October 31, 1920. She grew up in Blanchester with her sister Beatrice and brother Ray. She graduated from Blanchester High and UC Business College. During the war Virginia went into the Air Service Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Afterwards she opened the Ginabea Women’s Apparel Shop in Blanchester and married Robert M. Critchell, an architect in Terrace Park. In August of 1947, daughter Diana was born. In 1949, they purchased the old Adam’s Bakery Building in Milford, and opened the second Ginabea Shop. They moved to Kettering in 1951, where Robert took a position as Project Engineer at Wright-Patterson. When Robert passed away in 1962, Virginia moved back to Milford to manage the shop.

Virginia became quite a Milford Historian. She was the instigator in forming the Greater Milford Area Historical Society in 1967. She worked on the book, Bridge to the Past - History of Milford, Ohio. Virginia is a former Director of the Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the local AARP. Her hobbies are reading, doing genealogies, and spending time with her three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all of whom are very accomplished and of whom she is very proud. We are lucky to know you Virginia!

FLU SHOTS – Helen Canfield, director of nursing, would like to let everyone know that our residents will be getting flu shots beginning this month. New rules require us to get signed consent from each resident/family each year. Please complete the enclosed consent and return to SEM Haven. We also will be providing the vaccine to our staff free of charge.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS: October 2^nd - Anointing of the Sick (Catholic); 4^th - Octoberfest with Jack Frost; 10^th - Sister Act, Music featuring Sister Acts from the 30's through the 90's; 11^th - Banana Split Social; 17^th - Harksters singing group; 20^th - St Andrew's Youth Group Bingo; 24^th - Chili Cookoff; 25^th - Men’s almost out to lunch; 31^st - Halloween Costume & Pumpkin Decorating Contest 2:00pm, 6:00 Trick or Treat for Community.

Kugler Woods (Assisted Living) - Oct 4^th - pumpkin crafts; 11^th- show & tell with Karen; 18^th – lunch outing; 20^th - - Sweetest Day Bingo; 23^rd - Start Christmas Crafts; 25^th - Piano with Suzanne Gregg; 31^st - Dress up for Halloween (10:00 am), Halloween Party (2:00 pm).

Barb Wolf,
Administrator