SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, November 2007

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS:
HALLOWEEN - What a wonderful day this was! We had awesome costumes and pumpkin decorating! Gatch Grove (the beauty queens) won first place for costumes and 2^nd place for their “beauty queen” pumpkin. Ripple Ridge won 2^nd place for costumes – they were all dressed to the 50’s theme with poodle skirts and even Elvis! McCormick Landing won 3^rd place for their old west theme costumes, including bandits and the sheriff. Milcroft Manor were all dressed as bats and they made a scary “bat” pumpkin that won 3^rd place. Kugler Woods had a lot of interesting costumes including Vivian as a Suma wrestler – they won first place for their “flying witch” pumpkin.
KUGLER WOODS - We enjoyed a wonderful lunch outing on the 18^th to Longhorn Steak House. The waiters and waitresses sang to Peg Patten for her birthday. We had a lot of laughs along with a great meal.
McCORMICK LANDING - We had a great time at O'Charley's for lunch last month. Our fall craft sale made over $200.00! Thanks to everyone who supported us.
GATCH GROVE - We are having a lunch sale on Nov 12 (chef salad, bread & dessert) to raise money for the holidays. We are also planning a lunch outing.
RIPPLE RIDGE - We are planning our fall family dinner – look for your invitation. Kelli, Carri, and our residents are planning the menu. We are very proud to have met our safety goal for “reducing resident falls” this past quarter. We celebrated by having White Castles for lunch. We enjoyed the little burgers and many reminisced about eating them when they were younger.
MILCROFT MANOR - We took a drive to the new Sonic for great burgers and fries. The meal was delivered by girls on skates! The residents really enjoyed the day. We are planning a “loaded potato” luncheon in November on the household.
SHUMARD REHAB - Our dining experience has been wonderful thanks to Peggy, our homemaker. It really helps put our patients in a positive mood for their rehab!

ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENTS - Back by popular demand - our annual CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE will be held Thursday December 13^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. All families are invited to experience the holidays, SEM style: There will be entertainment in the Gathering Room and refreshments on the households. This is what the holidays are all about – please join your loved ones for this special evening.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS: 7^th - Danny Dell will report on the Apparitions of Mary in Medjugorie; 12^th - Veteran’s Day Ceremony; 15^th - Sem Laurels Line Dancers; 16t^h- - We will try the new video game, Wi, that everyone is talking about; 22^nd - Thanksgiving, Bob Pollack will be here at 10:30 to play the piano.

Kugler Woods: Raymond Walters Nursing student visits - Nov 2^nd, 9^th, and 16^th at 9:30 am; Fall Drive and lunch out - Nov. 8^th at 10:00 am; Resident/Staff Thanksgiving dinner with Jude Jones on the violin - Nov. 21^st at 5:30 pm; Resident/Family Trim the Tree night - Nov. 30^th at 6:30 pm with Suzanne Gregg's Christmas sing-a-long.

Friday December 7^th - Nursing and Assisted Living "Craft Bazaar and Big Bake Sale" (All family members encouraged to come) 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Any craft ideas or donations will be kindly accepted, please see your household leaders.

MENUS - Our dietitian has approved a Fall/Winter cycle of menus for all of our residents. Residents helped write the menu through a Food Committee organized by Michele McFarland, Amy Judd and Estrella Jordan. It is a four-week rotation, which started November 4^th. It is very important to get feedback from residents, staff and families on what you like and what you don’t like. Please put your suggestions in writing to the Dietary department.

STAFF NEWS - Crystal Sparlin (Ripple Ridge) had her third child on October 26; Michael Walter weighed 6lb, 11oz. Terry Emery (Gatch Grove) has another grandson, Kyle Douglas, born October 25 and weighing 7lb, 2oz.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT - Meet Mary Tuttle (Ripple Ridge). Mary was born in Winfield, Tennessee on June 24, 1925. Her father, a sawmill worker, died when she was 3, so Mary was reared in an orphanage in Tiffin, Ohio. After high school she moved to Cincinnati and went to work at the Wright Plant (which became General Electric after WWII). There she met Robert Tuttle and they hit it off really well! From their marriage came 8 children: Lorene, Roberta, Robert, Mary Katherine, Mark, Heidi, Tammy and Margo. Mary is the proud grandmother of 15 and great grandma to 3. The Tuttle’s loved music and dancing at Moonlight Gardens and often took the kids to Sunlight Pool at Coney Island. They loved dogs; they bred boxers and had collies (Lady and Bo), German Shepherds (George and Misty), Benny the St. Bernard and Peaches (a tiny Chihuahua who bossed Benny around). Later, the couple lived in Florida, where Mary became a great fan of NASCAR and Dale Ernhardt. Mary has a wonderful sense of humor and love for people! We’re lucky to know her.

Gordy Corkin (Kugler Woods) was born on June 24, 1917. He attended Withrow High School and played on the first Cincinnati team to win the Ohio State Championship in 1934. He played minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics farm team. Gordy married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, and they lived in Mariemont and Terrace Park. They have two children, Judy and Gordy Jr. He served in the army during WWII and later started Corken’s Steel Products with his 3 brothers. Ruth died in 1967 and Gordy later married Dorothy. They enjoyed boating on the Ohio River and spending time with friends and family. Gordy has 4 grandchildren and 4 greats who refer to him as "jelly bean" because he always had jellybeans in his shirt pocket when they were little. Gordy is thriving at SEM – he is a great friend to all.

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS - We encourage families to decorate resident rooms to help make the holidays festive. Our Fire Marshall has the following guidelines:

Please do not bring in extension cords unless they are approved by maintenance. Also, cords must be positioned so they are not a tripping hazard.
Doors/walls - we need to keep paper or flammable materials to a minimum.
We are not permitted to have candles, matches or any source of flame in resident rooms.
We need to keep down clutter for safety reasons.

We also do not permit tape on any surface (it ruins finishes). If you want something hung up or have any questions about particular decorations please ask for Roger Judd, Director of Maintenance. Thanks for your help!

Sincerely,
Barb Wolf, Administrator