SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, July 2008

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS
Kugler Woods: On June 18^th we had a lovely grill out. The weather, food and company were excellent. On June 25^th we had an Amish lunch and shopping expedition at Der Dutchman in Waynesville. Thanks to our volunteers, Marge Hale, Shirley Comstock, Becky Bernges, Kris Baumann and Judy Roe.
Ripple Ridge: 17 of the 20 residents of Ripple Ridge enjoyed beautiful weather, good food, and lots of fun activities at Pattison Park on Tuesday, June 24^th. We celebrated two birthdays, Mary Tuttle and Myner Freeman. Myner said she never thought she would be tossing water balloons on her 98th birthday! We even caught a 16 inch catfish. Mary Banks, Marion Glos and Hunter Judd were the cornhole champs. We enjoyed a great salad for lunch with fresh spinach from our garden. Thanks to Margaret Mueller for overseeing the harvesting and cleaning of the spinach as well as the radishes and onions as garnishes. The hummingbirds have returned to SEM Haven. We have seen them from our dining room windows. Several of the residents and staff are enjoying the nice weather by hanging out on the back patio. It feels good to get some fresh air.
Gatch Grove: On June 19^th, 7 residents and 7 staff members from Gatch and Ripple attended the Reds ball game on tickets donated by the Cincinnati Reds. Many of the residents had never been to the Great American Ballpark. It was a great day. The only thing that would have made it better is if the Reds had won. We are having a resident/family dinner on the 17^th at 5:30. We are also going to Cracker Barrel on the 14th. Megan Weber’s son Braden is being Christened on July 12.
Milcroft Manor: The residents on Milcroft Manor have been enjoying the nice weather out on our patio and assisting staff planting tomatoes and sunflowers seeds. We have spruced up the patio with new cushions for the benches and hanging baskets. We went out for lunch to Bob Evans and had a good time. On rainy days the residents enjoy playing “punch ball” and “chair dancing”. There will be a family picnic in our backyard later in July (date to be announced). We would like to welcome nurse aide Dawn Field.
McCormick Landing: In June we went to Montgomery Inn Boat House for lunch and everyone enjoyed the food as we watched the boats and barges go by. On July 17^th at 6:00 PM we are planning a resident, family & staff grill out and pot luck in the gazebo area, weather permitting. SEM will provide hamburgers and hot dogs and we would like family and staff to bring in a covered dish - look for the sign up sheet. We had a rummage/bake sale recently and it was quite a success. We are looking to purchase an arbor for our patio that is at least 52” wide. Please let Melody know if you see one. Our patio is looking beautiful and we are enjoying and watching the birds. We would like to thank the Noterman family for their recent donation of a new statue, flower pots and hanging flower boxes. We are having great fun with the Wii game system donated by another family. We clap, yell and encourage each other as we practice. SEM is planning on having tournaments so we need to keep it up and go for the GOLD!
Shumard Rehab: On June 30^th we said good-bye to Tina Acree, Assessment nurse & Clinical leader. Tina was an 18 year employee of SEM Haven. We wish her good luck with her new endeavor. The rehab patients continue to meet their goals & return home as the revolving door continues to spin and we welcome new rehab patients. We had a summertime cookout in the courtyard in June. We plan to have another one July 18^th & will invite the families of Shumard patients. Look for your invitation coming soon.

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGING - SEM Haven is participating in the 2008 Family Satisfaction Survey. If you receive the survey in the mail please complete and return it promptly. It is confidential; our staff will never have access to your individual answers. The information is used to improve quality and see how we compare to other homes. Results will be posted on the Ohio Long Term Care Consumer Guide at www.ltcohio.org.

STAFF NEWS - Congratulations to Ashley Bockman on the birth of her son, Connor James, born May 29^th and weighing 6lb, 10oz. Bobbie Potter has a new granddaughter, Jennah Marie McKibben, born June 18, 6 lbs 14 oz, black hair and tiny features just like Grandma ordered! A special wedding is coming up August 8^th. Brandon McFarland (cook) and Rachel Wilson (Ripple Ridge) met right here at SEM!

RESIDENT OF THE MONTH - Lucy Howell was born October 10, 1915 in Shepherdsville, KY, where her family had a tremendous farm. The town was named after her family whose name was Shepherd. She was one of 12 children. They moved to Ohio where she went to Newtonsville School. Lucy’s mother taught her girls how to cook, bake, and sew. When she was 19 years old, she married Herb Howell whom she met in Milford. Herb was the oldest child in his family during the great depression, which meant he had to quit school and help support the family. One night he fixed the car of an executive from CG&E. The man gave him a job and Herb worked his way up to manager in the transportation department at CG&E. Lucy and Herb had a 52 acre farm and a farm house which they made into a lovely home. They had one child, also named Herb, who is quite a car expert himself. Lucy has two grandsons, Jeff (now deceased) and Michael. Jeff gave Lucy two great-grandchildren one of whom is an Army Ranger.

Lucy is a fantastic cook and baker (known for her peach ice cream). She made her own clothes and is an expert quilter. She had beautiful flower gardens and wonderful antique and doll collections. Lucy and Herb loved to travel by car, especially to Michigan and the Smokies. They had a ‘42 Mercury and a’50 Ford. Lucy got her driver’s license when she was about 35 years old; her son taught her on a 1931 Model A Ford coupe. The patrolman who tested her admired the car so much he passed her with flying colors.

She is a member of the Milford Methodist Church and was very active in the ladies circles and in the kitchen. She is also a life time member of the Eastern Star. She now comes to our chapel regularly with her daughter-in-law, Joyce. A passage that comes to mind for Lucy is Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching”.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS - July 4^th, 10:30 - 4^th of July Parade, 2:00 Patriotic music with Suzanne Gregg; 9th - Pie eating contest; 10^th - Bill Roth’s Music; 23^rd - Ron Purdon’s Quartet; 28^th - Banana Split Social. We will begin practicing for the SEM Haven Olympics on the households in July. The Olympics will be held in September.

Additional events for Kugler Woods Assisted Living - July 3^rd - Corn on the cob social (Courtyard) 2:00 pm; 10^th - Lunch Outing to Old School House Restaurant; 22^nd - resident & staff grill out 12:00 noon; July 24^th & 31^st - Wii Bowling Practice 2:00 pm; 25^th - “Songs for Seniors” with Mike Pendell. Every Friday night is movie night (All donated tapes, appropriate VHS or DVD, are kindly accepted).

Barb Wolf
Administrator