SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, November 2008

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS -
HALLOWEEN - What a wonderful day this was! We had awesome costumes and pumpkin decorating! Ripple Ridge won first place for costumes with the Wizard of Oz crew, including Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, the Lollypop Guild and Flying Monkeys. Milcroft Manor won 2^nd place fore their 101 Dalmatians theme, including Cruella Deville! Gatch Grove won 3^rd place for their Casino theme costumes, McCormick Landing dressed as Snow White and the 27 Dwarfs and Kugler Woods had a Hospital theme with lots of doctors & nurses. Several staff members had great costumes as well. The carved pumpkins are displayed in the lobby. First place was McCormick Landing with a very clever apple core pumpkin; 2^nd was Kugler Woods with a scary surgical patient pumpkin; 3^rd was Shumard Rehab with a witch pumpkin.
KUGLER WOODS - We went to Red Lobster in October and invited a few resident neighbors from McCormick landing to go with us. It was nice talking with people that you don't talk with everyday. We took a trip to Wal-Mart shopping, and spent a lot of dough, then went to the Dairy Queen and ate some Blizzards. For the Holidays I would like family members to bring in pictures of their resident enjoying Christmas in the past. I hope to make a disc off all the pictures and show them on our TV from time to time through the Holiday season. I really appreciate your co-operation with this project. Thank you, Viv.
McCORMICK LANDING - We made Halloween crafts and baked cookies, cupcakes and brownies for our craft/bake sale in October - thanks to those who brought in baked goods and to everyone for their support in buying our "goodies".
GATCH GROVE - This month we have devotions with Bill, a Chicken & Dumpling lunch on the 25^th, almost out to lunch on the 18^th, and a trip to Ruby Tuesday for lunch on the 24^th. On the 28^th we will have Happy Hour and a Birthday Party. We are also planning a shopping trip. We are doing a cookie dough fund raiser - see a Gatch Grove family member.
RIPPLE RIDGE - In October we went down on the river to have lunch at Buck Head Mountain Grill and had a wonderful time. The residents are looking forward to working on our Christmas crafts. Our next Happy Hour will be held on November 20^th.
MILCROFT MANOR - Our Family came together to make the best Chili for the SEM Haven Chili Cook off. Unfortunately the judges didn't see it our way, we came in 3^rd. We are gearing up for the Holiday Season with an upcoming bake and craft sale. We are saving up for a great Christmas party for our residents and staff. We are also planning a trip to the Eastgate Mall and a lunch outing. We would like to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.
SHUMARD REHAB - Residents helped make the 1st place award winning Chili for the Chili cook-off in October. The recipe was provided by Angela Bolton, our occupational therapist.

ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT - Back by popular demand - our CHRISTMAS SAMPLER OPEN HOUSE will be held Thursday December 18^th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. All families are invited to experience the holidays, SEM style: Mark Rasmussen will be entertaining in the Gathering Room and Bill Smith in Kugler Woods living room followed by Christmas Carols and a message from Chaplain Bill in our chapel. Yummy treats will be served on the households. This is what the holidays are all about - please join your loved ones for this special evening.

STAFF NEWS - Crystal Sparlin had her fourth child (a boy) on October 19^th. Jane Browning has a new grandchild, Avery Elizabeth, born 10/13 and weighing 8 lb 4 oz. Also please remember Jane in your prayers as she recovers from hospitalization. Karen Cassidy is a new grandma; Bailey Rose weighed 6 lb 10 oz.

Our staff appreciation banquet and dance will be held on Friday, November 21. We are still looking for donations for door prizes, please see Toni in the Business Office.

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 starts November 16^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.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS: Nov. 6^th - Julie Clifford's Music; 8^th - St. Andrew's Youth Group Bingo; 11t^h - Veteran's Day Ceremony; 12^th - 10:00 Book Fair with books & other specialty products from Books are Fun, 2:00 Martin White's Music; 20^th -Cincinnati Memories - Visual tour of Cincinnati showing old and current pictures of historic & memorable landmarks. 27^th -Thanksgiving Day Music with Ruth Schaefer;

Kugler Woods: November 6^th & 18^th - Christmas crafts; 5^th - Devotions with Chaplain Bill; 6^th & 20^th - Manicures with Music; 11^th & 25^th - Piano with Ruth Schaeffer;13^th - Lunch Outing (Olive Garden); 14^th - Music with Bill Smith; 19^th - History with Chaplain Bill; 25^th - Pumpkin Pie Baking; 26^th - 5:30 Resident/Staff Thanksgiving dinner with Ray Heckman; 27^th - 10:00am Piano with Ruth & 2:00pm Movie. Friday December 5^th - Nursing and Assisted Living "Craft Bazaar and Big Bake Sale" (All family members encouraged to come) 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Any craft ideas or donations will be kindly accepted, please see your household leaders.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT - Dodie Ebersold grew up in Moore's Hill, Indiana. In High School she played on the girl's basketball team, and wore the purple and white of a cheerleader. Her parents had a dairy farm where she lived with her brother and sister. Dodie came to Cincinnati at age 18 and was married December 27, 1952 to Dr. Donald Keith Ebersold, a family physician in Milford. They had three children, (Donna, Betsy and Tom) and three grandchildren, (Keith, Craig and Ian). Dr. Ebersold served in the Army and did a tour in Germany. People knew him as the doctor with the jokes - he believed that laughter was the best medicine. He made a lot of house calls, and delivered lots of babies at home during the 50's and 60's. Dodie and Donna would collect and deliver children's clothes to unfortunate families while the doctor visited. Dodie was a great cook, famous for balanced meals and wonderful Christmas cookies.

Her hobbies were oriented toward fun and people. She did gardening and used dried flowers to make floral designer wreaths worth $150 to $200 that she donated to church bazaars or gave to friends. She loved reading, golf, tennis and tolle painting. She and Ola Smucker came to SEM Haven every week during the 80's and 90's; Dodie sang and Ola played piano. Dodie was a member of the Milford Progress Club; a woman's club featuring educational and inspirational speakers. She was also a member of the Milford Historical Society. The Ebersolds traveled a lot, including Europe, Scandinavia, England and Russia. They loved the national parks in the western United States.

Dodie's volunteerism reminds me of Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer". (NIV) Dodie's wonderful smile and cheerful ways inspire all of us. Chaplain Bill

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