SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, April 2009

EDEN ALTERNATIVE - Eden Principle Two states, "An Elder-centered community commits to creating a Human Habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with plants, animals and children. It is these relationships that provide the young and old alike with a pathway to a life worth living." This is a statement about how to eliminate the three plagues of loneliness, helplessness and boredom. It is what drives our resident-centered philosophy of care and was a focus when we were planning our construction and renovation. It is why we have households with team-based management so residents and those who work closest with them make decisions about life in their home.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS: McCormick Landing - Spring is in the air! We planted some flowers from seed and they are coming up wonderfully. We will be transplanting some of them into hanging baskets and into our flower beds. We went to lunch at Olive Garden, where we enjoyed great food and each others company. We have started doing most of our activities in our household and it is going well. All staff are now involved in doing activities with the residents, including balloon toss, cards, dancing, exercise, cooking, cornhole and happy hour. We danced the night away at the St. Patrick's dance with McNicholas High School students.
Ripple Ridge - We celebrated Betty Konrad's 100 birthday with a party on 3/31/2009. Her goal was to receive 100 birthday cards - to date she has received 102. Our residents enjoyed lunch outings to Red Lobster and Cracker Barrel. We started our spring cleaning and plan to finish in April. Please pick up your families belongings as soon as possible. Upcoming events include a lunch outing on the 15^th and happy hour on the 24^th.
Milcroft Manor - We enjoy Cindy Sundgren's dog "Angel" who comes with her to work. The residents have their very own grand-dog now! Our Saint Patty's Party was loads of fun. The staff and residents decorated cookies with fun designs and we had Irish Music with staff doing the river dance! We had a baby shower for Dawn Field who may be a new mother of a baby boy by the time you read this! We are having planning meetings for our courtyard garden and would like families to bring their resident's favorite flower to enjoy this summer season. In April, we will be starting Cooking Class 101 twice a month and will be celebrating Earth Day by planting a tree.
Kugler Woods - In March we enjoyed two fun-filled cocktail hours, and a wonderful out to lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse. We had a 50 cent Rummage sale on April 3^rdand have been doing a lot of spring cleaning. We will be coloring Easter Eggs on the 7th, have an Easter Celebration with Jackie McCoy on the 9^th and Easter Bingo on the 11^th. We are going to lunch at Magianno's or Red Lobster on the 16^th, having a Cocktail Hour with Andy on the guitar on the 21^st, and will be planting the courtyard with the Garden Club on the 23^rd. Our Bells Choir Practice is on the 17^th and 24^th.
Shumard Rehab Center - The residents on Shumard have been playing 500 Rummy & other games many afternoons this month. They were also entertained at the St. Patrick's Day party with some Irish dancing by Latoya Price & Nancy Maltry. Everyone enjoyed singing Irish songs lead by Chaplain Bill. Peggy Havens assisted the residents in making Pot roast for dinner one evening. It was a great hit!
Gatch Grove - Last month we had lunch at Olive Garden, had our first grill-out for the year and started making Easter candy for sale on the 4^th & 10^th. We are going to lunch at the School House restaurant on the 9^th, Reds Opening Day party on the 6^th, Scrap-booking 13^th & 27^th, Mary Ruhstaller's 103^rd Birthday Party 14^th, Red Hat Social 15^th, and Almost out to lunch on the 16^th. We will watch the movie "The Jazz Singer" on the 20^th, go for a Spring Ride on the 22^nd, Happy Hour on the 23^rd and a Cookout with Denise on the 30^th. We are proud of four household staff who are furthering their education (Brittany Ezell, Liza Pape, Amanda Walker and Cathy Lloyd).

STAFF NEWS - Congratulations to new mom, Kimberly Hobbs (McCormick Landing). Bryan Christopher was born March 27 & weighted 7 lb, 7 oz. Loretta Welch had her third child, Dylan, on March 14. He weighed 6 lb, 1 oz. Deanna Ball (RN supervisor) and Karen Brown (Kugler Woods) are proud grandmothers of Ellen Michelle Ball born April 2 and weighing 5 lb, 12 oz. Ellen has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Robin Doyle (Milcroft Manor) has a new grandson, Joshua James, born on St. Patty's Day at 7 lb, 10 oz. (her last grandchild was born on Halloween). We wish good luck to Raquel Camacho (Milcroft) and Renee Mack (Shumard) who are taking their RN Boards this month.

PROM - Our annual Senior-Senior Prom is scheduled for Thursday, May 14^th with Mark Rasmussen entertaining. Area high school seniors come here in prom attire for a formal dance that has always been very enjoyable. We are in need of formal dresses size 14 and up. Please drop off any donations to our activity department. Thanks to Tom at Schutte Dry Cleaners for cleaning the dresses we have on hand. Residents may also choose to wear their own dresses/suits. For men, please bring in a shirt, tie & jacket if available. Thank you in advance!

CHAPLAIN BILL'S RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT - I want to talk about one of the most active, fun loving and able residents I have known since I became the Chaplain here in 2004. I want to talk about the one and only Betty Konrad, 100 years old as of March 31st. Only, in her case, she's 100 years young. Early on, Betty would show up all over the place asking me, "what is going on next, where is something going on?" When I first started doing "special devotions" in the various halls (before construction) she would follow me and sit in on every one. Betty is a devout Catholic, and never misses communion, mass or rosary.

She volunteers to make rosaries and attends our interdenominational services. She also shows up at the Monday afternoon Bible Study in the chapel and takes a hymnal and helps us sing. She never misses "History with Bill" and "Music and Memories with Bill" and is always at the family devotions and Bible studies in Ripple Ridge. Betty goes to bingo, dances, proms, holiday celebrations, Senior Olympics, and any other activity. This 100 year young "ball of fire" is always there! She inspires me in every way. A verse for Betty would be: Psalm 71:18 "Now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me God, that I might proclaim your might to all generations yet to come, Your power (19) and justice, God to the highest heaven. You have done great things; Oh God, who is your equal?" (New American Bible, latest Catholic version).

VOLUNTEERS - April 19 to 25 is National Volunteer Week. Thursday, April 23 is our Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the RSVP Banquet Facility. In 2008 our volunteers logged thousands of hours of service to SEM Haven. These include community volunteers, residents, children's groups, ministers, board members and community service volunteers. Wow!

Barb Wolf,
Administrator