SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, May 2009

EDEN ALTERNATIVE - Eden Principle Three states, "Loving companionship is the antidote to loneliness. Elders deserve easy access to human and animal companionship." Antibiotics are good for pneumonia, insulin is a life saver for diabetics and companionship cures loneliness. We need to provide easy access to human and animal companionship. We encourage residents and staff to become true friends and get to know each other well. We also love to have pets in our home. Life on our households should revolve around close and continuing contact with pets, plants and children.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS - Gatch Grove - we did very well with our Easter candy sale and enjoyed having the kids during the egg hunt. We had a great time watching the Reds opening day parade and baseball game and a fun lunch outing to the School House Restaurant. This month we will be grilling out on the 12^th and the 19^th ; planting flowers on the 20^th ; Red Hat Society meeting on the 29^th and lunch at Frisch’s on the 18^th . We have started putting together a cookbook with recipes from our residents, staff and families to sell as a fundraiser.
Ripple Ridge - We enjoyed lunch at The Olive Garden, had happy hour and lots of activities on the household. We will be having a cookout May 8^th and happy hour May 27^th. We are planning a lunch trip to old Milford May 19^th. We are continuing to spring clean the rooms and would appreciate it if the families can pick up their residents winter clothing.
Milcroft Manor - We would like to thank Joyce Bourdon’s daughter Wilma for the lovely Butterfly Bush that we planted on Earth day in our courtyard. We enjoyed "Almost out to lunch" at Wendy's and are planning a big patio party this month. If you happen to be going past Milcroft on Saturdays and hear a live band....It would be our residents during band practice! Milcroft Manor would like to wish all moms a Happy Mother's Day.
McCormick Landing - We are enjoying different activities from our household staff members. It has turned out to be quite fun for everyone with the different varieties that they have added. Some examples: Reds ballgames, parachuting, happy hour on the patio, Easter crafts, chair exercises, dancing, card games and bowling. We also enjoyed lunch at O’Charley’s. We have started some plants from seed for our pots outside and are getting elevated flower boxes so the residents can more easily care for the plants. We are asking for donations of favorite plants that your family member had at their home or has always liked. Thanks to everyone in advance.
Shumard Rehab Center - In April we enjoyed "Almost out to Lunch" from Wendy’s, Chaplain Bill did devotions and Music & Memories - songs from the Crooners. Peggy Havens helped the patients make stuffed baked potatoes. Since the weather has been so nice the staff often take patients to the gazebo for conversation & fresh air. We have been playing cards and enjoy our popular Happy Hours. Some of our rooms have bird feeders outside the window & patientss have enjoyed watching the birds return this spring, The garden is also beginning to come up & we’ll soon have hanging baskets outside the windows.
Kugler Woods - In April we enjoyed a trip to Red Lobster. We also spent many afternoons sitting in the sun in our courtyard chatting and appreciating the good weather. Many residents from Shumard came out to chat with us. We also did very well with our .50 cent rummage sale and enjoyed our very own Easter Baskets from the Easter bunny.

NURSE’S DAY - We are celebrating National Nurse’s Week, May 3-9. This is a time to honor our professional nurse’s. At SEM Haven we have 13 RN’s and 28 LPN’s with a total of 337 (average 8.2) years of service to SEM Haven! On Tuesday, May 5, our nurses will be recognized with a special gift and a catered dinner. We really appreciate our wonderful nurse’s at SEM!!

NURSING HOME WEEK - National Nursing Home Week begins on Mother's Day, May 10 and continues through May 16. Each nursing household is sponsoring a day and has a special theme. Following are the highlights of our schedule for that week:

Sunday May 10 - 3:15 Mother’s Day Celebration with harpists Maliah & Olivia;
Monday May11 - McCormick Landing sponsoring Safari Day; super safari bingo at 2:00; wear green & khaki. Pizza party for staff.
Tuesday May 12 - Ripple Ridge sponsoring Western Day; western roundup at 2:00; wear multi-colors and jeans. Cookout for McCormick, Gatch & Ripple
Wednesday May 13 - Milcroft Manor sponsoring USO Day; USO Dance at 2:00; wear red, white and blue. Cookout for Milcroft and Shumard
Thursday May 14 - Shumard Rehab sponsoring Prom Day; 7: 00 Senior - Senior Prom with Mark Rasmussen; Students from area High Schools will join us for an evening of music, dancing, food and fun. Wear"fancy stuff" (jewelry, boa, etc).
Friday May 15 - Gatch Grove sponsoring Island Day; Island party at 2:00; wear bright Island shirts.
Saturday May 16 - Nursing Home week video at 2:00

KUGLER WOODS (ASSISTED LIVING) EVENTS THIS MONTH: May 5^th & 19^th - 2:00 Manicures; 6^th - Bible Study with Chaplain Bill; 20^th - History with Chaplain Bill; 21^st - Lunch Outing; 26^th - "One Man Band" with Jim Hermann.

STAFF NEWS - Congratulations to Dawn Field (Milcroft Manor). Her son, Riley Jay, was born on April 20 and weighed 8 lb. Chaplain Bill has a new grandson, Ryker William, born in March and weighing 6 lb. Renee Mack and Raquel Camacho both passed their LPN Boards!

FEATURED RESIDENT by Bill Oehler, Chaplain

We are so thankful to be able to feature 103 year old Mary Ruhstaller, with whom we had a lot of fun celebrating. Mary was born in Covington, Kentucky in 1906, and lived in Cincinnati while growing up. She completed the 8^th grade, which was the norm back then. Mary and her brother William were raised by their mother who did odd jobs and sewing. They both married, but neither had children. Mary had an interesting job, working for a Bee company. They worked with bee hives and sold the honey. She also worked at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital as a bookkeeper, retiring after 26 years.

Mary loves to read and was very good at sewing. She played the organ and especially liked: Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue; Sweet Georgia Brown; Whose Sorry Now and Peg of My Heart. She also played country songs, including Anytime, and Your Cheating Heart. Mary traveled to Hawaii and across the continental United States, from New York to California. She lived in Fairfax with her Mom and later moved to SEM Laurels and SEM Terrace before moving into our Kugler Woods in 2004. She now lives in Gatch Grove where she is doing very well. She was active with The Merry Elders, a seniors group in Mariemont and is a big Reds fan. She liked Pete Rose whose number was the same as her birthday, “14”. She likes dogs and had a white poodle, named Mike. Mike’s picture is in her room, a birthday gift from her special friend, Inez Reynolds.

A passage for Mary: Ps. 71:18 “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come”. Mary has a smile that lights up a room!

Barb Wolf,
Administrator