SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, July 2009

EDEN ALTERNATIVE - In June, eight staff members attended the Ohio Person Centered Care Coalition annual meeting in Columbus. The day was filled with great speakers and 500 participants from across the state. We learned that many of the innovations we have put into place (households, relaxed meals, permanent staff assignments, cross-training, team-based management, residents at the center of decision making and more) are exactly what the state and federal legislators and regulators are looking for in the future of long-term care. We were quite pleased to see how far ahead we are as compared to most homes. Those attending were Melody Murray (thanks for driving the bus), Kelli Bonham, Diane Cunningham, Peggy Havens, Carla Grulkowski, Estrella Jordan, Barb Wolf and Felicia Ayers.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS
Kugler Woods: We had a lot of fun in June getting our Bells and Boom Whacker Band together. We will be performing for the SEM has talent show on the 23^rd. We also went to Montgomery Inn Boathouse and had wonderful ribs and a great view of the Ohio River and Kentucky.

Ripple Ridge: We are enjoying watching our garden grow and have already eaten some fresh vegetables out of it. We went to Bob Evans for lunch and had a family picnic. Ripple participated in the cornhole tournament and continue to do lots of household activities. Next month we are planning happy hour July 30th and a lunch outing. We are hoping to go to a Red's game this summer. Congratulations to Amy Lay who will be getting married on July 18 to Scotty in Gatlinburg!

Gatch Grove: We practiced hard for the cornhole tournament, didn't win but had fun. We grilled out steaks, had almost out to lunch from Arby's and out to lunch at Pompilio's. Our annual Resident/Family/Staff dinner was well attended and a rousing success. July plans include: KFC almost out to lunch for national fried chicken day; old fashioned grill-out the 16^th; ice cream making; Cheesecake Factory on the 20^th; Bugs Bunny birthday party on the 27^th and wrap up with happy hour on the 29^th.

Milcroft Manor: Our resident/staff grill-out was a big success. We had steak, burgers and hotdogs with all the traditional side dishes. We are planning a summer ride and an ice cream run to the Creamy Whip. We are also excited about our garden - the corn and tomatoes look beautiful! We are having Neighborhood Bingo each month with Gatch Grove. We would like to wish everyone a great 4^th of July.

McCormick Landing: We celebrated nurse aide day with a homemade pineapple upside down cake and a small gift from all of the residents. We appreciate everything our nurse aides do for us. We went to eat at Longhorn Steak House where the food was great and of course we all ate too much. We have been practicing cornhole and are proud to say that McCormick Landing came in 2^nd place in the tournament. Our flower beds are looking very pretty and we are enjoying the view from our patio. On July 16^th we are having a resident/staff/family picnic at 12pm. We would like families to come and bring a covered dish - please let Melody know.

Shumard Rehab: In June we enjoyed our cookout & participated in our cornhole tournament. We didn't win but had a good time. We now have a raised flower bed in the courtyard which some of the patients will help take care of. We will have our monthly cookout on July 16^th, happy hour on July 30^th and other summertime treats like Banana Splits and Soda Shop.

STAFF NEWS - Congratulations to Leigh Karpinski, our Speech Therapist., who was married on June 27. A first time grandma is Cecilia McGee (McCormick). Anna Elizabeth was born June 11 and weighed 6lb 10 oz. Betty Marcelino (Gatch) welcomed grandchild #6, Olivia Leigh, born June 12 and weighing 6 lb, 7 oz. Caroline Craig has a new niece, Vivian Ruth, born June 19 and weighing just 3.5lb.

RESIDENT OF THE MONTH - (by Chaplain Bill) Meet my old buddy, Jerry Conrad. Born and raised in New York City, he grew up during the twenties. His mom was a very smart housewife, his father worked in the garment industry and played ball for the Washington Senators. He had an older brother, Murray. Jerry graduated from North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a BS in Chemistry; Phi Beta Kappa, Honorary Top of Class Society. He was also a gymnast and on the swim team. Jerry was married in 1944 to Beverly. He met her when they were both kid's summer camp counselors in Vermont. She was from Brooklyn College, studying ballet and English literature. She was also an artist, but the thing that got Jerry was, she was beautiful. Their son, Michael, was born in 1946. Karen was born in 1951. Today, Karen is Jerry's watchful angel (he has told me so). His stepfather was Dr. Abraham Lincoln Goldwater who was famous for taking care of both the poor and the famous (Helen Keller was a patient).

Jerry was in the US Army Air Corps in WWII and trained at M.I.T. as a meteorologist. In 1960, he became founder and CEO of Imperial Adhesives, the chemical and adhesive division of U.S. Shoe in Cincinnati. He later became a corporate Vice President of U.S. Shoe Corporation.

He worked with blind children in Fort Myers, Florida, VIP (Visually Impaired Persons). He sponsored them to NASA Space Camp. Jerry's favorite music is ballet (remember his beautiful wife, Beverly). They went to the ballet in New York City all the time. They also loved musicals. Jerry's family church background was diverse. His father's motto was "never tolerate intolerance". Jerry enjoys our Interdenominational Services. A verse for Jerry would be from Acts 28:31 "Boldly and without hindrance He preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ". I love Jerry and thank God I got to know Him.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS - We have begun practicing for the SEM Haven Olympics that will be held the week of August 31. We are also practicing for SEM'S Got Talent. Residents & staff will perform on July 23. One of the groups will be the SEM Serenaders, made up of residents from the McCormick Landing & Ripple Ridge households. Another performance will be by Kugler Woods Bells & Boom Wacker Band.

On July 1^st Lori Canathan's piano students will give a recital; 15t^h - Rickey Nye & the Mudbugs will perform Jazz music (he has been here in the past & is quite good).

Additional events for Kugler Woods Assisted Living - July 1 - 10:30 Devotions with Bill; 2nd -Patriotic Party with Ray Heckman and his saxophone; 10, 17 & 31 - Olympics Practice; 14, & 28 - Piano with Ruth Schaeffer; 16^th - 11:30 Lunch Outing (Cracker Barrel); 23^rd - 12:00 picnic lunch courtyard; July 3, 9, 16, 21 - Bells & Boom whacker Practice; 30^th - 2:00 Banjo with Dave & Jackie McCoy.

Have a Great Month!

Barb Wolf, Administrator