SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, September 2009

EDEN ALTERNATIVE – Eden Principle 6 states, "Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health." At SEM Haven we strive to celebrate the differences in each person, what makes you who you are. Our residents and staff like to recognize individual birthdays, anniversaries, and significant life events. We also like to learn about our family and friends and be supportive during good & tough times. This is what fills the spaces between life's great events with meaning.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS – Kugler Woods – In addition to Assisted Living Week (see below) we are planning a lunch outing on the 10th and piano with Ruth Schaefer on the 22^nd.
McCormick Landing - We celebrated National Smile week by making smiley faces and talking about things that makes us smile. During Best Friends week we had a discussion about how friends from our past and present have touched our lives. We had a great time at Buckhead Mountain Grill on the riverfront. We are really enjoying our weekly happy hours and have spent a lot of time on our patio enjoying the great weather and each other. We had a grill out and invited our neighbors from Shumard to join us in the gazebo. We have started doing some cooking and baking so if you have some favorite recipes please share them with us.
Ripple Ridge - We enjoyed lunch at IHOP this month. We took a bus ride around Milford and stopped for ice cream at UDF. Happy hour was a success as usual on the 27^th. We are going to the Schoolhouse Restaurant this month and plan to continue with lots of household activities.
Shumard Rehab – In August we joined our neighbors in McCormick Landing for a steak cook-out. We enjoyed happy hour twice this month. We also planted some "house plant babies" which are doing quite well; when they get a little bigger we will have a plant sale as a fund raiser. The residents enjoyed fried green tomatoes & a couple of ripe tomatoes from our garden.
Milcroft Manor - We would like to send out a special thank you to Harley in Maintenance. He has been having special music for our residents and built a dog house for Angel. We had a great time at our cook-out on the patio and are looking forward to the next one in September. We are also having almost out to lunch and a summer ride. Our kick off for money makers for the holidays will start off with a bake sale on September 11 and a Halloween basket raffle!
Gatch Grove – In August we loved the Banana Split Social, lunch at Mariemont Inn and almost out to lunch at Skyline Chili. We decorated hats for the Red Hat group, grilled out and had happy hour. In September we have planned Cheese Pizza, Chocolate Milkshake, and Ice Cream Cone Socials, lunch at Quaker Steak, almost out to lunch at Wendy's and our 1^stautumn van ride. We have almost completed our family cookbook fund-raiser and it will go to print this month.

OHIO STATE BUDGET – Nursing homes, like other state programs, have been seriously affected by the negative economic conditions. The biennial budget, effective July 1, 2009, has changes that will impact SEM Haven. There is a $5.70 per bed per day increase in the bed tax that all facilities have to pay. The state is also "bundling" payments for Medicaid recipients so the nursing home is now responsible to pay for over-the-counter medicine, ambulance trips and oxygen. These added expenses are partially reimbursed through our Medicaid rate but our net reimbursement will be significantly less. SEM Haven is researching ways to keep costs down and continue the great care and services we provide.

STATEMENTS – Beginning in October your statements will look different. We have switched to a new Accounts Receivable system. Please direct any questions to Toni in the Business Office.

FLU VACCINE – Our residents and staff will be receiving the vaccine for seasonal flu. This does not protect from the H1N1 (swine) flu. We urge everyone to not visit the nursing home if you feel ill or have a close family member who is ill. Please sign the enclosed consent form and return to the nursing home.

STAFF NEWS – Congratulations to our newest state tested nurse aides: Nikki Antoni, Page Dauterman, Jessica Edwards, Jewelle Haye, Kayla Luschek, Rachel McFarland, Laura Raisor, Chelsea Sherley, Sandy Thomas, Judy Thompson, Toni Tometich, and Chanel Walker. Our annual staff recognition banquet is scheduled for late October, at Receptions Banquet Hall in Loveland. We sincerely appreciate the monetary and merchandise donations from friends, family members and vendors that make this night possible. We always have many great door prizes! Please make donations through Toni in the Business Office.

We had a going away party for a special volunteer, Carol Heidkamp, who has been here weekly since July 2003. She is moving to Dayton to be with her sister. Thanks Carol!

NATIONAL ASSISTED LIVING WEEK, "Traditions of the Heart" – September 13^th~ 18^th
Monday ~ Sept. 13^th (wear Purple) 2:00 A trip down memory lane with Jackie McCoy & her banjo
Tuesday ~ Sept. 15^th (wear Black & White) 1:30 Country Ho-down with Mike Pendell
Wednesday ~ Sept. 16^th (wear Green) 2:00 Dollar bingo; 6:30 -Resident/Family/Staff Annual Potluck Picnic in the Courtyard with entertainment by Mark Rasmussen
Thursday ~ Sept. 17^th (wear Blue) 2:00 Fall tunes with Ray Heckman's saxophone
Friday ~ Sept. 18^th (wear Red) 2:00 Quarter poker; 6:30 One man band with Jim Hermann

RESIDENT OF THE MONTH by Chaplain Bill

Catherine Hopkins (our little Irish girl) was raised in Cincinnati, in the Walnut Hills area. Her father passed away when she was 12 and her mother supported the five children by working as a house cleaner. Catherine went to Assumption Catholic School then to trade school. She worked for the IRS and later for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and finally retired from there. Catherine married James Hopkins, a salesman and delivery man for the Bluebird Pie Company. They had 7 children: Mike, twins Terry and Thom, Sandy, Mary, Julie and Pat. Catherine has 7 grandsons and 6 great granddaughters. They are a really nice family and she loves them all.

Catherine likes to read and do crossword puzzles. She was a good cook and housekeeper and loves being a mom. She was her children's #1 sports fan and she went to the Cincinnati Reds games as often as she could. Catherine loved to travel and made it to Mexico and Ireland. She is Irish and proud of it! She likes all kinds of music from the Beatles to Andy Williams and Robert Goulet. She loves opera, classical, big band, hymns and especially Irish music. Singing is one of her favorite things and the chaplain loves to sing with her. It is not uncommon to hear her singing in the dining room, hallway, or in her room.

A passage that sums up Catherine is Ps. 150: Praise God in His holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of Heaven. Give praise for His mighty deeds; praise Him for His Great Majesty. Give praise with blasts upon the horn, praise Him with harp and lyre. Give praise with tambourines and dance. Praise Him with flutes and strings. Give praise with crashing cymbals; praise Him with sounds of cymbals. Let everything that has breath give praise to the Lord! Hallelujah! (N.A.B. Catholic version).

Barb Wolf
Administrator