SEM Haven - Monthly Update

Monthly Update, June 2010

EDEN ALTERNATIVE - How do our households run? Who makes decisions about resident care and life on the household? Research has shown that much better outcomes are achieved when decision-making is placed as closely as possible in the hands of the residents and front-line staff. At SEM Haven we have team based management on the households. Most of our staff are "cross-trained" in skills needed to help each other and the residents so that the household runs smoothly. This way the residents have more staff available who are trained to meet their needs. We have formed a care partnership between residents, staff and families.

HOUSEHOLD HAPPENINGS -
Kugler Woods - We went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and had fun looking for goodies in the store while others rocked on the front porch. We also have had a lot of fun planting our flower beds and pots in the courtyard. Dorothy Seip, Eleanor Ashe, Marge Hale and Vivian Hamilton planted while Edna Tebbe sang to us. We would like to welcome Fern Theis to our family.
Ripple Ridge - In May we enjoyed lunch at Chili's, almost out to lunch from White Castle, and a trip to the Nature Center. June will be a busy month; we have tickets for the Reds ball game on the 17^th, a lunch outing on the 9^th and happy hour on the 25^th. We would like to invite all our families and friends to our annual cookout on June 24^th at Pattison Park. We will be having food and games from 12-2pm. It would be great if you could bring a covered dish to share! Please call Kelli to RSVP at 965-7767.
McCormick Landing - The residents are doing a good job at keeping the weeds at bay in our raised flower boxes. One of our residents donated a fountain for our patio that we enjoy very much. For Nursing Home Week our household did "Disco Fever" and we taught everyone the Hustle. We had lunch at TGI Friday's and are planning a picnic at a neighborhood park. Let Melody Murray at 965-7726 know if you would be interested in helping/attending.
Shumard Rehab - We had a great turn out for our cookout and enjoyed happy hour & almost out to lunch at Frisch's. We planted our garden & everything looks great, both in the Shumard courtyard & our flower bed in the gazebo. Residents Mae Proffitt & Mary Brauer helped. We are also taking care of our seedlings & watching them grow into beautiful flowers. In June we will have lunch from Skyline & will make a great Strawberry Surprise in hopes of winning the contest. We look forward to our summer cookouts in the courtyard.
Milcroft Manor - Our garden is growing rapidly. We planted green beans, cantaloupe and tomatoes. We just installed a squirrel feeder next to the dining room window to enjoy our pet squirrel. Our residents have new patio furniture! We had a nice grill out last month and almost out to lunch at White Castles. We started an "around the world" theme with Spain day and this month we will have an Irish Day.
Gatch Grove - May started with big activities for nursing home week and flew by with grilling, picnic indoors, lunch at Longhorn, and a pizza party. June's schedule is just as busy with trips to Cracker Barrel, out for ice cream, household grilling, almost out to lunch from Subway and homemade soups. We are entering the Grillin' with Tim contest from Channel 12 News. If we are successful, we will host the event for the entire Gatch Grove family as our annual resident - family dinner. Congratulations to Stephanie Gibsonn on her wedding.

We wish to thank the American Legion Auxiliary and the Milford Garden Club for their donation of bedding plants for our entrance and courtyard!

FRONTIER'S DAY PARADE - Once again SEM Haven resident's, staff and volunteers participated in Milford's annual parade. The theme this year was Where the Little Miami Flows. Our float was a canoe with our residents fishing. Thanks to our committee for the design and construction - it was wonderful! It's always interesting to note how many of the onlookers know our residents and staff!

MENUS - Our Choice Menu is going great! Residents really enjoy having several choices for their meal. For the summer we will include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. We have incorporated many requests from our residents. Please continue to give us feedback as we try new recipes so we can make changes.

STAFF NEWS - We are very proud of Chelsea Sherley, Chanel Walker, Jewelle Haye, Alyssa Hinners and Emilee Whitaker who recently graduated from high school.

NURSING ASSISTANT MONTH - June has been designated as the month to recognize our nursing assistants. At SEM we have 68 Nursing Assistants whom we will honor with a special catered luncheon and a gift on Tuesday June 15. I'm sure they would appreciate any kind words or notes from others who see what a wonderful service they provide to our residents.

SOCIAL EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS - June 3^rd - John Lewis Magician; 9^th - Banana Split Social; 10^th - Garden club "Dill, 2010 Herb of the year; 16^th - Julie Clifford's Music; 17^th - Men's Cook-out Father's Day Celebration; 23^rd - Strawberry Surprise Contest; 30^th - Discus Throw competition.
Assisted Living
June 8^th & 22^nd - 2:00pm Happy Hour and Manicures; 14^th - 2:00pm Flag Day entertainment with Ray Heckman and his saxophone; 15^th - 2:00pm Karaoke sing-a-long; 15^th - 6:30pm Creamy Whip Outing; 17^th - Lunch Outing (residents choice); 24^th - Picnic in the Courtyard; 29^th - 6:30pm entertainment with Jim Hermann;

We would like to sincerely thank the students from Mariemont and Fayetteville High Schools who joined us for our Senior/Senior Prom. It was very well attended and there was plenty of dancing. Congratulations to our king, John Kuebler, and queens Lizzy Deadrick (Mariemont) and Betty Konrad.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES - Please get us e-mail addresses from all family members who would like to receive this monthly letter or the monthly household calendars. You can leave the addresses at the reception desk or at any household office.

FEATURED RESIDENT -

The Resident of the Month wheel landed on Isabelle Bernges of Ripple Ridge. She was born and raised in Milford and lived in a house on Wallace Avenue until she came to SEM Haven. Izzy's parents loved working on their small farm in Owensville, Ohio. She has an older one sister, Mary. Izzy graduated from Milford High School in 1947, then worked for Streetman's, which became Keebler's and then Kellogg's. Later, Izzy worked for Ohio Valley Egg Coop.

She married Bill Bernges, in 1949. She has a daughter (Becky), a grandson (Jeremy), and two great grandchildren (Morgan and Brady). Bill was in the U.S. Navy at the conclusion of WWII and spent some time in Japan. After the war, he worked for the American Laundry Company as a pipe-fitter and later for the Milford Water Works as a meter reader. He had a great hobby in woodworking. Bill passed away in 1995.

Izzy was an officer in the Eastern Star. She was also a seamstress, making curtains and clothes for Becky. She was a great cook, always experimenting and trying new recipes. She was also known for being the most patient and loving mother a person could have. She was always there for Becky and anyone else who needed her. Her favorite activities were bowling and camping. They did everything as a family including camping with a group from their church, trips to Myrtle Beach and the Rockies, and lots of trips to Rocky Fork. Bill and Izzy were members of the National Campers and Hikers Association. They were also charter members of the Milford Hills Swim Club. Izzy later traveled with her friend Edna Leming. They took a cruise from Boston to Nova Scotia and a bus trip to Yellowstone, Montana and the Dakotas.

Izzy was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Milford where she sang in the choir. I love seeing and hearing Izzy in our chapel; she has a lovely singing voice. A passage of scripture I would pick for Izzy is Ps. 33: 1-5. 1. Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. 2. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. 3. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully and shout for joy. 4. For the word of the Lord is right and true; and He is faithful in all He does. 5. The Lord loves righteous and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love. (NIV). I have a great love for Izzy, and I am so glad she is here with us. Chaplain Bill

Barb Wolf
Administrator