A Community of Compassionate Care
Wearepleasedtoshareanexciting progressupdateontherenovationofour state-of-the-artassistedlivingfacility, whichisontracktoopenitsdoorsin early2025.Thisprojectrepresentsour commitmenttoprovidingacomfortable, safe,andenrichingenvironmentforour futureresidents.
RenovationMilestonesAchieved Sincethecommencementofthe renovation,wehavereachedseveral significantmilestones:
ExteriorRemodeling:Allnewwindows havebeeninstalledandthenewsidingis beinginstalled Asweatherpermits,soon anewparkinglotonthesouthsideof thebuilding,landscapingandthefront exteriorwillbecomplete.
InteriorRemodeling:Theinterior spaceshavebeencompletely reimagined.Ourdesignteamhasbeen diligentlyworkingtocreatespacious, accessible,andaestheticallypleasing livingareas.Modernamenitieshavebeen addedtoenhancethequalityoflifefor ourresidents.
UtilitiesUpgrade:Wehaveupdatedall theessentialutilities,includingthe electrical,plumbing,andHVACsystems, toensurereliabilityandefficiency.
ProgressUpdateontheRenovation ofOurAssistedLivingFacility
UpcomingMilestones
Aswemoveforward,severalcritical phasesoftherenovationaresetto commence:
FurnishingandEquipment:Inthe comingmonths,wewillbeginthe furnishingprocess.Eachroomand commonareawillbecarefullyequipped withcomfortableandmodernfurniture, alongwiththenecessarymedicaland safetyequipment
StaffHiringandTraining:Recruitment forhighlyskilledstaffiscurrently underway Wewillbehiringateamof dedicatedprofessionalswhowill undergoextensivetrainingtoensure theydeliverthehighestlevelofcareand supporttoourresidents.
ApplicationProcess:Weareexcitedto announcethatwewillstartaccepting applicationsinthefallofthisyear. Prospectiveresidentsandtheirfamilies willhavetheopportunitytotourthe facility,meetourteam,andlearnmore abouttheservicesandprogramswe offer.
LookingAhead
Ourgoalistocreateanurturing environmentwhereresidentscanthrive, socialize,andenjoytheirgoldenyears.
Asweapproachtheopeningdate,we willcontinuetoshareupdatesand progressreportstokeepyouinformed everystepoftheway.
HowtoStayInformed Formoreinformationandregular updatesontherenovationprogress, pleasevisitourwebsiteandvisitour newsletter.Youcanalsofollowuson Facebooktostayconnectedandreceive thelatestnews
Weappreciateyourpatienceand supportasweworkdiligentlytoprepare ourfacilityforitsgrandopening Welook forwardtowelcomingourfirstresidents inearly2025andprovidingthemwitha warmandcaringhome.
Thankyouforyourcontinuedinterest andsupport Feelfreetoreachoutto myselfatanytimeforanyquestions youmayhave.
JodyLennon| DirectorofNursing
HowToGetUp AfterAFall FOLLOW-UP
AsyoureadfromtheJulynewsletterIwroteonfall prevention,Iwantedtosharemyeducationonhowtoget upafterafall.Therapistswilleducate,teachandprovide exercisesregardingfallpreventionbuttheyalsoteachhow togetupafterafallandtrytopreventfurtherinjury
AccordingtotheCDC1in4peopleage65andolderfall eachyearandwiththesefallssomemaylayonthefloorfor alongtimebeforehelparrivescausingmoreseriousinjury orhealthproblemssuchasdehydration,delirium,pressure sores,pneumonia.
After1fallmanyfearanotherfall,causingmanytobecome sedentaryforthatfearoffallingagain Tocombatthis, seniorscanproactivelylearnsafetechniquesonhowto getupfromafall.
Thefirstthingseniorsneedtoconsideris,aretheysafeto getup.Ifyoufeeldizzy,faint,questionaninjury,tooweak togetup,itisbesttocall911.ThisiswhyTherapists,Nurses andDoctorsrecommendseniorstohaveaLifeAlertto activateemergencyservices
Herearesomesteps/suggestionsonhowtogetup:
Staycalmandstill Don’tmoveforafewminutes becausemovingtooquicklycancausemoreharm.
2.
1 Figureoutifyou’reinjured.Slowlymovehandsandfeet, armsandlegstocheckforpain.
3
Iftherearenoinjuries,slowlyrollontoyourside, startingthemovementwithyourheadandmoving downyourbodytowardyourfeet.Takeamomentto rest
JoanMeyer| HR/PayrollDirector
“AlotofpeoplehavethenotionthatoncetheFourthofJuly isover...summerisover!Notme!IlovesummerandIlove thattherearestillsomanywarm,sunshinydayslefttoenjoy ThemonthofAugustcansometimesbeviewedasthegrand finaleofsummer.Thedaysarebecomingshorter,kidsare goingbacktoschool,andfallisnottoofaraway.Butthere’s stillsomuchthatyoucandoinAugust!
Here is a list of SOME my favorites:
1)Cooloffatyourlocalpoolorwaterparkorpackapicnic andheadtothelake.
2)GoCamping!Spendanightunderthestars,roasthotdogs andmarshmallowsaroundacampfire,andembracethe beautyofnaturewithfriendsandfamily
3)Gameon!Playoutdoorsportswithfriendsandfamilylike pickleball,badminton,frisbeegolf,orsoccerinlocalparksor yourbackyard Orheadouttoyourlocalgolfcourse!
4)Organizeabarbecuewithfamilyandfriendsinaparkor yourbackyard.
5)Checkoutlocalmusicevents,concerts,oroutdoor festivalshappeninginyourarea Wehaveanamazinglive musicscenehereintown
6)Visitfarmers'marketstoexplorefreshproduce,artisanal goods,listentolocalartistsifthey’reinattendance,and supportlocalvendors WednesdaysandSaturdaysherein town Andmanyothertownsaroundthearea!!
7)Augustisanexcellenttimeforstargazingduetometeor showerslikethePerseids,whichtypicallyoccurslateJuly untillateAugust Justbesuretodrivetoaplacewithlittleto nolightpollution!
4
Slowlypushupintoacrawlingpositionandcrawlslowly onhandsandkneestowardasturdychairorpieceof furniture.Placeyourhandsontheseatofthechairor furniture,oneatatime
Supportingyourselfwiththechairorpieceoffurniture, bringyourstrongestleguptoa90degreeangleby puttingthatfootflatontheground.Theotherlegstays inkneelingposition Slowlypushuptostandingusing botharmsandlegs Makesurethepieceoffurnitureis sturdytopreventfurtherinjury/fall.
6.
5 Slowlyturnaroundandloweryourselfontothechair. Sitandcatchyourbreathforafewminutesbeforedoing anythingelse
Fallswillhappensoit’sbesttounderstandhowtoprevent fallsandhowtogetupfromafall Bestadviceistostay active
HaveasafeandhappyAugust!
8)Enjoythewaterwhiletheweatherisstillwarm!Go canoeing,kayaking,tubing,orraftingonnearbyriversor lakes LizardCreekisrightinourownbackyardandAMAZING forkayaking!
9)Findadrive-intheaterandgotoamovie!SpiritLakehas twoscreensandshows4moviesanight.
10)OurStateFairistheBESTstatefairplusmanytownshold countyfairsinAugust,offeringgames,rides,entertainment, anddelicioustreats.
11)Hikingornaturewalks-Explorescenictrailsatcity,state, orcountyparks Spendingtimeinnaturealsocan significantlyreducestresslevelsandhelpstriggertherelease ofendorphins.SnellCrawford,KennedyandDolliverareall easilyaccessible.Besuretobringwaterandstayhydrated!
12)Gotoamajororminorleaguebaseballgamewith friends.TheNFLreturnswithpreseasongamesbeginning August3rd.Collegefootballalsomakesareturninlate August
13)ICECREAM!There’snobetterwaytobeattheheatthan visitingyourlocalicecreamshop.SnackShack,Darietteand Steburger’sareamongstmyfavesbutIdon’tdiscriminate whenitcomestoicecream!
There’sstillsomuchfuntobehadinAugust. GetoutthereandENJOYIT!
FAITHWILLIAMS
LPN,INFECTIONCONTROL
FluSeasonisJust AroundtheCorner
A reminder that flu season is just around the corner and our residents are more susceptible to complications from the flu
Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year
Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent, an inactivated vaccine (meaning it uses the killed version of the germ that causes a disease) approved for people 65-plus, contains four times the antigen of standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines. Antigen is the part of the vaccine that helps your body build up protection against flu viruses.
FluSymptoms
Flucancausemildtosevereillness,andattimescanleadtodeath Flu symptomsusuallycomeonsuddenly Peoplewhohavefluoftenfeelsome orallofthesesignsandsymptoms:
Fever*orfeelingfeverish/chills
Cough
Sorethroat
Runnyorstuffynose
Muscleorbodyaches
Headaches
Fatigue(tiredness)
Somepeoplemayhavevomitinganddiarrhea,thoughthisismore commoninchildrenthanadults.
*It’simportanttonotethatnoteveryonewithfluwillhaveafever
FluSpreads
Mostexpertsbelievethatfluvirusesspreadmainlybytinydropletsmade whenpeoplewithflucough,sneeze,ortalk.Thesedropletscanlandinthe mouthsornosesofpeoplewhoarenearby Puttingphysicaldistancebetween yourselfandothersalongwithgoodhandwashingcanhelplowertheriskof spreadingarespiratoryvirus.
Wedoaskifyouarenotfeelingwellorhaveanyrespiratorysymptoms thatyounotvisituntilyouarefeelingwellandallsymptomshaveresolved Ifyouhaveanyquestionsabouttheflu(orCovid19)vaccinations,please contactFaithWilliamsat515-574-5905.
TAP visits the Marian Home
nity is important to us.” dministrator
Our program works with Senior High students who have a disability We focus on employability skills, job exploration, self-advocacy, post secondary opportunities, and getting our students hands on experience in the workforce. We are housed in the senior high year round where we provide preemployment transition services activities throughout the day and refer students to IVRS for services after high school
TAP stands for Transition Alliance Program. We are a contract between Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Fort Dodge school district.
We run these camp days during summer to continue the learning opportunities year round The summer camps are a combination of all the area schools who work with IVRS We combine the schools for summer programming so we can bring students from other areas to get to know new people.
At the Marian Home we learned from all the department heads about the career opportunities and all the teamwork it takes to provide a great nursing home. To finish the day we played a game with residents
Maintenance &Transportation |TravisFilloon
TheMaintenance&TransportationDepartmenthasbeen busyplanningandimplementingrepairs&renovationwork throughoutallMarianHome&Villageproperties Attimes muchoftheworkperformedbythemaintenance departmentstaffgoesunnoticed,asitshould.However, repairs&upkeeponHVACequipmentisongoingwith seldomadaythatwedonothavetotroubleshootor addressacoolingissueduringthesummermonths. Ifyoufeellikeair-conditioningisnotworkingproperlyor needassistancewithcontrolsjustgivesusacallandwe willrespondinatimelymanner
ThemajorrenovationprojectontheMarianHomeAssisted Livingsite(formerlyVillaCottages)continuestobeon scheduletobecompletedneartheendofJanuary2025! Detailsonthefutureplansforthelargegrassylot,where theVillaCareCenteroncestood,arestillbeingdiscussed andclarified,withdetailstobesharedatalaterdate. Theentireblockofrentalhouses(northofMarianHome &Village)willcontinuetobemaintainedforseveralyears unlessupkeepcostsbecomeunreasonable
Ourtransportationdriversdoagreatjobbystartingthe vehiclesearlyenoughtohavethemcooleddownpriorto transportingourresidents&tenantstoappointments duringtheseexcessiveheattimeperiods.
Pleasefeelfreetocontactmedirectlyifanyquestionsor concernsshouldarise?OnbehalfoftheMaintenance& TransportationDepartmentsattheMarianHome&Village.
Staysafeandhealthy&seeyousoon!
FromDietaryDept. |RachelPederson
SweetCornSeason!
WehavesoenjoyedthesweetcornthisyearattheMarianHome. Hereissomenutritioninformationandfunfactsaboutthis seasonalfavorite.
CornoriginatedinMexicoover9000yearsagoandisknownby itsoriginalnameas"maize".
Cornisaverypopularfoodthatisconsideredbothavegetable andawholegrain Itcanbeeatenwholeassweetcornoras popcornorprocessedintochips,oilandsyrup Mostcornthat isgrownisusedforanimalfeedandfuelproduction.
Corndoeshavesomegoodnutritionalvalue,butitcanalso spikebloodsugarlevelsbecauseofitscarbohydratecontent Cornishighincarbohydrate,fiber,magnesium,andpotassium, butlowinproteinandfat.
Whilewholecornproductsareagoodsourceoffiberandare glutenfree,processedcornproductsarenotasnutritious Sweetcornseasonisshort,soifyouwanttoenjoysomecornon thecob,besuretogetsomesoon.
Ifyouwantagreatwaytocookyoursweetcorn,checkoutthis recipebelow:
Grandma’sSweetCorn 1cupmilk 1stickbutter 1/4c sugar 1-2t salt
Addthistowaterandbringcorntoaboilfor10minutes. Thiswillmakeyourcornsweetandjuicy.
“Inordertosucceedyourdesireforsuccessshouldbegreater thanyourfearoffailure”Thisdefinitelygivessomefoodfor thought Ifwewanttodowellinlifeweneedtoworkhard Manytimesthisishardtodo.WeoratleastIsometimesliketo taketheeasywayoutanddothingssimplesoIdonothaveto worryaboutfailure.Thisisnotalwaysthebestwayofdoing things Sometimesitisbettertofailandlearnsothenexttime yousucceed Thisisalsoagoodthingtothinkaboutnowas Schoolwillsoonbeginagain. HardtobelieveAugustishere andanewschoolyearwillbestarting.Ihopeanyonethatis returningtoschoolinanywaywillhaveagreatyear,andif youarenotIhopetherestoftheyearisalsogoodforyou
Asalwaysifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns. pleasefeelfreetocontactme.
SocialWorker
|MaryLundberg
FromYourActivityDirectors
AugustisthelastMonthofSummer!!!So,thismeansBacktoSchool.Wehaveacarshow, (dressinyour50s,60s,and70soutfits).Wewillbehavingdifferentclassesthroughoutthe MonthsuchasCookingClass,HistoryClass,(game:DoyouknowyourstatesHistory?) LifeSkillsClass,(game:Life)MathClass,(game:Farkle)StudentCouncil,(Resident Council)andofcourseRecess.Thekitchenwillbepreparingaschoollunchinapaper sack.Wealsohavesomenewgamestoplayoutsidetohavefunwiththismonth.
Have a great last month of Summer!
Please
