In The Loop | February 2024

VOL. 4 | FEBRUARY 2024

A Community of Compassionate Care

"Lent is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter," said Sills. "Those 40 days are set aside as a time of reflection, repentance and spiritual growth. 40 days are observed to represent the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert where he fasted and was tempted by the devil.

Inside This Edition: Director of Nursing 2 Business Office Manager 2 Social Worker 3 Maintenance/Transportation 3 From Dietary Dept. 3 Activities 4

February Anniversaries: Denise Duple 4 years Eric Bradfield 2 years Nanette Kehrberg 1 year Punnamma Nimmagadda 1 year Cynthia Sheker 1 year Anne Simpson 1 year

As we step into the season of Lent, a period of 40 days leading up to Easter, we have a unique opportunity to engage in selfreflection, spiritual growth, and acts of kindness during this sacred time. Let us embark on this Lenten season together, exploring how each of us can make the most of this period of renewal.

By incorporating intentional acts of kindness, simplifying our lives, and deepening our spiritual practices, we can make the most of these 40 days, emerging on Easter Sunday with hearts full of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose. May this Lenten season be an enriching chapter in our individual spiritual journeys.

God Bless

Tracy

Ash Wednesday Good Friday Easter Sunday

February 14, 2024 March 29, 2024 March 31, 2024

It’s February – American Heart Month – a time when the nation spotlights heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans.

President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who’d had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation in 1964. Since then, U.S. presidents have annually declared February American Heart Month.

Jody Lennon | Director of Nursing

Throughout the month, the American Heart Association’s “Heart to Heart: Why Losing One Woman Is Too Many” campaign will raise awareness about how 1 in 3 women are diagnosed with heart disease annually.

The first Friday of American Heart Month, Feb. 5, is also National Wear Red Day as part of the AHA’s Go Red for Women initiative.

Coast to coast, landmarks, news anchors and neighborhoods go red to raise awareness and support for the fight against heart disease.

This year, the federally designated event is even more important due to the impact of the coronavirus on the public’s heart health, including potential harmful effects on the heart and vascular system, according to recent research.

Also, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have delayed or avoided going to hospitals for heart attacks and strokes –

Bailey Beebe | Business Office Manager Please make sure you are returning your Medicare Part B forms, these are to be updated annually with the new costs from Medicare.

We need to place them in the resident’s files in the event they would need therapy, that way we have communicated the information to you ahead of time.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me! 515-574-5901 or bbeebe@marianhome.com”

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Bailey Beebe

netting poorer outcomes and prompting the AHA to create “Don’t Die of Doubt,” a national awareness campaign that reminds people hospitals are the safest place to go when you have symptoms.

And while in lockdown, more people have engaged in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, such as eating poorly, drinking more alcohol and limiting physical activity, that can contribute to heart disease.

Meanwhile, heart disease continues to be the greatest health threat to Americans and is still the leading cause of death worldwide.

During American Heart Month, the AHA and other organizations reinforce the importance of heart health, the need for more research and efforts to ensure that millions of people live longer and healthier.

In most cases, heart disease is preventable when people adopt a healthy lifestyle, which includes not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity a week and getting regular checkups.

Jody Lennon

Jody Lennon, RN DON

Maintenance & Transportation | Travis Filloon In my January newsletter article, I tauntingly noted that we had only received a taste of Winter and then Mother Nature abruptly began shoving “soap” in the form of snow, ice, and cold in our mouths and made us chew!

(Oh, that brings back memories!)

Our maintenance/transportation staff & associates have been diligently thawing frozen water lines, maintaining heating systems, and clearing snow and ice away from walks and vehicles all too frequently!

So far, snow removal along our section of 7th Avenue has been accomplished without issue. Thanks to everyone for temporarily relocating your parked vehicles soon after snow events have finished as this allows us to access and remove remaining snow more easily from curb to curb along the entire street. Also, the portable private “road” signage in middle of road at each end will be removed for the remainder of the winter season, the permanently posted signage will remain indefinitely.

The Marian Home- Assisted Living Remodel project (at the former Villa Cottages site) is expected to begin with a Bid Letting in early February 2024, estimated project start date of March 1, 2024 and completion date of January 31, 2025.

On the grounds where the former Villa Care once stood, snow will continue to be removed from the walking path along 10th Ave and the future grassy lot will be maintained until long-range plans are developed and implemented.

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you see a situation that requires our attention or if you just have a question related to maintenance or transportation.

On behalf of the Marian Home and Village, stay warm and healthy.

Travis

From Dietary Dept. | Rachel Pederson February is Heart Month! How are you taking care of your heart? Do you know your blood pressure numbers?

The CDC estimates that 1 in 2 adults have high blood pressure. They also state that of those with high blood pressure, only 1 in 4 have it under control (<130/80). If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can increase a person's risk for heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, pregnancy complications and cognitive decline later in life. Here are some general lifestyle tips to be aware of as you work to decrease your risk of high blood pressure and have a healthy heart.

1. Know your health history and your numbers. Ask your family about health problems and risk factors and know your blood pressure trends.

2. Eat a healthy diet. More fruits and vegetables, less processed foods.

3. Move more, sit less. Activity of any kind is good for your heart and can lower blood pressure.

4. Quit smoking.

5. Take all medications as directed.

6. Choose your drinks wisely. More water and less sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol.

7. Monitor your blood pressure at home.

Social Worker | Mary Lundberg We have made it through the first month of this new year, with some bitter cold temperatures along the way. February 2nd is Ground Hog day and the hope, as always, is that old ground hog does not see his shadow.

A short winter season is something that I look forward to. This February we will see the start of Lent, with Ash Wednesday on the 14th. May this Lent bring peace to all of you as you prepare for Easter. We also have an extra day this month due to it being a leap year. As always if you have any questions about things that your loved ones may need please give me call.

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M A R I A N

H O M E

A N D

V I L L A G E

Please feel free to contact us in the Activity Department at any time. Our direct line is 515-574-5906 or email either of us with questions or suggestions.

Email: photz@marianhome.com or lstein@marianhome.com

From Your Activity Directors

Pam Hotz Co-Actvity Director

Hello, from the Activities staff. We are amazed that the years are going by so fast! This year is Leap Year. So, in February there are 29 days in the month. Here is a little bit about how we get Leap Year. It takes approximately 365.25 days for Earth to Orbit the Sun (a solar year). We usually round the days in a Calendar year to 365. To make up for the missed partial day, we add one day to the Calendar approximately every 4 years. That is called Leap Year. Wow, Leap Year is upon us. We have Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, the Super Bowl, and an extra day for Leap Year. In Activities we will start back up with Choir Practice, we are having a Crazy Carnival for Mardi Gras, a little Valentine Trivia, Maurice Jules entertaining us, we are planning some Leap Year trivia, then watch a Leap Year movie, while having finger sandwiches that look like frogs and to wash it down with some Pond Punch. We in Activities will enjoy the Month of February, Please come anytime to join in with your loved one and have some fun.

Pam and Laura Direct # 1-515-574-5906 photz@marianhome.com lstein@marianhome.com

Laura Stein Co-Actvity Director