A Community of Compassionate Care
InsideThisEdition:
DirectorofNursing 2
BusinessOfficeManager 2
SocialWorker 3
Maintenance/Transportation 3
FromDietaryDept. 3
Activities 4
July Anniversaries:
FaithWilliams 35years
AmySchumacher 30years
NicoleLessmeier 10years
ConnieSnow 10years
TraceyBrownfield 8years
AnneNewell 8years
TracyRunkle 3years
RubyVattamattathil 3years
LeighaFritz 3years
A
WhatisGratitude?
Gratitudeismorethanasimple“thankyou.”It’sthepracticeof recognizingandappreciatingthepositiveaspectsofourlives,thepeoplearoundus, andeventhechallengesthathelpusgrow.
Someofthebenefitsofgratitudeinclude:improvedmentalhealth,improvedphysical health,Strongerrelationshipsandenhancedempathy.
Gratitudeisapowerfultoolthatcantransformourlivesandthosearoundus.By intentionallyfocusingonwhatwehaveratherthanwhatwelack,wecancultivatea senseofcontentment,improveourmentalandphysicalhealth,andbuildstronger relationships.
Takeamomenttodaytoreflectonwhatyouaregratefulforandconsidersharing yourappreciationwithothers.Onesimplethankyoucangoalongwayincreatinga morepositiveandconnectedworld.
Tracy
JodyLennon| DirectorofNursing
Lowering Your Risk of Falls
OneinfourolderadultsintheU.S.willfalleachyear, puttingthematriskofinjury,brokenbonesandeven death.
Fallsareagrowingpublichealthconcernasthe country’spopulationseesrecordnumbersofpeople turn65—nowandinthefuture.Ascommonasfalls maybe,theyarenotinevitable.Themorepeoplestudy healthyagingthemoretheylearnwaystoprevent falls.Herearesomerecommendationsonhowto reduceyourriskoffalling:
Fall-proofyourhome
Startwithhowyourhouseissetup:Considerremoving smallarearugs,changeoutdimlightinganddon’tput potsandpansinhard-to-reachplaces.Then,aimfor providingextrastabilityinplaceswhereit’seasierto loseyourbalance.Installrailingsonbothsidesofthe stairs,agrabbarinabathroomandno-slipstripson woodortilefloors.
It’salsoimportanttokeepyourhomeclean: Don’tleaveitemsonthefloorandcleanupspills beforetheydryupandbecomehardertodealwith.
Considerusingawalkerorcanetokeepyoustable, butmakesureit’srightforyourheightandthatyou knowhowtouseitproperly.
Exercisetobuildstrengthandbalance
GobacktothebasicswithNewton’sfirstlaw:Abodyin motionstaysinmotion.Thatis,stayingactivecanhelp preventfutureissues—evenifyou’vefallenbeforeand areworriedthatitmighthappenagain.Thereare manyexercisesthatcanhelppreventfalls,evenif youhavelimitedmobility,likechairyoga,taichiand walking.
Makeexercisingfunandsocialbydoingitwithothers inagroupsettingorplayingwithgrandchildren.Know yourlimitsanddowhatyourdoctorsaysisrightfor you.
Medicationsmayincreaseyourrisk
Manymedicationscanhavesideeffectslikelightheadedness,sleepinessorotherthingsthat impairyourbalance.Makesuretotalktoyour primarycareprovideraboutallofthemedications youareon—andhowtheymayworkincombination. Aprimarycareproviderorpharmacistcanseethe wholepictureandhelpfindalternativemedications thatwon’tthrowyouoffbalance.
Stayontopofscreenings
Changesinhearing,visionandothersensesare commonasyouageandcancontributetofalls. Makesuretohaveyourhearingandvisiontested regularly.Bonehealthmatters,too.MayoClinic estimates10millionAmericanshaveosteoporosis, whichweakensthebonesandmakesitmorelikely tobreaksomethingwhenyoufall.TakingVitaminD andcalciumcanhelpimprovebonehealth,andif needed,yourprovidercantestyourbonedensity andrecommendtreatment.
Fallsaren’tusuallycausedbyonething
Knowingthatfallsmightbeacombinationof causes,implementsomeoftheprevioussuggestions toloweryourrisk,and,ifyoudofall,letyourprovider know—evenifitseemsminor.Afallcanhave wide-reachingimplicationsandyou’llwantto addresstherootcausetokeepitfrombecoming apattern.Happy4thofJuly!
Jody Lennon
BaileyBeebe| BusinessOfficeManager
“You may notice the front desk is more empty than normal. We have had some job changes in the facility and are currently looking to hire someone new for the front desk! If you need assistance and no one is at the front desk, please come back to the Admin offices where Bailey, Joan, Tracy, Faith or Danni can help you. We will try to cover the front desk as much as possible.
If you know anyone who would be a great fit for the front desk, have them come in and fill out an application or apply online.”
|TravisFilloon
Rain, rain, go away!
Our goal is to provide dependable cooling (or heat) when our tenants & residents desire. Again this year, it has only been a few days since “Summer” officially began and we have already dealt with several weeks of “excessive” heat and a total of more than 8” of rain in a fairly short period of time!
Our outstanding maintenance crew monitors the temperatures and humidity levels throughout the nursing facility to ensure that a comfortable environment is maintained. If you or your family members are unsure of when or how to operate the temperature controls in their apartments, please contact the maintenance department or me directly?
While the landscape areas around the entire complex are looking pretty well kept, our maintenance department has been dealing with responses to a recent Fire Marshall inspection. We will be refocusing on the grounds as July begins.
While many of the plants are slightly past the height of their blossoming, they continue to look very healthy and attractive, so I invite everyone to take a stroll with your loved one whenever weather conditions permit.
Shout out to our Maintenance workers & Transportation drivers (Kevin, Dave, Dennis, Tom, Reg, & Jim) for taking time, when not driving, to help or work extra hours to assisting in our maintenance department.
On behalf of the Maintenance & Transportation Departments at the Marian Home & Village, stay safe and healthy & see you soon!
FromDietaryDept. |RachelPederson Maintenance &Transportation
SummerSunshineandVitaminD
Everwonderwhythereseemstobelesscoldandfluillnesses inthesummermonths?OneanswermaybeVitaminD.One ofVitaminD'smainfunctionistosupportahealthyimmune system.GettingenoughvitaminDisimportantforthetypical growthanddevelopmentofbonesandteethandforimproving resistancetocertaindiseasesVitaminDcanreducecancercell growth,helpcontrolinfectionsandreduceinflammation.
Fewfoodsnaturally containvitaminD. Formostpeople,the bestwaytoget enoughVitaminDis takingsupplement orhavingtheskin exposuretosunlight. Sunexposuretothe faceandarmsfor 15minutes(without sunscreen)acouple timesaweekis adequateforvitamin Dproduction.OurfatcellscanstorevitaminDformonths,so youdon'tneedtoworryiftherearedaysyoudon'tgetsun exposure.
Takeadvantageofthesunshinethissummertohelpimprove yourimmunesystemwithanincreaseinVitaminD.
SocialWorker
|MaryLundberg
July’shotandmuggyweatherisuponus.Fireworksare goingoffincelebrationofIndependenceDay.Theyearisata halfwaypointandtimecontinuestomarchonintheblinkof aneye.
Iwanttoremindyouallthatnothingcanbesettingonthe topofthecloset.Also,fromtime-to-timeclothescome throughlaundrythathavenonameonthem.Wetryourbest tofindtheownersofthesethings,butdonotalwayshave luck.Ifyouknowofsomethingthatismissing,pleaselet myselforDaniNobelknow.Ifyoudobringinnewclothing, pleasemakesurethatthisisgiventoastaffmembersothat itcanbetakentolaundrydepartmentandgetmarked.Enjoy thesummer,andhopefullythemuggyweatherwillstayaway fromus.
MARIAN HOME AND VILLAGE
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
FromYourActivityDirectors
Howfastisthisyeargoingby?CanyoubelievewearealreadyinJuly?HappyIndependenceDaytoeveryone! Wearedoingourbesttobeoutsidewiththeresidentsasmuchastheweatherpermits.SingingAngelsChoir continuetopracticetwiceaweekastheywillbeperforminganotherconcertbeforetheendoftheyear.The TAPClassfromFDSHwillbejoiningustolearnwhatittakestoruntheMarianHomeeachdayandtheywillalso enjoyafewgameswithourresidents.Wewillbetestingsomegolfskillswithaputtinggame.Wehopethebirds showuponthedaywehavescheduledtowatchthemonthepatio.Andourfavoritemusicman,MauriceJules willbebackagaintoentertainus.Polishupthoseactingskillsforagameofcharadesandfindoutifweare SmarterthanaFifthGrader?Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorideas,pleasefeelfreetocalloremaileitheroneofus.
PamandLaura
Direct # 1-515-574-5906
photz@marianhome.com
lstein@marianhome.com
PamHotz Co-Actvity Director
LauraStein Co-Actvity Director