New Brighton Care Center and Senior Suites of New Brighton. May 2014 Newsletter. The story behind the poppy

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1 New Brighton Care Center and Senior Suites of New Brighton May 2014 Newsletter The story behind the poppy Each year around Memorial Day, Veterans of Foreign Wars members and American Legion Auxiliary volunteers distribute millions of bright red poppies in exchange for contributions to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. The program provides multiple benefits to the veterans and to the community. The hospitalized veterans who make the flowers are able to earn a small wage, which helps to supplement their incomes and makes them feel more self-sufficient. The physical and mental activity provides many therapeutic benefits as well. Donations are used exclusively to assist and support veterans and their families. The poppy also reminds the community of the past sacrifices and continuing needs of our veterans. The poppy has become a nationally known and recognized symbol of sacrifice and is worn to honor the men and women who served and died for their country in all wars. A brief history of the artificial poppy: In the World War I battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the ravaged landscape. How could such a pretty little flower grow wild while surrounded by death and destruction? The overturned soils of battle enabled the poppy seeds to be covered, thus allowing them to grow and to forever serve as a reminder of the bloodshed during that and future wars. The poppy movement was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces in 1915 before the United States entered World War I. Selling replicas of the original Flanders' poppy originated in some of the allied countries immediately after the Armistice. Memorial Day in United States Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season. What do people do? It is traditional to fly the flag of the United States at half mast from dawn until noon. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is combined with Jefferson Davis' Birthday 1 in Mississippi. Continued on next page

2 (Continued from front page) Memorial Day has become less of an occasion of remembrance. Many people choose to hold picnics, sports events and family gatherings on this weekend. This day is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season for cultural events. For the fashion conscious, it is seen as acceptable to wear white clothing, particularly shoes from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, fewer and fewer people follow this rule and many wear white clothing throughout the year. Memorial Day started as an event to honor Union soldiers, who had died during the American Civil War. It was inspired by the way people in the Southern states honored their dead. After World War I, it was extended to include all men and women, who died in any war or military action. Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The current name for this day did not come into use until after World War II. Decoration Day and then Memorial Day used to be held on May 30, regardless of the day of the week, on which it fell. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed as part of a move to use federal holidays to create three-day weekends. This meant that, from 1971, Memorial Day holiday has been officially observed on the last Monday in May. However, it took a longer period for all American states to recognize the new date. Notice: Now that everyone will be busy spring cleaning, anyone who would like to donate unwanted items such as, stuffed animals, jewelry, or any little trinkets, the Activity department would be more than happy to take them off your hands for bingo prizes! Remember: There is no food or drinks allowed in the dayroom, so if you d like to bring in food for your loved ones, please make arrangements to use the dining room, activity room or residents room for eating. Dear Family and Friends, New Brighton Care Center & Senior Suites Assisted Living offers service via our website. The purpose of this service is to provide an easy and time saving way, for family and friends of residents at either of our care campus locations to send messages. Staying connected has never been easier. Please try it out and pass the information onto others! How it works- Visit our website: On the lower right corner of the page there is a button for Resident . Once you click that button it will take you to the Resident page. Follow the directions on the page. You can now also send photos that will be attached to your message that is delivered to the resident. Directions on how to send photos will be available once you send a message. We have already had wonderful participation Thanks a lot, Ryan Chies, Assistant Administrator. 2

3 Resi dent of t he Mont h: Betty S. The Staff at NBCC Would like to acknowledge the following Residents who have left us to soon. Lorraine L. Mary J. Janet S. Ron L. REMINDER: Buck Bingo is every 1 st and 3 rd Thursday of every month. Birthday Party is every 2 nd Thursday of the month. Resident s Birthday s Joseph C. 5/1 Irene W. 5/11 Eleanor B. 5/15 Cecelia Mc. 5/18 Audrey L. 5/24 James W. 5/27 May Special Events: 5/5 Cinco de Mayo 5/7 Resident Council Meeting 5/8 Birthday Party/The Spanhank s 5/11 Happy Mother s Day! 5/12-5/16 Staff Games 5/26 Memorial Day! 5/27 Target Shoot N 5/29 Music/Red G. Don t miss the several Patio Social s we have scheduled-time to enjoy the warmer weather! Piano with Brady every Monday at 4:00pm Bible Study on Tuesday and Friday Evenings with Nina!

4 RESIDENT COUNCIL MINUTES April 2014 The meeting was held on Wednesday APRIL 2, 2014, at 2:30pm. Residents who were present Eleanor J., Jean G., Margaret L., Dorothy D., Betty Mc., Charlene B., Genevieve J., Theresa H., Marlene L., Lillian C., Betty S., Gloria H., Harriett N. and Jackie P. Staff who were present: Shelly M. and Margaret T. The meeting was called to order by Jean G. Lillian C. Residents were informed of upcoming events for March. Residents didn t voice any new ideas for activities, when asked. Any concerns they might of had were directed to proper departments. Residents are encouraged to speak directly to the DON/ADON about any concerns or issues with nursing throughout the month. Also, any concerns in dietary they may speak directly to the Dietary Manager about them. Meal of the month Beef roast with gravy, baked potato, asparagus, tossed salad, marble rye bread and lemon cake. Resident of the month for May is Betty S. #6 - #10 Bill of rights were read to the residents. Meeting was adjourned at 3:30pm with Millie S. and Lillian C. Next meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2014 at 2:30pm. Door prize winner was Genevieve J. Ombudsman: Sally Schoephoerster can be reached at: Family Members: When ordering a newspaper for your family member, please call the newspaper If interested of your in choice, having and a family inform council the business meeting office, please so we can speak ensure to delivery. Shelly in the activity department or Sandy in Social services, and we d be In happy room materials to set something are available up. from the Activities department such as books, games, puzzle books, cards, talking books, cd s, movie s, greeting cards and stationary. You can buy stamps and batteries from the business office, during business hours. Your family Ministers are welcome to come visit family members at anytime. When bringing in clothing for your family, please remember to mark their

5 MAY 2014 From the Desk of the Administrator Michael R. Chies The snow is almost gone!!! We all have been looking forward to the ending of winter and the beginning of summer. We had a couple of late snowfalls in April and as I write this article, we are in the rainy season. We have a contest to see when the big snow-pile next to the entrance will be fully melted. It has been fun and lots of residents, staff, and visitors routinely have been checking the pile. Yesterday, (April 29 th ), it appeared that all of the snow was gone. After kicking off the non-snow off the pile, low and behold, we still have a small patch of snow/ice, but it can t last much longer. UPDATE: As of 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 30 th, 2014 Mount New Brighton was officially declared MELTED by the official Judges. Lillian Christ, a resident in our Senior Suites Assisted Living Unit and Michael Chies, Administrator agreed that 100% of the 15 foot snow-pile was gone. The official winners of the contest were: Nancy Watroba, (Business Office) and Elizabeth Garski, (resident s daughter). These two winners shared ½ of the prize and the Resident Council, (Activities Department) received the other ½. We had a total of 24 participants each contributing $1.00 for guessing what day the snow pile would be fully melted. This was a spontaneous event which came about after realizing just how high we had to pile up the parking lot snow from this winter. It was fun and something to talk about as the snow started to melt. Thanks everyone, it was fun and we will continue this event next year. We all are aging each and every day, no stopping time. I started here at the age of 20. Forty years later, I look back and can say, where did the time go? You have to have a heart and soul to do what our staff does each and every day. No place for those that don t care about people. This is a different profession than when I first started. It is more intense, complicated, financially very difficult and changing each week. As people age they have many more options for living than they did 40 years ago. Most nursing homes have evolved into a true Skilled Nursing Facility taking in new admissions directly from the hospital. We have been admitting and discharging back home more residents than we ever have. We average around 200 admissions and discharges each year with a majority of those residents getting well and going back home. The average age of the residents we provide services has increased as people are living longer than they did 40 years ago. Our jobs are important and we always strive to do the very best we can. We try our best to maintain the highest standards that we can. As people are living longer they are exhausting their savings sooner. As the Baby Boom population is starting to enter the senior years, there will be greater numbers of people needing medical services, Short Term Care, Long Term Care, Assisted Living, and all the other services needed to help support this aging population. And the reality is that we are NOW entering this period right now. Will our society be prepared? Will enough services be available for you in the future? These are important questions that a large part of our Country s population will be facing in the very near future. Your satisfaction with our services is important to us. I want to know when we do well and when we don t. It is my hope and desire that most issues can be handled directly through the online staff or their supervisors, (Charge Nurses). Please feel free to call me directly with unresolved concerns anytime. Enjoy the summer.

6 N E W B R I G H T O N C A R E C E N T E R & S E N I O R S U I T E S A S S I S T E D L I V I N G In House Ancillary Services: Podiatry, Hearing & Eye Care, Dental Intensive Rehabilitative Services: Physical and Occupational Therapy, Speech/Language Pathology Therapeutic Recreation, Progressive Long & Short Term/Assisted Living Suites /Hospice Care 651) Website: NBCC Staff admin@northcitieshealthcare.com Church Services Blessed Hope Baptist Service: 1st Sunday of the month Christ the King Church: 2nd Tuesday of the month New Brighton Christian Church: 3rd Sunday of the month St. John the Baptist Catholic Church: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesday s 2 nd Tuesday Rosary at 10:00am Facility contacts: B e a u t y S h o p H o u r s : M o n d a y : 9 : 0 0 a m W e d n e s d a y : 1 : 0 0 p m L a d i e s H a i r C u t - $ S t y l e ( s e t o n l y ) $ S h a m p o o a n d s e t - $ R i n s e $ * C o l o r $ P e r m a n e n t o n l y - $ P e r m a n e n t a n d C u t - $ M e n s H a i r C u t - $ Families please set up an account in the Business office or obtain a gift certificate for beauty shop services. To better serve you, please notify staff, or call in advance for services you wish to have done. Administrator..Michael Chies Ph. # Assistant Administrator Ryan Chies Ph. # Director of Nursing. Jean Kittelson Ph. # Assistant Director of Nursing Steve Webber/Breana Morgan Ph. # Social Service Director Sandra Van Otterloo Ph.# Nutritional Services Director.Leona Lemm Ph. # Medical Records.Tracy Salma Ph. # Resident Accounts.Nancy Watroba Ph. # Housekeeping/Laundry.Janell Canchola Ph. # Maintenance.Brady Chies Ph. # Activity Director/Volunteer Coordinator..Shelly Maxwell Ph. # Address: New Brighton Care Center th Ave. N.W. New Brighton, MN