Greetings from “The Home” front …

Well, I should have written this column Sunday night and submitted it Monday morning ‘cause then you would have read how much fun the residents had being able to get together again in the dining room for meals and to greet visitors for outings and room visits. Instead, I wrote it Monday night after we learned late in the afternoon that we had a positive covid 19 result among a resident. The resident was moved to our COVID unit and all residents and staff were tested immediately. Communal dining will be closed for at least 14 days. Indoor visits will cease at this time except for compassionate care visits, this will be reevaluated next week, so watch our webpage for updates. You may still visit your friend and loved one outdoors or via their room window. On a more positive note – we are still allowing activities in the activity room but with only 10 residents at a time. Residents must wear masks and maintain safe distance seating. We hope to be able to open up with less restrictions in the very near future.

Meanwhile, the residents that did come to the activity room enjoyed Creative Writing on Monday. By all looking at the same picture, they created quite a tale about a horse named Bob who won the Kentucky Derby. There was lots of laughter and poor driving comments when we tried out the remote-control cars in the afternoon. Also, there was still bingo in the evening. Tuesday brought Newscurrents and then Bunco later on. We didn’t let Covid prevent us from celebrating Cinco De Mayo on Wednesday. The residents and staff dressed in festive/colorful outfits and the Fiesta Cart went room to room serving treats and beverages. We had Bible Study Thursday morning and the ladies got their nails done at Pretty Nails afterward. Plus there was Bingo in the evening. May 6th was also Nurse’s Day and our nurses were treated to yogurt parfaits. There is Church on Friday and Cowboy Poetry in the afternoon. Saturday brings Sit & Be Fit in the morning, followed by Music with Nancy and later on a Saturday Movie Matinee.

The residents also received wonderful candy bags and a special card from the Tri-County Trail Blazer group. The cards were all handmade and had a Happy May Day message. Thank you so much for thinking of us here at LMH!

Happy Mother’s Day!! On Sunday Molly will be here to reminisce about spring gardens and gardening. As I write this column, many of our planned activities for next week are still “up in the air”. It is National Nursing Home Week and there were lots of special events planned. We celebrate “High Tea” for Mother’s on Monday with the activity staff delivering special desserts to our women residents. There is Wheel of Fortune in the morning, Casino games and Bingo in the evening. We plan to have Newscurrents on Tuesday. Wednesday’s theme is Take Me Out to the Ballgame. We will be Cruising up the Caribbean on Thursday with a Luau Cart dispensing tropical treats and beverages. Friday’s theme is Hopping in the Saddle. After church we will set up a roping game to see how well our residents can rope in a prize! We hope to have more activities as the week progresses.

There are lots of birthdays next week! Residents Clyde Cooper and Loretta Knudson have birthdays on May 11th; Marie Rindy has hers on May 13th and Darrell Stoebner’s birthday is May 15th. No Birthdays down in Sun Center this week but five staff members will be celebrating – Melissa Foerst (May 9th); Teresa Cota (May 12th); Joseph Clagg and Christina Winkler (May 13th) and Kori Fenske on May 15th. Happy Birthday to all of you and enjoy your special day. I also missed a birthday last week – so belated birthday wishes to our Chaplain – Pastor Deb Stave whose birthday was April 28th. Hope you had a Happy Day!

We extend on sympathy to the friends and family of Kathy Meyer Thomas who passed away April 27th. Kathy will be remembered as an outstanding athlete in Mayville and at Concordia College. While at LMH she enjoyed visiting with staff, watching sports on TV and listening to books on tape. Rest in Peace Kathy – you will be missed.

Until next time … a thought for the week … Nothing we wear is as important as the expression on our face …