Greetings from "the Home" front ….
This is National Activity Professionals Week (January 21-27) and the activities staff would like to thank the LMH administration and our boss, Activity Director Lisa Nelson, for the lovely meal on Monday plus the nice Valentine scarves we all received as gifts. We have also added another staff member to the Activities Staff - welcome aboard Denise Vaagene. Denise will be working "on call" whenever we need her.
It is not too late to nominate a special LMH person(s) for the Caregiver of the Year award. This award is given yearly to persons who go above and beyond in caring for our residents. This caregiver does not have to be the direct person involved with your loved ones care - it can be anyone associated with LMH – activities, Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Medication aides, Chaplain, dietary, maintenance, housekeeping/ laundry, nurse, office/financial, social services, and therapy. Luther Memorial Home residents, tenants of Sun Center Apartments and family member of a resident/tenant are eligible to nominate a staff member. The nominees will be recognized at the State Convention in Bismarck this spring and also at a special recognition party here at LMH. Nomination forms are available in the activities office or at the receptionist desk. You may also find them on the North Dakota Long Term Care Web site, under the resource tab. All nominations must be postmarked by the First Friday in February which is Feb 2nd.
This week we were busy with Newescurrents on Monday morning and Cards in the afternoon. Thank you to Doug Hlavinka and Cora Knudsvig who are coming on Monday afternoons to play cards with our residents - all of our North Dakotans certainly look forward to their card games. We also had penmanship class and bingo in the evening. There was Sit & Be Fit on Tuesday morning followed by the Auxiliary birthday party in the afternoon. The Auxiliary officers were installed for 2018. The Auxiliary had special music provided by Otto Muecke and the ladies of Aurdal church lead a sign along, and of course - a yummy dessert. Mary and her gang of quilters came on Wednesday afternoon - the gang had been busy working on the "puff quilt" pieces that our residents made last time. It was fun to see how this project is progressing into an actual quilt. Thanks again Mary and gang! Thursday brought choir, reading and pretty nails. After church on Friday, there is "real" bingo with the American Legion/VFW at 2 p.m. Sandy will also have Bell Music later in the afternoon. We are having a snow ball toss on Saturday in the activity room at 2 p.m. along with Kaffee Hus in the dining room from 2-3:30. Our Saturday movie matinee is a video "The Best of Bob Hope" - I don't think that needs any more introduction - he was a wonderful comedian and humanitarian.
We are into the last week of January when we start out Monday with newscurrents and then cards and board games. There is Sit & Be Fit on Tuesday along with rhythm band in the afternoon. Wednesday brings bingo in the morning and kitchen cappers in the afternoon. The residents will be making individual English muffin pizzas - oh yum! Later we will reminisce about Grandma's breadbox and Molly will bring some vintage breadboxes for show n' tell. Thursday is February 1st already!! Oh My! And voting starts for our Valentine King and Queen who will be crowned at our party on Feb 14th. Also on Thursday there is Name That Tune in the morning and during crafts the residents will be making a "Love Bug". Friday is Groundhog Day - will he see his shadow??? I certainly hope not!!! There is church, pretty nails and Happy 1/2 hour.
We have two resident birthdays finishing out the month of January - Phyllis Lundeby on January 28 and Eldris Wilkens on January 30th. Several staff members have birthdays next week - Dawn Demarce (January 27), Makenzie Bring and Michelle Elliott (January 28), Rachel Winger (January 29), Lucas Metzger (January 30) and Lucy Lindaas (January 31). We also have two staff members with early February birthdays: Jada Nygaard (Feb 1) and Susan Anderson (Feb 2). Happy Birthday to all of you and enjoy your special day.
Our sincere sympathy to the friends and family of Liz Bradner who passed away January 16th. Liz was a Sun Center resident but enjoyed coming to coffee time in the activity room in the mornings and sitting at the "round table" to visit with her friends. Rest in Peace Liz. We also send our condolences to the staff and residents of Hatton Prairie Village on the loss of two of their residents last week in a terrible automobile crash. We also wish a speedy recover to their maintenance man who was injured in the crash.
Until next time … a thought for the week … You can't have a better tomorrow if you don't stop thinking about yesterday