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MOUNTAIN BREEZE |
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Mountainview Nursing Home 340 Cedar Springs Road Spartanburg, SC 29302 Table Of Contents |
Wilson K. Dillard Administrator February, 2003 |
With the February edition of the Mountain Breeze, the staff continues with our efforts to revisit the Ten Principles of the Eden Alternative. We will be discussing the second principle, which establishes the importance of the relationships that are formed between our elders, staff and families, as we relate to the increasing numbers of animals, children and plants in each of our neighborhoods.
This January has been quite eventful for the Mountainview family. With the rain of this week, the last of the snow is finally disappearing. The snow did present a few problems for us, but as always, the staff responded with great enthusiasm and perseverance. Our Plant Services staff assisted with transportation as we implemented our snow crew- staffing pattern. We thank all those who gave a special effort during a very difficult time.
On January 15th we held our annual meeting for our Board and members of our Corporation. We had a large crowd; great food and the staff presented our Fourth Annual Report on the progress of our Eden journey. We also viewed the video "Making a Difference in South Carolina" produced by the South Carolina Eden Coalition and the Department of Health and Environmental Control. It is an excellent video, showing the positive impact of the Eden Alternative on long term care in our state. A tremendous amount of information is packed into this twelve-minute video. If you would like to view the video, please contact the facility and we will make the necessary arrangements. I highly recommend it!
We also elected officers for the coming year, and we are pleased that Mr. Harold Wolfe will be serving as Chair, assisted by Mrs. Geri Nantz, Vice Chair and Mrs. Betty Doyle, returning as Secretary/Treasurer. We thank all those who serve and give so freely of their time in helping us to make Mountainview the special place that it is.
Finally, congratulations are in order for all of our staff for the outstanding results of our annual Certification Survey that was conducted by the State on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, January 12th – 14th. I am so happy for Robin Jones, RN, Director of Nursing and her staff, for having their fine work validated through the survey process.
Please review the activity calendar for February and plan on visiting with us often.
Wilson K. Dillard, Administrator
Elizabeth Spencer, Feb. 2
Monica McCall, Feb. 7
Dot Brawley, Feb. 16
Elaine Sanders, Feb. 17
Marian Clowney, Feb. 18
Vickie Bullock, Feb. 21
Kimberly Everett, Feb. 24
Vickie Laws, Feb. 28
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The staff and residents of Eastside Village are saddened by the loss of three of our residents. Mr. Ernest Sprouse passed away on January 4th, Mr. Marion "Pop, Pop" Campbell passed away on January 9th, and Ms. Gracie Bridges who passed away on January 18th. Our condolences go to all of the family and friends of these residents. We also would like to send our condolences to two of our staff members who lost loved ones this past month, Mrs. Bonnie Cohen, who lost her father and to Mrs. Mattie Moates, who lost her mother in law.
This has been a busy month with three new residents coming to live with us. Ms. Annie Jo Laurence, Ms. Emma Young and Ms. Sarah Gibbs have come to live in our home and we want everyone to make them feel a part of our family.
We really enjoyed watching the beautiful winter weather we have had lately, it is fun to look at but we do not like the cold weather that goes with it. We can’t wait for warm weather so we can get outside and plant our garden. Until next time we hope you stay safe and warm.
The Village Crier
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The clients and staff of Medical Day Care welcome Eleanor Hall and LaMont Casey to day care. We hope that you will enjoy your stay here with us.
We send our sincere condolences to the families of Ida Dawkins and Jim Walden. These two individuals will be missed by everyone in the day care, as well as by their families and friends.
Due to the inclement weather we have had over the past few weeks, we decided to include our weather policy.
Inclement Weather Policy
We would like to take this opportunity to explain our policy on the operation of the Medical Day Care Program during inclement weather.
As you know, we had previously followed the school district’s decision for the closing of our program. However, the schools have become very conservative in their approach to closing schools and those decisions have not always served our clients and families well.
Our program will close only when the Spartanburg County Transportation Services Bureau determines it is unsafe to transport our clients. On the days in question, the decision will be made by 6:30 AM. Should you have questions on the schedule, you may call me, Emma Lawing, at 463-4650 or Wilson Dillard at 439-7127.
Birthdays
Gloria Williams, Feb. 10th
Mary Beth Thomas, Feb. 12th
Mary Hill, Feb. 15th
Johnny Morris, Feb. 19th
Emma Lawing, MDCD
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02 Zelma Jolley
03 Betty Manigault
04 Thelma Roark
05 Annie Jo Laurence
07 Elsie Bishop
08 Carl Jefferies
09 Fannie Wallace
10 Lola Huneycutt
12 Albert Mays
15 Bruce Durrah
16 David Watson
20 Jeanne d’Entremont
23 Linda Lowe
28 Lillie Rookard
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NEWS FROM WESTSIDE GARDENS
Well we made it through the big snow of 2003 without incident. We would like to thank our maintenance staff for their help with transportation during the big snow. It was greatly appreciated and needed. We would like to give a big congratulations to Kelley and Mike Etters on the birth of their new baby, Mazie Grace. Please keep Lillian Guy and Eugene Nesbitt in your prayers while they are in the hospital. Smokey would like to thank Eastside Village for the delicious pig ears they bought for him. He sure has enjoyed them from the sound of things. Most of all congratulations to everyone for the wonderful survey we had in January. Keep up the good work!
Mr. Thomas White, Wayne White’s father (resident), will be having some surgery this month and we want to wish him a speedy recovery.
Until next time….
Westside Gardens
Hello! We on Northern Estates would like to wish everyone that we have seen or not seen a Happy New Year!
We would like to welcome our new Helping Hand, Priscilla Harper, to our neighborhood. We hope you will soon feel at home. We also would like to send our congratulations to Kelley and Mike Etters on their new baby girl, Mazie Grace.
We hope that everyone enjoyed the snow that we had. It was really beautiful. Now it is time for some warm weather.
We send our condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Losing a loved one is a tragedy but with prayers and leaning on the Lord you can get through. Just remember God loves you and will stand by you always and forever.
May God bless you all.
We love you,
Staff and Residents of Northern Estates
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Distinguished Service for February
Danene Mitchell, 4 years
Elsie Pilgrim, 3 years
Martha Thompson, 3 years
Herbert Neely, 2 years
Continuity as defined in Webster’s Dictionary means a "continuous state or quality". When I think of this word I perceive a hint of a promise contained therein. Here at Mountainview we strive through our Eden Journey to have our Elders continue to do all or most of the things they have enjoyed prior to coming to live here. So in essence, life doesn’t end in a nursing home but it goes on through Eden, the garden of life. Our Elders remain in touch with the surrounding communities through visits, cards, letters and phone calls from children and adults. This includes remaining connected to the community through our outings that include shopping, movies, ball games, the fair, and going to church. Many of our Elders read the newspaper daily and watch the news routinely. Our raised flower beds afford our Elders an opportunity to till the soil and watch the growth of newly planted seedlings. Those who enjoy being involved in civic organizations can continue to do so through Resident Council, Men’s Club, The Under 55 Club and the Eden Committees. Spiritual needs are met with a variety of church groups and ministers that visit our home on a regular basis. Mountainview strives to offer our Elders a variety of activities and an opportunity to remain involved in the community if it is their desire.
In a few short months it will be time to get the raised beds and garden ready for planting. We sure are looking forward to some warmer weather, although we did enjoy the snow. Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away and we are getting ready for our annual Valentine Extravaganza. The day will be filled with a rummage sale, bake sale, balloon bouquet sale, and a hot dog sale. The day will also be "Hug Day"! If you have anything that you could donate for the rummage sale or if you would like to help by baking something the Elders in our home would be grateful. All proceeds go for our Elders. Contact the Activities Department with donations or if you would like to volunteer to help that day.
We are also in the process of planning a Senior Olympics in March. This will be for our Elders in house and we will be competing with the individual neighborhoods in our home. More information about this will be in next month’s newsletter.
Until next time,think, CONTINUITY
Gloria Crocker, Activities
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Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it comes softly and sits on your shoulder.
Over the course of the next year we will be discussing the Principles of the Eden Alternative in the newsletter and in other ways as a refresher for some of us and to explain Eden to our new people. We look forward to the New Year and hope for some input from families, staff and residents as we continue our journey to Eden.
PRINCIPLE TWO
An Elder-centered community commits to creating a Human Habitat where life revolves around close and continuing contact with plants, animals and children. It is these relationships that provide the young and old alike with a pathway to a life worth living.
The vision state of this principle asks you to examine an ancient and honored response to the Three Plagues of long term care….boredom, loneliness and helplessness. It reminds us that human beings were meant to live in a garden. Garden-like environments provide elders with the tools they need to fight the Three Plagues. A key to understanding this principle is recognizing that an institutional environment and a Human Habitat cannot share the same space at the same time. It is one or the other, never both.
This means that before a Human Habitat can be created, the old medical-institutional mode of service delivery must be surrendered. Our frail elders deserve the opportunity to grow, have access to companionship, opportunities to give care, variety and spontaneity in life, a sense of community and contact with the living earth. Life within a human habitat must revolve around plants, animals and children.
Pets brighten the lives of those who are anxious, lonely, or depressed because they
1) give a person something to nurture and care for;
2) offer a sense of being wanted and needed;
3) offer non-judgmental acceptance;
4) decrease isolation, and
5) provide a feeling of safety for those living alone…
People oriented pets like dogs and cats bring families closer together and help reduce household tension. This is a quote from the book "A Year of Health Hints – 365 Practical Ways to Feel Better and Live Longer". We all need something to live for and something to focus on, besides ourselves….Pets offer us unconditional love, which is significant to our over all well being.
The benefits of having plants, "Green Companions", is that it offers the Elders an opportunity to give care. They lift the human spirit. Plants improve air quality (2-3 per 100 square feet) and in addition they add a stunning visual change to our homes.
Principle Two is the solution for the plagues that are found in long term care today. Together we can conquer these plagues and make the institutional models of long term care obsolete.
Sue Kemp, Eden Associate
Congratulations to Kelley and Mike Etters on the birth of a beautiful daughter. Kelley is one of our RN’s. Ruby Mazie Grace was born on January 28, 2003 at 11:34 AM. She weighed six pounds and ten ounces. Mother and daughter are doing great and Dad is doing excellent from the report we received from Dad. Kelley and Mike we wish you the best of luck with Mazie Grace, we know you waited a long time for her.
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Priscilla Harper, Helping Hand
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VALENTINE DAYS EXTRAVAGANZA
You are cordially invited to attend the annual Valentine Day Extravaganza. The day will start with a Rummage Sale beginning at 9:30 AM, along with the Bake Sale. It will also be "Hug Day" and there will be announcements all day to stop and "Hug " someone you are near at that time. Hotdogs will be sold starting at 11:30AM. Balloon Bouquets will be sold also. All sales will end at 3:30PM that day. So please come out and support Activities in this endeavor. All monies raised will be used for our Elders.
UPCOMING EVENT
National Nursing Home week will be May 11 thru May 17th this year. The theme for this year is "Reflections of a Lifetime". The week promises to be full of all kinds of activities culminating with "The Eden Celebration" on May 17th. Please mark your calendars for this week and especially for The Eden Celebration. Hope to see you there.
Plan of care meetings are held on each Tuesday to review each resident's progress and / or care. Please call Social Services at 582-4175 to set up a time for your attendance.
February 4
Alma Wadsworth
Annie Laurence
Carl Jefferies
Carolyn Lidman
Darrell Shockley
Emma Young
Hattie Lee
Helen Fuller
Janie Bomar
Julia Byrd
Larry Smith
Leola Foster
Letha Jones
Lucinda Hunter
Quinton Coggins
Stacy Oliver
Thelma Dean
William Sloan
February 11
Bonnie Hudgins
Cathy Henson
Charles Dillard
Edith Berry
Edith Lackey
Eron Jennings
Eugene Blanton
Helen Kozloski
James Waddell
Jeanne d’Entremont
Lola Huneycutt
Sara Gibbs
Teresa Goforth
February 18
Elizabeth McCoy
Harold Redfern
Ida Moore
Jessie Burnside
Lula Baker
Mae Willie Thompson
Rosa Simmons
Willis Hackett
February 25
Carol Brown
Carrie Harris
Carrie Mitchell
Charles Petty
Charles White
Essie Herndon
Fairy Bishop
Fred Nesbitt
Kathleen Bush
Madge Ivey
Margaret Martin
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Each year the nursing facilities in South Carolina have their Annual Certification Survey by the Department of Health and Human Services. As in prior years Mountainview came through survey with flying colors. Thank you to all staff for your hard work, not only during survey, but every day of the year. It is only with your continued dedication that Mountainview remains the wonderful home that it is.
The recent snow, as beautiful as it was, did present some hardships. However,as always, the staff of Mountainview came through. The entire staff pulled together to ensure our residents were also able to enjoy the snow.
Thank you to a wonderful staff!
Robin Jones, RN-DON
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