From the Desk of . . . . .
As we move to the fall of the year, we approach my favorite time of the year. Maybe it is the cooler mornings and evenings, or maybe the beginning of football season or the fact that with the beginning of school we all settle in to a more normal weekly schedule. I'm sure all of those factors contribute, but moreover, I believe it is that with the passing of Labor Day I begin the final planning faze for Homecoming at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, where Jane and I both graduated back in 1970. Through the years we have developed quite a tradition for this annual fall excursion. This year we will have ten couples in our group, dear friends of more than a third of a century. Yes once again we ascend to the top of Sugar Mountain with six couples staying in one house and the other four close by. We will eat in for all of our meals and only leave the house to attend the game on Saturday afternoon. There will be plenty of time to catch up on all the family news and relive those wonderful days in the late 60's when we all went through that once in a lifetime experience of leaving home and as we said, "going off to school."
At a meeting I attended this past week, in a round table discussion about culture change and ways to improve the nursing home experience, it was brought up that one of the real negatives of living in a nursing home was the "Dormitory Style" of life. The speaker was describing all the problems associated with room matters, congregate meals and the adjustments that residents must make to that environment.
This discussion caused me to reflect on my own experiences with this style of living. I have had two, basic training in the army, and the experience at Appalachian. Yes, all of those negatives were present in Boone thirty-eight years ago, but look what that environment produced: strong, lasting relationships that endure today.
I strongly believe that we as leaders here at Mountainview must create the type of atmosphere that allows, encourages, and fosters the development of strong, personal, loving relationships of mutual support and encouragement for all of us; but especially for the special people and their friends and family who call Mountainview home.
As always visit with us often.
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There are issues that go with us through life and we often ignore them. There could be various reasons as to why we ignore them. There is one issue that many decide to ignore because it is often viewed as depressing and troubling. The issue is the end of life. Life has an end. We know and acknowledge that point. This writer is not pointing a finger outwardly and saying that others often do not talk about or deal with this issue. Long term care, hospitals and other helping professions did not deal with this subject to the forefront of our modern times recently died in a small, caring group home, her name Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.
In the past few years, through the help of Kubler-Ross, hospices and End of Life Coalitions there have been great strides in dealing with end of life issues. I have had the privilege of being in a group in our state for several years that have dealt with and taught about end of life. The nursing home trade association in our state is forming such a group next week, as well as a new collaborative being formed in the upstate of various agencies, professions, hospitals and long term care facilities.
The end is important! We do not know when the end will come and how. The end is what we work toward. That idea has a strange ring in our modern times where the aim is to live as though there is no physical end and things are limitless. Life needs an end, an "aim" or a "goal". This makes live a pilgrimage. It also indicates that life is not over until the end. We are to live all of life. Life is to be lived fully with as much contribution as possible. There is something healthy and human about the desire to give and show compassion. There is also the element of value, spontaneity and variety. Life is valuable and how we touch it is important, out own and the lives of others.
Thinking about the end may lead a person to ask about the beyond. Is there an ultimate end? Ah, that is such a personal issue. Yes, but every issue, no matter how personal, is lived out before others. As Joan Rivers is fond of saying, "can we talk….?" That's the important question with end of life issues, "can we talk….?" We are talking and you are invited to be a part. There are resources as we travel together.
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The last day of summer is fast approaching and we are looking forward to our fall activities. We will have Western Day on Friday, October 1st. We always enjoy the food as well as being outside and the fellowship. There will be one thing missing this year and that is the horse and buggy rides. Mr. Henderson is not feeling well and will not be able to be with us this year. We hope that he will get better soon. We are encouraging our staff and residents to dress in western attire that day and help us make this a really fun day for all.
We thank Case Brothers Music for donating a player piano. It has become an object of curiosity as well as a conversation piece for residents and staff. Ms. Amos has even played us a tune on it. Thanks to Johnny Quinn the residents are enjoying muscadines from our arbor and they report that they taste really good.
We welcome all of our new residents and look forward to having you attend and participate in all activities. Some of you have been asking about Morris, our Quaker Parrot, who resided in the activity room. He is now residing on Westside Gardens in the room with his adopted mom, Bonnie Hudgins. Both are doing well.
Be sure to check the activity calendar for daily happenings.
Until next time………
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The clients and staff of MDC welcomes two new clients to daycare, Rosie Poteat and Virginia Rice. "Welcome" we hope you will enjoy your stay here with us.
Everyone welcomes back Annie Russell after a brief illness. We're glad to have you back.
We have set out some late tomatoes and are looking forward to enjoying them. Thanks goes to Johnny Quinn for helping us.
We also would like to say "thank you" to Johnny Quinn for the delicious watermelon from his garden. Our clients really enjoyed it.
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01 Kathleen Bush
01 Bobby Clary
04 Ida Moore
07 Quinton Coggins
10 Louise Linder
10 Charles King
12 Evelyn Brockman
13 Julia Byrd
13 Carrie Mitchell
15 Emma Young
16 Annie Dutton
18 Essie Herndon
19 Edith Trail
20 William Sloan
27 Margaret Fowler
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Janice Byrd, September 1
Jewel Brown, September 6
Eliza Gray, September 8
Elise Pilgrim, September 16
Pat Hoepfner, September 17
Brandy Littlejohn, September 20
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Gardner Rogers, 44 years
Frances Casey,26 years
Priscilla Allison, 5 years
Mary Russell, 2 years
Victoria Ozdowski, 1 year
Brian Thornton, 1 year
Congratulations to all you and thank you for your service. We couldn't do it without you.
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Jennifer Atkins, LPN
Anita Morgan, RN- PRN
Tammy Dixon, PN Graduate
Michelle Elliott, PN - Graduate
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We would like to welcome the following new residents to our home.
Our newest resident to move to our home and to Westside Gardens is GenevaSuber.
Margaret Rhodes has moved onto Eastside Village and Cathleen Robertson moved onto Northern Estates.
We welcome these ladies and their families to our home.
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On August 20th our very own Sherry Wheeler retired after 24 years of service to Mountainview.
She was honored with a covered dish lunch with staff and her family in attendance.
Staff and family also enjoyed sharing memories of past and present.
There were tears and laughter throughout the luncheon and the remainder of the day.
Sherry you will be missed.
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"With accomplishment comes confidence and with confidence comes belief.
It has to be in that order." Coach K
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
YOU ARE INVITED TO
ATTEND
FAMILY NIGHT
ON
OCTOBER 28, 2004
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Look for further details in October issue of the
Mountain Breeze.
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Plan of Care meetings are held on Tuesday of each week. We encourage family members to attend if possible. You may set up a meeting time by calling Evelyn Pitts, RN at 582-4175.
September 7
Virginia Munsey
Charles King
Nannie Johnson
Elsie Bishop
Madge Ivey
Cleveland Gist
Myrtle Kersh
Annie Dutton
Bobby Clary
December 14
Lucinda Hunter
Larry Smith
Stacy Oliver
Emma Young
Learline Nesbitt
Hattie Lee
Janie Bomar
Tru Lawter
Quinton Coggins
William Sloan
Carolyn Lidman
Julia Byrd
Carolyn Brown
September 21
Edith Berry
Jeanne d'Entremont
Charles Dillard
Bonnie Hudgins
William Horton
Carroll Horton
Teresa Goforth
Sarah Gibbs
Eugene Blanton
Thelma Williams
Dennis Pennington
Carl Jefferies
Donald Watson
Mary Forshee
September 28
Kathy Clayton
Ida Moore
Lula Baker
Mae W. Thompson
Elizabeth McCoy
Willis Hackett
Jessie Burnside
Gladys Bridwell
Harold Redfern
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