A little more progress on front canopy remodeling project was visible again this week with an auger digger at the Home. Several pictures are available on the Home’s Facebook page of the exciting start of the project the prior week with the first step of removing of the existing canopy, including the brick pillars. The front of the Home looks very different now without a carport. While current COVID restrictions by IDPH on nursing homes prevent visitors from entering the Home, window entertainment is always very welcome and appreciated. Monday evening, May 10, was a very blessed Window Hymn Sing by the Eureka & Congerville Apostolic Christian Faith Church Young Groups at the lobby window. More non-professional entertainment is needed, especially in the evenings. If you or your family, a church or civic group, or anyone you know would like to help perform or sponsor a one-time event or something on an on-going bases, please contact Activity Director Mary Beth Knapp 923-2071 ext. 170 or via email at marybeth@achroanoke.org to schedule a mutually convenient date/time or discuss ideas for other types of entertainment.
There was a special lunch in celebration of Mother’s Day on the 9th, including beef pot roast with gravy, garlic roasted carrots, potatoes, & onions, dinner rolls w/ butter, and assorted cheesecakes. And what a joy throughout the week to see all the special deliveries for the mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts living at the Home.
The activity department had a Gardening Week theme for their activities. The beautiful magnolia trees on Garden Tour shown on activity channel 2 Tuesday morning really caught the residents’ eyes. That afternoon was a Roll-A-Garden game. For this game, dice, markers, and paper were used. The instructions told exactly what to do based on the number on the dice that was rolled. The game continued until a pretty garden picture was created. “The American Farm” was also shown on activity channel 2 that afternoon. In addition, packets were handed out on the theme of gardening, produce, and eating healthy. There was unscrambling of different types of flowers, trivia on fresh produce, and different types of vegetables that were hidden inside a watermelon had to be found. There was an article about “Recycling Leftovers into Inside Gardens.” A couple other pages included facts called “Juicy Tidbits” & “Vegetable Vertigo.” This was enjoyable and informational.
Residents enjoyed an hour of BINGO on Wednesday morning as well as on Monday afternoon. During Mom’s/Grandma’s Aprons, activity staff brought in aprons from times past as well as several stories and poems were shared with residents during in-room visits. One resident said, “I remember always wearing a dressy apron when I hosted company at home.” Another stated, “I liked to wear an apron when cooking so I could wipe my hands off.” One woman said, “I had an apron with pockets for when I hung laundry up and put clothes pins in my pocket.” Staff were again blessed with lunch that day provided by a resident’s family in appreciation for the great care their loved one receives. Huge trays of delicious sandwiches from Caleri’s along with an assortment of unique chips and outstanding cookies were delivered for both 1st shift and then again later for 2nd/3rd shift employees. Thank you so much to this very thoughtful family.
A very special treat took place that afternoon when Priscilla Bill, the new Volunteer/Visitation Coordinator who was recently hired, shared her musical talents. Beautiful violin music filled the halls. What a lovely sound to have live entertainment again while continuing to wait for the day when visitors can come inside nursing homes and Family Night can resume.
It was an interesting Thursday morning in Step Back in Time with Farming and Gardening as the topics. Activity staff visited residents in their room and shared stories and memories of the past. Several ladies brought up the topic of canning the produce from their gardens. The men commented on how much farming has changed to become modern and large scale. They also talked of the cost of tractors and machinery then compared to now. A man said, “Is this really farming? We had to do farming with horses!” The weather was beautiful that afternoon for sitting outside in the courtyard in the sunshine while some residents took a stoll on the sidewalk through the new flowers recently planted. Others munched the fresh popcorn while watching the Beverly Hillbillies during Popcorn Pop-In & Movie. Word search puzzles were handed out entitled “It’s May.” That evening was Garden Trivia with 2nd shift activity staff going around to residents’ room to play this game.
FUNNY Friday had residents laughing to cute stories from several books about the funny things kids say during Let’s Laugh. The Comedy Hour that afternoon generated more giggles when watching the funny antics of Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy.
The wonderful musical entertainment of Gerald Wolfe from Greater Vision and other southern gospel entertainers were ringing in the hallways with many residents’ TVs tuned to activity channel 2 on Saturday to watch a new DVD of Sunday’s favorite hymns. Thank you to the anonymous donor who gave several great music videos to the activity department.
NOTE: “The Cottage,” the new Countryside Barn used for indoor, climate-controlled window visits for residents and their families/friends, continues to be a great way to safely visit loved ones at the Home. This beautiful shed is located in the Home’s west parking lot in front of the building. Remember appointments MUST be scheduled in advance, using the link to Calendly on the homepage of the Home’s website: www.achroanoke.org
NOTE: This email was received from the Woodford Country Health Department: “We need your help! WCHD is asking for feedback regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. If you are a Woodford County resident, please fill out this short survey so we can continue to serve our communities to the best of our abilities: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9GKP7NR Feel free to forward or post on your website or social media as you deem appropriate. Thank you for your continued partnership.”