Let’s Live Life Better, together

Is there a secret to living a better life? I don’t think so. But it does take some work and perseverance.

Rebecca Marker-Smith
Director of Marketing

First, let’s clear the air. I am by no means a medical professional. However, like you, I read a lot of articles and ask a lot of questions.

According to an article in Medical News Today, nearly 75 percent of all deaths in the United States are attributed to just 10 causes, with the top three of these accounting for over 50 percent of all deaths.

Here are the top 10 leading causes of death in the US:

1. Heart disease

2. Cancer (malignant neoplasms)

3. Chronic lower respiratory disease

4. Accidents (unintentional injuries)
5. Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases)

6. Alzheimer's disease

7. Diabetes

8. Influenza and pneumonia

9. Kidney disease (nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis)

10. Suicide

So, this begs the question, “What lifestyle changes do we need to make to either avoid these situations or prolong them from happening?”

After doing some more reading, I learned that the majority of them had a common theme that boiled down to these 8 steps:

1. Stop smoking

2. Get more active

3. Lose weight

4. Lower blood pressure

5. Get more sleep

6. Control diabetes

7. Lower cholesterol

8. Eat better

So, at Green Hills Community, we are going to do just that.  We’re not going to do every one of them all at once. That would be an impossible task. What we need to do is break this down to bite-size pieces by offering educational luncheons on a monthly basis.

By reaching out to experts at Mary Rutan Hospital, we are going to learn how to live a better life, hence the slogan, “Live Life Better.”

Our first session, Tobacco Cessation Education, is set for noon on Friday, Feb. 9, in Foundation Hall, where doors open at 11:30 a.m. for lunch. The speaker is Brooxie Crouch, Respiratory Care Clinical Coordinator at MRH. To RSVP for this event, please call 465.0700 or e-mail info@greenhillscommunity.org.

Yes, some of the work in living a better life includes diet and exercise. But it is so much more than that.

It’s about having a purpose in life, being part of a community, forming a bond with other people, and sharing your time and talent. Think of this as a journey for the mind, body, and spirit.

And, this journey doesn’t stop with the monthly education luncheons.

Here are other resources and services that are available at Green Hills to help us live life better:
Blood drives: every other month from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Book Club: 1:30 p.m. third Friday of the month

Caregiver Support Group: 2 to 3 p.m. third Monday of the month

Church services: 2:30 p.m. Sundays, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays

Tai Chi: 4 p.m. Mondays

Volunteer opportunities: more opportunities that we can list here

Water fitness classes: 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Yoga: 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Wednesdays, 6 a.m. Thursdays

Additional educational sessions are also being planned such as financial wellness and how to live with someone who has dementia. If you would like to be included in the mailing list for these upcoming events or to learn more, please feel free to call me. I can be reached at 937.650.7117 or via e-mail: rsmith@greenhillscommunity.org.

Living a better life doesn’t need to be an uphill battle. We can do this because we’re going to do it together.

Hands: The Tool of Tools

(This is a reprint of the speech that was shared by Elizabeth Siegenthaler, Director of the Green Hills Child Center, that she presented during the Child Center graduation ceremony on Friday, June 9, in Foundation Hall at Green Hills Community. For more than 30 years, Green Hills has offered child care to staff and the public and was the first nursing home in the state of Ohio to offer child care.)

Good morning.

Before we begin, I need you all to consider the importance of your hands.

Elizabeth Siegenthaler
Director of Child Center

According to Aristotle, the hand is the “tool of tools.” One of the very first things that takes place in meeting someone is to simply wave “Hello” or extend a firm handshake.

Hands give blessing while grasping another’s before a meal, or while folded before bedtime.

Often expressive, hands can offer an approving thumbs up, say that we’re #1, to rock on, to hang 10, or to peace out.

A hand is so important that a fortune teller not only uses it to track your past, but also to chart your future. In general, the significance of your hands is strength, power, and protection. However, it can just as easily mean generosity, hospitality, and stability.

Each day of our lives is filled with incidents that require our hands to be skillfully and silently involved, often to the point that we are nearly oblivious to how much we, and even others, rely on them.

Think back to the day your child was born. No bigger than a minute, your brand new baby fit in the palm of your hand—and from that point forward, relied on your hands to simply survive each day.

Equipped with the tools necessary, your hands …

swaddled Adelia…

rocked Elin to sleep…

changed Ellie’s diaper…

and fed Mason.

Your hands …

bathed Molly…

dressed Brayden…

tickled Braiyelyn…

fixed Olivia’s hair…

and zipped Ryder’s jacket.

Your hands also carried your sons and daughters into our Child Center.

Here, their hands learned the techniques necessary to …

crawl …

feed themselves …

share toys with friends …

do motions to songs …

paint and color …

wipe their noses …

write their names …

tie their shoes.

These children even learned that some hands hurt, but that there will always be hands to fix boo-boos and wipe away tears.

There … will always … be hands.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist said, “if you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment ...”

As your children rely on the help of your hands, you once depended on your parents’ hands to do the same for you. They once depended on their parents’ hands to do likewise. The hands of those who came before …    

swaddled…

rocked…

changed…

fed…

bathed…

dressed…

tickled…

fixed hair…

and zipped jackets for … you.

As your child leaves here today with his or her diploma in hand, I, along with all of the Child Center staff, will offer up a congratulatory round of applause, and keep our fingers crossed that our hands have assisted each one of you in preparing these graduates for the first day of school.

When that day in late August or early September comes, your children are relying on your hands for one more thing, and that is … to let go.

As you wait anxiously for the bus, or as you walk up to the entrance of the school, let go of your son’s and daughter’s hands. Like you once did for your parents on your first day, chances are good that your child will give you a reassuring thumb’s up.

While you wave “goodbye,” your child, armed with the “tool of tools,” will turn and wave “Hello” to his or her kindergarten teacher, and an entire classroom of new friends.

Congratulations to Green Hills Child Center’s Class of 2017!

In back from left: Elin Leichty, Molly Titlow, Ellie Louth, Adelia Leonard, and Olivia Keller.

From front from left: Mason Wallace, Braiyelyn Defibaugh, Brayden Clary, and Ryder Terry.

Last Monday, a genuine miracle happened at Bellefontaine High School.

What? A miracle? Yes! Right then and there. Time and Space, humanity’s most obstinate obstacles, vanished during four delightful hours.

Prom Royalty:
Fontella and John Marmon

The miracle happened when some 35 Green Hills’ Savvy Seniors happily enjoyed ‘their’ prom. Gently coached and encouraged by DECA students, our Savvy Seniors responded with remarkable bursts of recovered vitality. Surrounded by impressive posters from the four corners of the world, we engaged in subdued inter-generational social chit-chats and a lovingly served light lunch.

Then came the shared entertainment program. You should have seen that! Prom is all about dancing, right?

DECA seniors invaded the dance floor with their youthful vim and vigor, while begging old seniors to join them on the dance floor. “No way!” was the answer silently formulated by the oldies, still munching on their last cookie, kind of scared, you know. “My back is kill-ing me today! Me? Come on, I just can’t! I tell ya, I got Rheumatism, Fibromyalgia, the works! And oh, yes, you should see my bunions!

Me on the dance floor? I am stuck in my wheelchair, don’t you see? Those kids are nice to watch. That’s what I will do: watch and munch my cookie.”

That is when the miracle happened.

Reluctantly, with apprehension, dragging one foot here, one foot there, the old seniors joined the young ones. One by one, in groups, walking or pushed in their wheelchairs.

Samba! Mambo! Cha-Cha! Twist! And, oh delight, at long last the Savvy dancers could take a break with some slow dancing helped by Blue Eyes’ crooning; and Andrews sisters’ boogie-woogieing. Enough to bring tears to your happy eyes, I tell ya.

But then again came the shared fun of O-H-I-O! Some Swing, The Snake ... Nice, but kinda old fashioned, no?

That’s when the DECA Seniors demonstrated their gesticulating moves: The Dab, The Hit, and even The Quan. A few oldies joined in.

Can you imagine that, Savvies dancing The Dab?

The joy of dancing had taken us back in time, but not in a nostalgic way. Our past was blending with our hosts’ future in a uniquely shared and most natural way. Inter-generational programs sponsored by Green Hills like Techy Teens, are quite valuable for us all. They must be encouraged and expanded.

Full of knowledge, young people are at the start of a life journey full of challenges, likely achievements, and possible pitfalls; they need some of the wisdom that seniors have accumulated over their many years and want to share for the benefit of all.

Many thanks to the Bellefontaine High School DECA Seniors for adding caring love to their many talents. Many thanks to the Green Hills organizers for planning and running this wonderful event.
Rumors are that there will be a repeat in 2018. Great!

Meanwhile exercise more and munch less, OK?

--Patti & Dan Verin, residents of Green Hills Garden Homes

Patti & Dan Verin "cutting the rug" at the Senior Prom

A feast of farro is phenomenal

We tried something new at the recent Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon  at Green Hills Community – it's call farro. 

Kelli Fritz, CDM
Director of Dining
& Support Services

You’ve heard of common grains like barley, buckwheat and whole wheat, but farro?

Farro, also called emmer in some parts of the world, is a type of ancient wheat grain that has been eaten around the world for thousands of years.

The ancient whole wheat grain has a long and interesting history and for many years fed almost the entirety of the Mediterranean and Near East. Specifically, it fed the vast majority of Romans from 44 BC to the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 CE.

All classes of people,  from the wealthy to the poor, ate farro. The poor of the Roman Empire ground farro and included it as an ingredient in a type of polenta called "plus." 

As grains become more easily cultivated, farro lost its popularity until the French began using the grain in soups.

How does farro stack up against other grains? 

The USDA does not provide nutrition information for farro at this time but we can presume it has similar nutrients to other closely related ancient wheat species.

With that in mind, a half cup serving of uncooked farro has about:

150 calories 

34 grams of carbohydrates 

7-8 grams of fiber

7-8 grams of protein 

1 gram of sugar 

1 gram of fat

4 milligrams of niacin 

60 milligrams of magnesium

2 milligrams of iron

2 milligrams of zinc

Here are the six health benefits of eating farro

1. High in fiber: A very high level of fiber makes it heart-healthy, good for digestion and beneficial for

preventing blood sugar or insulin spikes and dips. Fiber is more than just a regulator. It is beneficial for preventing constipation, clearing the arteries of plaque buildup, curbing hunger pangs and supporting a healthy gut environment. Farro breaks down slowly, keeping your energy levels more stable compared to eating refined grains.

2. Improves immunity and heart health: Studies conducted by a national health organization show the more whole grains someone eats, the more protections that person seems to have against chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

3.  Good source of protein: Farro is considered an excellent source of plant base protein, providing just about the same amount as most legumes or beans and even more than many other whole grains.

4. High in B vitamins: Farro contains multiple B vitamins, especially Vitamin B3 Niacin, which is important for metabolic health and breaking down carbohydrates, fats and proteins from foods into energy.

5. Good source of antioxidants: Most people think of vegetables or fruits as being the only high antioxidant foods, but unprocessed grains also provide antioxidants, especially the type called lignans. Plant lignans are known to reduce inflammation.

6. Provides iron, magnesium and zinc: Farro is a good source of nutrients that some plant-based eaters or anyone with a mostly processed diet might be missing out on, including magnesium, zinc and iron. Iron is important for preventing anemia and helps to improve energy while zinc is crucial for brain function, helping with growth and development and facilitating with DNA and cellular functions. Magnesium is a crucial electrolyte that has numerous benefits, - preventing muscle cramps, helping you sleep better, fighting of headaches and helping with digestion.

Farro can be purchased at most grocery stores, including Kroger, Meijer and Aldi.

After reading this recipe, you might expect it to be quite earthy. You’d be right but there is so much more going on here. 

The first taste delivers the earthiness, but then you get sweetness and creaminess from the roasted onions and sweet potatoes that is topped off with the sweet crunch of the pomegranate seeds.

Farro dish served at Volunteer Luncheon

Serving Size: ½ cup 

Serves: 6 people

Ingredients:

 1 cup of uncooked farro

 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 1 medium onion, cut into wedges

 Salt

 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes – should be about 2 ¼ cups

 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

 1/3 cup shelled raw walnuts

 3 cups packed finely chopped Kale – make sure to remove the stems before cutting

 1 large garlic clove, minced

 Lemon juice

 Black pepper

 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

1. Combine farro with 4 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until grain is tender (about 20 minutes). Add one teaspoon of salt stir and allow to simmer for another 10 minutes. Drain excess water.

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, toss onions & Garlic with enough oil to lightly coat, but do not soak. Spread across a baking sheet. Toss sweet potatoes with oil in similar fashion and spread on a separate baking sheet. Sprinkle with cumin, coriander and a pinch of salt. Place in oven and roast – onions will finish first.

3. Toast walnuts on the stove top in an non-stick pan while your vegetables are roasting.

4. Once everything is done cooking, blend your vegetables, walnuts with your rarro, add in the kale (uncooked) and fold ingredients together. Drizzle with a bit of the olive oil and lemon juice to taste, season with salt and pepper. Use the pomegranate seeds to top off the dish after it is put on a plate.

Enjoy!

What tunes are on the soundtrack of your life?

Rebecca Marker-Smith
Director of Marketing

I believe in the power of music and how it sparks memories. I believe in the Music and Memory program that we offer at Green Hills Community.

The earliest song that I remember from growing up is the theme song of Josie and the Pussycats, a mini-record that I cut out from the back of a Honeycomb cereal box. The band was part of the Scooby-Doo show – one of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons.

My parents had a very extensive record album collection, a great stereo system, and we listened to the radio all the time. 

When I got to high school – I would “discover” a song and sing it before anyone else knew about it. Eventually, the song would hit the Top 40 and I was over it – tired of hearing it and onto something else new and exciting.

While a student at Bowling Green State University, I fulfilled my dream by becoming a disc jockey at 88.1 FM WBGU. Garage bands were the rage, MTV was exposing us to all sorts of exciting sounds, college radio was king, and U2 was finally making a name for themselves. It was a great time to tune into the music industry and WBGU-FM hosted a wide range of formats.

I began with an early morning Saturday shift playing “alternative” music – anything that was NOT played anywhere else, like Depeche Mode, Roxy Music, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order, the Smiths and many others of that genre.

Later, I spend two semesters playing 60s and 70s music with a “Classic Flashback” show in which I always opened with Rod Stewart’s Every Picture Tells a Story, which I picked from my parent’s record collection along with tunes from Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and Three Dog Night. Wow, did I have a great time with that show.

During my last year at college, I took over as director of “Jazz Afterhours,” featuring music from classic jazz artists and more modern jazz/new age crossover artists like George Benson, Larry Carlton and John Scofield.

Yes, I love and appreciate music. My greatest fear is that when the day comes that I no longer recognize my family, that someone will play Top 40 tunes from 1984 thinking that I want to relive my high school years. I. Will. Go. Nuts. if I hear Oh Sherrie from Journey or something from Madonna. 

What do I want to hear? I’m so glad you asked. Here are a few songs on my list:

Bring It On - Seal

Maria – Blondie

Message in a Bottle – the Police

Rock the Casbah – the Clash

New Day for You – Basia

Alison – Elvis Costello

City of Blinding Lights – U2

Rat in the Kitchen – UB40

Super Man – REM

People Are People  – Depeche Mode

Take 5 – Dave Brubeck

Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

Early compilation albums from the Windham Hill record label and anything from Bob Marley.

Think about it. What songs always put you in a good mood or reminds you of a special event in your life?

Just like making a will or appointing someone to handle your affairs, I believe it is also important to write what you want to hear when your short-term memory starts to break down.

Now, it’s your turn. What songs are on the soundtrack of your life?

Therapy is essential

Jerry Walker is a worker.

He volunteers his time at the Air Force museum at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, the West Liberty Post of the American Legion, Many Churches Serving One God community meal in West Liberty at Christmas and is a Sunday school teacher at South Union Mennonite Church.

In mid-December, the U.S. Coast Guard retiree was clearing up the last batch of fallen leaves in his yard when he slipped on a patch of ice that caused him to break his left upper femur.

Luckily, he had his cell phone and called his wife for two things …“Call your brother to ask him to come down and clean up the rest of the leaves and then call the squad to take me to the hospital – I just fell on the ice and I hurt a little bit.”

He was taken to Mary Rutan Hospital where he underwent surgery performed by Dr. Steven Haman of Orthopaedic Institute of Ohio in Lima.

“He’s a craftsman. He did a beautiful job to allow me to bear weight on that leg again. He knows what he is doing,” said Mr. Walker.

After a lot of hard work doing intensive physical and occupational therapy, Mr. Walker is back home.

“I was transported to Green Hills on a gurney. About a month later, I’m capable of walking with some assistance,” he said, happy with the progress he has made.

 “Therapy is most essential to healing. You have to come in with an open mind, be willing to do the work, do what you are told to recover quicker and go home.

“Without therapy I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he said.

Following some additional therapy to help with his transition back home, he looks forward to helping his wife around the house and his volunteer work.

“I’m not done helping people,” he said.

Nursing: Is it for you?

Nursing is a calling. It’s not something anyone can do. It takes a special person who is willing to be hands on and help those who are not able to help themselves.

“At the time when I was choosing a career, there weren’t many options available for women. I knew that I wanted to be hands-on … on the go and not sitting in an office,” said Karen Arnett, who is a trainer for the STNA program at Green Hills Community.

Fresh out of high school, Karen was hired at Green Hills Community as a nurses’ aide, before licensing was required.

“Green Hills hired me and trained me for the position. After a year, I decided that I liked it and wanted to do more,” she said and was enrolled in the first LPN class that was offered at the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center.

A career in nursing allowed her the flexibility to take time off, about 20 years, to raise a family. After the children graduated from college, she decided to go back to school to become a Registered Nurse.

She has spent a total of about 10 years in nursing, some years at Mary Rutan Hospital and the remainder back at Green Hills.

“Being an STNA is hard work. You have to be able to pay attention to those you are caring for and be able to handle the care of several people,” she explained adding, “You have to be willing to do what needs to be done for someone who can’t do it themselves,” she explained.

Do you think that you have what it takes to be a nurse? Are you flexible with your time? An STNA can’t cure someone but they can make a difference for those who can’t care for themselves.

"Of all my years in nursing, my true passion was being an aide. As Director of Staff Development, I get to pass that passion along to others," she explained.

The next STNA course is from Jan. 9 to 20. Classes are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Green Hills Community. At the conclusion of the course, students are eligible to sit for the state test for nursing assistants.

STNAs are permitted to work in long-term care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation care settings.

Is nursing for you? To find out more, ask about the course or to register call Karen at 465.5065. If she is busy with a resident, call Stacie Cingle, Director of Human Resources at 465.5065.

Karen Arnett, left, with Evie Hostetler, right, reviews a list of medications with those stored in the med cart.

Small towns are caring towns

There are some people who are not comfortable with the idea of moving to a small town. Their reasoning is that “everyone” will know their business.

I prefer to live in a small town - one where people know your name, greet you with kindness and ask about your family. They aren’t nosy – they are caring.

Several months ago, Scott Boyd, a West Liberty man, was involved in a machinery accident. During emergency surgery, he was given a total of 108 units of blood and a one percent chance of survival because of the extent of his injuries.

When the townspeople of West Liberty learned about the accident, they immediately asked, “What can I do to help?”

With that much blood missing from the blood banks, we all know that it is going to take a lot of people to replenish the supply for the next person who is in need.

To meet that need it was decided a blood drive was needed to replenish what was used during Scott's surgeries. In response, there were several blood drives in the area that were held in his honor. The response from the donors was tremendous and many people donated blood for the first time.

It shouldn't stop there. Blood donors are needed because we never know when there will be another crisis.

If you are a donor. Please make an appointment for a blood drive in your area. If you have never donated - please consider becoming a donor. Mary Rutan Hospital, the Discovery Center and Green Hills hosts blood drives on a regular basis.

If you live or work near West Liberty, call Rebecca at 937.650.7117 and she can register you for the next blood drive at Green Hills.

Give the gift of life - be a blood donor.

P.S. Scott has beaten the odds. He is at home where he continues to improve and recover from his injuries.

Click here to donate blood at Green Hills on Dec. 21

Laughter really is the best medicine

Adults don't laugh enough.  It is said that children laugh 300 times a day.  They giggle, they chuckle, they belly laugh and it all adds up to an average 300 times a day.  Adults on the other hand experience laughter less than 20 times a day. (on average)

Studies show that laughter is a great medicine for us. Several years ago there was an actual study where they invited people to watch a sitcom or a drama after work. They took blood work, blood pressure and measured heart rates both before and after the shows.  They learned that those that watched the sitcom lowered their blood pressure and blood sugar levels and went home happier and more relaxed than those that watched the drama.  This study also links laughter to relieving stress in our lives.  It's like a valve that releases the pent up emotions that often cause us stress.

Another study done in 2011 shows that laughing during a 15 minute comedy video increases our pain threshold by 10%.  The study shows that contracting your muscles during laughter releases the same endorphins as exercise, which help us fight pain.

We also burn calories when we laugh.  That's right, we burn up to 40 calories per 15 minutes laughed.  So if we can laugh for 60 minutes a day, that would be equivalent to rowing for 17 minutes.  Wouldn't you rather laugh!

So why don't adults laugh more often?  As we age we have more to worry about, grades and friends turn to work and family.  We have more responsibility, we may have less trust and we are always in a hurry.  We simply don't think we have time to laugh at the many funnies life has to offer.  But these studies show we really don't have time NOT to laugh.

Today is a good day to laugh a little more.  And if you are having trouble finding something to laugh about, find a child, they can help you without even thinking about it.

Know your fall risk!

Autumn is here in all it's beauty and splendor.  Autumn is a great time to discuss fall prevention and learn good practices to keep us on our feet.

Falling is not a natural part of aging. If you know and manage your own risk factors you can live a full and active life without fear of falling.  Following are some tips from the Ohio Department of Aging:

As the temperature starts its downward trend, and the days get increasingly shorter, it's time to start thinking about autumn and winter falls risks and how you can eliminate or reduce them.

• Leaves, branches and other debris from trees due to the change in seasons can make walkways slippery or hide tripping hazards, like uneven surfaces, edges and steps. Keep walkways clean, and if you can't see that the surface is clear and flat, pick another path.
   
• If winterizing your home includes cleaning gutters, changing light bulbs or other tasks that require you to get up high, use a step ladder or a step stool with a handle, and maintain three points of contact (two feet and a hand, or two hands and a foot) at all times. Do not climb on chairs or other furniture that was not designed for that purpose.
   
• Shorter days mean less direct sunlight and less sunlight overall, meaning you may need more light to get around your home safely. Invest in extra lamps, nightlights and exterior pathway lights to make sure you can always see where you are walking, especially around doorways and stairs. Use the highest-wattage bulb recommended for your fixtures.
   
• Don't let the cooler weather and shorter days limit your activity. Exercise that builds and maintains strength and balance is important to prevent falls year-round. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about indoor exercises that can help you maintain strength and balance when you can't venture out.
   
• As the temperature drops, bundle up to stay warm, but make sure you can see in all directions and move easily and freely.
   
• Keep shoes and walking aids (canes, walkers) free of dirt and mud. Dry them off immediately upon coming in from wet conditions. Remember, wet shoes are just as dangerous as wet floors.

Whether you are taking the "grand-ghouls" out trick-or-treating, or indulging in some adult fun this Halloween season, make sure your "trick-or-treat" doesn't become "TRIP-for-Treat."

• If you'll be accompanying little ones on beggar's night, carry a flashlight and watch for uneven sidewalks, curbs, debris and other tripping hazards.
   
• Fancy dressing is what Halloween is about, but avoid costumes with long gowns, robes or capes that can snag on objects or get tangled up with your feet.
   
• Put on a scary face, but avoid masks that limit your peripheral vision and cause you to miss tripping hazards. Use make-up instead.
   
• That fabulous footwear might be the thing that sets your costume off, but sensible shoes will be less likely to send you tumbling.
   
• Your costume may fit your personality, but does it fit your body? Too loose, it can cause you to trip. Too tight, it can limit your movement.
   
• Accessorize for success, but avoid dangling bits of costume that can be tripped on and ensure that props you are carrying won't cause injury if fallen on.
   
• If you decorate your yard for trick-or-treaters, make sure walkways are far enough from decorations so that visitors don't trip on them, and are free of cords and debris.
   
• If you're going for that "big scare," make sure the area is level and clear of objects to prevent falls when people react.
   
• Know how alcohol affects your balance and perception, and drink responsibly.
• Eat a balanced, nutritious meal before partying or trick-or-treating to make sure you have plenty of energy and to help curb the urge for sweet treats, which can affect blood sugar levels and cause dizziness.

 

You don’t have to handle your grief alone

Grief is a very hard emotion to overcome.

When you are in love, there is a mixture of emotions and feelings that make you feel invincible. Together you can conquer the world.

Grief is an entirely different matter. When you lose that person you loved so dearly, it is hard to let go. Or, you feel guilty if you try to let go.

If you have suffered a loss, whether it is a spouse, a child, family member or a friend, you don’t have to deal with it on your own. There are others who can help you navigate through the process of overcoming your loss. They can offer support and encouragement on your journey to healing.

West Liberty United Methodist Church offers a program called GriefShare.

GriefShare is a special 13-week course that is designed to help you rebuild your life by offering help, encouragement and hope.

Two sessions are being offered, choose wither a a morning or evening session, to accommodate your schedule. You can choose between 10 a.m. Mondays or 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. There is a $5 registration fee that covers the cost of a workbook.

GriefShare is a network of more than 12,000 churches worldwide equipped to offer grief support groups. The program is nondenominational and features biblical concepts for healing from your pain.

The hope is that you will see your group as an oasis on your journey through grief. The three key parts to the program include a video seminar, small group discussion about the weekly video content and a workbook for journaling and personal study exercises to reinforce the weekly session topics.

All are welcome to attend the group meetings at any point. Each session is “self-contained” so you do not have to attend the sessions in sequence. You will be able to pick up any sessions you missed in the next 13-week cycle.

The cycle of Monday morning sessions starts Aug. 31. The Tuesday evening sessions begin Sept. 1. If you are not able to attend, the 13-week cycle repeats in January.

All sessions are at the West Liberty United Methodist Church, 202 W. Newell Street, West Liberty.

For more information or to register, call 937.441.3592.

Angels from the Past

The "senior citizen village" is now more than a dream.  The funding has been established and the groundbreaking set.  This was not the time to relax though.  The board of trustees was formalized and the articles of incorporation were established.  And Lois Bratka, chair of the development and service committees implemented the Green Hills Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary members represented the sponsoring churches.  Each church had one congregation member on the Auxiliary board and several volunteers. Early on the Auxiliary bought those non-essential items that made the center more like a home, which was part of the original mission.  Later after the apartments and then the care center opened the Auxiliary led crafts with the residents, planned parties and helped raise money for those items that make life more comfortable but wouldn't be considered a necessity. Things like an oven for the community room, patio furniture, garden plots, furnishings for the care center and so very much more.  They visited residents in health care, and folks who spent time in the hospital.  They offered transportation to those who wanted to get off campus as well.  They were the face people saw when they waked through the door seven days a week including holidays!

As you read their by-laws and expectations it is very clear that they continued the whole person wellness philosophy as well as what we call person directed care today.  Ella Kauffman reported to the Auxiliary the following statement in 1976:

     "One of the biggest problems I see for those coming to the care center is having to part with so many of life's material goods.  They may not feel like they can do as much, and therefore feel un-noticed or unimportant.  It is our job to to care, to listen and make sure they feel worthy and accomplished. No one can take away memories but we can give the gift of listening to those memories.
"

The Auxiliary became a key part of every project that benefited the residents for many years.   They were the volunteer base from 1974 until the mid 1990's.  They were truly angels of Green Hills Community!

Perseverance Pays Off

The dream to build a "senior citizen village" was shared by an entire town.  The news of the $1.5 million price tag didn't deter them.  The women got the ball rolling with their bake sale. Later, Loren King took on the responsibility of the fund raising.  

The consultants said a town the size of West Liberty couldn't raise the dollars needed to see their dream become a reality.  That did not deter the townspeople.  They continued to meet and plan as if they already had the funding needed. Seven churches joined together to comprise the corporation. Those churches were Bethel, South Union, and oak Grove Mennonite congregations, Church of God, Mt. Carmel Friend church, Grace Chapel and the United Church of Christ.  (all continue to be sponsoring churches today) Two members of each of these churches formed the original board of trustees.  

It's so interesting that this first board of trustees was so creative in their fund development strategy.  

They learned that the Farmer's Home Administration had money for building in rural areas.  They worked with them to receive a $1 million loan.  This was the first of it's kind given to a senior housing and nursing campus.  Once again a group of people who had no experience in senior housing or nursing care lead the way with an innovative idea. That particular idea got them 2/3 of their funding!

The bulk of the final $500,000 came from 447 individuals.  Each of the seven sponsoring churches asked every member to give.  (see picture of pledge cards they kept) The gifts ranged from $5 to $5000.  The equivalent of those gifts today would be $25.14 to $25, 412.55.

This part of the Green Hills story continues the progressive thinking that still sets Green Hills apart today.  It also highlights the fact that ordinary people gave what they could to build a dream.  One church alone couldn't have done it, but the power of those seven churches built the Green Hills legacy.  

“Our purpose is to meet the total needs – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual – of the older person, to offer a secure environment, a sense of dignity, and to help him/her retain his/her life style.”

This is the original purpose statement written by the founding fathers of Green Hills Community. In 1972 they had this vision for their senior citizen village. They wanted their elder loved ones to age in a place like home, with dignity and was focused on their entire well-being.

Wow, that is what every aging services provider strives for today. Some are good at it, others are still striving to reach that goal and still others just don't get it. But Green Hills has been doing it for 40 years, and doing it well!

There is so much about the Green Hills story that is fascinating, but the fact that this group of pioneers had a vision that was so progressive is the most amazing. These folks weren't in health care or senior housing. They knew nothing about how these industries worked. Yet they wrote a purpose statement that holds up and is even still progressive 40 years later!

So you have to ask, why did they choose this purpose statement? That was not the language used back then in healthcare of senior housing. Perhaps it can be found in the belief statement they wrote at that same time. 

"We believe in a ministry to the aging for those whose personal needs we have special concern. We believe in a ministry with the aging as we seek to involve them as partners in the total program. We believe in a ministry of the aging in which their special gifts of maturity, understanding, vision, concern and experience are recognized and utilized." 

These folks didn't know the "rules" for senior housing or health care.  They simply knew what they wanted for their loved ones.  And they were right on.  

It all started with a bake sale.  I love to tell this story.  A story of big dreams and a small town.  A story of perseverance, dedication and hard work.  A story that changed the lives of elders in and around West Liberty.

In 1968 several men talked about a building a "senior citizen village."   Their vision was a place that would include the residents in how it was run.  A place that would offer complete wellness, an idea far ahead of it's time.  A place that invited the residents to use their own knowledge and unique experiences to make it great.  

They did all the usual things; had a meeting, took a vote, got a quote.  This is where the unusual happened.  The quote was for $1,000,000 to build their village.  While the group forged ahead, there was one moment of despair among two of the original founders, Ira Thut and Walter Lautenbach.  But right in that moment of despair Ira's wife came home from her sewing circle and said, "The ladies are having a bake sale for our senior citizen village. We need to get started."  That bake sale raised $2232, equivalent to $10,505 today.  

That is why we say it all started with a bake sale!

Next up - find out about Green Hills original purpose statement and why it is even more relevant today!