April/May 2016 - HeddingtonOaks.com

Heddington Herald
Newsletter for the Residents, Families, Volunteers and Staff at Heddington Oaks
April-May 2016
Celebrating National Nursing Home Week!
Our skilled care nursing home
is a small, vibrant world all by itself.
At Heddington Oaks, we strive to
create a welcoming community that
encourages everyone to interact
with one another. Once a year,
nursing homes across the county
honor the spirit of residents and
staff who come together each day
with respect and compassion. It’s
National Nursing Home Week!
During the special week, May
8-14, Heddington Oaks will highlight and thank all the special people
who make our big building a caring
little world. “It’s A Small World With
A Big Heart” is the national theme
this year. From our residents, staff,
families and volunteers, there’s
definitely a lot of heart in our small
world at Heddington Oaks!
On Sunday, May 8, we kick off
the week with a Mother’s Day
Celebration at 9:30 a.m. Families
are encouraged to visit for cake and
refreshments in the activity room.
Volunteers are an essential piece
of the Heddington Oaks community. On Thursday, May 12, we
honor those caring individuals with
a Volunteer Appreciation Social
from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Afternoon
refreshments will be served, along
with a special gift for each volunteer.
For our residents, Heddington Oaks is the central hub where
2223 W. Heading Avenue, West Peoria, IL 61604 | (309) 636-3600
health and happiness prosper.
The Activities department has an
exciting week planned that will
bring back memories of a good
old-fashion street carnival! Musical
entertainment, an ice cream social,
Bingo, games and more!
The staff at Heddington Oaks
is the glue that holds together our
close-knit caring community. On
Friday, May 13, employees are
invited to stop by the activity room
from 11-2:00 p.m. for a variety
of carnival treats - fresh popped
popcorn, lemon shakeups, cotton
candy and more!
Thank you to everyone who
makes Heddington Oaks a small
world with a big heart!
HeddingtonOaks.com
Get Outside for Good Health!
Wellmobile Returns
to Heddington Oaks
on Wed, April 13
We’re excited to welcome back
the UnityPoint Health-Methodist
Proctor Wellmobile to Heddington
Oaks on Wednesday, April 13 from
8:00-10:00 a.m. This health service
is open to the general public inside
our activity room. No appointment
is needed. Interested residents,
family members, employees, and
neighbors are encouraged to take
advantage of the FREE professional
screenings of blood pressure, cholesterol/blood glucose and spirometry.
(Note: An 8-12 hour fast is required
before the cholesterol/blood glucose
screening.) It is recommended that
participants drink 16 oz. of water
before arriving. Coffee, iced tea and
diet soda are okay, but no added
sweetners or creamers.
The Wellmobile is an education
program designed to promote
healthier living in our community.
It brings free or low-cost screenings
throughout Central Illinois. Caring
and trained staff members provide
education on healthy living, early
detection of disease, disease prevention and more.
More information can be found
online at www.Wellmobile.com.
Spring time is here! Give your
body a health boost by exposing it to
the great outdoors.
A leisure walk or reflective sit
outside gives our minds a reprise
from the typical sensory overload
of busy environments, television
and computer screens. Allowing our
mind rest to rejuvenate combats
stresses, eases depression, and improves our overall outlook.
Time in nature also enhances
our use of senses and creates mental
stimulation afterward. After just an
hour interacting with nature, studies
have seen memory performance and attention spans improve by over
20 percent. The study also noted a boost in creativity.
Individuals who take in nature by regular walks also achieve the
recommended daily dose of exercise more than those who stay indoors. Walking outside strengthen muscles, increases joint flexibility
and improves self-esteem. Time spent outdoors makes people feel
more alive with an increased sense of vitality and energy, which in
turn can boost resiliency to physical illness.
The outdoors may even help us age gracefully. Getting outside
on a daily basis may help older people stay healthy and functioning
longer. In a recent study published by the Journal of Aging Health,
participants who spent time outdoors every day at age 70 had fewer
complaints of aching bones, sleep problems, and other health-related
problems seven years later - as compared to those who did not head
outside each day.
Daily exposure of “Vitamin N” (Nature) motivates seniors to
be active physically, spiritually and socially, which can offset chronic
illness, disability and isolation. You may notice in recent years, many
hospitals and nursing homes are now incorporating therapeutic
gardens. These gardens are proven to enhance feelings of renewal,
restoration and spiritual connectedness.
At a certain point, it becomes more difficult for older people to
enjoy nature as their mobility decreases. Instead of walking, board
games and puzzles can be taken outdoors for stimulation. The benefits of nature may also be brought indoors. Experiences like hearing
trickling water and chirping birds or being surrounded by plants and
scenic photographs may also produce the same positive effects as
nature itself.
Allow the great outdoors in every day to age gracefully!
Caring for Seniors with Respect and Compassion
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT
Paulette
Dismang
April
2
2
3
5
6
8
12
13
13
14
15
16
17
20
25
26
26
28
30
Lois Harkless
Ann Yakoff
Nivia Bouchez
Beulah Siebenthal
Miriam Prindiville
Richard Melton
Charles Webber
Frances Kemper
Phyllis OBryant
Margaret Worrick
Beverly Wrhel
Edith Kellington
Roy McGuire
Nellie Rambow
Lois Belt
Barbaree Garry
Dorothy Wright
Harold Spenard
Shirley McAllister
Every resident has a special story
and unique life road that brings
them to Heddington Oaks. Meet
Paulette Dismang...
For some residents, a stay at
Heddington Oaks is just a temporary stop before returning home.
Paulette has made three short stays
at Heddington Oaks in the past few
years - twice for rehab after knee
surgery and once post-dehydration.
Paulette makes a point to select
Heddington Oaks each time for her
recovery. She first discovered our
skilled care home while visiting her
friend Susan. As a former RN, she
recognized the quality of care and
equipment at Heddington Oaks.
“Everyone here is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The nurses,
cooks and even the laundry people
seem so happy,” says Paulette.
Allergic to pain medications,
physical therapy can be challenging, but Paulette says the therapists
at Heddington Oaks “do a fantastic
job trying to help me through the
pain. They are creative to make
rehab fun. It’s like a game.”
Paulette was born and raised in
the Peoria area. She is widowed and
has four children, 10 grandchildren
and 2 great-grandchildren. In her
free time, she likes to read books
and watch television game shows.
May
6
6
10
10
11
11
17
20
20
21
26
26
29
29
Bobby Bedingfield
Thomas Ott
Leroy Brown
Robin Meyer
Shirley Buhs
Mittie Smith
Volney Pitts Jr.
Margaret Bailey
Betty Bohanan
Verna Carter
Mable Hoskins
Betty Melvin
Alma Prater
Cornelia Schneider
We celebrate residents’ birthdays
with a monthly party, serving cake,
ice cream, and a special gift from Entre Nous. On each resident’s actual
birthday, the kitchen delivers an individual cake to their room along with
a card.
REUSE. The stained glass in the
activity room was repurposed from
St. Joseph’s, a neighborhood church.
Heddington Oaks prides itself on
being GREEN - not just for Earth
Day on April 22 - but all year long!
RECYCLE. During construction
of our building, waste was tracked
and portions recycled. You can
find recycling bins throughout the
building. Our office printers use
recyclable paper and ink.
REDUCE. Our facility uses highefficiency washers, dryers and dish
machines to reduce electricity and
water. The building design maximizes
natural daylight and incorporates
automatic shutoff lighting. Even our
toilets are low water loss.
In 2014, Heddington Oaks was
awarded the prestigious
Gold level in LEED
certification, as
established by the
U.S. Green Building
Council.
HeddingtonOaks.com
May 6-12, 2016
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Rose Collins
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
In honor of National Nurses Week, we
would like to extend a special thanks
to all of our nurses, as you continue
to provide the highest level of quality
care to our residents. You deserve
special recognition for your efforts in
delivering compassionate care while
encompassing the principles of ethical
practice in your profession.
THANK YOU!
We are a PROUD SPONSOR of the
Heart of Illinois 50+ Games & Arts
May 11-15, 2016
www.50plusgamesandarts.com
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Give us a like to stay connected!
www.FB.com/HeddingtonOaks
At Heddington Oaks, we are
proud of our professional caring
nursing staff. This month, we
talked with Rose Collins...
A calling to the the medical
field was somewhat hereditary
for Rose since she grew up with a
mother who worked in surgery. A
Peoria native, Rose has worked at
many care centers and hospitals
throughout the Peoria area.
After being a CNA (Certified
Nurse Assistant) for twenty years,
Rose obtained her LPN license.
She joined Peoria County shortly
before the move from Bel-Wood
to Heddington Oaks.
“God gives everyone a purpose and this is mine. I know I’m
meant to serve others,” says Rose.
Rose is an outgoing and positive spirit, but also prides herself
as being an outspoken “patient
advocate”. Residents enjoy her
cheerful personality and the ever
changing style and color of her
hair. Despite several battles with
cancer, Rose has a great outlook
on life. She says, it’s because “I’ve
already been through so much.”
Rose spearheads a group
called Compassionate Hearts,
which assists with cremeation
services when there is no family
or state funding to cover the
cost. The group is supported on
donations and recently helped to
honor Joann Spencer.
Rose has two children,
Johnny and Erica, and one
granddaughter Jakari. When not
at work, Rose likes to relax, go to
church and watch sports - especially football.
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In Loving Memory
Our January-February-March Angels
Dorothy Atkinson
Margaret Bailey
James Bayless
Isabella Berryhill
Betty Biegler
Shirley Dieckow
Johanna Eash
Cecilia Glazeski
Donald Greene
Charles Gregory
Zoe Gunzenheiser
Richard Hawley
Louise Kettle
Cecelia Meeker
Caring for Seniors with Respect and Compassion
Doris Price
Patsy Russell
Norma Schermer
Emeline Schurter
Robert Simmons
Joann Spencer
Vivian Walker