sunbeams - Transitions Healthcare

September 2015
SUNBEAMS
Transitions Healthcare Sykesville, 7309 Second Avenue, Sykesville, MD 21784
Celebrating September
Intergeneration Month
Coupon Month
World Alzheimer’s Month
International Day of Charity
September 5
Labor Day
September 7
Balance Awareness Week
September 14–20
Hummingbird Celebration
September 17–20
Respect Day
September 18
Centenarian’s Day
September 22
Vegan Baking Day
September 25
Good Neighbor Day
September 28
Women’s Health
and Fitness Day
September 30
Music to Our Ears
September is Classical Music Month, Piano Month,
and Southern Gospel Music Month. As if this isn’t
enough music to our ears, September is also a time to
get out of our chairs and dance. This month marks
Square Dancing Month and the celebration of Line
Dancing Week from September 14–19.
Music is not just an enjoyable distraction. Research
shows that music has the ability to alter the chemical
processes of the brain in healthy ways. It may come
as no surprise that music can reduce amounts of the
stress hormone cortisol. But did you know that listening
to pleasurable music actually strengthens our immune
systems? Music is associated with the antibody
immunoglobulin A, which helps the immune system
identify and fight off harmful germs and bacteria.
Research also links classical music to immediate
improvements in epilepsy and autism symptoms and
some spatial reasoning tests (dubbed the “Mozart
Effect”). And classical dance is being used as therapy
for those with dementia and Parkinson’s. Participants
showed improvements in motor and cognitive
functions, and other mental symptoms.
Research also shows that when we listen to music,
several areas of our brains—those governing
movement, attention, planning, and memory—are
simultaneously activated. In this way, people who
listen to music together are actually sharing a
common experience; all their brains begin working on
the same wavelength. Doctors speculate this is why
music is such a unifying force. Perhaps, too, this is
why there are so many synchronized social dances.
Is there no end to music’s benefits? Lowered stress,
boosted immune systems, workouts for both brain
and body... The next thing we’ll learn is that music
helps the listener eat more when needed. Wait, there’s
research to suggest soft music offers that benefit, too.
September 2015
Gone but Not Forgotten
Avast Ye Misnomers
Anyone who has
owned a pet is
familiar with the
feelings of loss once
that pet has passed
on. World Animal
Remembrance
Month, celebrated in September, has been
designated to remember all the good times with
our companion animals.
September 19 means it’s once again Talk Like
a Pirate Day. Does this mean we should go
around spouting “Arrgh” and “Ahoy, matey”?
Researchers chalk up this type of pirate
speech as nothing but Hollywood hoopla.
When Dolly the sheep won worldwide renown in
1996 as the first cloned animal, few may have
considered the possibility of cloning a family pet.
But for the hearty sum of a hundred thousand
dollars or two, a clone of a beloved pet is exactly
what families can get. Sooam Biotech is already
using DNA to clone companion, pet, and police
dogs in its South Korean laboratory. But it’s a
buyer-beware business; just because your pet
may look the same, there is no guarantee that it
will have the same personality or temperament.
Still others are using this fascinating science not
to bring pets back from the dead but to resurrect
extinct animals. Many animals have gone the
way of the dodo—the great auk, the thylacine,
the Carolina parakeet, the Atlas bear, and even
the black rhinoceros are all now extinct.
Some scientists are using DNA in an attempt to
turn science fiction into a real-life Jurassic Park.
In this popular Michel Crichton book (later
brought to film by Stephen Spielberg), dinosaur
DNA is used to create a theme park of cloned
dinosaurs. And, right now, Harvard scientists are
busy trying to clone a woolly mammoth by
reconstructing the entire mammoth genome.
While mammoths will not be roaming Earth any
time soon, many believe it is only a matter of
time before we can successfully replicate these
long-lost animals in the laboratory. The most
important question on scientists’ lips is not
“Could we?” but “Should we?” Perhaps these
scientists could watch Jurassic World, the latest
film thriller in the Jurassic Park film franchise, to
see how these experiments might play out.
Many real pirates from the Golden Age of
piracy most likely spoke like any other riverdwelling Londoner. After all, pirates were often
former English-speaking merchant sailors.
Most pirate myths—from speech patterns to
parrots, eye patches, and peg legs—come
from the book Treasure Island by Robert Louis
Stevenson. When Disney turned the book into
a movie in 1950, actor Robert Newton’s
portrayal of Long John Silver became the
benchmark of nearly every pirate to follow. So,
perhaps September 19 should be named Talk
Like Robert Newton Day instead? Aye aye!
The Straight Doh
Over 60 years, nearly
one billion pounds of PlayDoh have been extruded
into billions of little plastic
canisters for kids to play
with. In 1998, this modeling compound was
even inducted into the National Toy Hall of
Fame. And now it has its own holiday on
September 16: National Play-Doh Day.
Play-Doh wasn’t originally intended as a toy.
Invented to be wallpaper cleaner (rolled on
walls to remove dirt and grime), the glob of offwhite putty soon inspired the imagination of
school children. In 1956, Play-Doh inventor Joe
McVicker cut a deal with Captain Kangaroo
and other children’s show hosts to promote the
product. Today, Play-Doh fills a reported 100million-plus cans with colorful putty every year.
While the official recipe is a trade secret, there
are many unofficial recipes for homemade
dough. What you may not be able to replicate,
however, is Play-Doh’s trademark smell. But
even this was offered on its 50th anniversary
—as a Demeter-brand cologne for creatives.
September 2015
Celebrating Tolkien Week
Home of the Whopper
J.R.R. Tolkien is best
known as the author of
The Hobbit, The Lord of
the Rings trilogy, and The
Silmarillion. This set of
books conjures the fantasy
world of Middle-earth, a
magical place inhabited by
elves, dwarves, trolls,
dragons, wizards, and, of course, the peaceful
and portly race of pint-sized people known as
hobbits. The Lord of the Rings—with 150 million
copies sold—is the second best-selling English
novel of all time, with The Hobbit (at 100 million)
ranking third, according to Ranker.com. The
legions of Tolkien fans worldwide now celebrate
September 22 as Hobbit Day. After all,
September 22 is the birthday of not just Bilbo
Baggins, the hero of The Hobbit, but also of
Frodo Baggins, Bilbo’s nephew and hero of The
Lord of the Rings.
It’s no lie; in New Harmony, Indiana, the third
Saturday in September brings the Big Whopper
Liar’s Contest. These aren’t little white lies but
long, well-wrought yarns expertly crafted to
bring tears of laughter to audience members’
eyes. There was the one story about a woman
who discovered that her grandma’s trick for the
perfect piecrust involved pressing her false
teeth into the dough. Then there’s the hunting
tale of the boy who had his great granddad’s
rifle full of enough shot to take down a
rattlesnake, a charging wild boar, an 11-point
buck, and 13 turkeys sitting on a tree limb.
While the grand prize won’t make you rich,
your reputation will certainly precede you.
As if one day were not enough to honor Tolkien
and his fiction, the entire week surrounding
September 22 is now celebrated as Tolkien
Week. After all, there is so much more to
Tolkien’s story than just hobbits; he created an
entire universe complete with several
languages and its own mythology.
The depth of the Tolkien obsession is perhaps
best exemplified by the Tolkien Society—part
fan club, part charity, and part literary society. In
addition to publishing a journal of Tolkien
scholarship and maintaining an extensive
Tolkien archive, the society also hosts an annual
event known as Oxonmoot. Each September
Tolkien enthusiasts travel to Oxford, England,
and attend a long-weekend’s worth of seminars
and art shows about all things Tolkien. This
Tolkien-related gathering also includes a
masquerade ball, where fans dress up as their
favorite fantasy characters. For those unable to
make the pilgrimage to Oxford, perhaps the
best way to celebrate Tolkien Week is to read
his novels, watch the film versions of the books,
and complain about the many inaccuracies and
liberties taken by the films’ directors.
Unwelcome to the Emerald City
Most cities love an
influx of tourists.
Tourists, after all, bring
dollars. The more
popular a city is, the
more those dollars
add up. So it is very
strange indeed that September 16 is Stay
Away from Seattle Day, a day when Seattleites
request for everyone to please refrain from
visiting their wet Pacific Northwest city.
Seattle residents themselves offer myriad
reasons to shun their city: exorbitant gas
prices, never-ending rain, earthquakes, a
fleeting summer that begins in July and ends in
September. Or is the real truth that Seattle is
so wonderful that its residents want to keep it
all for themselves? It is world-renowned for its
coffee (thank you, Starbucks), doughnuts
(thank you, Top Pot), and salmon (thank you,
Mother Nature). Then there’s the unparalleled
natural beauty, great music scene, a cuttingedge technology industry, and hey, we even
hear the whole rain thing has been
exaggerated. (It’s mainly a constant drizzle, not
a downpour.) So, what is it, Emerald City? Are
you awful or awesome? The only way to find
out may be to visit sometime soon.
September 2015
Googled at Birth
Who could have known
on September 4, 1998,
that the strange term
google would come to
be used in hundreds of
languages across the
planet? Seventeen years after the company’s
September creation, it seems Google is a part
of our everyday life. Google’s Internet search
engine and e-mail are its most well-known tools,
but that technology is small potatoes compared
to what Google (derived from the term googol, a
mathematical term for the number 1 followed by
100 zeros) hopes to achieve in the future.
Google began at Stanford University in
California. Two PhD students, Larry Page and
Sergey Brin, wanted a better way to search for
information on the Internet. Their mission
statement was “to organize the world’s
information and make it universally accessible
and useful.” New Google projects hope to do
that and much more.
Another Google innovation
is the driverless car, a
technology being used in
cars from Audi, BMW,
Mercedes, Toyota, and
other automakers. MIT
Technology Review claims self-driving vehicles
may soon be safer and more fuel-efficient than
any car on the road, with Google’s prototypes
logging 700,000+ miles of safe driving to date.
In the kitchen, Google also is inventing a
refrigerator that orders milk for you. In fact,
Google wants your whole house to be smarter:
self-adjusting thermostats, remote control coffee
pots and lights, even a “smart” dressing room
that tells you what clothes are fashion forward.
Google X, Google’s secret research and
development lab, has even researched an
elevator into space. Apparently, many are
interested in a way to leave Earth without the
use of rockets. Someday soon, we could be
“googling” ourselves into outer space.
September Birthdays
In astrology, those born between the 1st and
22nd of September are Virginal Virgos. Virgos
are industrious, efficient, and pay close
attention to details, which is why they tend to
get the job done right on the first try. Those
born between September 23rd and 30th
balance the scales of Libra. Libras seek
harmony and value fairness and justice.
Although they’d rather avoid conflict, they are
excellent team players who are tactful and
polite at soothing those embroiled in argument.
Linda Dill – September 3
Elizabeth Baskerville – September 4
William Brooks – September 5
Sterling Collins – September 6
Alan Heinz – September 5
Sadie Taylor – September 7
Christine Prather – September 16
James Wasmus – Septmeber 19
Christy Black – September 22
Leroy Schuerholz – September 24
Bernice Holmes – September 27
Margaret Hidey – September 30
What’s My Point?
Grammarians rejoice! September 24 is
Punctuation Day. If punctuation makes you feel
as excited as an exclamation point, then get
ready to express your enthusiasm over some
rarely used punctuation marks, so obscure that
they don’t even appear on keyboards.
The interrobang looks like a
question mark with an exclamation
point cut through its heart, and it
means “?!”. The exclamation
comma and question comma are
versions of these marks with a
comma below instead of a dot. Why?
Because sometimes you want to exclaim
excitement or ask a question in the middle of a
sentence, not at the end. Three dots forming
an upside down triangle are known as the
because or therefore sign. An irony mark looks
like a backward question mark and means that
the sentence should be read with irony…this
sentence not included, of course.
SYKESVILLE MANAGEMENT TEAM
KIM DRAKE, NHA, RD, CSG, LDN – Administrator
MARJORIE SIMPSON, PhD, CRNP – Vice President, Nurse Practitioner Services
LISA LIPMAN, RN – Director of Nursing
LINDA KARMALA, RN – Assistant Director of Nursing
IAN ROHE, LPN – Marketing/Clinical Liaison
KRISTEN ALLEN – Admissions Coordinator
TOM HOUSER, LPN – 1st Floor Unit Manager
DURAMANY SESAY, RN - 2nd floor Unit Manager
DEBBIE GRIGSBY, LPN – 3rd Floor Unit Manager
CHARLES COLE, RN – Evening Supervisor
ROSE KELLEY, RN – Weekend Supervisor
RACHEL GUILFOYLE, MS, OTR / L – Rehabilitation Director
Certified Brain Injury Specialist
LISA TIMMONS – Director of Human Resources
MICHELLE MOORE, LCSW – Director of Social Work
MARISA COOKE, MSW, LGSW – Social Work (1st & 3rd Floors)
MEREDITH FARGNOLI, RD, LDN – Dietitian
IGAL QUINTANILLA – Maintenance Director
Food Service – Housekeeping - Laundry
RICHARD COLEMAN, Director / CARLOS SHARP, Assistant Director
TASHAWN WHEELER– Business Office Manager
JENIFER SHOWER - Medicaid Specialist
Life Enrichment Director
DONNA BARNETT, AC-BC, ADC/MC, CDP, Editor “Sunbeams”
Family Council
Meetings
The first meeting after having the
summer months off will begin,
Tuesday, September 22nd
Manicures
Every Tuesday at
10:30 am
Game Room
No Appointment Necessary!
_____________________________________________________________
Sundae Sundays!
Sunday, September 27
2:30 pm
1st Floor
Dining Room
Stop by and get a
special treat!
Family members, helping other family members
and guests, are invited to hear a presentation by
Donna Barnett, AC- BC,ADC/MC,CDP
“Understanding the importance of
Alzheimer’s / Dementia Education”
2:00pm in the Game Room
The same presentation will be offered Saturday,
October 10th 1:30pm Game Room
This is your opportunity as families to get to know
other family members who have gone through
many of the same situations as new families may
now be going through. This is also a chance for the
family council to find a day and time that more
families would be able to participate.
If you have questions, please
feel free to contact:
Eleanor Armstrong
Family Council Leader
410-596-8868
[email protected]
Resident Council
Meeting
September 24th - 2:30pm
Game Room
Please plan to attend!
Teresa Thornton, Beautician
Welcomes everyone to come to the
Beauty Salon for all your hair care
needs – male and female. Teresa has
over 35 years experience!
The salon is located on the 1st floor
Appointments and Walk-Ins Welcome!
You may set up appointments with Donna
Barnett, ADC
Teresa will be in the Transitions Beauty Shop
on Saturdays. However, she can available as
services are needed.
Prices are reasonable and within the same
rate at in the community. Checks are
accepted and should be written to Teresa
Thornton. A Resident Account may be set up
with the Business Off Staff; where family
receives a quarterly statement.
2015
Resident Council Officers:
Matt Tiffany, President
Room 201 B
Ron Mattern, Vice President
Room 109 D
Jackie Maize, Social Secretary
Room 110 B
Robert Richardson, Chaplain
Room 107 A
TO TRANSITIONS
HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY
James Wasmus
Joseph Luckert
Velma Divers
Catherine Miller
Sterling Collins
Joyce Germack
Margaret Hidey
Kelly Monroe
Gloria Pailer
George Duffy
Teresa Muhl
Ethel Karcher
Transitions Healthcare
Sykesville Notaries
Please see:
Jenifer Shower
Business Office
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Jennifer Thomas
Receptionist
Monday – Friday
4:00 – 8:00pm
Saturday – Sunday
8:00 – 4:00pm
RESIDENT BANKING
NEEDS
September
Birthday
Club!
Business Office is located on the
3rd Floor
Monday – Friday Hours
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
~
Saturday – Sunday
See Front Desk Receptionist
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
A limited amount of cash is kept with the receptionist to
accommodate resident’s monetary needs in evening & on
the weekends. Residents must have an active Resident
Account to request money in the evening & on the
weekends.
Resident fund accounts: Check deposits for resident fund
accounts should be made in the name of the resident. We
cannot accept checks made payable to “Transitions” for
resident account deposits. Please make checks payable to
the resident.
The business office is updating resident files. Please
stop by the business office (during normal business hours)
with current insurance cards (including Medicare and
prescription cards). We need to copy cards for our files so
proper insurance billing can be done.
Please visit the business office to make sure we have
correct and current billing information. Resident bills are
sent out around the 5th of each month. If you have not
received a bill, please contact the business office
Thanks for your cooperation!
--------
Tashawn Wheeler
Business Office Manager
410-795-1100 ext. 4203
September 17, 2015
4:30 pm
1ST FLOOR DINING ROOM
ENTERTAINMENT
BY:
Melissa Christiansen
Sympathy is
Expressed from all
of the Transitions
Healthcare Community
to the families of…
K-PETS will visit Transitions
Healthcare Sykesville residents
every 3rd Thursday monthly.
Next visit – Thursday,
September 17th At 2:00pm
George Anderson
John Gellner
Mary Williams
Raymond Evans
James Bollinger
Sharon Taylor
James Anderson
Ramona Harris
NOT BY THE YEARS WE LIVE
BY HELEN STEINER RICE
FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER
GOD WILL GLADLY GIVE
TO EVERYONE WHO SEEKS HIM
AND TRIES EACH DAY TO LIVE
A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY
TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER,
SEEING EVERYONE WHO PASSES
AS A NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, OR BROTHER,
NOT ONLY JOY AND HAPPINESS
BUT THE FAITH TO MEET EACH TRIAL
NOT WITH FEAR AND TREPIDATION
BUT WITH AN INNER SMILE,
FOR WE KNOW LIFE’S NEVER MEASURED
BY HOW MANY YEARS WE LIVE
BUT BY THE KINDLY THINGS WE DO
AND THE HAPPINESS WE GIVE.
Resident Council
Carry-in Supper
Thursday, September 24th
4:30pm
st
1 Floor Dining room
Pizza and all the trimmings!
Family Council Leader
Eleanor Armstrong
Will be passing out “treats” to family
members and residents on
Sunday, September 20th
1st floor dining room
2:00pm
This is an opportunity to talk to Eleanor
and find out what the Transitions
Healthcare Sykesville Family Council is
all about.
Sunday, September 20th
2:30pm 1st floor dining room.
Mary Hogwood and Friends
Present an old fashioned sing-a-long
Sugar-n-Spice
Resident Council Fundraiser
Monday, October 5th
10:00am-4:00pm
Game Room
Come see the fall decorations,
crafts, jewelry, purses candles,
plus much more!
SAVE THE DATE!
Resident Council
Fundraiser Yard Sale!
Mark Your Calendars!
Saturday, October 17th
8:30am-1:00pm
Upper Parking lot (weather permitting)
Table spaces are available for $10.00 each
for anyone who would like to
sell their own items.
The Life Enrichment Staff will be accepting
donations beginning, September 28th in the
Life Enrichment Office.
Soda, Hot dogs, and Snacks will
also be available!
SAVE THE DATE!
FALL HARVEST FUN PARTY
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
7:00 PM
1ST FLOOR DINING ROOM
Entertainment by : Cowboy Joe (Clown)
This event is being held on Friday evening to give the children the
opportunity to go to parties and trick-or-treating on Saturday, October 31st
All residents, staff, children of staff and community, and residents are
welcomed to attend wearing their 2015 Halloween costume.
Games, Prizes and Trick or Treating will be available!