Glimpses of Providence

Have you changed your subscription?

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:58:00 +0000

If you're receiving this email, it's because we've posted a new blog, but you're still subscribed to the old blog. Update now! Go to http://providencelife.wordpress.com/ and type your email address in the left column. That way you'll continue to receive Glimpses of Providence each week!

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noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Have you changed your subscription?

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Note: Providence Life Services will be blogging from Wordpress now, so you'll want to renew your subscription at that location. This week's story features two friends who hadn't seen each other in 73 years — until they were reunited at Holland Home!

Use this link: http://providencelife.wordpress.com/ and then follow the instructions in the top left column of the page so you don't miss a single post!

True Love

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:16:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Note: Providence Life Services will be blogging from Wordpress now, so you'll want to renew your subscription at that location. Use this link: http://providencelife.wordpress.com/ and then follow the instructions in the top left column of the page. See you there!

"He's really something," says Edith DeBoer about her husband Rich. The comment rings with significant clarity from a woman who has some memory issues, memory issues that have made it impossible for her to live on her own anymore. Rich and Edith DeBoer now live at Royal Park Place, a Providence retirement community in Zeeland, Michigan.

Rich appreciates the services available, the contracted care available for his wife, the food, the staff, and the Christian environment. But part of him also misses the house he gave up to be here, and the independence he used to know. Although there are no specific limits on his freedoms, no regulations that particularly cramp his style, he does suffer a certain sense of loss.

But Rich DeBoer is not one to complain. Rather, he is grateful for "places like these." Places with staff who can easily be hired to keep Edith's medications on schedule. Places with a full calendar of social opportunities to choose from. Places where the walks are shoveled by someone else, and children are a local phone call away.

"Family is everything," says Rich with a clearing of the throat that gives away the depth of emotion underlying the simple statement. "I couldn't have done this" — he waves his arm, indicating...everything — "without my family." It was his sons and their wives who found Royal Park Place, who chose the apartment, who measured for furniture and arranged for the moving van. "By the time we got here," smiles Rich, "it pretty much already felt like home."

"I love it here," pipes up Edith matter-of-factly. And in the end, that's all that matters to Rich. He would do anything for his wife of 63 years, the girl he patiently courted in high school, the sweetheart who wrote him letters through three years of service on the European front. "In sickness and in health," he affirms. "'til death do us part."

He is really something.

Hearts for Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:00:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Holland Home resident Mary Kelly sports a "Heart for Haiti" ribbon as she poses by a display made up of images from the Haiti Rescue Center blog.

When residents of Holland Home, our retirement community in South Holland, Illinois, first heard about the January 13 earthquake in Haiti, their knee-jerk reaction was, "What can we do to help?"

Barb Van Milligan, the Life Enrichment Director at Holland Home, had a personal connection to Haiti. Her daughter Roberta had traveled there the day after Thanksgiving to visit a ministry she'd been supporting — Real Hope for Haiti. A mother of five, Roberta's heart was drawn to the children being served at Real Hope's Rescue Center.

Roberta has an artistic side, so even before her visit to Haiti, she started a blog called Artists for Hope. The blog shows photos of a variety of artwork — jewelry, paintings, clay models, and more — and describes some of the fundraising activities Roberta and her artist friends are involved in, selling their own artwork and donating 100% of the purchase price to the Rescue Center. Since the earthquake they have been even busier than usual.

So when Holland Home residents began telling Barb Van Milligan, "We would love to make a donation to Haiti, but we don't know which ministry to support," she quickly responded, "I know a ministry where 100% of the donations go directly to buying baby formula, food staples, and medicines that the people need." Thus was launched the "Holland Home has a Heart for Haiti" campaign.

Residents and staff can give a donation of any amount and receive a Heart for Haiti ribbon to show their support. Barb and her Life Enrichment team hand-made 162 ribbons, and it's encouraging to see so many people around the building sporting them. Barb originally thought the campaign might raise "a couple hundred dollars" for Haiti, so she was overwhelmed to learn that $1,450.00 had been raised less in less than two weeks!

The campaign will end on Valentine's Day, less than two weeks from now, when Barb will mail a check for the grand total to the Haiti Rescue Center.

One resident said, "I knew I wanted to give, but I was unsure of the right organization to give to. Holland Home gave me the right opportunity to give."

People outside of Holland Home are welcome to contribute as well. There are three convenient ways to make a donation:

You can bring a check directly to the Holland Home business office and pick up a Heart for Haiti ribbon. Holland Home is located at 16300 Louis Avenue in South Holland, IL 60473.
You can visit the Artists for Hope blog and either make a donation or buy some artwork.
You can visit the Haiti Rescue Center blog and make a donation.

Many Holland Home residents have expressed appreciation for the opportunity to live out their faith and make a difference. "When I look at the pictures of Haiti children" said one grandmother. "I think of my great-grandchildren and of how blessed we are to live in this nation. 'Holland Home has a Heart for Haiti' reminded me of my daily blessings and my responsibility to share my blessings with others." Amen!

Want to work for Providence? Learn from some of our best employees

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:52:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

A lot of different people, websites, and books can give you advice on getting a job. And if you are searching for work right now, it's a great idea to learn as much as you can about the process.

If you're interested in the healthcare field, there are specific skills and qualifications that will be required, depending on the particular position you apply for. You'll need to make sure your education and certification and credentials are all in place before you apply.

And if you want to work at a Providence Life Services community, certain attitudes and "soft skills" will also be expected. Most Providence staff consider their work more than a career. It's a ministry.

If you are preparing for a job interview at a Providence location, you might find it helpful to view the video below. In it, a few of our best workers from Holland Home (our Retirement and Assisted Living community in South Holland, Illinois) describe why they love their jobs:

Interested in applying? Visit WorkAtProvidence.com to view current openings and apply online!

Winter Nutrition

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:15:00 +0000

guest post by Amy Unger L.D.,

Providence Life Services Regional Dietician

January is the perfect time to renew your resolve to eat well. Colder temperatures, shorter days, and the holiday celebrations of the previous month challenge our healthy intentions, but the beginning of a new year brings a feeling of new possibilities.

A few simple guidelines can help you make healthy choices throughout the winter months:

1. Accessibility

Make sure you have fruits , vegetables, low-fat dips, and fat-free pretzels in stock, so you won't be tempted by high-calorie snacks. When you're in the mood to munch, if raisins and baby carrots are the only snacks in the house, you're less likely to gain winter pounds.

2. Quality

Carbs are not bad, but some carbs are better than others. When you choose high-quality carbs from whole grains, sweet potatoes, yams, squash, and pumpkin, you are serving yourself loads of nutrients rather than empty calories.

3. Variety

Look for seasonal produce, such as pomegranates, cranberries, purple grapes, and citrus fruit. These can add some interest to your healthy diet.

4. Supplements

During the winter it can be more difficult to get Vitamin D and Vitamin C through sunshine and diet, so consider talking to your doctor about supplements. Or consider adding Vitamin D to your diet with fortified dairy products, fish, and egg yolks. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach.

5. Energy

Don’t hibernate from exercise just because it's cold outside! Spend time walking the halls, going up and down the stairs, even walking in place while you're watching TV. If you have access to a Wii station, get together with friends for Wii bowling or tennis. Keep moving!

Don't let winter put a freeze on your healthy lifestyle. Grab some grapes, phone some friends, and start walking the hallways today!

Need further inspiration? Check out this photo of four Providence ladies — all over 90 —who work out faithfully every day at Royal Park Place, our Retirement Living community in Zeeland, Michigan!

Happy 100th Birthday, Marie Rickert!

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:37:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Marie Rickert moved into Emerald Meadows, our Assisted Living community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a little more than a year ago. She was 98 at the time and finally decided it might be nice to have someone take care of her, the way she had seen a family friend receiving care at Emerald Meadows. So she moved in, made friends, and this week celebrated her 100th birthday with friends, family, balloons, flowers, cake, tears, and laughter.

As far as anyone at Emerald Meadows knows, this is the first time they've celebrated a 100th birthday! Take a look at the video below — and post a comment to wish Marie Rickert a Happy 100th!

Senator Christine Radogno visits seniors at Victorian Village

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

This week, Illinois Senator Christine Radogno, the Senate Minority Leader, visited Victorian Village, our Retirement and Assisted Living community in Homer Glen, Illinois. She spent about 30 minutes addressing the residents and staff who had gathered in the Fireside Room. The 8-minute video below captures the highlights of her presentation, which followed this basic outline:

Three big issues for Illinois government this year:

1. Ethics reform

Contract reform
Transparency measures
Campaign finance limits

2. Capital bill (money for capital improvements)

Raising the tax on alcohol
Raising driver's license fees
Taxing video gambling

3. Budget crisis

Two proposed solutions: "We need more money, so raise taxes" or "We need to spend what we have more efficiently"
Actual solution: a combination of the two

My impression was that Senator Radogno seems genuinely responsive to her constituents. She was well prepared for her presentation at Victorian Village, and very willing to spend as much time as necessary answering questions. She also complimented Providence on our political involvement — we work with AAHSA, LSN, and other agencies to make sure our government is aware of the needs of our senior population. It was nice to have this opportunity to see our government interacting with Providence people!

What about you? What senior issues do you think Senator Radogno should focus on in 2010?

A Christmas Acrostic

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma

Director of Communications

In an attempt to be both clever and festive, I thought I'd present this week's blog as a Christmas acrostic, listing many of the blessings of Providence I'm particularly aware of during the holiday season. Maybe some of the blessings I list will remind you of your own!

C Community

In the senior living industry, a lot of people use the word "community" without really thinking about it. But whenever I visit one of our Providence Life Services communities, I am genuinely impressed with the fellowship and camaraderie among residents and staff. People really do care for each other and watch out for each other.

H Holiday spirit

This past year, the Life Enrichment staff at our communities have been very intentional about sending in photos of the fun activities they plan for residents and their families. Pumpkin Bowling, Thanksgiving Bingo, and Senior Olympics were just a few of the more recent events that gave me a glimpse of how much our staff and residents enjoy celebrating every holiday season!

R Rest

I remember a conversation I had with a woman at one of our skilled nursing communities. She was losing her memory, and that worried her, but she looked at my name tag, which said "Rest Haven" at the time, and she smiled. "This really is a good place to rest, isn't it?" she said. Although we've changed our name now, we never forget that our founding purpose was to provide aging people with a safe, restful place to receive care.

I Innovation

One of the temptations of working in senior services is to hang on to the past. I appreciate that Providence manages to respect the past while still embracing innovations that can make today and tomorrow better. The SARA system we're using at our communities in Palos Heights, Illinois, and Zeeland, Michigan, is one example of how technology enhances safety.

S Seniors

Honestly, the more I interact with the people at our communities, the more respect I have for a generation that has survived war and peace, wealth and poverty, success and failure — all with a humble sense of acceptance. What a great example!

T Time

If you're like me, you might not think of time as a blessing — it always seems like there's not enough of it! But the seniors at our communities have reminded me of what the Bible teaches: "Our times are in God's hands." (Psalm 31:15)

M Memories

Memories are one of the ways we define ourselves and our connections. For example, a couple months ago, when I posted a blog about "Memories of Torchlight," I enjoyed the opportunity to re-visit my past. Judging from the comments from fans on our Facebook page, other people did too! Providence recognizes the value of memories, and that's another arena where our commitment to innovation pays off. The technology we installed at our Zeeland campus is one example: seniors are using computers to fight Alzheimer's!

A Angels

Many months ago I read a letter from a man who had received care from Providence At Home. I don't remember the details, but I'll never forget his description of the team who ministered to him in his time of need; he called them "a swarm of angels." It's wonderful to be part of an organization whose service means so much to people.

S Salvation

Salvation is the underlying current to everything we do at Providence Life Services. It's the reason our founders first saw the need for this ministry. It's the motivation for many of our staff, who could be doing much more prestigious work for much more money somewhere else. It's the example that so many of our residents set for us after a lifetime of faith in action. This Christmas I'm especially glad to know that the child who started His human life in a manger ended it on a cross.

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel."
(Luke 2:29-32)

Merry Christmas!

Bringing Christmas to Life

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma

Director of Communications

The two ladies in the photo at left — Mary and Helen — understand a few things about life and death. One of them suffered at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. The other just recently received news about some serious health challenges she will be facing.

You might think these experiences would cast a shadow on their Christmas spirit. In truth, however, these ladies seem ever more determined to share peace, joy, hope, and love with the world.

Throughout November, Mary and Helen and a few other residents of Saratoga Grove Christian Retirement Community collected new and gently-used gloves, hats, scarves, and coats. Last week, they delivered these gifts to a P.A.D.S. site in DuPage County, an organization that provides homeless people with meals and places to stay overnight. The gifts were delivered just in time for a December drop in temperature and a prediction of snowfall. "It warms our hearts to know they will be warmer!" said Joan Lawson, the Life Enrichment Director at Saratoga Grove who organized the gift drive.

Joan added, "Mary and Helen were most compassionate. And they were hesitant to be photographed because they didn’t want credit and they said they don’t look pretty. I told them they were beautiful!"

When Jesus came to earth that first Christmas, He too was homeless and poor. In reaching out to the homeless of DuPage County, Mary and Helen are honoring the King whose birth we commemorate each December. I can't think of any better way to celebrate Christmas!

5 Gift Ideas for Grandma and Grandpa

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:19:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma

Director of Communications

If your parents or grandparents are living in a retirement community where most of their needs are met, it can be difficult to think of meaningful Christmas gifts for them. And if your loved one has Alzheimer's or some other memory impairment, appropriate gifts can be even more difficult to think of. So we've compiled here a list of 5 gift ideas you might find helpful — and if you have any others to add to the list, please share them in the Comments below!

Music. Burn a CD of favorite songs, perhaps in a personally-designed jewel case.
Planning. A giant dry-erase calendar for tracking upcoming activities. (I gave my grandfather one of these a few years ago, and he loves it!)
Memories. Have a family group photo or an old wedding photo enlarged and framed.
Family. Put together an album or scrapbook that includes childhood photos, photos of significant events, and current memorabilia, arranged in chronological order. (Arranging them in chronological order can be a help for people with memory issues.) In fact, this scrapbook might even be something you work on with your loved one.
Time. Many retirement communities have special events going on in December — such as this "Meet, Greet, and Eat" event at Holland Home. Attending such an event with your loved one — and other family members — can be a blessing for everyone.

Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to re-connect with family — in ways that are both creative and traditional. What ideas do you have for bringing the spirit of Christmas to a family member in a nursing home or retirement community?

Giving Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:42:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma,

Director of Communications

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. And this holiday week, I'd like to express my Thanksgiving joy by listing a few random Providence-related things I'm thankful for. Maybe my list will inspire you to do the same!

I'm thankful for the unique people I've met this year at various Providence communities. Some of these I wrote about in past blogs (including Emma Jordan, Margaret Carter, Rudy Gebner, and Paul Nickel). Others were included in the Providence LifeStyle newsletter. All are examples of faithfulness, wisdom, courage, and humor. It's an honor to serve them.
I'm thankful to be working for a ministry with a real heart for service. Although we do need a certain amount of revenue in order to stay in business, our mission is about people, not profits, and that's refreshing. I look forward to coming to work each day.
I'm thankful for the variety of gifts and talents God blesses His people with. At last week's "Hallmark of Caring" event, I had the opportunity to meet CNAs, kitchen staff, IT experts, maintenance men, and receptionists — all of whom love their work and are good at it. It's beautiful to see all these high-quality people blending their skills, knowledge, and personalities in a way that enhances life for our residents and their families.

The wonderful thing about Thanksgiving is, it's a holiday everyone can participate in. Young or old, rich or poor, religious or not — everyone can find something to be grateful for and find someone to express that gratitude to!

In fact, if you're looking for a public way to express your gratitude, feel free to click on the "Comment" link below and type in something you're thankful for!

In the meantime, no matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, have a blessed, happy, wonderful holiday.

The Best of the Best

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:25:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Today I had the honor of helping out at Providence's annual "Hallmark of Caring" celebration. Hallmark of Caring is a day dedicated to Providence employees who have been nominated by their peers as outstanding examples of character, service, and team spirit. It was wonderful to meet these people, and having spent some time with them, it's easy to see why they had been nominated. These are our front line staff — high quality people — and it's an honor to serve with them.

I'm posting here a short video clip that includes a conversation I had with Verla Jameson, a beautiful woman who has been a CNA at our community in Palos Heights for 27 years. Take a look, and see if you don't agree that she is one of the "best of the best"!

Veterans Day all week

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:24:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

This week I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). At Tuesday morning’s general session (which featured Carol Bellamy), the 9,000 conference attenders seated in Chicago’s Arie Crown Theater were introduced to Hire Heroes USA. The entire presentation lasted perhaps four minutes, but it was inspiring.

I didn’t catch the names of the two young men who spoke to us about Hire Heroes USA, a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to help American veterans get jobs when their tours of duty are over. These two men are veterans themselves, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both have jobs now because someone Stateside recognized not only their skill but also their character and their potential. Hire Heroes USA wants to give that same opportunity to other veterans.

The reason they were at the AAHSA conference was to let member organizations know that not only will they serve us by posting our job openings on their website and including them in regular eblasts to their lists, they will also work to match candidates with each job description they receive. In other words, they keep track of all the veterans enrolled in their program, and they know the skill set of each, so they can make qualified recommendations to any company who sends a detailed position description.

The closing point these two men made was this:

“We will give you candidates with the characteristics you can’t train for—courage, character, and commitment. We guarantee that whatever tasks you assign to these workers will not be more difficult than what they have already endured. All they need is an opportunity to serve.”

The crowd applauded and cheered.

To further affirm the value of their program, the men then introduced five heroes recently hired by AAHSA member organizations. These five men had been seated together in a row near the front of the auditorium. When they stood up and acknowledged the crowd, the crowd responded with a spontaneous standing ovation. It was touching.

Their presentation made me think of one of the "Gems of Providence" whose story was shared at Providence's Torchlight celebration last week. Ron Peters, former Marine, is one of the gems we serve at Holland Home. He still has the bearing of a military man, and he engages in hearty discussion about topics as varied as history, politics, banking, and travel. You can read more about this vibrant veteran on the new "Providence Life" section of our website.

Let's celebrate Veterans Day all week this year. In fact, let's celebrate Veterans Day all year! Take advantage of an opportunity to thank a veteran. He or she may make light of the services rendered, may shrug off the attention or even be embarrassed by the acknowledgement. But don’t let that stop you.

There's more you can do, too. You can accept a "tour of duty" as a volunteer at a Providence community. We're always looking for "a few good men" and women to join our team. We've made it easy to indicate your interest with an online form.

Even better, if you are in a position to hire someone, I hope you’ll look at Hire Heroes USA as a source for “courageous, committed candidates with character.” What better way to say thanks than to provide a workplace where those qualities can shine!

And feel free to post a comment below as a way to pay tribute to one or more of the veterans in your life. I'd love to hear your stories!

Things You'll Experience at Tonight's Torchlight Celebration

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:29:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

If you're planning to attend tonight's Torchlight celebration, I look forward to seeing you there! The event begins at 6:30pm at Chicago's Field Museum. Here are a few highlights we can look forward to experiencing:

1. The Gems of Providence

Annie Langham, Dora Boomstra, Michael Duffek, Gerald and Dorothy Smeenge — these are all people who have been served by Providence this past year. Their stories — and 27 others' — will be displayed on take-home cards at the dinner tables. Each table will have 8 different cards, so the people at that table can "meet" 8 of the people their gifts and prayers have helped support. A total of 31 different cards will be available, and guests are welcome to collect them all!

2. A Fantastic Meal, followed by Fantastic Dessert

To be honest, I don't know what's on tonight's dinner menu, but I do know what's on the dessert menu! "Vanilla, Chocolate, or Mocha  Créme Brulée, caramelized on site, and  self-customized with your choice of caramel, chocolate, or raspberry sauces." Yes!

3. The Faith Church (Dyer, Indiana) Praise Team

Vocalists Ryan Flipse, Ryan Matthysse, Lisa Triemstra, and Ashley Whiteman will be accompanied by Ryan Matthysse (piano), Gus Montoya (percussion), and Dan Whiteman (acoustic guitar). They'll be using their musical gifts to lead us in a few praise songs after dinner. In addition, Pastor Bob Bouwer will be our emcee for the evening.

4. Diamonds!

Following dinner, Torchlight attenders will have access to The Nature of Diamonds, a special limited-time-only exhibition. (The Nature of Diamonds is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Both The Nature of Diamonds and the Grainger Hall of Gems are generously sponsored by the Grainger Foundation.)

5. A Feeling of Family

Torchlight is the one opportunity the Providence community has to catch a glimpse of how large and diverse this family is. Employees, donors, families, vendors, and board members are all represented, and throughout the evening we all are reminded that this ministry is life-changing, and that we're all in it together.

I'll see you tonight!

An overflow of gems

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:28:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Well, Torchlight is a week away. Our annual celebration of ministry accomplished by the Providence family is a tradition-rich event, as I wrote in an earlier post.

This year our theme is "Gems of Providence," a reference to the beautiful, multi-faceted people who serve and are served as part of this ministry. One of the highlights of the evening will be a couple of short videos that play out this theme.

In the Communications Department, we've been working on these videos for months — brainstorming, scripting, interviewing, taping, editing, reworking, finalizing, and producing. Throughout the process, over and over, the "Gems" theme was confirmed in ways that, unfortunately, most people will never realize.

For example, we taped interviews with half a dozen Providence employees, representing a range of departments, and every single interview was solid gold. I was impressed with not only the skill and expertise of our staff in Nursing, Environmental Services, Spiritual Development, Dining Services, and Life Enrichment, but also with their sincerity, their sense of mission, their humility. I count it an honor to serve with these people.

But the final videos we'll show to the Torchlight crowd next Friday night are only 3 minutes and 5 minutes long — not nearly enough time to display all the gems from all the interviews.

Rather than leave this overflow of gems "on the cutting room floor," we plan to post plenty of video clips to our website over the coming weeks. In the meantime, I want to post one of my favorites here. It's just a minute or two of our interview with Thomas Travaglio, our Environmental Services Director at Providence of Palos Heights. Watching it, I think you'll catch a glimpse of what makes Thomas one of the "Gems of Providence."

What about you? Do you know any "Gems of Providence"? I know there is a treasure trove out there, and each of us sees only a small part of it. Why not share the wealth? Submit a comment below, and let us know which Providence residents, employees, donors, or volunteers have enriched your life!

Cancer, Hockey, and Providence

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:35:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

"Your world stops," says Rick Molenhouse. "You hear the word 'leukemia,' and all you know is, it's bad."

Rick (pictured here with his family, in a photo by Advocate) is the Community Manager at Victorian Village, the Providence retirement and assisted living community in Homer Glen, Illinois. He and his family have traveled a 10-year cancer journey that started when son Logan was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of two. His experiences with the healthcare system, with life-and-death decisions, with kindnesses that go a long way to relieve fears — all this has made him a sensitive and sympathetic leader. "I never asked for this trial," he says about Logan's illness, "but I like to think I'm using it to become a better person. God can bring good things out of dark circumstances."

Some of these "good things" recently took the family completely by surprise. Logan's story was featured in the Fall 2009 issue of Powerful Medicine, Compassionate Care, the newsletter of Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, where Logan receives treatments. "Since the article was published" says Rick, "we have had lots of people comment on this in a very positive way. People have been encouraged and inspired. It's heartwarming."

As it turns out, the Advocate article, which highlighted Logan's interest in hockey and his love of the Chicago Blackhawks, made its way all the way to the front office of the Chicago Blackhawks. Rick explains:

"The National Hockey League has a 'Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night' going on at this Saturday’s home game. Well, when the Hawks read the article about Logan, they recognized he is a true fan! They invited Logan to the game as their honored guest. They also provided him with a suite and tickets for his family and friends. As awesome as that is, it’s still not the best part —they also asked him to do the ceremonial puck drop! Normally this is reserved for celebrities, former prominent Hawk players, VIPs, etc. Logan will get to walk out on the ice just before the game starts in front of probably around 21-22,000 fans and meet the captains of both teams, do a ceremonial puck drop with these two professional hockey players, and shake their hands!"

Yesterday the Blackhawks issued a news release about Logan's involvement with Hockey Fights Cancer, and Rick shared the exciting news with Providence staff. It's clear he's proud of his son, and thrilled that the whole family will have an opportunity to celebrate their victory over cancer.

Want to catch the action? The game airs on Chicago's WGN TV this Saturday, October 24, at 7:30pm. Whether you're able to watch the game or not, feel free to email the Molenhouse family your best wishes at molenhouse@provlife.com!

Are you ready to help your parents choose a retirement community?

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:59:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Emily M. Butler-Morton is a marketer with a heart. She spent 25 years in various marketing positions with various senior living communities. During that time, she helped hundreds of seniors and their families through the process of first accepting the idea of moving into a retirement community, and then finding the perfect community to move to. She has distilled her experience into a small, helpful paperback titled Care Enough to Know—Keep Your Parents Safe.

I just finished reading this book, and I think it's a valuable resource. Emily's experience as a former "insider" in the senior living industry gives her a unique perspective. As a marketer, her job was to attract people to whatever senior community she was working for, and to present them with the information she felt would persuade them to move in. Her integrity and sincere desire to help people are the motivation behind her book. As she writes in her Foreword:

"My role as Marketing/Community Relations Director in various communities...has included encouraging members of a somewhat vulnerable age group (56 and up) to make a major life change by moving into some type of congregate living for seniors. I moved these people in with a clear conscience, thinking that I was helping them and believing that they would receive the services as promised. ...In many cases this turned out to be true, but in other instances I found myself cringing in the face of reality as I observed the poor quality of service provided to folks I had promised a better life to, folks who trusted me. This has bothered me to the point of knowing I must speak out. ...That is my sole purpose for writing this book."

The 115-page paperback includes chapters such as:

Know How to Begin
Who Should Live in a Senior Living Community?
Know the Choices
Know the Obstacles
Know How Care Levels are Determined

Emily's "Care Enough to Ask, Look, and Do" chapter is particularly helpful. It is made up of a series of questions that people should ask of any retirement community they are considering. The questions are divided into categories such as Food, Financial, Safety, and Comfort, and the author gives some action steps on the best way to gather the information. "Visit at odd times," she says, for example, "late at night and on weekends. How many staff members are working?" She also suggests interviewing current residents to find out what they like and don't like about the community.

Throughout the book, Emily includes stories from her own experiences to illustrate her points. The stories help readers to visualize the outcomes of applying Emily's tips, and, in some cases, they serve as examples of what can happen when wrong decisions are made. All the stories are true, though the names have been changed.

Care Enough to Know is a self-published book, and it could benefit from the services of a qualified editor and designer, but the content is solid. If you anticipate needing to find a senior living community for yourself or your parents, I recommend reading Care Enough to Know before you begin. The book is available at the author's website, www.theparentcare.net, or from Amazon.com.

After you've read it, I'd love to hear your own review of it! Post a comment below.

Memories of Torchlight

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:14:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, staff blogger

I can remember attending the Torchlight Dinner as a child. I wasn't aware of the purpose of the event, I just remember being at McCormick Place, eating a big meal, listening to the Purdue Glee Club, enjoying a humorous speaker, and singing "How Great Thou Art" before going home. Now that I'm a member of the staff, I can see that the venues, speakers, and entertainment associated with Torchlight have varied over the years, but the basic concept has remained constant: This ministry knits together a broad range of God's people.

Torchlight is the closest thing this ministry has to a family reunion. Most of the time, the thousands of people who make up the Providence family are in separate places, thinking about other things. But at Torchlight, we all come together, united by a single cause. We are blessed to witness some of the people whose lives we've touched, and we are inspired to reach even more in the coming year.

Last year’s Torchlight was particularly meaningful because it was an occasion for us to officially mark the change of our name from Rest Haven to Providence Life Services. We wondered whether Torchlight attenders would accept the name-change — after all, these are people who are invested in the cause, who have great respect for the history behind this ministry, and who remember our founding mission. As it turns out, there was no need for worry. We learned that, perhaps more than any other group, Torchlight attenders know that this ministry has always been about extending Christ’s compassion to people who need it. Changing our name in order to accomplish more ministry? — No problem!

Now last year's Torchlight is a tough act to follow, but I think this year's event will be just as meaningful. The theme is "Gems of Providence," and we have spent many months interviewing, photographing, and videotaping members of the Providence family — residents, clients, staff, board members, volunteers, and donors. We plan to share their stories at the Torchlight Celebration on Friday, November 6, 2009, beginning at 6:30pm.

Like last year's event, this year's Torchlight will be hosted by Chicago's Field Museum. In fact, their Grainger Hall of Gems and their special exhibit, "The Nature of Diamonds," will provide a perfect backdrop to our "Gems of Providence" theme.

The event is less than a month away, but it's still possible to get tickets by emailing jschutt@provlife.com or calling 708.342.8108. I hope you can make it!

In preparation for this year's Torchlight — the 49th annual celebration — why not share some memories of Torchlights past? Post a comment below about your favorite speaker or your favorite location. I have memories of a few, but I'd love to hear from others who have been to more Torchlights than I have!

4 Questions and Answers about H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:46:00 +0000

by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger

With the onset of autumn comes an understandable concern about flu, particularly because of heightened media attention to this year's H1N1 viruses. Providence Life Services recently issued the following Q and As to reassure staff, residents, and families at all our communities that we are taking measures to protect people from the flu:

1. What's so significant about the H1N1 flu virus?

Both seasonal flu and H1N1 flue are contagious viruses that can cause mild to severe illness. Unlike seasonal flu, which is usually active in the fall and winter, H1N1 has continued to circulate throughout the summer and early fall. Most people who are in generally good health will recover without any extra measures. Providence Life Services is being particularly alert though because many of the clients we serve have compromised health to begin with. Plus, the interactivity of living in a community setting can allow the virus to spread faster.

2. What measures is Providence taking to protect people from the flu?

Our Health Services team has been meeting since early June to formulate plans for immunization against seasonal flu and to prepare for an H1N1 flu outbreak if it occurs. Isolation supplies have been ordered, including:

R-95 masks
Protective eyewear for staff
Extra gloves and gowns
Extra supplies of soap and alcohol hand gels

In addition, Administrators and Managers at all Providence Life Services communities check the websites of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the World Health Organization (WHO) daily for updates and changes. These websites are far more accurate than traditional media outlets.

3. What can I do to protect myself against the flu?

The single best way to protect against seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, starting in October when yearly flu vaccinations usually become available. Vaccinations greatly reduce someone's chances of getting the flu.

In addition to seasonal flu vaccines, this year an H1N1 flu vaccine is expected to start shipping in October. At first, supplies of the H1N1 vaccine will be limited to certain priority groups, including:

Pregnant women
Children 6 months through 4 years old
Children 5 through 18 years old who have chronic medical conditions
People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months
Healthcare and emergency services personnel with direct patient contact

Once the need among these prioritized groups has been met, vaccinations should be available for everyone from 25 through 64 years of age, and then for those 65 and older. (Current studies indicate the risk for H1N1 infection among people over 65 is less than the risk for younger age groups.)

The second best way to protect yourself is simply to practice good hygiene. Remember the 3 Cs:

Clean — Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germs.
Cover — Use a tissue or sleeve to cover your cough and sneeze; don't use your hand.
Contain — Contain your germs; stay home if you are sick!

4. Where can I get more information?

For the most up-to-date information about the flu, go to www.ready.illinois.gov or www.flu.gov.

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Diving right in to retirement

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:57:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

When Margaret Carter retired, she wanted to try something new. So when a newspaper ad for scuba diving caught her eye, she signed up for lessons.

She was the only woman in a class of men, the only retiree in a class of young adventure-seekers. Her classmates had doubts about whether she would be up to the challenge.

"'She'll never make it. She's a woman, and she's too old.' That's what they thought about me," says Margaret. But she proved them wrong. She completed the lessons, earned her certification, and began exploring the underwater world she had discovered.

When Margaret learned that Chicago's John G. Shedd Aquarium uses volunteer divers for their Coral Reef program, she submitted an application. She knew she had met the minimum scuba requirements (30 hours of open-water diving) and the age requirements (she was at least 60 years older than the minimum age!), but because of the program's popularity, there was a long waiting list of volunteer divers. She completed the four-page application form, offered three references, and rehearsed for the scripted presentation audition that would be part of the application process.

Finally the day came when she was accepted into the program, and before long she got her opportunity to serve!

Margaret and her diving partner plunged into the Coral Reef (now known as the Caribbean Reef), the giant tank in the center of the Shedd Aquarium. They hand-fed the fish, surrounded by sharks, barracudas, and stingrays. "It was one of the great adventures of my life," says Margaret, awed by the experience. And she had the additional satisfaction of seeing some of her scuba diving classmates around the perimeter of the tank, watching her. "They didn't think I could finish the class, but I lived to see them watch me feed the sharks!"

Margaret has visited every aquarium in the United States and has discovered that all aquariums rely heavily on volunteers. "I've always believed in volunteerism," she says. "It gives you many opportunities you wouldn't have otherwise." She has given scuba diving lectures at Northwestern University and at nursing homes throughout the Chicago area, sharing with others her love of the water.

She moved to Holland Home, our retirement community in South Holland, Illinois, in 2003. She doesn't do much diving anymore, but she still looks for opportunities to share her underwater experiences with anyone interested in learning. In fact, in the back of her mind, she hopes to organize a trip to the Shedd Aquarium, so her Holland Home friends can experience the aquatic beauty she discovered after she was "too old" to learn diving!

What about you? Do you have a dream that you're putting off until retirement? Sometimes putting it in writing can transform it from "dream" to "goal." Why not take that step today, and publicly share your dream by posting a comment below?

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Enhancing Seniors' Safety with Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:26:00 +0000

by Christian Schreiber, staff blogger

You may have noticed in our newsletter articles and previous blogs that Providence Life Services appreciates technology. We are not a technology company, but we understand that technology is a powerful tool. We get especially excited when we find ways to use technology for enhancing relationships.

So when a company called Status Solutions developed a Situational Awareness and Response Assistant — SARA — Providence saw the benefits. So far, we've installed SARA in three of our communities: Palos Heights’ Providence Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center and Zeeland’s Royal Park Place retirement community and Royal Atrium Inn Assisted Living community. SARA allows residents of these communities to alert caregivers whenever they need help — in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

As a result, seniors are safer and their families worry less — and that kind of peace of mind helps make relationships less strained.

Providence of Palos Heights is one of our skilled nursing/rehab communities, and Royal Atrium Inn is our Assisted Living community in Zeeland. "Wander detection" is important in these communities because people with memory issues tend to want to roam. At Providence, we want to provide as much independence as possible, without opening up anyone to danger. SARA has an egress monitoring system that frees us to keep doors unlocked, because it sounds an alert when the doors are opened or left ajar, it triggers magnetic locks on the exit doors, and it sends calls and emails to staff. The SARA system gives us a beautiful balance of freedom and safety.

Royal Park Place is our retirement community in Zeeland. Their needs are different from the needs of a skilled nursing or Assisted Living setting, but SARA has capabilities that benefit them as well. SARA’s wireless emergency call capabilities will enhance not only safety but also efficiency. We set it up to send voice and text alerts to people's pagers, email, telephones, cell phones, radios, and CCTV, and — so both staff and residents can be notified of important events at any time, wherever they are located. A wireless pendant (pictured above) will be available soon as well. Having all these communication options available means staff members will be able to address safety concerns or environmental problems before they turn into emergencies.

And SARA is easy to maintain and support. Our in-house technology experts, ProviNET Solutions, are the first line of support for any technical issues that may come up. In fact, with remote access, ProviNET staff can log into Royal Park Place’s SARA server, diagnose, and resolve a problem without ever leaving their office.

Technology is exciting, and it's fun to have the latest gadgets and gizmos. But the real excitement comes when that technology makes life better for everyone.

Do you agree? Or do you think that most seniors find technology to be a hindrance rather than a help? Post a comment to let me know what you think — and share examples from your own experience to illustrate your point!

The sky's the limit

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:05:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Things are looking up for Rudy Gebner. He recently completed therapy at Providence Healthcare & Rehabilitation of Downers Grove. Now he's looking forward to flying again.

Rudy is president of the Woodland Aero Modelers club, an AMA-chartered club that was founded in 1936 for model airplane hobbyists. The group meets several times a month, to conduct business, make plans, and fly their planes — indoors during poor weather and outdoors whenever possible. "If you've been to our fly field," says Rudy, "you know how beautiful it is out there. It's wonderful."

Rudy's wings had been somewhat clipped this year, due to health problems. That's why he turned to Providence. When he broke his leg in a fall, he took advantage of our Marianjoy rehabilitation services to restore his strength and mobility. He chose Providence because he had been with us before and was impressed with the caring atmosphere and the effective therapy.

The rigorous workouts he received during his time with us have strengthened Rudy enough to give him hope of flying again. In fact, Rudy is planning to attend his club's 32nd annual Open House and Model Air Show, this Sunday, August 30. You can hear the eagerness in his voice when he begins talking about it.

The event is open to the public, so feel free to stop by! Directions can be found at their website: http://www.wam-rc.com/about_wam.htm .

At Providence we like to use the phrase "Under His Wings" to describe the kind of healing and hope we offer the people we serve. It's exciting to hear stories about people like Rudy who find renewed strength under His wings — strength enough to take flight again themselves!

Getting back on his feet

noreply@blogger.com (Providence Life Services) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:47:00 +0000

by Melanie Jongsma, Director of Communications

Earlier this week I posted a blog about a man whose sister wrote us a beautiful letter thanking Providence for "being there for my brother."

Just yesterday I met this man, and his story is truly remarkable.

His name is Paul, and he's only 62 years old. The accident that landed him in nursing care was a fluke — he tripped over a short, concrete step and hit his head. The fall knocked him out. He regained consciousness briefly, and dragged himself to the bathroom, where he passed out again. He lay on the bathroom floor, unconscious, for three days.

Paul lives in a friendly, old neighborhood in Whiting, Indiana, so when his neighbor began to wonder why he hadn't seen Paul for a while, he walked over and knocked on the door. At the sound of the knock, Paul revived enough to make some noise, which his neighbor heard. The neighbor let himself in and found Paul in the bathroom. When he saw Paul's condition, he immediately called 911.

The paramedics who arrived nearly pronounced him dead. Paul had injured his kidneys in the fall and was suffering renal failure, which is often fatal. But they rushed him to the hospital, and he survived surgery, to everyone's surprise!

Paul needed follow-up care upon his release, so he was discharged to a local nursing home. "It was awful," remembers Paul. "It was...," his voice trails off, and he shakes his head, unable to put words to his memories. This nursing home lived up to all the negative perceptions that most people have about nursing care facilities. Paul almost died again.

And then he found Providence.

As his sister wrote in her letter, "Julie at St. Margaret Mercy helped me find Providence Healthcare and Rehabilitation of South Holland (Illinois). In your nursing environment he became well and strong!" Six weeks later Paul was strong enough to move to Holland Home, our retirement community on the same campus. He depended on a wheelchair when he first arrived, but when I visited him yesterday he was using a walker — and that only intermittently.

"This is a good place," Paul says quietly about Holland Home. Physically, he could probably handle moving back to his home in Whiting any time, but for now he appreciates the security of community living, and having help available at the push of a button. "I'm still afraid of steps," he says. "I have a reaction every time I think about what happened."

It's perfectly understandable. No one likes to think that one missed step can lead to renal failure, surgery, and weeks of rehab.

So for now, Paul is one of the youngest members of the Holland Home family! He walks around the campus every day, building up his strength. He enjoys the meals and fellowship available three times a day in the restaurant-style dining room. His smile is still somewhat tentative, but it's there. Perhaps as peace replaces Paul's traumatic memories, that smile will flash more easily.

It was an honor to meet Paul and hear his story. As Deana Wilson, Community Manager, says, "Paul's story is one example of why I do what I do." I agree. It's an honor to be part of a ministry that offers healing to body, mind, and spirit in the name of Christ.

Paul's story reminds me of a Bible verse we like to quote around here:

You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. (Job 10:12)

Amen — I love seeing that Providence at work!