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-SHELTERING OAKS MANOR-
Residents enjoy
pleasures of
patio gardening |
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Above: Nursing home resident Esther
Loken and activities coordinator Julie
Walsh inspect the bean plants on the
patio garden at Sheltering Oaks Manor.
Top: Esther collects a handful of fresh
cherry tomatoes from the patio garden.
Bottom: Esther and Julie sample a mint
leaf from the many herbs in the garden. |
Fresh
cherry tomatoes hang in small clusters amid the
green leafy vines in the garden.
Alongside them stand
several tall stalks nearly ready to give up
their yield of plump yellow corn.
A closer inspection
reveals green beans, potatoes, onions, and
several other vegetables growing neatly in
several large planters.
Looking more like a
tiny country retreat, this small garden is
actually located on the east patio at Sheltering
Oaks Manor.
For the residents
and staff members who nurture it, it is a
delightful place to visit.
“It’s kind of fun,”
says nursing home resident Esther Loken as she
gathers a ripe tomato from the vine next to her
wheelchair. She says the garden “produces good
vegetables we can all eat.”
Loken, who grew up
on a farm near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, seems
almost transported back to her youth as she
examines then picks the last few green beans in
the planter.
Though a clinician
may say having such a garden provides healthy
outdoor exercise for the residents, Loken has
her own thoughts as to the little garden’s
importance.
It’s here “to make
people appreciate the simple things in life,”
she says profoundly. “The simple things in
life.”
Last spring, Sheltering Oaks residents shared
the tradition of gardening with a future
generation when they and staff members prepared
the garden along with youth volunteers from the
Candy Stripers and Kandy Kids programs.
Together they planted the tiny seeds that one
day would produce many fresh foods for the
nursing home’s dining room.
The patio garden
also produces many herbs including rosemary,
mint, parsley, and oregano, which the nursing
home can use for seasoning.
“The residents
always enjoy visiting the garden,” says
activities coordinator Julie Walsh. “They love
tending to the plants, and so does the staff. It
gives us something we can all share.
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What to do if a
public health emergency hits Roseau County |
Using
as an example the state of emergency that exists
along the U.S. gulf coast following Hurricane
Katrina, the Federal government is asking that
all parts of the country establish a readiness
plan in the event a public health emergency
occurs in their region.
Should
a public health emergency occur in Roseau
County, there would be a great need for
pre-identified, trained, and credentialed health
care volunteers.
Therefore all nurses, dentists, doctors, home
health aides, nursing assistants, and other
health care workers (retired or active) who are
willing to help out in a disaster would be
needed.
In
addition, volunteers would be recruited to do
jobs such as set-up, clean-up, security,
registration, clerical duties, and other tasks.
Volunteers would operate from one or several
locations in the county depending of the type of
event.
If an event should occur, volunteers would be
notified by whatever means are available, such
as radio, cell phone, or even going
door-to-door.
You
can find out more information about the county’s
disaster response project and becoming a public
disaster volunteer by calling Roseau County
Public Health at (218) 463-3211. |
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Patient Safety:
Discharge Instructions |
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Whether you’re leaving the hospital after a long
illness, a short surgery, or having been seen in
the ER, understanding your discharge
instructions is a vital part of your care.
Here
are some tips for you to remember:
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Find out about your ability to do everyday
activities like walk,
climb stairs, go to the bathroom, prepare
meals, drive, return to work and other
activities that are important to you.
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Find out about any special instructions for
daily activities.
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Ask about any signs and symptoms that you
should watch for. Find out what you should
do if you have these signs or symptoms.
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Ask for the phone number of a person to call
at the hospital for any
problems you may have after leaving the
hospital, or call your doctor’s office.
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If you are not confident about how to care
for yourself after leaving the hospital, or
if you have any doubts about getting the
care you need at home, speak up. Ask to
speak to the nurse in charge, or ask your
nurse, social worker or discharge planner if
you could be referred to a home health
agency that could come to your home to make
sure your needs are being met.
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Ask for a list of all medicines you will be
taking at home. The list
should include all of your medicines, not
just new ones started in the hospital. Check
the list for accuracy. You or your doctor
should also share the list with anyone
providing you with follow-up care.
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Ask for written directions about your
medicines. Read the directions and make sure
you understand them. Ask any questions you
have before leaving the hospital.
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Ask about the side effects of your new
medicines. Find out what you should do if
you experience any of them.
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Find out if your new medicines can make you
sleepy or forgetful, which could make it
difficult for you to take your medicines on
time.
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Find out if your new medicines can make you
dizzy or confused, which
could cause you to fail.
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Ask if there are any foods and
drinks—including alcohol—that you
should avoid.
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If you have a wound, ask for directions on
how you should take care of it.
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Ask about any tests that need to be followed
up on after you leave the hospital and who
you should follow-up with to get the
results.
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Find out about any follow-up visits with
your doctor or other
caregiver.
You
play the biggest role in your recovery and
safety. Let us know what your questions are so
we can help find the answers for you. Call
Colleen Klamar, RN, Quality Coordinator at (218)
463-2500 for more information.
Reference: Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations |
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