July 2018
News, Events & Happenings at The Larsen Pavilion at Shell Point
Welcome to the
Larsen Pavilion Cameron Honeycutt Director of Long Term Care
A Week of
Julie Dewitt Director of Nursing Pam Downing Assistant Director of Nursing First Floor: llomise Alexandre Nurse Manager Second Floor: Mary Lou Torressen Nurse Manager Third Floor: Lindsey Bryant Rhanda Williams Admissions Director Simona Staicu Resident/Family Services Coordinator Tacey Larimer-Tettaton Activities Supervisor Mardee Lader Executive Secretary Associate Editor
15071 Shell Point Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239)
415-5442
B
Celebration
eginning in mid-May, The Larsen Pavilion hosted a series of weeklong events in recognition of National Skilled Nursing Care Week (NSNCW). Established by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) in 1967, the holiday provides an annual opportunity to recognize the role of
skilled nursing care centers in caring for America’s seniors and individuals with disabilities. Pavilion residents and staff had a blast with the 2018 theme, “Celebrating Life’s Stories.” It was selected by AHCA to serve as a tribute to life’s most significant
continued on page 4
Pavilion Press
God Bless
AMERICA
By Bonnie Palmquist, Assistant Chaplain
T
he speech is over; the president looks directly into the camera and says, “God bless you, and God bless America.” We have heard this from many different presidents, but what exactly does “God bless America” mean? That’s a valid question as we celebrate the birth of our nation with pride and gratitude. I think most of us connect blessing with being safe, being well, and being prosperous, and I think we can say that this is the way in which the President is using the term. We do depend on God to protect and care for us, and we should be thankful to Him for those gifts. However, in the dictionary, the first definition of “bless” is “to make holy.” In the New Testament, there is no mention of prosperity or perfect circumstances as a result of God’s blessing.
In fact, in Matthew 5, Jesus says that those are blessed who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and who even are persecuted, insulted and slandered. He says these people will be shown mercy, see God, be rewarded in Heaven. He places value not on the material or temporal, but rather on the spiritual and eternal, and calls those things blessings. In other words, it seems that we can never be truly blessed if we live self-centered lives. True blessing comes only in relationship with God, our Creator. One definition of blessing I have seen is to be “fully satisfied in God, regardless of circumstances.” If that is true, we might even find that hard times help us see the insufficiency of the temporal to satisfy, to hold more tightly to the eternal, and to acknowledge that real blessing is found in God alone.
May God truly bless America!
Page 2
Splish, Splash!
Pavilion Press
By Tacey Larimer-Tettaton, Pavilion Activities Supervisor
P
avilion residents took advantage of a beautiful, tropical day to go fishing at the Island Lagoon. A team of volunteers and Pavilion staff escorted residents to the water, where the balmy Gulf breezes set the tone for the relaxing experience. Participants swapped smiles after the water yielded quite a few catfish, snapper
and more. One gentleman, who had never gone fishing before, caught his very first fish! Other residents regaled their friends with whopping tales of the ones that got away. Keep an eye on the special events list for the next fishing expedition, along with other fun programming opportunities.
Page 3
Pavilion Press continued from cover events, relationships and experiences that shape the unique perspectives of residents, families, staff and volunteers in long term and post-acute care. “The 2018 observance coincided with Shell Point’s own 50th anniversary,” explained Long Term Care Director Cameron Honeycutt “The Activities department worked hard to put together a week of programs that let residents explore life’s milestones, from school days and graduation to weddings and retirement.” Talented Shell Point groups provided daily performances for Pavilion residents. Additionally, a series of daily activities found participants creating conversation-sparking memory albums, playing a photo guessing game using vintage pictures and benefiting from special LifeQuest programs targeted to support memory care residents. A Blessing of the Hands ceremony for employees added special significances during the week for Pavilion staff. Pavilion staff members were also treated to a special lunch, provided by the gracious volunteers of the Pavilion Auxiliary. “We’re thankful to all those who contributed toward making this week such a great success – from employees to volunteers,” said Cameron. “There’s no doubt that we all gathered together to celebrate life’s stories in 2018!” Page 4
Pavilion Press
A Bright Beacon of Inspiration On Wednesday, May 9, Larsen Pavilion residents welcomed guests from Lighthouse of Southwest Florida. The Lighthouse of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit, vision rehabilitation agency, whose mission is to enable people of all ages living with a visual impairment or blindness to remain independent, active and productive in society. This local, specialinterest group told personal stories about
living with vision impairment to Pavilion residents, who felt moved after hearing the accounts. “One story that stood out to me was a lady who, at 22, lost her vision unexpectedly while holding and feeding her baby,” said Tracey LarimerTettaton, activities supervisor. “Can you imagine looking down at your precious infant while feeding him, and then never being able to see him again?” While the stories were heartbreaking to hear, each conveyed a positive message of hope and resilience that inspired the residents in attendance.
A group from The Lighthouse of Southwest Florida shared touching stories of personal triumph with Pavilion residents in May.
Page 5
Pavilion Press
Rain or Shine,
Auxiliary Mail Volunteers Get the Job Done!
Y
By Dottie Tronnes, Volunteer Coordinator
ou have likely heard the postal service motto: Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. The same can be said of the Larsen Pavilion Auxiliary Mail Committee Volunteers! Much like the actual postal service, their duties vary. Mail Committee volunteers are divided into two groups with distinct duties: mail sorting and mail delivery. Mail comes to the Pavilion for those who have both long- and short-term stays. In many cases, this mail has been forwarded from the Shell Point Mail Room or from United States Postal Service delivery without a Pavilion room number assigned to the mailing address. The sorting volunteers comb through the Pavilion room assignments, matching the correct name to room number and noting this on the envelope. If the mail has missed a resident that has returned home, the volunteer redirects and readdresses the piece of mail to the correct apartment within the community. Page 6
After the mail has been marked with the Pavilion room number, it is then loaded onto a sorting cart for another volunteer who will provide room-to-room delivery. The volunteers delivering the mail to the address recipient know that they will be greeted with a smile, Nancy Murphy (Harbor Court)
for who doesn’t appreciate a card or letter during these days of prevalent electronic mail and cell phone use? Many times, the highlight of a Pavilion resident’s day isn’t just the piece of mail, but the kind words and smiles from the Auxiliary volunteer who accompanies the mail, an added bonus that gives the volunteer an equal measure of joy. The Larsen Pavilion and Resort Services teams thank the Mail Committee volunteers. You get the job done six days a week, come rain or sunshine – and Shell Point appreciates you!
Volunteers like Nancy Murphy and Mary Richard sort mail and deliver to residents throughout the Larsen Pavilion each day.
Mary Richard (Sand Dollar)
Pavilion Press
Find Support with Others By CJ Gulotta, Memory Support Director
A
newly revitalized Carefree Support Group has been established to offer residents an opportunity to build authentic friendships while promoting a culture of wellness, community involvement and a positive life experience for couples. To foster easy participation, meetings of the
Carefree Support Group will be facilitated by a Shell Point staff member with suggestions from residents for social outings of interest. The first Carefree Support Group meeting will be held on Friday, July 13, at 2:30 p.m. in the Grand Cypress Room in The Woodlands. You are invited to attend and learn more about this group’s first social outing, which will occur later this summer.
Independence Day Lunch • Wednesday July 4 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Schilling Dining Room in the Larsen Pavilion
Y
ou’re invited to celebrate the Fourth of July during a patriotic celebration hosted by the Schilling Dining Room. The holiday will be observed on all floors, regardless of whether you decide to eat in Schilling Dining Room or dine in your Pavilion room. Should you and your loved one like to eat in the Schilling Dining Room, reservations must be made by Friday, June 29, by contacting the Nutrition Services Department at (239) 415-5427. The cost for Shell Point residents is $10.99, and guests will dine for $11.65, which includes a 6 percent tax.
Barbecue Spareribs • Potato Salad • Corn on the Cob • Dinner Roll • Butter or Margarine • Independence Day Specialty Dessert Page 7
Pavilion Press
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Special Events & Activities in July Tue 3 Ruth Rodgers on piano...................................................10 a.m. Thu 5 Resident Council (3FL).............................................. 1:30 p.m. Thu 5 Birthday Bash (2&3FL).............................................. 2:30 p.m. Thu 12 Vickie Lei Entertainment (2FL)................................. 2:30 p.m. Wed 17 The Experience Entertainment (3FL)....................... 2:30 p.m. Thu 19 Ice Cream Social with Too Tall Tori (2&3FL)......... 2:00 p.m.
Doris Jacobson........................... 2 Lyda Armocida........................... 3 Rosemary Zaccardo..................... 8 Mary Gandhi...........................11 Eleanor Hance..........................11 Madonna Berandt.....................14 Diane Grubb............................19 Julia Opel...............................20 Jesse Poole Jr...........................20 Geraldine D’Ascanio..................28 Marie Jones.............................28 Dennis Carlson.........................30 Mary Barbour..........................31
Sat 21 Tom Cannon (3&2FL)..........................1:30 p.m. & 2:45 p.m.
..............................................
Every Mon
Sing-Along with Dot or Jo..................................10 a.m.
Every Tue
Piano with Ruth Rodgers (3DR)........................10 a.m.
Every Wed
Music Social with Art (3DR).............................10 a.m.
Every Fri
Ruth Rodgers on Piano (Chapel)................... 6:30 p.m.
Every Sat
Pet Therapy with Ginger (All Floors)..........10:30 a.m.
.......................... Spiritual Services
IN LOVING
Memory
OF OUR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR
Elmer Taylor.............May 17
• Catholic Communion will be held each Sunday in residents’ rooms starting at 10 a.m. • Bible Study with Eleanor Perkins on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. on the third floor. • Vespers will meet on the second floor on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. • Hymn Sing will take place on the first and third Saturday of the month at 3 p.m. on the third floor.
Have a
happy and safe 4th of July