Inside this issue:

Administrator’s

Corner

10

Monthly

Activities

2

Memory Care

Unit

4

Kevin Godsil

Social Services

5

Tammy Guile

D.O.N..

6

Dietary

Cory Huddleston

7

In Memory Of.. 8

Special points of

interest:

Do you know that

your county nursing

home offers all

rehabilitation

services?

Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Speech Therapy

Restorative Therapy

Knox County Nursing Home &

Rehabilitation Center

Knox County Gazette

2016

DECEMBER

Happy Holidays From Knox

County Nursing Home!

Tammie Leaf’s Activities and Events...

Knox County Gazette Page 2

Thank you to all who help make our residents day a little

brighter.

I find it hard to believe that we are fast approaching an-

other year. We look forward to a great year spent with

our Residents and Family.

Resident Angel Tree Gifts Needed by Dec. 9th When choosing a name, please tell the receptionist which Resident’s name is on your tag,

your name and phone number. Please bring your gift (unwrapped) to the nursing home by

Friday Dec. 9th. You can drop it off at the front desk– however, please be sure to tell the

Receptionist that it is an Angel Tree gift (not a regular donation). Your gifts need to be

unwrapped but tagged w/Resident’s name; this enables us to track and label each item for

the resident.

We have a group of young people who enjoy wrapping the gifts each year. The Residents

will open gifts at their Christmas party. We appreciate the generosity of staff, family

and community!

*If you need suggestions for gift items, please check with the activities staff. I will ask the CNA staff for suggestions and create a list for the front desk & activity room.

Upcoming Events

Dec 1st A White Christmas Movie at Community Bible Church (1 pm)

Dec 6th Communion with Mary Rung (3pm)

Dec 5th Salvation Army to visit with gifts and music

Dec 8th Family Night Event

Dec 10th Harmony Baptist will present a Christmas Play (2pm)

Dec 13th John Stevens Band

Dec 19th Bob Genisio Band (2 pm)

Dec 23rd Resident Christmas Party (2:00 pm)*

*Family members are welcome to join us!

TBD Festival of Lights date to be announced

DECEMBER Page 3

From the Business Office… Jori Shull

Happy Holidays from the Business Office!

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT IS ENDING ON DECEMBER 7th

, 2016.

If your loved one is currently in another MMAI or Managed Care Program,

THIS IS THE ONLY TIME to get them switched back to

Traditional Medicare and Medicaid.

Molina, Humana, Aetna, UHC, Care Improvement Plus are a few examples of other

Managed Care companies. You can change their insurance at this time. Please call

or stop in if you have questions or would like assistance with this process.

Jori Shull

Business Office Manager

(309)289-2338

Knox

TIS’ the season to be Jolly!! Hello friends and family! I wanted to take this time to introduce myself as the new Memory Care Coordinator at Knox County Nursing Home . My name is Kristin Johnson, I have 3 years’ experience with being an Alzheimer’s Coordinator. I have a passion for taking care of people diagnosed with dementia. It is a terrible disease that so many amazing people are diagnosed with each and every day, For that, I cherish my memories each and every day. I feel that it is so very important for dementia resident’s to participate in activities throughout each day. This helps to maintain their level of dementia as well as to decrease behaviors and falls and to give the residents an overall better quality of life. Any new activity ideas or suggestions are always welcome and appreciated. We will be having a Christmas Party on the unit with the residents and family on December 16th at 1:30pm. I encourage all family and friends to attend. I would love to meet you all.

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

—————————————————————————————————

HOLIDAY FAMILY NIGHT Thursday, December 8th

5:30pm -7:30pm RSVP: Please call or stop by the front desk by Dec 1st to reserve your space.

We hope to see you there!

Page 4

From the Memory Care Unit… Kristin Johnson

From the Director of Social Services... Kevin Godsil

DECEMBER Page 5

Knox County Gazette Page 6

From the Director of Nursing… Tammy Guile

For many residents, moving to a nursing facility can represent a loss of valuable things: their homes, their neighborhoods, and their friends. By showing them you care with a thoughtful-ly selected gift, you can ease those feelings of loss.

Following are a few suggestions you may not have considered. 1. A lap desk for reading and storing items like tissues, books and eyeglasses. 2. A small terrarium instead of fresh cut flowers, as they will not die, and they need little attention to survive. 3. A visit from a therapy dog can bring much joy to those residents who love animals. 4. A CD of their favorite music or maybe an ipod with their favorite music downloaded will provide hours of enjoyment. 5. Large print crossword or word find books will keep their minds active. 6. A subscription to a favorite magazine or newspaper will bring special joy all year long. 7. Fresh fruit or home baked goods are always a favorite but make sure to seal the baked goods in an air tight container and let staff know to place fruit in fridge so it will last longer. 8. Moisturizing lotions that do not contain heavy perfume scents help keep frail skin moisturized. 9. Pictures of family are always treasured by the residents. They can be an ice break-er for staff to get residents to open up and share favorite memories and a constant remind of the loving family that continues to care and love them. 10. Maybe a special ride at night to view Christmas lights will bring them more joy than any gift you could purchase. A moment of joy sharing the times of Christmas can be priceless.

What’s Cooking? Cory Huddleston, Dietary Mgr.

DECEMBER Page 7

Thanks to all who are participating in our Thanksgiving meal!

We expect a great turn out and it is nice to see everyone. A

special thanks to the Dietary staff who always do an excellent

job serving our Residents and guests.

We will have our annual family night on December 8th at 5:30pm

Please RSVP to the front desk by Dec. 7th to reserve your

space. We hope to see you there!

Here is a great holiday recipe that I wanted to share– please enjoy!

Sugar Plums:

Ingredients:

3 oz (1/2 cup) pitted dates, coarsely chopped

3 oz (1/2 cup) toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

1 oz (1/4 cup) dried cranberries

1 oz (1/4 cup) prunes, finely chopped

1 oz (1/4 cup) toasted skinned hazelnuts, finely chopped

2 tbsp cherry preserves

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp cloves

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Preparation:

1. Place the chopped dates, prunes, cranberries, hazelnuts, and walnuts in the food processor. Pulse the mixture a few times.

2. Add the jam, cinnamon, and cloves, and pulse several more times until the mixture begins to come together. It should hold itself into a ball when you squeeze it between your fingers, but you want to retain some of the texture--do not process it into a sticky paste.

3. Roll the candy into small 1-inch balls, and roll the balls in the granulated sugar. Place them in candy cups to serve, or in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper to store. Sugarplums can be kept (refrigerated) for up to one month.

The children were nestled all snug in

their beds, While visions of

sugar-plums danced in their heads

Our lives as caregivers have been blessed for having been given the opportunity to know,

love and care for each of the residents we serve. It is with heartfelt sympathy that we extend

our support to the families of those residents that passed away since our last newsletter:

Doris Kemp, Swante Suominen, Vernie Stoneking,

Emily Curry and Ruth Nordgren

Your Gift Can Make A Difference

Honor your loved one or the

memory of a friend with a tax

deductible gift through the

Friends of Knox County Nursing

Home. Your gift can be in the

form of a brick memorial along

the entrance walk of the Home,

an addition to the landscape of

the Prairie Trails, or a gift of

money with a designated pur-

pose for the benefits of the res-

idents, or the most treasured

gift that anyone can give is

your time. Volunteer to read

to a resident, help with activi-

ties or join us on a trip around

town. Your Board of Directors

of the Friends of Knox County

Nursing Home appreciates your

contributions and serve as vol-

unteers to raise money and to

use the funds contributed to

best serve the residents of the

home.

Thanks for your support!

In Memory Of…..

Knox County Gazette Page 8

A special thanks to Doreen Sanford for her

invaluable help in getting our newsletters

ready to mail.

Thank you Doreen– we deeply appreciate your support!

DECEMBER Page 9

DECEMBER Page 9

Welcome to our new Residents

Roger Scriven, Karen Cirimotich,

Dorothy Johnson, Jo Gibbs,

Dorothy Brandenburg,

Carole Jochimsen, Gerald Sprinkle

Employee Birthdays

Marguerite Carmody 12/12

Patricia Stone 12/15

Grace Hook 12/16

Richard Atwater 12/16

Donald Fischer 12/20

Carol Singleton 12/24

Teresa Bird 12/24

Rosalind Cronkhite 12/25

Yazmin Barragan 12/1

Kevin Godsil 12/2

Roberta Bird 12/3

Marisa Miller 12/3

Cheryl Wolf 12/4

Lindsay Sharp 12/6

Savannah Baggs 12/7

Betty Beaty 12/8

Alethea McDonald 12/11

Harley Morss 12/11

Cassandra Harrison 12/13

Kate Reynolds 12/14

Paelynne Courson 12/16

Braden Williams 12/16

Megan Bell 12/18

Amber Fields 12/22

Amber Swigart 12/23

Sally Harris 12/27

Brent Miner 12/28

Eric Reese 12/30

Resident Birthdays

Knox County Gazette Page 10

Administrator’s Corner… Rachel Secrist

Happy Holidays from TMI Hospitality

For many people, an important part of the holiday season is spending time with friends and family. Unfortunately, those who have loved ones who are hospitalized, in a nursing home, or at a treatment center during the holidays often find it difficult to be together. For nearly 30 years, TMI Hospitality has worked to meet that need by offering free hotel rooms during the holidays from Thanksgiving through Christmas with our Room in the Inn® program.

All TMI Hospitality hotels participate in Room in the Inn®. Please contact a hotel directly to make a reservation, as rooms are subject to availability. For more information or to find a location near you, visit our website.

Your local TMI Hospitality hotel is: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott 901 W. Carl Sandburg Drive Galesburg, Il. 61401 (309)344-1911

Spending time with friends and family is an important part of the holiday

season. During this special time of year, TMI Hospitality hotels offers

free rooms to help families feel comfortable when they’re away from

home visiting their loved ones.

Please welcome our new team member-

Kristin Johnson, Memory Care Unit Coordinator!

We are excited to have Kristin on our team.

She has hit the ground running and we know she

will be a valuable asset to the Knox County

Nursing Home family. We invite families to

stop by her office on Wing 2 to say hello and

welcome!

From the Administrative Assistant Meg Wicks

DECEMBER Page 11

Even though it may be time to get the Christmas decorations out, I am still reeling in celebration from November’s historical and joyous event: the Chicago Cubs’ first World Series win since 1908!! (I can only hope that there are some of you readers out there who

share my sentiments ) At Knox County Nursing Home, lots of our residents also had Cub

fever with news of the win, but a few die-hard fans still have not recovered! I visited with some to get their thoughts on this momentous win; hope you enjoy!! Fred Apsey Q: How long have you been a Cubs fan? A: Since I was 4 years old. I started going to games at Wrigley Field with my dad around then. He was a Cubs fan for a long time but then I think he got discouraged and he switched to being a St. Louis Cardinals fan. I would never do something like that. I’ll always be for the Cubs! Q: What are your thoughts about the curse of the goat? A: I don’t worry about that sort of thing, but I think he’s done for. Q: Do you think there’s a chance for a big win next year? A: I think they had a great team this year; the younger kids were doing a great job. Winning like that is a very difficult thing to do, but you always have to have hope. Grace Catton Q: How long have you been for the Cubs? A: Well, I am really a Cardinals fan. I just root for the Cubs when St. Louis isn’t playing. Q: So you’re a switch-hitting fan, hunh? A: Yes. I like the Cardinals better. But I was happy they won. Q: What about next year? Do the Cubs have it in them to win again? A: I don’t know about that! Sonny Young Q: Have you ever followed any other team besides the Cubs? A: I liked the Yankees and the Dodgers before they moved out to California. After that I started following the Cubs. We’ve come a long way this year. Q: I understand that you got a special “Anti-Goat” shirt this year. Do you think the curse is finally over? A: Yes! It’s in the wash right now. I’ve been wearing it a lot. I’m gonna to wear it again when they bring it back up. Q: Do you think they can win next year? A: They won this year, didn’t they? There you have it folks! Let’s hope that next year the Cubbies can have another phenomenal season, but also remember that nobody likes a swell head.

Right, St. Louis?

Phone: 309-289-2338

Fax: 309-289-8384

Knox County

Nursing Home &

Rehabilitation

Center

We’re On The Web!

www.knoxcountynursinghome.com

PRESORT STD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 60

GALESBURG, IL

Or current resident

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Carl Strauch

CO-MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Dr. Mark DeYoung

COUNTY NURSING HOME COMMITTEE

Jeff Jefferson, Chair

Cheryl Nache, Robert Bondi,

George Knapp, John Hunigan

ADMINISTRATOR

Rachel Secrist, LNHA

DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Tammy Guile, RN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Donna Motz, RN

SOCIAL SERVICE DIRECTOR & ADMISSIONS

Kevin Godsil, BA

MDS / CARE PLANS

Angie Whitman, RN

Lea Ann Hobbs, LPN

HUMAN RESOURCE & EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Cathy Bowton, LPN

ACTIVITY DIRECTOR

Tammie Leaf

BUSINESS OFFICE

Jori Shull

Barb Mackey

DIETARY MANAGER

Cory Huddleston

PRODUCTION

Neal Detmers

ENVIROMENTAL SERVICES

Ron Williams

MAINTENANCE CREW

Jonathan Reyes

Eric Bowton

Otis Taylor

MEMORY CARE COORDINATOR

Kristin Johnson

CENTRAL SUPPLY & SCHEDULER

Audrey Huddleston

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Meg Wicks

Our Residents come first...