9/2/12 2:50 PMGreene County Daily World: Print Story : Glenburn Home to celebrate 60th anniversary

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Glenburn Home to celebrate 60th anniversaryFriday, April 21, 2006By Andrea McCann, staff writer

Norma Lesher, administrator of Glenburn Home, invites the public to an open house in celebration ofGlenburn's 60 years of service.

"Because Glenburn has been such a huge part of Linton for so many years -- 60 years is a long time,especially in this business -- we would like to have people stop in," she said. "We welcome the communityand thank them for participating in our business and our success."

The event will take place Sunday from 2-5 p.m. and will include a display, tours and refreshments. Staff willbe available to answer questions and help visitors. Lesher said it will provide a good opportunity for citizensto learn about Glenburn's past, present and future.

"We're going to have a display of what was and what is," she said.

There will be pictures, stories and memorabilia in the family room for people to meander through and see,according to Lesher.

Many of the photos and stories will focus on Glenburn's founder, Nola Yoder, who Lesher called the drivingforce behind the facility.

"Lots of people in the area remember Nola Yoder and what she did, so there'll be lots on her," Lesher said.

She explained that Yoder was a deaconess with the Methodist church and forged an alliance with theMethodist church that's still prominent.

"We're very involved with the South Indiana Conference in Bloomington," she said. "We have a strongalliance."

She explained that Yoder started with two "teeny, tiny" houses, then added nine more later in the year. Shesaid the houses were 15 by 20 feet in size and cost $500 apiece. The city of Linton helped her with funding,according to Lesher.

"That's where she started," Lesher said. "It was someplace for basically homeless older people to stay."

She said in 1970 Yoder started the original building, which had the ability to house 118 residents by the endof 1974. Now there are 146 beds, 27 independent duplexes, community centers for Linton, Worthington andBloomfield through Generations, and adult day care with 16 clients and the capability of serving 17.

"The focus now is to reduce the number of institutional beds and be able to serve people in their homes,"Lesher said.

"Our real niche in the long-term care arena is excellent rehab. We do wonderful rehab for the elderly."

9/2/12 2:50 PMGreene County Daily World: Print Story : Glenburn Home to celebrate 60th anniversary

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She said people come from outside the community for Glenburn's rehabilitation expertise.

Its Alzheimer's Care Unit is another strength, according to Lesher.

She said their Communities experience is something new. She said those residents have their own staff.

All residents now have their choice of dining situation, including a buffet, which is also available to visitingfamily members for $3.

"We eat from 6 in the morning to 7 in the evening around here," Lesher said with a laugh. "We have lots offamilies that join their family members that are here."

She said activities are growing by leaps and bounds at Glenburn. The addition of a new 15-person bus and afive- or six-person van, both handicapped accessible, have facilitated that.

"We also have an old bus that carries the same number and a van that carries one less," Lesher said.

She said it allows more residents to get outside the facility for activities. For example, on Wednesday, 25people went on country rides to see what the spring weather was doing to the trees and flowers. She said theyalso wanted to see the progress on the new firehouse and the courthouse addition.

"Our focus for the future will be providing services for the elderly community, not a community for theelderly," Lesher said.

"Hopefully we can figure out a way to do assisted living in the next two or three years."

She explained that Glenburn Home will always be there for people who need to go to a nursing home setting.However, the focus will be on prevention and wellness programs to keep people in the comfort of theirhomes as long as possible.

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