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The Traditions Traditions Assisted Living & Memory Care 609 HWY 150 N West Union, IA 52175 Phone: 563-422-9200
FEBRUARY 2016
From the Director’s Chair by Sandy Koester
Perusing the calendar I discovered that February not only contains Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras, and a few other notable holidays like Periodic Table Day and my personal favorite, Random Acts of Kindness Day, but was also reminded this is a Leap Year. We all probably know of at least one person born on February 29th that has to endure jokes about how old they are. I find that most people, myself included, are familiar with Leap Years, but may not know why we have them. So I did some research and here is what I discovered.
We typically refer to a “year” as the length of time required for Earth to orbit the Sun. Our modern Gregorian calendars tell us that this takes 365 days. Ah, but there is a subtle difference in these two representations of a “year.” The time length of Earth’s orbit around the Sun is called a “tropical” or “solar” year. This period is typically measured from Spring Equinox to Spring Equinox. This amount equals 365 calendar days, but there are roughly 5 to 6 hours of extra time because in reality the length of time that we consider a “day” (time it takes for Earth to revolve one time on its axis) is just short of 24 hours (approximately 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds). To summarize, it takes the Earth around 365.242199 days to go around the Sun, but the calendar only has 365 days. Thank you very much Google!
I hope things are starting to clarify for you. The calendar, without some type of periodic adjustment, would be out of “synch” with the seasons by approximately one month every 125 years or so. Therefore once every four years, all of the extra time is added together to form a new day, February 29th. (Even this adjustment overcompensates by about 11 minutes.)
Be inspired! Make the most of this extra day! “Jump” into a new activity or “kick” a bad habit! I know things will be “hoppin” around here! Hoppy Leap Day!
Employee of the Month:
White Giants
You don’t have to live in the arctic to celebrate International Polar Bear Day on February 27. The polar
February 2016
Celebrating February
Time Management Month
Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month
Spunky Old Broads DayFebruary 1
Groundhog DayFebruary 2
Periodic Table DayFebruary 7
Chinese New Year(Year of the Monkey)
February 8
Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 14–20
Valentine’s DayFebruary 14
International Mother Language Day
February 21
88th Academy AwardsFebruary 28
Nicki Frieden
Happy February Birthday, Nikki! Originaly from Central Wisconsin, Nikki Moved to Elgin In 2014 with her Husband Michael Frieden, a local Farmer. Nikki has a 7
month old son named John Wayne Frieden. Along with raising her son, Nikki likes to work on the family farm which has
been there for 7 genrations.
Favorite Color: PurpleFavorite food: Crab legs
Favorite Holiday: Halloween Favorite Movie or TV
show: How to Lose a Guy in 10 days Favorite Music: Country
Pet Peeve: Leaving Dirty Dishes in the Sink
Best advice received or given: Find the good in someone and treat them like it’s the only thing you see. What I enjoy most about
Traditions: I love YOU ALL!!
bear is one of nature’s most awesome beasts and is the world’s biggest hunter. Polar bears spend much of their time laying in wait outside holes cut in the ice by ringed seals, who must return to the surface for air every five to 15 minutes. A seal’s survival depends on maintaining its series of “breathing holes.” That seal’s survival instinct equals lunch for the polar bear at some point in the future.
As the arctic warms and ice recedes, polar and brown bear habitats have begun to overlap, and hybrid polar-brown bear offspring have appeared. Dubbed nanulaks by Canadian wildlife officials, the hybrid bears are whitish brown with long claws and a humped back. Offspring of a male polar bear and a female grizzly are called pizzlies; reverse the parentage and it’s a grolar bear.
However, as long as there is ice to roam and seals to hunt, a polar bear’s home will always be the arctic.
A variety of residents attend the art classes at Traditions. These drawings are
the latest projects. Despite being sheepish at first they turned out these awesome drawings. One half of the copy is pasted down and they were
instructed on how to draw the other half. The results are marvelous!
Ingredients:1 Cup powdered sugar2 Sticks unsalted butter, softened1/2 Teaspoon salt1 Tablespoon maraschino cherry juice, I always end up using more1/2 Teaspoon almond extract2 1/4 All purpose flour1/2 Cup chopped maraschino cherries
Method:In an mixer, blend together sugar, butter, salt, cherry liquid, and almond extract. Beat for 3 minutes until the butter is fluffy.Add flour to mixture until just incorporated. You don’t want to over mix with flour.Add chopped cherries until evenly distributed.Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and remove dough from the refrigerator. Allow the dough to sit for 30 minutes.Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and scoop out dough with a scoop. You should have 24 cookies.Unwrap 24 Hershey kisses.Bake for 5 minutes in the oven, pull out the tray and gently but with a bit of pressure, add the kisses to the center of each cookie.Bake for 5 – 6 additional minutes. The cookies will not brown so don’t wait to see brown cookies or you will have black bottoms.Allow to cool on racks and enjoy!If you choose not to add chocolate kisses, bake cookies in the oven for 9-11 minutes.
PS: No eggs in this recipe means you can eat the dough!
Staff EmailsCampus Director: Sandy Koester
Campus Nurse: LPN Nicole [email protected]
Campus Nurse: RN/DNP Pam [email protected]
Dietary Manager: Karen [email protected]
Activity Coordinator: Krista [email protected]
Shift Lead: Jen [email protected]
Disseminating Dementia:
Communication Tips As people with dementia gradually lose their ablility to find words, express thoughts and follow conversations, they may also have more trouble understanding others. They may experience word-finding difficulty, repetition, loss in train of thought, reverting to native language, inhibition/cursing and speaking less often.
When communicating with a person with dementia, it’s important to choose words carefully. Identify yourself and approach the person from the front at eye level. Call them by name and give them a cue about your relationship.
Provide the solution rather than the question. Instead of “Do you need to use the restroom?” say “You may use the restroom before we have lunch”.
Avoid expressions. Say “Your shower is ready.” instead of “Hop into the shower.” They may take you literally. Demonstrate or use visual cues.
Avoid vague words. Say “Here is your hat.” rather than “Here it is” They may not know what “it” refers to even if they asked for the hat.
Use a positive instead of a negative. “Let’s go to the living room.” rather than “Don’t go in there.”
Avoid quizzing like “Who is this?” or “Don’t you remember?” Provide simple cues instead. “Jeff is here to visit.”
Residents of the Month:Art & Agnes Schmitt
Agnes was born the eldest of 5 children to Martin and Stella Riha on November 27, 1927. Art was born the eldest son of 9 children on April 26, 1928 to Bill and Anna Schmitt. Agnes grew up on a farm west of Fort Atkinson and Art on a farm southeast of St. Lucas. Agnes attended country school for 1 year then St. John’s Catholic school where she learned to speak English as she spoke Czech. Art attended St. Luke Catholic school through 4th grade and was very proud of his German upbringing. He was later needed at home on the farm so he left school and was apprenticed first at home with his dad then later partnered on another family farm with his uncle. These two souls eventually met at an area dance at the Inwood in nearby Spillville. They were married November 27th, 1950 endearingly on Agnes’ birthday. They then made their home on a Schmitt family farm, now a century farm which their daughters own today. They were blessed with four daughters: Terri, Marie, Irene and Wilma. When they were not busy farming Agnes enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and baking as well as supporting the Catholic church, in particular the Foresters (NCSF). Art loved playing Euchre, Sunday drives looking at the crops and attending sales collecting the “bargains”. They both enjoyed dancing and polka music. These days they live at Traditions and still enjoy music, a good party, spending times reminiscing with family and occasionally playing some cards. They still have each other, married for 65 years, a feat that will not be matched easily in today’s world. They are blessed with a large extended family, 8 grandkids and several great-grands.
February BirthdaysIn astrology, those born between February 1st and 18th are Aquarian Water Bearers. Aquarians have attractive personalities, vivid imaginations, strong intuition, and a thirst for knowledge. They also share a strong desire to help humanity and create unity. Those born between February 19th and 29th are Pisces. These Fish are spiritual types who feel comfortable in their introspective natures. As passionate, romantic, creative dreamers, they are charitable helpers who “go with the flow.”
Tommy Smothers (comedian) – Feb. 2, 1937Hank Aaron (ballplayer) – Feb. 5, 1934Lana Turner (actress) – Feb. 8, 1921Susan B. Anthony (activist) – Feb. 15, 1820Sidney Poitier (actor) – Feb. 20, 1927Steve Jobs (tech guru) – Feb. 24, 1955Jackie Gleason (actor) – Feb. 26, 1916Jimmy Dorsey (band leader) – Feb. 29, 1904Dinah Shore (singer) – Feb. 29, 1916
Happy February Birthday to Ron
Hilsenbeck the 11th & Mary Ann Roach the
16th
Quote of the MonthWe can do no great things, only small
