Recent events in both my personal life and in the life of friends have made me reflect on what it is about Kendal that makes me so thankful I live here. As I have thought about it I have concluded that one of the chief reasons is the feeling of security I have here. I've come to see that it is a security that comes not from one but from several facets of life at Kendal. A friend wrote today that he and his wife were faced with unexpected changes in the way charges were being made where they live. They are not sure that they can manage them and will have to move out. I thought to myself, "Thank goodness, I'm at Kendal where we are assured that we will be cared for until life ends." I also thought of the transparent manner which keeps us attuned to how Kendal manages financial affairs especially efforts to keep costs down.
Then I thought about a brief discussion with the family of someone in another apartment who just recently moved to assisted living. I had become aware that she has been struggling more and more with more and more aspects of life. I saw her walking endlessly in the hall no longer able to find meaningful ways to spend her time. I knew that once she made the move that someone there would make sure she got to meals on time regularly as well as help her with activities especially planned for those living in assisted living. From observing what had happened when another friend had made the same transition I knew she would be more secure in that setting. I also know that if the time comes that I need it, it will be there for me.
There are lots of other things that contribute to my feeling of security. If I need help opening one of those medication containers which are supposed to keep children out, but seem to me to be devised to keep seniors out as well, I can ask for help from anyone on the staff. I know that if I need help in a hurry I can pull the call button in my apartment and someone will respond to my call as they did the night my blood sugar dropped to a dangerous low of 50. If one of our drivers takes us to a medical appointment we will have a steady hand to assist us should we need help with a walker or a wheelchair. Someone makes rounds throughout the apartment building and the village at night checking on all sorts of safety issues such as lighting and locks. Our social worker warns us about scams that are particularly directed at oldsters. The list goes on and on - lots of big and little things here make me feel secure so that I can live without fear. That's a lot to be thankful for each day.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Memory and Poetry
I want to talk about a serious subject and, for those who recognize themselves in the discussion that I'm about to launch, to suggest a path that offers many rewards. To jump to the end: I'm going to advocate the virtues of memorizing poetry. (Please don't tune me out.)
There's no one I know, seventy or older, who does not, at least privately, worry about his (or her) memory. What are we to make of those little lapses? The names we can't summon forth instantaneously? The chore that slips our mind? The purpose for which we came into this room in the first place? We don't want to spend our time worrying. Still less do we want to discuss our concern and give our children reason to worry. But still. . . .
And so we adopt tactics designed to train our minds. Treating our brains like muscles, we apply our own versions of the "use it or lose it principle." We work out crosswords, we play bridge, we puzzle our way through sudokus; or we resume piano lessons from childhood days, we finally set out to learn French or Spanish; or perhaps we enroll in courses in the nearest college. All of this is fun – in fact, we wouldn't do it if it weren't – but we also hope that the activity is a useful mental exercise, keeping us a bit ahead of the game as we look for strategies for graceful aging.
In these generalizations I am of course including myself. It's true that I watch others and share observations with them. But above all I draw my impressions from consulting my own consciousness. And so in urging a turn to the memorization of poetry as a form of proactive therapy for memory slippage I'm touting an exercise that I've enjoyed.
It is likely that many of you will recall being asked to memorize poems in school. That sound practice, sadly, has almost disappeared. And for some of course it was simply an unpleasant inflicting of needless pain. But there were many – and those are the ones I appeal to first and foremost – who, whatever they made of the school assignments at the time, recall now that poetry could sometimes have a certain charm, or power, or magnetism, or incisiveness that made lines . . . well . . . memorable.
For example (and say these aloud):
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep.
Or:
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth, e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Or:
Bring me my bow of burnished gold,
Bring me my arrows of desire;
Bring me my spear, o clouds unfold;
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall the sword sleep in my hand,
Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
Or (one of my favorites):
Innocence seeth'd in her mother's milk,
And charity setting the martyr aflame;
Thraldom that walks with the banner of Freedom,
And recks not to ruin a realm in her name.
Or (one of everyone's favorites):
To be, or not to be – that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
But rather than supply more examples I'll just become a cheerleader and say it: THIS STUFF IS WONDERFUL. If you speak the poems aloud, the words roll out of the mouth like rich candy – candy for the mouth, yes, but for the ears too, and the brain. If you're like me, it takes time to gain a control over lines of verse; but the achievement, when it comes, is very rewarding. I hope you won't think this an odd prescription. In fact, I hope you'll take it the way I feel it: as a desire to let friends in on the sheer fun of capturing and commanding poetry. Believe me. There's magic in the words of the great poets.
You'll notice I've changed my subject. And that's because I can't really claim that memorizing poetry improves your odds against cognitive impairment. (That was a come-on.) But it might. And it's lots of fun to boot. So my advice is to give it a try. What's there to lose?
There's no one I know, seventy or older, who does not, at least privately, worry about his (or her) memory. What are we to make of those little lapses? The names we can't summon forth instantaneously? The chore that slips our mind? The purpose for which we came into this room in the first place? We don't want to spend our time worrying. Still less do we want to discuss our concern and give our children reason to worry. But still. . . .
And so we adopt tactics designed to train our minds. Treating our brains like muscles, we apply our own versions of the "use it or lose it principle." We work out crosswords, we play bridge, we puzzle our way through sudokus; or we resume piano lessons from childhood days, we finally set out to learn French or Spanish; or perhaps we enroll in courses in the nearest college. All of this is fun – in fact, we wouldn't do it if it weren't – but we also hope that the activity is a useful mental exercise, keeping us a bit ahead of the game as we look for strategies for graceful aging.
In these generalizations I am of course including myself. It's true that I watch others and share observations with them. But above all I draw my impressions from consulting my own consciousness. And so in urging a turn to the memorization of poetry as a form of proactive therapy for memory slippage I'm touting an exercise that I've enjoyed.
It is likely that many of you will recall being asked to memorize poems in school. That sound practice, sadly, has almost disappeared. And for some of course it was simply an unpleasant inflicting of needless pain. But there were many – and those are the ones I appeal to first and foremost – who, whatever they made of the school assignments at the time, recall now that poetry could sometimes have a certain charm, or power, or magnetism, or incisiveness that made lines . . . well . . . memorable.
For example (and say these aloud):
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep.
Or:
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth, e'er gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Or:
Bring me my bow of burnished gold,
Bring me my arrows of desire;
Bring me my spear, o clouds unfold;
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall the sword sleep in my hand,
Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
Or (one of my favorites):
Innocence seeth'd in her mother's milk,
And charity setting the martyr aflame;
Thraldom that walks with the banner of Freedom,
And recks not to ruin a realm in her name.
Or (one of everyone's favorites):
To be, or not to be – that is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.
But rather than supply more examples I'll just become a cheerleader and say it: THIS STUFF IS WONDERFUL. If you speak the poems aloud, the words roll out of the mouth like rich candy – candy for the mouth, yes, but for the ears too, and the brain. If you're like me, it takes time to gain a control over lines of verse; but the achievement, when it comes, is very rewarding. I hope you won't think this an odd prescription. In fact, I hope you'll take it the way I feel it: as a desire to let friends in on the sheer fun of capturing and commanding poetry. Believe me. There's magic in the words of the great poets.
You'll notice I've changed my subject. And that's because I can't really claim that memorizing poetry improves your odds against cognitive impairment. (That was a come-on.) But it might. And it's lots of fun to boot. So my advice is to give it a try. What's there to lose?
Monday, July 9, 2012
Recovery
We are recovering nicely here at Kendal at Granville from four difficult days without power during a record breaking heat wave thanks to our marvelous staff. About five o'clock on Friday, the twenty-ninth of June, as I was working at my computer in my den I sensed that it was growing darker and thought to myself, "Maybe we will get some rain and it will cool off." Little did I dream what was about to happen. Not even when the telephone rang and I heard the recorded message about an approaching storm from the fire chief of Granville village did it occur to me that we were about to be hit by hurricane force winds in less than ten minutes.
Suddenly the sky was really dark - like about 9:15 p.m. - and the rain came in torrents and the wind roared in like a freight train. Almost immediately the power went off leaving us in the dark wondering how long before it would return. Our chef suddenly found himself busier than the proverbial one armed paper hanger seeing that meals were served with only emergency power and also checking with the village officials to find out what they knew about how long the power would be out. The disheartening news he received was "three or more days." Not what anyone wanted to hear with all weather reports indicating temperatures in the middle nineties for the coming week. By morning the prediction was five to seven days.
Fortunately for us many of our administrative staff had helped us survive and recover when four years ago in late summer the tail end of hurricane Ike swung north from Louisiana and knocked out our power at that time for four days. They learned the drill then. Consequently although the next day was Saturday we saw them here bright and early to drag fans out of storage, locate needed extension cords, bring up extra supplies of bottled water from the basement, move furniture,etc., etc., etc. Each one of them took it all in stride not missing a step. No one asked, "Is this in my job description?" They just did whatever needed to be done.
They did many things to make our life bearable without the benefit of full power. I can only include a few. One of the foremost things was to serve three meals a day for everyone. Almost all of us are on the one meal a day plan whereby we prepare two meals a day in our residences. However, without power we couldn't cook. One side benefit of this hardship was that it brought some of us together at mealtimes that didn't always see each other.
Lounge furniture was moved into one of the dining areas where staff had assembled an assortment of large fans and a couple of air coolers along with a television to give us a lounge where we could relax and catch up on what was happening in the world at large.
Charging stations for cell phones were set up for residents who rely entirely on them for their phone service. Staff made sure there was plenty of bottled water available so people would not become dehydrated. As an insomniac one of my ways of coping with the dark nights was to move my den chair into the hall outside of my apartment where one of the ceiling emergency light provided me with light for reading and puzzle solving. When the night man made his rounds, he never failed to ask me if I would like some water.
As much as possible we maintained our normal activities. For example on Saturday a group of us saw that the ceramics created by residents went into the display cabinet as scheduled.
The newsletter came out on the first of July as expected.
On Monday morning three of the administrative staff came around to each residence with black garbage bags to help us empty our refrigerators of all of the food that had been there too long without refrigeration and so must be discarded. The housekeeping staff followed up to clean the refrigerators where necessary.
Monday afternoon our hopes went up when the power went on in midafternoon. But it went off again in a few minutes. Some people got partial power later in the evening, but full power did not come on until about 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. One of the most common sounds accompanying the sighs of relief as air conditioners started up was the sound of washing machines being started by those of us desperately in need of clean clothes.
We owe a huge THANK YOU to our staff for all they did for us in spite of the heat and I didn't hear a complaint from one of them. No doubt the ones who deserve an extra measure of recognition are those who worked in the kitchen and dining room where the heat was greatest due to the cooking without benefit of air conditioning. They are my heroes and heroines.
Now that we are experienced in the handling of extended power outages I believe that our staff could easily write a valuable how-to book for others.
Suddenly the sky was really dark - like about 9:15 p.m. - and the rain came in torrents and the wind roared in like a freight train. Almost immediately the power went off leaving us in the dark wondering how long before it would return. Our chef suddenly found himself busier than the proverbial one armed paper hanger seeing that meals were served with only emergency power and also checking with the village officials to find out what they knew about how long the power would be out. The disheartening news he received was "three or more days." Not what anyone wanted to hear with all weather reports indicating temperatures in the middle nineties for the coming week. By morning the prediction was five to seven days.
Fortunately for us many of our administrative staff had helped us survive and recover when four years ago in late summer the tail end of hurricane Ike swung north from Louisiana and knocked out our power at that time for four days. They learned the drill then. Consequently although the next day was Saturday we saw them here bright and early to drag fans out of storage, locate needed extension cords, bring up extra supplies of bottled water from the basement, move furniture,etc., etc., etc. Each one of them took it all in stride not missing a step. No one asked, "Is this in my job description?" They just did whatever needed to be done.
They did many things to make our life bearable without the benefit of full power. I can only include a few. One of the foremost things was to serve three meals a day for everyone. Almost all of us are on the one meal a day plan whereby we prepare two meals a day in our residences. However, without power we couldn't cook. One side benefit of this hardship was that it brought some of us together at mealtimes that didn't always see each other.
Lounge furniture was moved into one of the dining areas where staff had assembled an assortment of large fans and a couple of air coolers along with a television to give us a lounge where we could relax and catch up on what was happening in the world at large.
Charging stations for cell phones were set up for residents who rely entirely on them for their phone service. Staff made sure there was plenty of bottled water available so people would not become dehydrated. As an insomniac one of my ways of coping with the dark nights was to move my den chair into the hall outside of my apartment where one of the ceiling emergency light provided me with light for reading and puzzle solving. When the night man made his rounds, he never failed to ask me if I would like some water.
As much as possible we maintained our normal activities. For example on Saturday a group of us saw that the ceramics created by residents went into the display cabinet as scheduled.
The newsletter came out on the first of July as expected.
On Monday morning three of the administrative staff came around to each residence with black garbage bags to help us empty our refrigerators of all of the food that had been there too long without refrigeration and so must be discarded. The housekeeping staff followed up to clean the refrigerators where necessary.
Monday afternoon our hopes went up when the power went on in midafternoon. But it went off again in a few minutes. Some people got partial power later in the evening, but full power did not come on until about 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday. One of the most common sounds accompanying the sighs of relief as air conditioners started up was the sound of washing machines being started by those of us desperately in need of clean clothes.
We owe a huge THANK YOU to our staff for all they did for us in spite of the heat and I didn't hear a complaint from one of them. No doubt the ones who deserve an extra measure of recognition are those who worked in the kitchen and dining room where the heat was greatest due to the cooking without benefit of air conditioning. They are my heroes and heroines.
Now that we are experienced in the handling of extended power outages I believe that our staff could easily write a valuable how-to book for others.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Mealtimes
The importance of mealtime cannot be overestimated. Obviously it is important from the viewpoint of nourishment for our bodies. Here at Kendal we are fortunate that our food service is excellent. We have a chef in charge who works to provide variety as well as nutritious foods. We have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables which include those recommended especially for maintaining the health of older folks. We have at least three entrees: usually one meat, one fish, and one vegetarian. Special foods are available for those with special needs such as gluten free diets. Our dining staff is familiar with what is allowed for those with these needs and can help them make appropriate choices.
Our food service staff includes the cooks whom we don't see much of because they work behind the scenes but we get to know and appreciate them from the food they prepare. The servers are quick to learn our names and quickly catch on to our own little peculiarities or needs. e.g. When I had a problem with my hands and arms and couldn't reach up over the high part of the serving line they brought my plate to the low end where I could handle it without dropping it.
The wait staff stand ready to help those who need assistance carrying trays. Sometimes they will seat the person, take the order, and collect the food, and bring it to the resident. They will also gladly fetch things forgotten such as a glass for milk, a glass of water, or bring more coffee. Sometimes they will assist the less abled by getting them coffee and dessert at the end of the meal. They also clear the table when the meal is finished.
We have a dining committee made up of staff members and residents who meet regularly to review comments that have been written about the food service. The chef and the dining staff manager take notes and make every effort to improve situations that need to be changed. The chef keeps track of who cooks what on which day so that he can go back and check what recipe was used and other particulars if a complaint is made about a particular item.
In addition to nourishment of the the body, mealtime provides an opportunity to feed ones spirit. Because we have no assigned seating arrangements and no precise time assignments we have the freedom to choose with whom we will eat. This allows for greater interaction among the residents. The opportunity to eat with others is a huge advantage for those of us who were living alone due to the loss of a spouse before we moved in. Once again we can enjoy company at mealtime. Tables for two, four, six, or eight are available which adds to the freedom of choice of mealtime partners. However, if you prefer to eat alone, special containers are available that allow us to take food home.
The time spent eating together gives us a chance to get to know one another better. It provides ties that bind us together and help to make us truly a community and not just a bunch of people who happen to live in the same part of Granville. I have learned lots of interesting things about my fellow residents as well as caught up on the news. Other times I've just enjoyed being able to reminicse with people of a similar age group.
Two of the favorites that feed us spiritually and physically are the ice cream and cookies. They rank high on the list of comfort foods everywhere and Kendal is no different.
From the beginning there has been a large plate of assorted large freshly made cookies on the counter convenient to the exit door . They are irresitable for most who pass by either to go with a final cup of coffee or a glass of milk or for a late evening snack. Several flavors of ice cream are available daily. The flavors change from day to day. They can be served in a plain dish or with hot fudge or in a cone. For some the perfect way to end the day is with a sugar cone as they leave the dining room to return home for the day.
Is it any wonder that mealtimes mark the major divisions of our daily life when you consider their significance in our life?
Our food service staff includes the cooks whom we don't see much of because they work behind the scenes but we get to know and appreciate them from the food they prepare. The servers are quick to learn our names and quickly catch on to our own little peculiarities or needs. e.g. When I had a problem with my hands and arms and couldn't reach up over the high part of the serving line they brought my plate to the low end where I could handle it without dropping it.
The wait staff stand ready to help those who need assistance carrying trays. Sometimes they will seat the person, take the order, and collect the food, and bring it to the resident. They will also gladly fetch things forgotten such as a glass for milk, a glass of water, or bring more coffee. Sometimes they will assist the less abled by getting them coffee and dessert at the end of the meal. They also clear the table when the meal is finished.
We have a dining committee made up of staff members and residents who meet regularly to review comments that have been written about the food service. The chef and the dining staff manager take notes and make every effort to improve situations that need to be changed. The chef keeps track of who cooks what on which day so that he can go back and check what recipe was used and other particulars if a complaint is made about a particular item.
In addition to nourishment of the the body, mealtime provides an opportunity to feed ones spirit. Because we have no assigned seating arrangements and no precise time assignments we have the freedom to choose with whom we will eat. This allows for greater interaction among the residents. The opportunity to eat with others is a huge advantage for those of us who were living alone due to the loss of a spouse before we moved in. Once again we can enjoy company at mealtime. Tables for two, four, six, or eight are available which adds to the freedom of choice of mealtime partners. However, if you prefer to eat alone, special containers are available that allow us to take food home.
The time spent eating together gives us a chance to get to know one another better. It provides ties that bind us together and help to make us truly a community and not just a bunch of people who happen to live in the same part of Granville. I have learned lots of interesting things about my fellow residents as well as caught up on the news. Other times I've just enjoyed being able to reminicse with people of a similar age group.
Two of the favorites that feed us spiritually and physically are the ice cream and cookies. They rank high on the list of comfort foods everywhere and Kendal is no different.
From the beginning there has been a large plate of assorted large freshly made cookies on the counter convenient to the exit door . They are irresitable for most who pass by either to go with a final cup of coffee or a glass of milk or for a late evening snack. Several flavors of ice cream are available daily. The flavors change from day to day. They can be served in a plain dish or with hot fudge or in a cone. For some the perfect way to end the day is with a sugar cone as they leave the dining room to return home for the day.
Is it any wonder that mealtimes mark the major divisions of our daily life when you consider their significance in our life?
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Exciting Speakers at Kendal
On three different recent evenings the residents of Kendal at Granville have enjoyed the opportunity of hearing talented members of the Denison University faculty discuss their research and creative interests. That's one of the perks of living near a college. The talks treated topics in astronomy, history, and literature; our ensuing conversations with speakers were wide-ranging; and after the events were over the guests spoke with animation and joy about what a pleasure it had been for them to engage with a community audience that was informed and curious. Hooray for the Kendal-Denson tie!
One of the speakers was Ron Homan, who told us about his work with radio astronomy. He had great visuals, and with the aid of this set of colorful projections he helped us to understand how plumes expelled by special stars can appear to exceed the speed of light, and allowed us to peek back into the character of the universe in the microseconds after the Big Bang. One of the happiest aspects of Professor Homan's research turned out to be that it is fashioned in such a way as to present Denison students with authentic and challenging opportunities at research cooperation. So Granville is one of the sites where the scientists of tomorrow will come from.
Another speaker was Peter Grandbois, the author of the acclaimed recent novel Nahoonkara. Professor Grandbois read selections from this work aloud to us, commented on them, and invited questions. He also discussed the category of fiction often called "magical realism" – Nahoonkara is an example of it – and located it in the broader history of fiction writing around the world. Like any good speaker, he spurred some residents to zip off to the public library in search of other novels that might exercise the same enchantment.
Our third speaker was Bill Kirkpatrick, author of a recent book on the founding of our (and his) hometown of Granville. Professor Kirkpatrick used sketches, maps, and photos of the buildings and artifacts of the early settlement to show how, as complements to the documentary trail left by newspapers and correspondence, they can be used to pry out inferences about the character of Granville in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Since some of the residents here at Kendal have spent much of their lives in Granville, this was a talk that attracted a large audience and stimulated wide conversation in subsequent days.
What we appreciated about all our speakers was their quick realization that we were authentic students, perhaps not as young as the students they are accustomed to working with, but every bit as curious, eager, and ready to expand our intellectual worlds as a college-age kid. We probed their thoughts and engaged their interests, and they responded with respect and excitement. Collectively, they reminded us again of how Kendal at Granville is, among other things, a classroom for the curious.
One of the speakers was Ron Homan, who told us about his work with radio astronomy. He had great visuals, and with the aid of this set of colorful projections he helped us to understand how plumes expelled by special stars can appear to exceed the speed of light, and allowed us to peek back into the character of the universe in the microseconds after the Big Bang. One of the happiest aspects of Professor Homan's research turned out to be that it is fashioned in such a way as to present Denison students with authentic and challenging opportunities at research cooperation. So Granville is one of the sites where the scientists of tomorrow will come from.
Another speaker was Peter Grandbois, the author of the acclaimed recent novel Nahoonkara. Professor Grandbois read selections from this work aloud to us, commented on them, and invited questions. He also discussed the category of fiction often called "magical realism" – Nahoonkara is an example of it – and located it in the broader history of fiction writing around the world. Like any good speaker, he spurred some residents to zip off to the public library in search of other novels that might exercise the same enchantment.
Our third speaker was Bill Kirkpatrick, author of a recent book on the founding of our (and his) hometown of Granville. Professor Kirkpatrick used sketches, maps, and photos of the buildings and artifacts of the early settlement to show how, as complements to the documentary trail left by newspapers and correspondence, they can be used to pry out inferences about the character of Granville in the first decade of the nineteenth century. Since some of the residents here at Kendal have spent much of their lives in Granville, this was a talk that attracted a large audience and stimulated wide conversation in subsequent days.
What we appreciated about all our speakers was their quick realization that we were authentic students, perhaps not as young as the students they are accustomed to working with, but every bit as curious, eager, and ready to expand our intellectual worlds as a college-age kid. We probed their thoughts and engaged their interests, and they responded with respect and excitement. Collectively, they reminded us again of how Kendal at Granville is, among other things, a classroom for the curious.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Tower Lines
At the opening of each month, every Kendal at Granville resident receives a copy of the latest issue of Tower Lines, the monthly newsletter of Kendal residents. It is indispensable reading in the community, for its contents touch us in all sorts of useful ways. To give you a sense of what I mean, here's what the reader will find in the just-arrived issue of May, 2012.
On the front page, under a masthead sketch of the entranceway to Kendal (with its landmark tower), appears a report from the Executive Director. This is a regular feature of the publication, and Doug Helman uses the opportunity to bring us up to date on the kinds of matters that broadly affect the community – which, right now, are preeminently developments in the Phase II expansion project. The happy news he shares is that the community has more than reached its goal of raising $450,000 for our new and badly-needed Gathering Room. The additional funds will allow us wider latitude in determining how to furnish and decorate the facility.
The Executive Director's report is followed by a three-page introduction to Virgil and Jan Hoftiezer, a couple that has recently brought their energies and hobbies to the community. A photo accompanies the article. We learn of their pre-Kendal lives, we meet their children, and we are introduced to their enthusiasms – travel, the theater, Sweden, fabric arts, genealogy, and the veiled pastime (I'll spill the beans) of aviculture (look it up!).
This fine introduction is followed by another (with photo, of course) – in this case of Sue LeFevre, a world-traveler who is already known to many residents by virtue of her family ties to nearby Newark and her father-in-law's many generous contributions to the welfare of his hometown.
Next come three timely news items. The first treats important moments from the April monthly meeting of the Residents Association – news about our acquisition of a shredder, about the role of the Dining Committee, and about the ambition of our bridge-playing club to expand its membership. The second describes the planned and guided transformation of the prairie on the northeastern end of the campus. And the third tells of plans to honor our late neighbor, Wally Chessman, during the coming reunion weekend at Denison.
Tower Lines regularly features pieces on staff members, and this month the subject is Tom Mitchell, who at the present moment holds the title of Design and Construction Coordinator for the Phase II project here. The piece tells how Tom, though a resident of Granville, is in fact an employee of Kendal Corporation, and has been sent out by headquarters over the years to provide his coordinating gifts when Kendal engages in major building projects. A veteran of Kendal construction activities in Oberlin, Ithaca, Lexington, and Philadelphia, Tom smiles at his Granville friends from the photo that accompanies the piece. Immediately following the article on Tom comes an update on the recent progress of the Phase II expansion.
And there is still more! An article on the coming "Commit to be Fit" competition, which will include a (virtual) "swimming" of the English Channel. Notes on the activities of the Granville Fellowship. An announcement that the resident display cabinet in the first-floor alcove will feature fiber art items in May and June. Excerpts from newsletters published by other Kendals. Items on health. Limericks composed by residents. Birthdays. Bridge results. A proposal for a visit to the Alligator Mound in Granville. (For the uninitiated, the mound was laid out in the thirteenth century by the Native American inhabitants of the area now known as Granville.)
Finally, on pages 12 and 13, appear descriptions of some coming featured events – including speakers, plays, and concerts – and a complete calendar of programs scheduled for the month of May.
Indispensable reading, indeed! There is no better source for learning about our new neighbors, about the staff members we regularly meet, or about what is happening in our community. The enterprise is guided by Betty Hullinger, the editor-in-chief, and so I'll conclude by simply noting that the community owes her a debt of gratitude for her labors on behalf of keeping us abreast of the activities that lend vigor to life at Kendal at Granville.
On the front page, under a masthead sketch of the entranceway to Kendal (with its landmark tower), appears a report from the Executive Director. This is a regular feature of the publication, and Doug Helman uses the opportunity to bring us up to date on the kinds of matters that broadly affect the community – which, right now, are preeminently developments in the Phase II expansion project. The happy news he shares is that the community has more than reached its goal of raising $450,000 for our new and badly-needed Gathering Room. The additional funds will allow us wider latitude in determining how to furnish and decorate the facility.
The Executive Director's report is followed by a three-page introduction to Virgil and Jan Hoftiezer, a couple that has recently brought their energies and hobbies to the community. A photo accompanies the article. We learn of their pre-Kendal lives, we meet their children, and we are introduced to their enthusiasms – travel, the theater, Sweden, fabric arts, genealogy, and the veiled pastime (I'll spill the beans) of aviculture (look it up!).
This fine introduction is followed by another (with photo, of course) – in this case of Sue LeFevre, a world-traveler who is already known to many residents by virtue of her family ties to nearby Newark and her father-in-law's many generous contributions to the welfare of his hometown.
Next come three timely news items. The first treats important moments from the April monthly meeting of the Residents Association – news about our acquisition of a shredder, about the role of the Dining Committee, and about the ambition of our bridge-playing club to expand its membership. The second describes the planned and guided transformation of the prairie on the northeastern end of the campus. And the third tells of plans to honor our late neighbor, Wally Chessman, during the coming reunion weekend at Denison.
Tower Lines regularly features pieces on staff members, and this month the subject is Tom Mitchell, who at the present moment holds the title of Design and Construction Coordinator for the Phase II project here. The piece tells how Tom, though a resident of Granville, is in fact an employee of Kendal Corporation, and has been sent out by headquarters over the years to provide his coordinating gifts when Kendal engages in major building projects. A veteran of Kendal construction activities in Oberlin, Ithaca, Lexington, and Philadelphia, Tom smiles at his Granville friends from the photo that accompanies the piece. Immediately following the article on Tom comes an update on the recent progress of the Phase II expansion.
And there is still more! An article on the coming "Commit to be Fit" competition, which will include a (virtual) "swimming" of the English Channel. Notes on the activities of the Granville Fellowship. An announcement that the resident display cabinet in the first-floor alcove will feature fiber art items in May and June. Excerpts from newsletters published by other Kendals. Items on health. Limericks composed by residents. Birthdays. Bridge results. A proposal for a visit to the Alligator Mound in Granville. (For the uninitiated, the mound was laid out in the thirteenth century by the Native American inhabitants of the area now known as Granville.)
Finally, on pages 12 and 13, appear descriptions of some coming featured events – including speakers, plays, and concerts – and a complete calendar of programs scheduled for the month of May.
Indispensable reading, indeed! There is no better source for learning about our new neighbors, about the staff members we regularly meet, or about what is happening in our community. The enterprise is guided by Betty Hullinger, the editor-in-chief, and so I'll conclude by simply noting that the community owes her a debt of gratitude for her labors on behalf of keeping us abreast of the activities that lend vigor to life at Kendal at Granville.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Activating Values
Here at Kendal at Granville values aren't just empty words printed in brochures to impress people. Rather they are words that spring into action in the lives of staff and residents daily. For one example right now we find ourselves immersed in a series of focus groups designed to provide input for the process of strategic planning which is getting underway for the next three to five years. Everyone has been invited to sign up to participate in whichever sessions interest them. An individual may sign up for as many as desired. The topics are derived from the Kendal at Granville Vision which states "Kendal at Granville embraces the greater Kendal aspiration of Together Transforming the Experience of Aging by striving to 1. Evolve and grow in learning and serving, 2. Contribute to the wider community, 3. Represent inclusiveness, 4. Model active lifestyles, and 5. Preserve choice, autonomy, and self- esteem.
Our Executive Director is leading each of these sessions. All individuals are encouraged to take part and voice their beliefs. So far I have been able to attend one which was Preserve Choice, Autonomy, and Self Esteem. We were told that the purpose of the session was to identify actions that would make it possible to achieve that directive. I found it to be an interesting session in that the participants were genuinely concerned about how we as staff and residents together could preserve choice, autonomy and self esteem for each resident as she aged/ There were helpful suggestions as to action to be taken in the future. Some questions arose which were able to be clarified on the spot. Others indicated a need for further thought and consideration as to the most effective action to be taken.
What impressed me most as a former administrator was the attention given to listening to both staff and residents and considering together how to achieve a goal rather than as I have seen in some situations where the top administration went away into seclusion to do strategic planning without input from those most involved either in executing the plan or being the persons most affected by the execution of the plan. Here the value of respect for the individual seemed to me to be clearly demonstrated.
Our Executive Director is leading each of these sessions. All individuals are encouraged to take part and voice their beliefs. So far I have been able to attend one which was Preserve Choice, Autonomy, and Self Esteem. We were told that the purpose of the session was to identify actions that would make it possible to achieve that directive. I found it to be an interesting session in that the participants were genuinely concerned about how we as staff and residents together could preserve choice, autonomy and self esteem for each resident as she aged/ There were helpful suggestions as to action to be taken in the future. Some questions arose which were able to be clarified on the spot. Others indicated a need for further thought and consideration as to the most effective action to be taken.
What impressed me most as a former administrator was the attention given to listening to both staff and residents and considering together how to achieve a goal rather than as I have seen in some situations where the top administration went away into seclusion to do strategic planning without input from those most involved either in executing the plan or being the persons most affected by the execution of the plan. Here the value of respect for the individual seemed to me to be clearly demonstrated.
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