Community Connection Newsletter | March 2021 | News & Announcements
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Five Reasons Why You’ll Love Theoria Medical
A new Samaritas Partner for Medical Care
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A new partnership with Theoria Medical now means that Samaritas Senior Living residents in Grand Rapids and Saginaw have free 24/7 access to physicians and nurse practitioners.
Plus, Samaritas residents can meet in-person with medical experts, six days a week, within the community they reside. That means greater convenience and fewer hassles for those who need frequent medical support.
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Check out the other reasons why we’ve partnered with Theoria:
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- Their state-of-the-art telemedicine technology gives residents easy - access to top-notch –medical staff whenever they’d like.
- Theoria physicians work with the resident’s primary care physician to ensure that individual treatment plans are coordinated.
- Caregivers can count on Theoria to keep them in the loop and answer any questions or address any medical concerns.
- New residents will receive a comprehensive medical evaluation within 24 hours of being admitted to a Samaritas Senior Living community.
- Theoria Medical’s specialized training enhances Samaritas’ post-acute care services. Plus, residents will have onsite access to medical experts who can help with wound care, pulmonary, and psychiatry needs
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Theoria services are currently available at the Grand Rapids and Saginaw campuses. Contact a sales representative at (833) 505-CARE to learn more about them and how their services can help your loved one. |
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Meet the new Theoria experts who’ll be making the rounds at Samaritas. |
Aparna Gadekar, MD, CHCQM
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Samaritas Now Hiring Nurses and CNAs for Saginaw, Cadillac and Grand Rapids
Samaritas Senior Living is hiring registered nurses to join our Skilled Nursing Care teams. If you or a person you know are interested in making a difference in the lives of a senior, then reach out to us to learn more about this opportunity.
Contact Melissa at (616) 250-1534 or by email at mdons@samaritas.org to learn more. Visit this web page to learn more about the requirements.
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Come Visit Us!
With much anticipation, Michigan has lifted visitation restrictions for nursing homes. Which means that many of our Samaritas Senior Living communities have new hours and protocols for visitors.
Be sure to reach out to a Bloomfield Hills, Saginaw, Cadillac, Traverse City or Grand Rapids representatives to plan a visit with your loved one.
Read this Bridge Michigan article to learn more about the statewide rules. Read more.
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We asked a few of our seniors their thoughts about "Luck" as part of our "Senior 8" monthly survey. Take a look at the what they had to say. |
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Interviews by:
Jacqueline Dillinger & Tricia Carr of Samaritas Senior Living Traverse City
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Dee Olsen's
I talked to Dee Olsen about Luck and what it means to her. First, I asked her if she believes in luck and she stated that she doesn’t know it that is something she believes in.
With that being said, she did say that the luckiest thing she feels has ever happened to her is that she found this place here, Samaritas and the people in it. “The people here are so kind.” She said, the employees here all treat her well.
We talked about the personal good luck charms and if she has any. For example, a rabbits foot, a special piece of jewelry, etc. and as far as good luck charms, she doesn’t feel like she has any, stating that, “she is a boring person.” As we are speaking however, one of the RA’s, Barb came in to take Dee’s temperature and Dee excitedly said, “Barb! Barb is my good luck charm.” Dee believes Barb is one of the kindest people she knows. I agree with her! :D
We spoke about superstitions and what kind may be common to her family, country or culture. Dee’s mother and her have Indian in them and she grew up on a reservation. Her mother is a half blood Indian. Dee is a quarter blood Indian. She loves that she has original Indian blood in her. One type of a superstition that she remembered is from her mom. When they lived on the reservation and when things were not going right on the reservation her mother would have a saying (that she can’t remember word to word) that was a way of telling the bad things to stop already and things changed for the better and settled down on the reservation.
Her main thought on Luck is, “that if were not for bad luck, there wouldn’t be any luck at all.” Something
to ponder!
The craziest thing that is related to luck for Dee is that she has heard people relying on luck while playing poker.
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Bill Johnson
When asked if he believed in luck, Bill said that practically his whole life has been lucky. In college he took accounting. When he graduated he got a job as an accountant but it lasted only nine months. He had worked his way through college painting houses. When he quit the accounting job he went back to painting. One job led to another, soon he had painters working for him and he created his own painting business. For 60 years he painted houses and became a successful businessman.
Also, he was a part of the Painting and Decorating Association of America where he eventually worked his way up to becoming the president. He considers himself lucky that he fell into a job that he loved almost by accident. There was work to be had and he did it. His boys ended up working for him too; one of his sons took over the business when he retired. However, Bill also believes in God, and he knows God was behind it all.
The luckiest thing that ever happened to Bill was marrying his wife. He had been an only child and wanted a big family. His wife wanted many kids so she just kept having them. They had six sons and three daughters in 18 years.
Bill and his wife were married for 51 years; Bill was 72 when he lost her.
Bill considers him and his wife being lucky one time when they were on the way to the hospital to have their second son. Minutes down the road, his wife told him to pull over because she was having the baby. He delivered his son in the car. It was summer so he took off his shirt, wrapped the baby in it and continued on to the hospital. When they arrived, a woman took the baby from this bare chested man. Later in life they discovered that this same woman who took the baby from him turned out to be the grandmother of the girl that their son would later marry.
When asked about superstitions, Bill stated his mom believed that if you drink a certain type of beer someone would die. When asked about bad luck, Bill feels it is more about poor choices people make in life. For example, picking the wrong job or person or staring off on the wrong path.
The craziest story he could come up with when it comes to luck was about his son and a certain neighborhood cottage. At that time his son was a paperboy. He delivered the paper to a gentleman who lived down the road. One day, the man called Bill and told him that he would like to sell him his cottage. It was something he wanted to do for Bill and his family. The gentleman would charge him only $90 a year to help support his wife. Bill could not believe how fortunate he was. Eventually, one of Bill’s sons moved into the cottage. Later when he sold the cottage for a great deal of money, he realized it was one of the luckiest things that ever happened to him.
Bill feels like he has always been in the right place at the right time and he has been blessed. I told him that he has made good choices in his life and he must have lived right for all this good to happen to him.
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Joyce Simmons
When asked if she believed in luck, Joyce said, “I don’t necessarily believe in luck, but I do believe in blessings that happen to us. They are one of God’s ways of talking and leading us.”
One of the luckiest things that ever happened to Joyce and her husband was concerning their niece who went away to England for her senior year of college. Travelling alone by train she arrived in the little village she would be living.
There was a gentleman standing on the platform who offered to help her with her luggage. Turns out that she ended up marrying that man and staying in England. Joyce and her husband got to go to England to visit her for two weeks to North Yorkshire. She says, “It was the highlight of my life.” She never dreamed that she would be able to leave the country and feels very fortunate (lucky) that she did.
When asked about a good luck charm, Joyce pulled out of her pocket a silver medallion with an angel on it all wrapped in plastic. She has carried this coin in her pocket for over 20 years. A friend gave it to her when she lost someone dear to her. It is not for good luck, but a reminder that she has a guardian angel. I asked her how she remembers to put it in her pocket when she gets up in the morning. She said, it’s just routine, she takes it out and puts it in a safe place when she goes to bed, then puts it back in her pocket in the morning. She never buys pants without pockets!
As far as superstitions, Joyce does not have any. She may fool around with people about it. For example, do not walk under that ladder but she does not believe it.
Some people think suddenly losing a loved one is a sign of bad luck. Joyce does not believe that. She wonders often if the person was in the wrong place at the wrong time or is it as simple as it was their time to go? She does not believe that God wants people to die but the plan for their life and circumstances around their life are a bigger picture that only "He" can see.
The craziest thing she has seen people do in the name of luck, is carry a good luck charm into a Casino in the hopes of winning big!
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Shirley Barker
I sat down and spoke with Shirley Barker about the word Luck. I asked her if luck was something that she believes in and she stated that it is not something that she believes in. I followed that with asking her what is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to her and if she could tell me about it. Meeting her second husband, Scott is the luckiest thing that has ever happened to her. Line dancing and coffee brought them together.
One day, her friend asked Shirley to go to a bar with her so they could both do some country line dancing. While they were there, Scott was at the bar as well. He asked Shirley if she would like to dance with him, she said yes and they danced and danced. After the line dancing her and Scott went to get coffee and they talked and talked. They had then kept in touch and after some time they both started dating and after about two years they were married. Besides her husband being her lucky charm I asked her if she had any type of good luck charm like a rabbits foot, etc. and she said no.
I wondered if there were any superstitions that are common to her family, country or culture. She says there is not really a one specific thing. However, her and her family do not like the month February. There seems to be not good things that happen to them in February. Two things that have happened in February is her father and brother died in that month.
I asked her if she/or what she thought other people thought of bad luck. She said that right now a sign of bad luck is people who are on their cell phones all the time gambling. There are far too many ads on the television that are sponsoring and enticing people, especially teens, towards gambling games on the phone and tell people they can be on the phone all day doing it with a startup pay of only $10. It is very scary.
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More Thoughts About Luck from Our Seniors |
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This savory and sweet Waldorf Salad is made with chicken, grapes and walnuts for an extra crunch. Click here to download the recipe.
Check out morrisonliving.com to learn about how they create healthy and mouthwatering meals for Samaritas residents.
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Get Ready for These Fun Activities
Join virtual educational classes from the comfort of your own home.
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St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Wed., March 17 at 1 p.m.
There will be a socially-distanced St. Patty’s Day party featuring a concert by Steve Kovich. Residents will also enjoy a sip of lucky punch and a grab an go lunch. Visit the Samaritas Senior Living - Bloomfield Hills Facebook page to see images of the event.
Steve Kovich is a singer/songwriter frequently seen performing in local coffeehouses and at various farmer/artisan markets in the area.
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His guitar style has been highly influenced by the likes of James Taylor and Paul Simon and his song selection is an eclectic mix of originals and cover songs that are sure to please listeners of all ages. Contact Activities Director Destiny Jackson with questions at Djack@samaritas.org. |
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In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away – Astronomy 101
Tues., March 23 at 1 p.m.
Learn about the Sun and the Universe from wonderful amateur astronomers. Our teachers for this session are Jim Foerch has been a member of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA )since 1989 observing and giving group tours at the James C. Veen Observatory.
He also teaches astronomy and presents shows at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium of the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
The other expert is Tom Good. He's been interested in astronomy since one dark, summer night in 1966 at a Boy Scout camp in Pennsylvania and a member of GRAAA
since 2009.
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Be sure to click on the registration buttons to RSVP and view additional details for each event and RSVP. A confirmation link will be emailed to you after you register.
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Samaritas offers retirement living for seniors with five communities throughout Michigan. Whether you want independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, memory support or rehabilitation therapy, you’ll find a home that feels right. Check out the options at samaritas.org/Senior-Living with your loved one. Contact us by phone at (833) 505-CARE (2273) or by email at seniors@samaritas.org to schedule a tour, learn about events or move-in promotions.
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Julie Hutton Gets a Nod from the
State of Michigan
We want to give Julie Hutton, recreational therapist and activities director at the Grand Rapids campus, a big congratulations for being recognized by State Representative Rachel Wood for her dedication to our amazing Lodge residents.
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Saginaw is Now Open for Visitation
On Feb. 25 our residents and their loved ones are able to reconnect and visit with one another in person. Seeing the joy in their eyes as they as they reunite with one another was such a heartwarming experience
We're proud to offer visitation for families on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We're looking forward to reconnecting with even more family members soon. When leading with a servant's heart anything is possible. Visit our Facebook page for more details.
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Traverse City Dining Rooms Open for Business
The Traverse City Campus' dining rooms reopened on February 3 to the delight of residents. New mandatory protocols including limited seating with a six-feet distance between tables and have been put in place. Residents will also have to wear masks and their temperature checked and documented to safely enter the dining spaces. The residents were thrilled to catch up with friends in-person.
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Other Samaritas locations: |
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