Halcyon House

Annemarie Hoyt is a senior at the University of Iowa, studying health and human physiology, health promotion, and minoring in communication studies. Annemarie has started a part-time internship in the Wellness Department at Halcyon House and will be working Monday afternoons and Fridays until she graduates in May. She will be working on a variety of projects at Halcyon House that will give her the useful experience she will need once she graduates. These experiences include: conducting exercise classes, planning health events and/or programs, creating fliers and bulletin boards, and giving health presentations, etc.

?Share-A Little, Learn A Lot? took place on Monday, Feb. 8 to celebrate February Sweetheart month! Residents gathered to share a memory and/or photo of their favorite valentine with the group.

Loretta Gardner brought Valentine?s Day handkerchiefs decorated with red hearts and told stories about the homemade valentines her mother made her as a child.

Ruth Gardener shared a cute Valentine?s Day card she received from Lending Hands participants. Marcella Reed brought a beautiful embroidered valentine made by her daughter. It says, ?My mother always, now also my friend.?

Phyllis Lyle?s husband surprised her with Valentine?s Day flowers in 2003. Phyllis keeps these flowers in good condition as a happy memory of her husband. Mona Paul brought a piece of her beautiful plate set given to her by her daughter. Mona told memories about her love for cooking and dinner parties she used to host.

Sherry Sieren told the group about a Valentine?s Day when her brother got married, but she was stuck in the hospital. Thankfully her husband brought her a piece of cake from the wedding to cheer her up on Valentine?s Day.

Sybil Thornton shared her memories of the Valentine?s Day dances she went to in middle school. She still remembers the redheaded, freckled-face boy who asked her to be his date!

Halcyon House celebrated February Heart Health month and National Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 5, by completing the Nu-Step Challenge! Together, residents and staff were challenged to keep the exercises going for eight straight hours. Residents, team members and Lending Hands participants completed 1,725 minutes for the day. Those who participated received red dress pins and red dress pens as prizes. In addition to the challenge, individuals were encouraged to wear red, and a $2 donation was made to the American Heart Association for each individual heart-healthy lunch purchased.

Twenty-two health center residents celebrated Go Red Day by enjoying the healthy red sack lunch. They enjoyed conversation. Many shared how they met their spouse, and trivia about Heart Health was shared. Residents will continue to celebrate Heart Health Month and build their own heart healthy habits.

Pastor Jason Collier, Ainsworth Community Church, was with us on Sunday, Feb. 7. His sermon was titled ?Jesus.? The Scripture reading was Mark 8-1-30, Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand. Linda McNiel was the pianist for the service.

Monday Night at the Movies has had a good turnout in Avalon House. Everyone has been enjoying some of the older Disney classics like ?Pollyanna? starring Hayley Mills and Jane Wyman. Participants found out the mansion that appeared in the movie "Pollyanna" was actually known as the McDonald Mansion. The filmmakers decided the 14,000 square foot mansion could pass as Aunt Polly?s house and they painted the top two floors on. That?s right. They were simply a matte painting added in post-production to look like Aunt Polly?s mansion. This week?s movie was the ?Ugly Dachshund? starring Dean Jones, Suzanne Pleshette, and Brutus the great dane who thinks he is a dachshund. This movie earned $6 million, which was considered a hit in 1966.

A new activity has been added to the Halcyon House calendar in Avalon House. It is called ?Creative Coloring? for adults. This class gives everyone a chance to express their creative side. Coloring is relaxing and stress relieving. Best of all, everyone can do it!

Halcyon House welcomes new resident, Carla Lumberg, who recently joined residents from her home in Burlington. Halcyon extends sympathy to the families of Helen Baker and Duane Mottet.