Halcyon House News

Fritz Conrad was so pleased to have his daughter, Carolyn and Dick Jacobs from Pace, Fla., in Washington for a visit. This special occasion was to help ?dad? celebrate his 95th birthday on March 24. The family enjoyed an outing to the Amanas and back for cake and ice cream.

Larry Hysell traveled from Melbourne Beach, Fla., to visit area friends and relatives and especially to spend time with his mother, Anna Hysell.

Cindy Coale stayed a few days to spend some time with her mother, Joan Kerr. Joan always enjoys her visits from her special daughter who burns the highway up between Washington, Iowa, and Oklahoma on a regular basis.

Halcyon House residents and guests attended a private screening of "I'll Be Me," which was about Glen Campbell on Saturday at the Fleur Cinema in Des Moines. This is a tremendous story about Glen?s life and his journey with Alzheimer's disease. Those attending were so appreciative to have been invited to view this heartwarming story.

Residents and guests were treated to a documentary film and presentation by Jon Jordon, Wellness and Lifestyle director from Heritage House located in Atlantic. Jon and his son, Elliott have traveled to Peru and they shared ?The Inca Trail to Machu Peru.? What a fantastic story and great footage was captured!

The Washington Concert Association recently presented the ?Boas and Bones? concert at the Washington United Methodist Church. Volunteer Glenys Elwood provided transportation to the event for Marcella Reed, Audrey Stark, Virginia Tschantz, Betty Osincup and Rose Ellen Stelton.

The Sitler Social is back and more fun than ever! Hosts are Wellness coordinator Mercy Brinning and volunteer Marjory Martin. They have designed and made the Friday afternoon a special event for the Sitler Assisted Living residents. The brain health games always spark conversation and the refreshments put a kick in their step, too.

The Halcyon Wellness Department just completed a two-week Move Naturally Bingo where team members and residents were encouraged to add movement to their day. Each square was titled by a form of movement, such as stairs, join an exercise class, etc. There is also a 21-day NO junk food Challenge to live a healthier lifestyle by giving up sugar, fast food, candy, chips, soda and more. It seems that the winter-hibernation weight goes on faster than it comes off. Yeah Spring!

Lending Hands and the Halcyon Wellness Department hosted a Time Slips program for Lending Hands. Time Slips is a nationally recognized storytelling program for people with memory loss that encourage participants to use their imagination to create short stories as a group by responding verbally to humorous images presented by facilitators.

Melissa Turner presented a workshop on how easy and fun it is to make your own "Laundry Soap and Fabric Softener Crystals." All who attended were given hands-on instruction and supplies, and were rewarded with a take-home starter batch.

The program ?Share a Little Learn a Lot? certainly lived up to its title. Resident Mona Paul shared that she was a development director for the Hitchcock House, a National Historic Landmark in Lewis, Iowa. This became a link in the network that came to be known as the Underground Railroad to assist in the safe passage of fugitive slaves through southeast Iowa on their way east and north to freedom. Carolyn Kaufman along with her late husband, Leroy farmed a Century Farm known as Rolling Acres Animal Farm in Wayland. The exotic animals consisted of yaks, buffalo, elk, camels, zebra, ostrich, reindeer, and varieties of chicken and birds and other animals. They hosted many busloads of visitors and put all six of their children to work tending the animals. Anna Hysell reported that she was born in Chicago and was one of the ?Fresh Air Kids from Chicago.? Anna was in day care until she was sent to Iowa at the age of 3 where she was adopted by Harvey and Ruth Waggoner from Washington, Iowa. Anna stated that ?I?m just a gal who loved to bake, cook and garden.?