UP Home residents enjoy Mother’s Day tea

Mother’s Day and the spring season has brought quite a few visitors to our UP Home Campus. It is great seeing families able to enjoy time together again.

Esther Bordwell enjoyed a luncheon with her two daughters and four nieces on the 2nd floor of Stewart Hall. They came from Cedar Rapids, Burlington and Washington. The Luncheon included a hot dish, salad and a dessert. A great afternoon of visiting was enjoyed.

After a few months off, Mr. Dick Colby will be starting back up with his Classics Et Cetera. A new sound system has been installed in the Campbell Room to enhance the experience. It is a memorial to Betty Colby and was designed by Doug Schook, an audio design engineer from Ottumwa. He and Rick Loula, an audio design engineer from Washington, installed the new system. Thank you all for the new sound system in the Campbell Room.

We enjoyed a presentation by our own Kara Williams and Paula Brinning on Advanced Directives. Information regarding DNR status, health care POA and vials of life were discussed.

Jean Frazer returned from her trip to Southern Ireland and will be giving a presentation sharing adventures that she enjoyed.

Last Wednesday Steve Loew, Speech language pathologist spoke to residents regarding the goals and benefits of speech therapy with voice and respiratory support at the UP Home. His number one take away was for residents to be mindful and diligent with their oral health. Steve graduated from the University of Iowa in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Japanese and Linguistics.

He went on to receive his Master's degree in 2011 at the University of Northern Iowa in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Upon completing his clinical fellowship, obtaining an Iowa license and earning his certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech and Hearing Association, he practiced at the Alverno Nursing Facility and Mercy Medical Center in Clinton, Iowa for four years. Steve has been at his current position with Aegis Therapies since October of 2015, serving in multiple inpatient and outpatient facilities in the Johnson, Muscatine and Washington county area. Steve has worked in geriatrics treating communication, swallowing and cognition for 11 years.

Steve has a passion for working with the Parkinson’s population to restore their voice and swallow deficits. In 2018, Steve was awarded a grant to complete his SPEAK OUT Loud Crowd certification to provide specific support to individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease. As a National Certified Dementia Practitioner, Steve has worked with both patients and their families on cognition, behavior management and swallowing/intake. In February, Steve will be participating in training to add biofeedback to his treatment for dysphagia. He enjoys working with the geriatric population in all settings and is passionate to enhance the quality of life for his patients.

We are looking forward to the Ridiculous Day Parade and will have a great group involved with participating this year. Can’t wait to be able to enjoy it.

In Brownlee and Garrett, a Mother’s Day Teas was enjoyed with cheese and crackers, homemade cookies and punch. Flowers were provided by Wolfe Floral. National Nursing Home week was celebrated. There was a scavenger hunt on Campus which was a good time for all. There was ice cream from the Korner Kremery. The Maintenance department grilled for resident’s and staff and they did a great job! Golf Cart rides were enjoyed around Campus. And the Sunrise Singers came and performed for us much to the delight of the residents.

We would like to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Reid Orris.

Enjoy your week everyone!