UP Home residents honor Veterans Day

Tricia Kroll is a licensed master of social worker (MSW) at the University of Iowa Health Care. This coming January, she will celebrate 23 years of social work.

She is trauma-informed and has advocated for adults struggling with poverty, stigma, mental health issues and substance use. Tricia assists in writing grants, provides medical case management to approximately 30 patients and serves as a functional supervisor to a comprehensive care team that includes social workers, a behavioral health consultant, a benefits specialist, a nurse, medical assistant and data/budget support.

She and her husband, Brad, have lived in Washington for 20 years. They have three children in Washington Community Schools, and for the first time, she's the mother of a senior. They like to stay active with their church and community and Tricia is committed to yoga at least three times per week for her own mental wellness.

Tricia led a gratitude workshop in the Moore Dining Room at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington on Monday, Nov. 15 where she had the residents share how they currently practiced gratitude in their life or why they felt it was important. She also shared some facts on the importance of gratitude on the mental and physical quality of one’s life.

Some of the benefits include increased sleep quality, regulation of emotions, increased happiness and mood as well as reduce stress levels which in turn can reduce blood pressure. Tricia encouraged the group to try starting or ending the day with gratitude practices such as 3 Good Things, a joy box, writing letters and sending them, or a gratitude jar. She then helped the residents create a special gift to the employees of the UP Home.

A Veterans Day service was held in both the Health Center and the Moore Dining Room on Thursday, Nov. 11. Mike York and fellow veterans led a prayer, and honored UP Home veterans by reading the names of all who served and the branch/branches they served in. Andrew Zuehlke provided music.

Marion Turnipseed gave a small program on his service. Dale Torpey also provided a program on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the expectations of the guards that keep the tomb and some of the traditions of the tomb.

In Brownlee and Garrett Hall, residents continued to enjoy some of the last of the fall good weather by being outside. Residents also took pleasure from observing Veterans Day with the program held on Campus and a Veterans Day trivia with drinking of hot chocolate. Hymn Sing and Bible Study continue to be enjoyed along with Friday Bingo.

We would like to extend our sympathies to the families of George Fulton and Ervin Stauffer.