Strum Area Health and Rehabilitation
News
October 2014
Greetings,
As we roll into October, there are many things to celebrate for us. We had an outstanding turnout for our
Annual Community Picnic we had in order to raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Last year
we raised $800, this year we raised $1200!!!! It is amazing to see the support that the community has for
efforts towards ending Alzheimer’s. We can only hope that one day they will have a cure. We want you
to continue to stay involved and attend our events and activities we have monthly. The residents
thoroughly enjoy getting visitors and having “new” faces to see when we do have a big event as
indicated on the calendar. If you do not currently receive the newsletter & would like to, please see Jean
to add yourself to the list by providing an address or email address.
In October, we will also be implementing our Fall Prevention Program to decrease the number of falls
our residents are currently having. There was a 5 year study that showed that alarms are not effective
when it comes to preventing falls. Many residents are bothered by them and become agitated because of
them along with the noise it brings to our home-like environment we are trying to make for the
residents. With that said, we will slowly be moving towards an alarm free environment and have
provided training to the staff to ensure they are still preventing falls.
The philosophy of the program is that we “Anticipate the residents needs” before they attempt to do it
themselves thus resulting in a fall. We also will have a HIGH focus on the root cause (reason why they
are falling) and applying more appropriate interventions with follow up on how that intervention is
working on a weekly basis. The staff will have a “Falls Prevention Program Scoreboard” in their
employee break area that will show our current number of falls per shift along with our goal. This will
give them awareness of falls and also be that reminder to shift from an “alarm culture” to an “anticipate
the residents needs” culture. This program has been successful among many long-term care facilities and
we are excited to apply the research that has been done to better the care for our residents.
Like all new things, it may be rocky at first but we know that our staff can do it with a positive attitude
and following our protocols will help them to be successful. If any families have any questions or
concerns about this please see myself or Michelle, Director of Nursing. We also have brochures that will
be at the front desk that talk about the program and why alarms do not work for re-assurance.
Lastly, we will be having our Halloween party for residents, families, community members, and staff on
Halloween at 1:45 p.m., please feel free to dress up and join us for treats, coffee, & spooky costumes!
Trick or treaters are also welcome to come by to visit the residents during normal trick or treating hours
in Strum. We will be sure to have residents with candy awaiting them!! 
Best Regards,
Jamie Lis, NHA
October Birthdays
2nd Vivian Anderson
8th Vivian Pederson
Please Welcome
our new staff
Sheri Zilla – Activities
Bobbi Stanton-RN
Gwen Bischoff-RN
October Shining Stars
Our shining star boards are located in the
main dining room. Please stop in and check
the board each month!
Dawn Pfaff-CNA
Christine Von Haden-CNA
Stacy Olson-Dietary
Resident: Richard Christenson
Staff: Lanita Whitwam
We’d like to take a moment
to welcome & recognize the
new staff that has joined
our team in September!
Please help us make them
feel at “home”.
Halloween Trivia
 Orange and black are Halloween colors
because orange is associated with the fall
harvest and black is associated with darkness
and death.
 Pumpkins also come in white, blue and
green.
 Tootsie rolls were the first wrapped penny
candy in America.
 Halloween candy sales average about 2
billion dollars annually in the United States.
 Snickers candy bars are the most popular
candy for trick or treaters.
 Halloween is the second most commercially
successful holiday, with Christmas being the
first.
 Vampire bats are real however they are not
from Transylvania. They live in Central and
South America and feed on the blood of
cattle, horses and birds.
 The movie “Halloween” was made in only
21 days on a very limited budget.
 Halloween was brought to North America by
immigrants from Europe, who would
celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share
ghost stories, sing, dance, and tell fortunes.
October Happenings
Wednesday Oct. 1st @ 10:30 AM: Food
Council Meeting
Wednesday Oct. 1st @ 1:45 PM: Church
w/ Pastor Taylor
Thursday Oct. 2nd @ 10:30 AM: Resident
Council Meeting
Tuesday Oct. 7th @ 1:30 Leave for
Fergusen’s Apple Orchard
Wednesday Oct. 8th@ 1:45 Church with
Lay Minister Schaefer
Wednesday Oct. 8th@ 6:30 Confirmation
students coming to worship and spend time
with Residents
Friday Oct. 10th @10:30 Music with Nancy
Monday Oct. 13th@ 1:45 Music with Char
and Ann
Wednesday Oct. 15th and 22nd @ 1:45
Church with Chaplain Vonnie Olson
Friday Oct. 17th @ 1:45 Monthly Birthday
Party with Music Mary
Monday Oct. 27th @ 1:45 Ladies Tea
Saturday Oct. 4th and 18th @ 3:15 PM:
Pastor Nimeskern Bible Study
Wednesday Oct. 29th @ 1:45 Church with
Pastor Tobiason
Thursday Oct. 30th @ 10:30 Pre School
kids Costume Parade
Friday Oct. 31st @1:45 Halloween Party
and Costume Judging