Bethany Lutheran Village

Selecting a retirement community is one of life’s most important decisions. There are many variables to consider – from location and facilities to quality of care and amenities. CARF-CCAC accreditation is one way to be sure that the community you are considering is committed to and delivers the highest quality in all dimensions of service.

CARF-CCAC stands for the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) – Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC). Bethany Village is among the 16 percent of nearly 1,900 retirement communities in this country accredited by CARF-CCAC. This means that Bethany has voluntarily selected to abide by stringent national quality standards in resident quality of life, financial operations and strategic planning. These standards have been developed over more than 40 years by international teams of service providers, policy makers, payers, family members, and consumers.

Bethany’s first accreditation survey was in 1994, with subsequent surveys every five years. Our next survey will be in 2014. It’s no surprise that Bethany’s mission and our person-centered focus on wholeness, integrity and equality closely mirror CARF-CCAC’s core values – the basic right to dignity and respect, access to services to achieve optimum outcomes, and empowerment to make informed choices.

The value of CARF-CCAC accreditation goes far beyond the ability to hang a certificate on the wall. CARF-CCAC standards are considered a roadmap to quality practices. Participation in the accrediting process means an organization has a genuine commitment to continuous self-evaluation and performance improvement. Third-party payers, government agencies and the public at-large recognize this accreditation as a commitment to excellence and accountability.

So whether you are an older adult evaluating your retirement living options or a family member doing the same for a loved one, looking for the CARF-CCAC accreditation symbol (shown above) is a great first step.

This status signifies that Bethany meets the most stringent standards in the areas of facilities, finance and resident quality of life. If you have any questions, please write your comment below.

"Home care" is an umbrella term that covers different types and levels of care delivered in the home. In the United States, home care is a dynamic service industry that has been in place for well over a century. When Medicare was enacted in the mid 1960s, home care started to grow dramatically because it covered home care for the elderly. Today, home care is a multi-billion dollar business serving about 12 million people who receive care at home for acute or chronic illness, permanent disability or terminal illness.

Home care organizations include home health care agencies, home care aide organizations, hospices, and companies specializing in medical equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and drug infusion therapy. Some of these enterprises are Medicare certified, which means they can bill Medicare for reimbursement. Some home health care agencies are also accredited by the Joint Commission, the same body that accredits hospitals nationwide.

In most situations, home health care is prescribed by a physician. Medical care is provided by registered Nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). In some cases, a home health aide may provide personal care such as personal hygiene and meal preparation. Home health aides may also administer medication, but only under a nurse’s supervision. Other individuals providing care at home include social workers, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dietitians, homemakers and companions and drivers (who are often volunteers).

Sometimes home care organizations merge or collaborate to provide a variety of services through an integrated system. For example, Graceworks at Home comprises two separate agencies – Health at Home and Hands at Home – that provide services independently and in partnership as needed. Home care services usually are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Depending on the patient's needs, services may be provided by an individual or a team working on a part-time, hourly or shift basis. Care is available to residents of Bethany Village.

Here is a description of different types of home care. For more information visit the National Association for Home Care & Hospice  and My Senior Care .

The term home health agency often indicates that a home care provider is Medicare certified and thus can provide Medicare- and Medicaid-reimbursed home health services. Individuals requiring skilled home care services usually receive their care from a home health agency. Due to regulatory requirements, services provided by these agencies are highly supervised and controlled. Home health agencies can coordinate a care giving team to administer comprehensive and efficient service.

Hospice care involves a interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals and volunteers who provide comprehensive medical, psychological and spiritual care for the terminally ill and support for patients' families. Hospice care is based primarily in the home. Trained hospice professionals are available 24 hours a day. Most hospices are Medicare certified and licensed according to state requirements.

Homemaker and home care aide (HCA) agencies employ homemakers or chore workers, HCAs and companions who support individuals through meal preparation, bathing, dressing and housekeeping. Some states require these agencies to be licensed and meet established minimum standards.

Pharmaceutical and infusion therapy companies specialize in the delivery of drugs, equipment and professional services for individuals receiving intravenous or nutritional therapies through specially placed tubes. These companies employ pharmacists, who prepare solutions, and nurses, who teach self-administration in patients' homes.

Durable medical equipment and supply dealers provide home care patients with products ranging from respirators, wheelchairs and walkers to catheters and wound care supplies. These dealers employ staff who deliver and, when necessary, install these products as well as instruct patients on their proper in-home use. Durable medical equipment and supply dealers that bill Medicare must meet federal minimum standards.

 We will be posting more information on home care here. Check back to learn how to find and choose a home care provider. If you have a question, please write in the comment section below.
 

Following a hospital or rehabilitation center stay, some patients may need additional skilled medical care at home as well as assistance with activities like bathing, dressing and cooking. That’s where home care comes in. When Bethany Village resident Bill needed help to get back on his feet after three heart attacks and triple bypass surgery, he accessed the rehabilitation services at Bethany Village and the services of Graceworks at Home nurses and therapists.

If you are having elective surgery or if you have decided you or a family member needs some help with everyday activities, spend some time thinking about what’s required and search for agencies that meet your profile.

For a list of licensed agencies, contact your state departments of health, aging and social services. In addition, most state home care and hospice associations have home care directories and can help you identify an appropriate provider. Home care organizations also are listed online. You can also check with your local Area Agency on Aging or a local chapter of the United Way. Your faith community may have information as well.

Family members, friends and co-workers are likely to have been in the same situation or may know of someone who has searched for home care. Try to find out as much as you can about how they found their provider and what their experience was like. Finally, don’t overlook Internet resources such as www.MySeniorCare.com, which maintains a comprehensive directory of prescreened senior care providers.

The cost of home care varies depending on the type of provider and the services required. The patient can pay directly from his/her private funds or may use insurance.

• Medicare pays for home care and durable medical equipment when certain conditions are met.
• Medigap (private) insurance coverage is designed to handle fees Medicare does not cover and varies according to type of policy.
• Based on financial need, Medicaid will cover most skilled nursing care at home, as long as the total cost is less than living in a skilled nursing facility.
• The Veterans’ Administration provides home health care to eligible veterans with chronic health conditions.

For more information visit Graceworks at Home and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice.　

"But what am I going to do there?" If you are thinking about moving to a retirement community, this question is always on your mind. And if you are a family member or friend helping an older adult transition to retirement-community living, it’s a question you will hear time and time again. And it’s an important concern!

A varied, accessible, relevant and interesting "life-enrichment" program is not only a good indicator of quality of care, it is a key indicator of quality of life in any continuing care retirement community, just like Bethany Village. Activities, entertainment, social clubs and speakers give residents the opportunity to continue lifelong interests and explore new pursuits.

Something as simple as a sing-along, bingo or a trivia game can enhance memory, encourage socialization, help relieve depression, encourage creativity and expression and stimulate ears, vocals chords and facial muscles. Art and crafts activities provide opportunities for self-expression and creativity, improve coordination and flexibility, build confidence, provide a sense of accomplishment, relieve tensions, and improve fine motor skills.

Bethany’s 15-member Life Enrichment Team, which has more than 150 years of combined experience, provides our residents with hundreds of activities, events and educational opportunities each month. In addition, almost 300 volunteers provide more than 34,000 hours of service annually. Residents make new friends, grow physically and mentally, and preserve or improve independence. And with an array of activity calendars, several newsletters, a website and an in-house TV channel, our residents always know "what’s up."

The need to reach out and help others doesn’t disappear with retirement-community living, which is why Bethany makes a concerted effort to get residents personally involved in the community. Residents themselves initiate and lead some of our most popular activities, including a book club, veterans group, golf group, and Bible study. And members of Bethany’s championship Wii bowling team are always eager to teach others how to play.

Meeting residents’ physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual and social needs as well as their need to engage with and serve others is what life enrichment is all about. So when the question "But what I am going to do there?" comes up, be sure you can answer it with an abundance of activities that contribute to personal wholeness, a sense of purpose and the quality of retirement life.

An employee walks into a room of Bethany Village residents who have memory impairments. He raises his trumpet to his lips and plays a familiar tune. He stops and listens for response: "Don't get around much anymore" everyone sings in perfect time. The trumpeter knows he has touched a place in their memories.

“I have the privilege of witnessing this response to music every day!” says Larisa McHugh, Bethany Village Music Therapist. Bethany Village has had a full-time music therapist on staff for more than 20 years and works extensively with residents who have Alzheimer’s Disease in our senior living community in the Dayton, Ohio area.

A video excerpt from the Alive Inside documentary film, has gone viral on the Internet and shows a previously unresponsive elderly man reacting when a nursing home caregiver plays his favorite music through his earphones. "I feel a band of love, dreams," said the man, who has dementia. "It gives me the feeling of love, romance!"

The film premiered in New York April 18 and will soon be in theaters.

McHugh, music therapy student interns and music-minded Bethany Village caregivers see how music stirs the emotions and intellects of local residents with memory-related conditions in daily music groups.

"A new resident came to live in the Memory Support Center. She was angry with her family for bringing her here, and she was angry that she could not remember how to get home. She declined every invitation to join music therapy groups. Eventually she came whenever the music therapy group was gathering. She sat in a corner with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. As I was leaving the group one day, she stopped me and said, 'Thank you.' I was surprised. She told me, 'When you are here, I remember.'"

Bethany staff members help residents recall and recreate music that connects with experiences and meaning in their lives, through playing and singing favorite songs and cherished hymns or through participatory instrumental sessions, individually and in groups.

Larisa asks families to name their parents' favorite radio stations and performers, instruments they played and participation in musical groups. "Familiar music can provide a sense of security and it may be the key to opening a new door."

When one man moved from his home to the Memory Support Center, he needed assistance with most activities of daily living and he rarely spoke.

"His wife had tears in her eyes as they unpacked his belongings," a staff member recalls. "I invited them both to attend a music group. He willingly followed me. He shuffled his steps the entire way. I asked his wife to identify any favorite tunes. 'I don’t know,' she said, 'anything from the 1930s or so.' I started singing 'I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do).' Mr. M stood up, walked over to his wife, took her by the hand and danced in the middle of the group. His steps were so smooth and he held her so gently in his arms. It looked like they were floating on a dance floor. Mrs. M told us they went out dancing every Saturday night years ago. She said, 'He hasn’t held me like that in ages!'"

As dementia progresses and diminishes people's ability to communicate, it is important to have as much background information as possible and learn residents' histories so we can remind them of their stories. “In doing so, we are able to connect with them personally,” says McHugh.

One day, a woman sat down on the piano bench next to Larisa and opened a hymnal.

"I wondered what she was thinking and what she might be looking for. She held the book up a little closer, analyzing the page in front of her. Then she placed the book on the piano and said, 'Let’s try this one.' I played as requested, then she selected another piece. This routine continued for some time. She closed her eyes and swayed to the music as I played, then she gave me a little pat on the leg before selecting the next hymn. It seemed like she was finding the music she needed, and I was committed to providing it. She was a former piano teacher and church organist. Her husband was a pastor and was seated nearby. 

"During the last hymn she closed her eyes and bowed her head as if she was deep in thought or in prayer. As I played the last chord she patted me on the leg once again and said 'Very nice, my dear. You can pay me next week.' It dawned on me that she was reliving her piano teaching days, so I thanked her for the lesson. She winked at her husband and said, 'She’s learning.'"

"What wonderful teachers we have around us, if we are fully present and patient as moments unfold, if we ask them to tell us more and respond genuinely," Larisa adds.

For information about our support group for families and caregivers of individuals with memory impairments, read about the Bethany Village Alzheimer’s support group or contact Meg Wulfeck or Artie Taylor for more information.

Each March, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) urges Americans to recognize the importance of making informed food and nutrition choices. National Nutrition Month reminds us about the basics of healthy eating.

From my perspective as a dietitian at Bethany Village, I encourage you to add color to your meals. Colorful fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, fiber and phytochemicals not found in other foods.  Eating a rainbow of foods will help maximize the nutritional value of a meal.

Here are some tips and a chart to help you make healthy choices – during National Nutrition Month and in the months to come.

• Fresh produce is always a good choice. To save money, look for what’s in season.
• When buying canned vegetables, choose "reduced sodium" or "no salt added" whenever possible.
• Rinse canned beans, corn and peas to reduce sodium levels.
• Dried and frozen fruits and those canned in water or their own juice are good options when fresh varieties are not available.

Fill Half Your Plate with Fruits and Vegetables

Make sure every meal and snack has at least one fruit or vegetable or both.

For more information about nutrition, visit:  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website www.eatright.org and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website www.choosemyplate.gov provide guidelines,  tools and activities to help you “Get your Plate in Shape.”

By focusing on MyPlate, you can make simple changes that have lifetime benefits. Launched in June 2011, MyPlate replaced MyPyramid as the government's primary food-group symbol. It is an easy-to-understand visual featuring a plate divided into four sections: fruits, vegetables, grains and proteins as well as a glass representing low-fat dairy products. MyPlate is a great tool for helping people remember what foods they should be eating and how much should be on their plate.

Come right over! I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight! Juliette Gordon Low via telephone to her cousin Nina Anderson Pape in 1912

Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for the first Girl Scout meeting. Daisy believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally and spiritually, and that nurturing girls’ leadership skills was critical to ensuring that young women would be the change-makers of the future. Within a few years, Daisy's dream for a girl-centered organization was realized, and in 1950, the U.S. Congress chartered the organization.

Today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of more than 2.3 million, making it the largest organization for girls in the world. In the 100 years since Daisy’s historic phone call and that first meeting, Girl Scouts have provided a total of more than 70 million hours of direct service to communities each year. The Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

If you weren’t a Girl Scout yourself, you undoubtedly have known one - or more - in your lifetime. To honor those memories, on March 21, Bethany Village residents and staff celebrated the Girls Scouts 100th anniversary with a party and, of course, lots of cookies! We sang songs from old Girl Scout song books, reminisced about our time as Girl Scouts and/or Girl Scout leaders, and visited with local Scouts. The celebration reminded us that Girl Scout ideals (below) are very much like Bethany's core values. Brava to Girl Scouts of the USA for 100 years of service!

The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout
 

Are you thinking about making a move to a senior living community like Bethany Village but don’t know where to begin? If so, you may want to join us on April 25 for a special presentation by senior living expert Randalynn Kaye. Ms. Kaye is director of sales and marketing at Sawgrass Partners, LLC and also a noted author. She’s coming to Bethany to deliver a talk called "Planning for Your Longevity… A Formula for Success."

After the presentation, you’ll know how to navigate the process of moving into a senior living community by asking the right questions, getting your financial affairs in order and ultimately determine the safest and best choice for your future.

If you would like to attend the April 25 session, please call 937-436-6850 to make a reservation. Please indicate session preference of 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. when making your reservation. Light refreshments will be served and senior living counselors from Bethany Village will be on hand to answer questions about life on campus.

Bethany Village is located at 6451 Far Hills Avenue (State Route 48) in Centerville. Simply turn onto Bethany Village Drive and follow the event parking signs to the Village Center. Ample, close parking is available for those who wish to attend the Randalynn Kaye event.

There is positive news to report on the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The Obama administration will boost Alzheimer's research funding which could one day pave the way to finding a cure.

President Obama will ask for an additional $156 million increase in funding over the next two years.

The National Institutes of Health will commit another $50 million in funding this year. This is in addition to the 80 million dollars the president included in his 2013 proposed budget. 
 
Another $26 million would be allocated starting next year for caregiver support, education, and public awareness.

Alzheimer's is "a disease that takes a devastating toll on millions of Americans," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said when the funding plan was announced. "Reducing the burden of Alzheimer's disease on patients and their families is an urgent national priority."
 
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in America. More than five million people suffer from the disease in the U.S. alone. That number is predicted to balloon to 16 million by 2050.  

Bethany Village offers a caring environment for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The area, known as Courtyard Park, opened in 2009. Residents live in households, each with a private bedroom and bathroom.  Contact Dana Lynch at 937-436-7557 to learn more. For more information on Alzheimer's disease and care giving support, please visit the Miami Valley chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.


 

Bethany Village Pastor Bob Ashburn reflects on the month of February.

February is longer this year because it’s a leap year, but it’s still the shortest month of 2012. Despite this short time, it is packed with so much.

Love is celebrated during this month because of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. Saint Valentine’s Day was originally a Christian holiday, celebrating the life of a man who opposed a Roman ban on marriages in the Third Century. Valentine became a martyr, but his name lives on because he was right. Marriage and family are so important to any society – and love certainly is the foundation of marriage and family.

Lent, the penitential season of the church year, begins with Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22. We start the season with ashes, not as a sign of how dirty we are, but rather as a sign of how we have been cleansed. Ashes were used as cleaning agents in ancient times, much like soap and detergents are used today. Lent is 40 days long, but does not include Sundays, so the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter is 46 days.

Feb. 29 only comes around every four years. We have this extra day because the revolution of the earth around the sun doesn’t fit perfectly with our 24 hour days. If we don’t have this extra day, the seasons and our calendars just won’t agree. To keep things in order, we are given the gift of an extra day. Take this day, then, to remember how much love there is in your life and the cleansing that you have received from God.

(Centerville, OH) On January 19 Bethany Village, sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, unveiled the designs and redevelopment construction plan for nine new Grand Cottages that will replace 12 original cottages constructed in 1972. Aptly named “Grand”, the new cottages are 50% larger than the cottages they replace and are loaded with pleasing amenities, comfort and safety features achieved through universal architectural design.
 
More than 100 invited guests attended the reception and unveiling presentation to learn more about senior housing options and trends in retirement communities from Bill Serr, President and CEO of Graceworks Lutheran Services and George Oberer, Jr., President of Oberer Companies, the project developer.

“Our commitment to the community is to meet the needs of area seniors and this means offering the very latest in housing options,” said Bill Serr.
 
“Today’s retirees want new construction, fresh approaches to daily living, bright and open floor plans and smart spaces. This is a unique opportunity to experience new construction at Bethany Village. Although we will continue to remodel and enhance other cottages and residences as opportunity allows, brand new construction may not be possible again for several years,” he stated. Construction begins in March and plans call for cottages to be completed by the end of the year.

Mr. Serr noted that even during the recent downturn in the real estate market and ongoing slow economy, Bethany Village remains “stable and vibrant, thanks in large part to listening to our customer’s needs and wants and careful planning.”
 
The unveiling event also featured reality video testimonials by five Bethany Village residents about what it means to live at Bethany. They were present to answer questions. See the video on the website www.bethanylutheranvillage.org.
 
The $1.9 million project for the nine new Grand cottages caps off new construction on Bethany Village’s 100-acre campus in the foreseeable future. Bethany’s master plan, which peaked in 2009 with the $47 million expansion program, added 60 new residences for the nationally accredited continuing care retirement community that is home for more than 750 adults over the age of 62. Bethany Village was founded in 1946. 
 

Did you make a resolution to get fit this new year? Maybe you just want to add a little cardio into an already existing workout routine. Whatever the case, walking is a great option -- especially for seniors! Places like Bethany Village offer safe and expansive walking trails for both exercise and pleasure. Bethany's full time exercise physiologist Christy Trittschuh has some tips to integrate walking into your everyday routine. Here are her top five tips:

1. Time is more important than distance. Strive for 20 to 30 minutes a day. You can start with even 5 minutes of walking at a time and build from there.

2. Wear shoes with a rubber sole, good arch support and cushioning.

3. Pedometers are good to measure the distance. You can make great strides by just adding one more block at a time to each walk.

4. A buddy is a good support system and encouragement tool. Find someone who will hold you accountable for doing the exercise. You will also feel secure that someone is with you.

5. Always remember: if it is icy, move your workout indoors.

Finally, do you need a little help sticking with your resolutions? Christy has help with that as well. She says to:

1. Do activities you enjoy.

2. Integrate fitness in your schedule.

3. Use the buddy system for motivation and support.

4. Stay off the weight scales.

5. Start off slowly.

6. Remember: you’re unique.

7. Don’t work too hard – go at your own pace.

8. Reschedule missed workouts.

9. Make fitness a habit.

10.Have a plan for what you want to achieve from your workout.


Finally, if you're already an avid exerciser, you might consider another popular resolution aimed at older adults. Some of these include planning a fun trip, reading a self-help book and committing to laughter.  

Did you make a resolution for 2012?

Bethany Village Pastor Bob Ashburn reflects on the holiday season.

We have many celebrations in December. Those of us in the Christian traditions are celebrating the birth of Jesus our Lord. This is the assurance for us that God is with us and that God is willing to go to extreme measures to be with us. Even though the date has been set for December 25th, we do our celebrating all month long or even longer. There is a radio station here in Dayton that began playing Christmas music on November 1st this year! The giving in the Christmas tradition goes back to the gifts of the Wise Men (their holiday is January 6th) and to St. Nicholas (his holiday is December 6th). When we talk about the twelve days of Christmas, however, these are the days from December 25th until January 5th.

In the Jewish tradition there is the celebration of Hanukkah. This is a holiday that in 2011 begins on December 20th and continues through December 28th. The celebration commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrian army in the Second Century BCE. The celebration is the "Festival of Lights" because God’s miracle during the victory had to do with an oil supply for lights that did not go out. Today, families celebrate this festival through the lighting of lights, through gift giving, through eating of foods cooked with oil, and through the playing of games.

Now, notice that in our December celebrations we have traditions of giving and sharing. We remember at this time, no matter what our faith, that we have something to give to others and that we have received so much from others as well. May your December be filled with much giving and much sharing.

While driving past my local fire station this morning, I saw a line of children – they looked like first- or second-graders – walking two by two with a teacher at the either end of the queue. They were headed into the firehouse for what was likely their first-ever visit and formal lesson in fire safety. And since October 9-15 is National Fire Prevention Week, the children’s field trip was very timely!

We are very conscientious about teaching our kids the basics of fire safety because they are such a vulnerable group. Many of us, however, overlook what is arguably an equally vulnerable group – the elderly, especially older folks who live alone. Seniors with hearing or vision loss and those with mobility impairments may not detect fire quickly and may be hindered in their escape.

In fact, adults between age 65 and 75 have a fire death rate twice that of the national average; between age 75 and 85, three times the national average; and over age 85, four times the national average. The leading cause of fire deaths in the elderly? Smoking. The leading cause of fire-related injuries in the elderly? Cooking.

Here are some fire safety tips for any senior who lives independently, whether in a retirement village or in a community setting:

• The single most important step you can take to save your life during a fire is to install smoke alarms, which can alert you to the presence of deadly smoke while there is still time to escape. Place alarms next to each sleeping area and on every floor of your home. Ask friends, family members, building managers or someone from the fire department to install and test smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year – spring and fall with the change of daylight savings time is a good plan. If your smoke alarms are hardwired (connected to the electric circuitry of your residence), make sure they are also equipped with battery back-ups.

• Whether at home or elsewhere, always know the location of the nearest exit. If you live in an apartment building, know where the exit stairwell is and plan to wait there for help if you cannot take the stairs. If you live in a multistory house, try to sleep on the ground floor. Plan your escape route around your capabilities and practice it.

• Have at least one fire extinguisher – and know how to use it. Keep a fire extinguisher easily accessible in the kitchen. If you are confined to a wheelchair, consider having a small easy-to-reach fire extinguisher in mounted on your chair

• Make sure there is a phone next to your bed within arm’s reach. Keep emergency telephone numbers and hearing aids (if necessary) handy.

• Never leave the stove unattended while cooking. If you need to step away from the stove, turn it off. Keep towels and potholders away from the burners. If food or grease catches fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the heat.

• Never use appliances with exposed wires.
  
• Make sure that you are alert when you smoke.
  
• NEVER SMOKE IN BED!
  
• If an oxygen source is nearby, warn guests to refrain from smoking.

• Don't leave portable heaters alone or go to sleep while they are on.
  
• Don’t overload electrical outlets or extension cords.
  
• If your residence is on fire, get out as soon as possible – and stay out. Do not try to gather personal possessions before you leave.

For more information, visit the Ohio Fire Marshal’s website. Take some time during National Fire Prevention Week to think about your own safety and that of your family and friends.

Under any circumstances, moving is wrought with all kinds of stress. But when you are leaving a house you’ve called home for a long time, friends and neighbors whose lives have intertwined with yours, a church that has been a pillar of strength, and a community of people who have made up the fabric of your life – well, it’s just more than anyone can be expected to embrace joyfully. Faced with this kind of profound change, many people need a helping hand to help them make a smooth transition.

The majority of people who move to Bethany have been in their homes for more than 30 years. The house itself is like a family member. That’s a lot of memories – and often meaningful personal possessions – to leave behind. And when the transition is rushed, there is even less time to prepare for the move emotionally.

To help make moving easier for new residents, Bethany Pastor Bob Ashburn established a moving transition support group here at Bethany. The group had its first meeting in September, and although it was small, feedback was positive.  The group will become the "first stop" for new residents wanting to balance their feelings of loss with their anticipation for a happy future Bethany.

We encourage open discussion so people can share their coping strategies and learn they are not alone in feeling sad or even fearful about making such a dramatic change. The goal of the support group is to help residents learn that nothing will – or should – replace their memories. And most of all, they can find new friends, new traditions, and lots of fun, peace and joy at Bethany Village.