the
April 2014
Special Events
APRIL 2, WEDNESDAY
Miles Buddy will be in concert. Miles is a 12 year
old musician who plays piano, both classical music
and some of his own compositions.
APRIL 3 & 17, THURSDAYS
Kaleo Wheeler brings her music to you. She sings
in the hallway, accompanied by her harp.
APRIL 6, SUNDAY
Bob Lummus & the Over the Hill Gang is a band
that has been performing at Givens Health Center
for several years. They play country and gospel music.
APRIL 8, TUESDAY
Dana Bergman entertains with his guitar, vocals,
and dog. Dana plays oldies and sing-along music.
APRIL 8 & 10, TUESDAY & THURSDAY
This week begins the new exercise group of cycling
on the IN2L Sims Rider. This is a program that a
few of you have tested. It has cycle bars that can
be put on the floor or table and is connected to
the TV screen through the IN2L. As you peddle
with your arms or legs, your bicycling avatar will go
through the scenery that you set. You and staff will
set the speed, resistance, and time that you would
like to peddle. The scenery makes it a little more
interesting to work out, and there will be more
sessions during the month.
APRIL 12, SATURDAY
The Red Hots are back. Good old fashioned fun
and music with Bob Baldridge, Willie Greene, and
Eleanor Crum.
APRIL 14 & 15, MONDAY/TUESDAY
Wheelchair Bike Stroll. Do you
miss riding a bicycle because
you use a wheelchair for
transportation? Well sign up to
try a ride on a duet bike!
>> More information on the duet bike on page 2.
APRIL 15, TUESDAY
Close the evening with a concert by One Leg Up,
a local band that plays Gypsy Jazz on strings and
woodwinds.
APRIL 19, SATURDAY
Receive a spiritual blessing by listening to Bob
Baldridge and Sue Nicholson play familiar hymns.
APRIL 24, THURSDAY
See what spring has in store by going on a trip to
the NC Arboretum. View the beginning of the
tulips, the last of the daffodils, and purple redbuds!
APRIL 26, SATURDAY
Opera at Its Finest. How could something so simple
be so enjoyable? Using the IN2L and YouTube, we
listen to opera music and discuss the meaning of
the composition, singers, and conductors.
APRIL 28, MONDAY
You tried it, and you liked it, so Tai Chi is in! Look
for it to be on the calendar monthly, and if you
do not know what it is, the best way to learn is by
coming and watching.
Announcements
Lost/Found/Missing Items
Located in the Givens Health Center
Administration Office is the Lost and Found
corner. There are two containers, and they are
filled with items such as gloves, hats, glasses,
glasses cases, cell phone cases, keys, and jewelry.
When a person loses an item such as a wallet or
identification card/license, it is kept locked inside
the GHC Administration file cabinet where only
a select few staff members have access.
If you feel you or a family member has lost
an item, you can check with Jen, GHC
Administration Assistant, by visiting her in
person Monday through Friday from 8 am –
5 pm, calling her at 771-2900, or e-mailing
[email protected]. Items that are
turned into the Administration office, with the
exception of wallets and identification materials,
will remain in these boxes for 6 months.
Some items get lost in the laundry, so if you feel
your family member may has left something
in a pocket that went through laundry, ask
Environmental services as they track these items.
If you discover that you have a missing item
besides what is mentioned above, please contact
Marilyn Smith, Social Worker, at 771-2907 or
Becky Rice, ADON, at 771-2919. They will be
happy to coordinate a search.
Birdfeeders
Givens Estates is blessed to be surrounded by such
beautiful nature and woodlands. Did you know
that we have interacted with much wildlife on
the campus, including bears?! That is the reason
that birdfeeders are not allowed….the birdseed
attracts bears! We hope that the wild berries will
be enough for our friends of flight for now.
Save the Date: May 23, 5:00pm
Each spring Givens Health Center hosts a
special event called the Spring Soirée.
In case you typically have a busy schedule this
time of year, we want you to reserve the date
for each resident and up to 2 guests. More
information to come next month!
The Duet Bike
This bicycle has a
seat on the front for
people to sit in who
cannot balance on or
peddle a bicycle. We
are borrowing the
bicycle from the recreational therapy department
of Western Carolina University. Department
Director, Peg Connolly, helped to conduct a
study using the Duet Bike, an adapted bicycle, to
combat depression in elders at a long term care
facility in New York, and she is loaning us the
bike to try out! Tell the Recreational Therapy staff if
you would like to try a ride.
Caregivers and Companions
Givens Health Center staff give loving care to our
residents, but sometimes a resident needs or desires
more individual attention than we are able to provide.
Private duty caregivers or companions are welcome at
Givens Health Center. These wonderful people often
help residents and provide companionship during
their stay here, whether it be a few hours a day or
around the clock.
Givens Health Center does have a policy that any
private duty caregiver assisting residents in Givens
Health Center must be from a licensed agency and be
listed on the North Carolina Registry for Nurse Aides.
A caregiver is one who provides “hands-on” care
(helping with walking, toileting, eating, etc.) that is
on the resident’s care plan.
A companion does not have to be from a licensed
agency nor do they have to be a nurse aide on the
North Carolina Registry. However, a companion
is not permitted to provide “hands-on” care. A
companion may ring the call bell or find a nurse or
nurse aide on the hallway for any care needs the
resident may have.
We are happy to assist you if you have further
questions about this.
Marcie Davis, Director of Nursing Services
828-771-2903
Becky Rice, Assistant Director of Nursing Services 828-771-2919
Marilyn Smith, Social Work Services828-771-2907
Kay Cook, Admissions Coordinator
828-771-2910
April Resident of the Month
GHC is highlighting Mr. Raymond LeStrange as our
April Resident of the Month. Raymond and his wife
of 64 years, Ethel, have been living at Givens Estates
for 9 years. Ray has led a remarkable and enriching
life. He grew up in New York and went on to earn his
Bachelor of Science from Bethany College in West
Virginia. Ray was drafted in 1943 and served in the
Navy where he spent 2 ½ years as Pharmacist’s Mate
2nd Class on an aircraft carrier. Upon returning from
the war, Ray went on to earn his Masters and PhD
from NYU in Chemistry. While studying at NYU Ray
met Ethel at St. Luke’s Church one Sunday at worship.
As a young married couple, Ray began his career
working for the Atomic Energy Commission while
Ethel worked for the United Nations.
They raised 3 children together, Raymond, Renee,
and Susan. They also have 5 wonderful grandchildren.
Eventually, Ray began working for DuPont as a
Research Chemist in Parlain, NJ. Eighteen years later,
when their children were older, the LeStrange family
moved to Brevard where Ray worked at DuPont as
a senior research fellow. He later retired after 40
years there.
Ray tells an amusing account of how he earned his
2nd Masters degree from Rutger’s University in New
Brunswick. He really wanted to take a single course
in Design of Experiments “just for fun,” however,
Rutger’s told him that it wasn’t an option and in order
Ray is a familiar face at Givens Health Center
as he is always out of his apartment and
active with his friends.
to study that he would have to earn a Masters degree.
Ray was not deterred! He went on to take a class
one night a week for the next 5 years until he earned
another Masters in Mathematical Statistics.
Ray and Ethel enjoyed numerous hobbies together
including golfing, tennis, and dancing. The LeStranges
also took pleasure in traveling, and they especially
love Paris! Ray continues to enjoy life at the Health
Center by taking part in worship; exercise; Monday
Men’s club; and his favorite activity program, ‘Let’s
Get Singin.’
Volunteers
Volunteer Neil O’Sullivan leads a discussion with the
Men’s Club that meets on Mondays at Coffee Break.
National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when
President Richard Nixon signed an executive order
to establish the week as an annual celebration of
volunteering. Every year since that time, each US
President, along with many governors, mayors and
other elected officials, has signed a proclamation
promoting National Volunteer Week.
At Givens Health Center in 2013-14, our wonderful
volunteers logged over 1,000 hours of time. The
volunteer duties are varied, including leading singing, passing out calendars and newsletters, playing games
such as scrabble with people, mending clothing, and reading to residents. Every moment volunteers have spent
with our residents has been cherished, and to thank you we would like to host a Volunteer Appreciation on
April 17 at 7:00 PM in the Wesley Room. Be on the lookout for a mailed invitation in the coming days; we
look forward to a time of fun and fellowship with you!
“The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
The Link between Medications and Cavities
You may wonder why you’re suddenly getting cavities when you
haven’t had them in years. As we get older, we enter a second round
of cavity prone years. One common cause of cavities in older adults is
dry mouth. Dry mouth is not a normal part of aging. However, it is a
side-effect in more than 500 medications, including those for allergies
or asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain, anxiety,
depression, and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This is just one
reason why it’s so important to tell your dentist about any medications
that you’re taking. Your dentist can make recommendations to help
relieve your dry mouth symptoms and prevent cavities. Here are some
common recommendations:
• Consult with your physician on whether to change the
medication or dosage.
• Drink more water. Carry a water bottle with you, and
don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Your mouth needs
constant lubrication.
• Use sugar-free gum or lozenges to stimulate saliva production.
• Get a humidifier to help keep moisture in the air.
• Avoid foods and beverages that irritate dry mouths, like coffee, alcohol, carbonated soft drinks, and
acidic fruit juices.
• Your dentist may be able to apply a fluoride gel or varnish to protect your teeth from cavities.
Gum Disease
Many older adults have gum, or periodontal disease, caused by the bacteria in plaque, which irritate
the gums, making them swollen, red, and more likely to bleed. One reason gum disease is so widespread
among adults is that it’s often a painless condition until the advanced stage. If left untreated, gums can
begin to pull away from the teeth and form deepened spaces called pockets where food particles and
more plaque may collect. Advanced gum disease can eventually destroy the gums, bone, and ligaments
supporting the teeth leading to tooth loss. The good news is that with regular dental visits, gum disease
can be treated or prevented entirely.
Mouth Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 35,000 cases of mouth, throat, and tongue
cancer diagnosed each year. The average age of most people diagnosed with these cancers is 62. During
dental visits, your dentist will check for any signs of oral cancer. Regular dental visits are important,
because in the early stages oral cancer typically does not cause pain, and early detection saves lives.
Some symptoms you may see include open sores, white or reddish patches, and changes in the lips,
tongue, and lining of the mouth that lasts for more than two weeks.
Who Needs to take an Antibiotic before a Dental Procedure?
For someone who has a heart condition or artificial joint, the nurse and doctor will evaluate this and
communicate to your dentist. You may think it’s not relevant. After all, what do your heart and joints
have to do with your teeth? But, there are conditions with a high risk of infection, and an antibiotic is
recommended prior to some dental procedures.
Dentists follow recommendations that have been developed by the American Heart Association and
the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons in cooperation with the American Dental Association.
The dentist will know about how these recommendations might apply to you.
Dental Services at Givens Health Center
We have several residents here at Givens Health Center who have been seen
by Ladent Family Dentistry and dentist Koffi Kouadio, DDS, PLLC. Ladent
Family Dentistry brings all of their equipment and staff with them and perform
teeth cleanings, exams, and x-rays in our building every 3 months and the next
visit will be Friday, April 25. If other treatments need to be done in their local
Asheville office, we can coordinate a visit there as well.
There is a Green Hill Far Away
So sweet love seemed that April morn
There is a green hill far away,
Beyond the city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.
We may not know, we can not tell,
What pains he had to bear;
We believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
He died that we might be forgiven;
He died to make us good,
That we might go to heaven,
Saved by His precious blood.
There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin,
He only could unlock the gate,
Of heaven and let us in.
O dearly, dearly, He has loved,
We must love Him too,
Trust in His redeeming blood,
And try His works to do.
So sweet love seemed that April morn,
When first we kissed beside the thorn,
So strangely sweet, it was not strange
We thought that love could never change.
by Cecil Frances Alexander
by Robert Seymour Bridges
But I can tell—let truth be told­—
That love will change in growing old;
Though day by day is naught to see,
So delicate his motions be.
And in the end ‘twill come to pass
Quite to forget what once he was,
Nor even in fancy to recall
The pleasure that was all in all.
His little spring, that sweet we found,
So deep in summer floods is drowned,
I wonder, bathed in joy complete,
How love so young could be so sweet.
Q: What did the carrot say to the wheat?
A: Lettuce rest, I’m feeling beet.
Q: Why is everyone so tired on April 1?
A: Because they’ve just finished a long, 31 day March!
Q: Why are frogs so happy?
A: They eat whatever bugs them.
Q: What flowers grow on faces?
A: Tulips (Two-lips)!
Q: Can February March?
A: No, but April May!
Q: Why is the letter A like a flower?
A: A bee (B) comes after it!
Quotes
“In the spring a young man’s fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love.”
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)
“O! how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day!”
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
“Give me the splendid silent sun
with all his beams full-dazzling.”
Walt Whitman (1819-1892)
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name
of it is. And when you’ve got it,
you want - oh, you don’t quite know
what it is you do want, but it
just fairly makes your heart ache,
you want it so!”
Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a
child that knows poems.”
Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926)
Givens Health Center
600 Barrett Lane
Asheville, North Carolina 28803
givensestates.org
GHC Contact Information
Robin Suddreth, GHC Administrator.............828-771-2902
Marilyn Smith, Social Worker.........................828-771-2907
Kay Cook, Admissions Coordinator..................828-771-2910
Marcie Davis, Dir. of Nursing..........................828-771-2903
Becky Rice, Asst. Dir. of Nursing....................828-771-2919
Susan Goforth, Recreational Therapy Dir........828-771-2909
Therapy Department......................................828-771-2911
David Moore, Food Service Dir........................828-771-2912
Ed Hillman, Campus Chaplain........................828-771-2237
Libby Nelson, Billing Coordinator....................828-771-2210
Jen Wilson, Administrative Asst.......................828-771-2900
E-mail staff by using the person’s first name initial and last
name @givensestates.org. (eg. [email protected])