the
UPdate
a quarterly newsletter from the United Presbyterian Home
June 2016
Volume 69, Issue 1
UP Home Art Teacher, Carol Ray,
Retires After 10 years of Dedication
CEO Mike Moore Shares His Vision
for the UP Home Future
Employee Steering Committee
Raises Money for Building Project
1
UP Home Art Teacher Makes her Mark on the Art Room
After 10 years of dedication to the art room on campus, resident Carol Ray retires to focus on her own work
After ten years of teaching art class on campus at the
United Presbyterian Home, Art Teacher Carol Ray
has decided its time to concentrate and focus on her
own work. She will be retiring for the second time in
her teaching career in June 2016.
Carol first taught as a high school art teacher for 28
years, 19 of which were in St. Louis and the remaining
9 years in St. Paul. After retirement, Carol moved to
Washington, Iowa, to be closer to her mother who
lives on campus at the UP Home.
Soon after she moved to Washington, Carol was
approached to start an art class on campus at the UP
Home. At the time, there were some residents who
had expressed interest in this type of activity and
research showed it was good brain stimulation for the
aging population. After much consideration, Carol
was hired by CEO Mike Moore and Activity Director
Carol Enfield to start the program in June 2006.
The Art Class was offered twice a week to anyone on
campus who had an interest in joining. The position
Carol took was a paid position; but after she reached
retirement age, she decided to volunteer her time to
teach the class.
“Carol’s time and expertise have been invaluable
to the UP Home,” said CEO Mike Moore. “She has
encouraged and stimulated residents interest through
art. Many [residents] are amazed at their ability, and
Carol is the reason for this.”
2
(Front Cover) UP Home Art
Teacher Carol Ray poses by the
door that exits the art room.
Over the years this door has
been painted with the ‘leftovers’
from students’ brushes at the
end of each class. (Top) Carol
and new Art Teacher Nancy
Maguire look over the shoulder
of Ella Mae Ruppert as she
paints a canvas piece and Pat
Bagley sketches some turtles.
(Middle) The UP Home Art
Class has anywhere between
8-12 students per class. Art
Class is held every Monday for
two hours. (Bottom) Resident
Connie Bauer works on
painting a building.
Carol knew she wanted to be an art teacher in fourth
grade because she always enjoyed her art teachers, but
little did she know she would be teaching on campus
at a retirement community one day. Art students at
the UP Home could range from 58 to 104 years old.
“My goal when I started the class was to help people
discover what they could do [with art],” said Carol.
“Some people start the class with experience, but
most come without prior experience.”
Carol uses a diagnostic tool to help measure each new
student’s experience with art and their willingness to
try new things. This diagnostic tool is a styrofoam
chicken statue complete with feathers. She encourages
everyone to use color and draw a background. This
helps give her a baseline of where to start with each
student. No two chickens ever look alike.
“It’s not your talent - it is your interest and willingness
to try,” said Carol when talking about her art students.
“I love seeing people discover their creativity. They
just light up when they find it. I have experienced 90
year olds find it [their creativity]. It’s neat.”
Carol taught the Art Class for six years while renting
an apartment in Washington before she decided it
was time to find a small house to buy. “I already felt a
part of it [the UP Home] and was impressed with the
quality, so I called Erin Drahota, looked around and
left with a contract in hand,” said Carol.
“Art Class has taught me to look more closely at things;
I notice shadows, lines and backgrounds. I notice how
the trees reach up in the sky, the clouds and birds.
Carol has helped me look at the glorious world we live
in, in a different way” said Ella Mae.
Carol spends time with students focusing on technique
and composition. Many students enjoy Art Class because
it gives another option for something to participate in on
campus without a big time committment. Others start
the class to try something new, like Betty Beenblossom
who started the class in 2009.
“I enjoy Art Class. It is relaxing. Pictures are a challenge
when you start them but when you finish it’s such a
good feeling.” said resident and art student Betty. She
started the Art Class, without any prior art experience,
drawing the chicken and then went towards painting
barns, birds and flowers with acrylic paint, because
that is what she wanted to do.
Carol has now lived in a cottage on campus for four
years and has remained dedicated to teaching the
Art class. The art room has evolved over the years
and has found a permanent location in the basement
of the Health Center next to
the UP with Kids Day Care.
It’s not your talentThis room allows for natural
it is your interest and
light and ample space for the
art supplies to be left in place
willingness to try.
from week to week. The class is
Carol Ray
currently offered on Mondays
Resident
&
Retired
Art
Teacher
for two hours.
“
During the ten years that the
Art Class has been on campus, it has had anywhere
between 8 to 12 students; and over the lifetime of the
program, Carol has had 33 students in her class. She
counts a student as anyone who participates for at
least one month. During that time she has seen some
of her students choose to ‘retire.’ Some students have
been with her from the start, like Ella Mae Ruppert
who has been in the Art Class since the program
started.
”
“I look forward to being with the
people and Carol has been a big help
to me and I have learned a lot,” said
Betty.
Along with many other art students,
Betty has submitted several pieces
of work to the Washington County
Fair where she has earned honorable
mention and several blue ribbons.
Starting in June, Carol will pass the paintbrush on to
resident Nancy McGuire who will take over. Nancy
has painted with watercolors for twenty years and
has had professional training when she studied under
an artist in New Jersey. Nancy continues to paint in
her cottage on campus where she has made one of the
bedrooms her studio.
“I decided to give the Art Class a shot. I thought it
would be fun to try something new. I hadn’t taken Art
Class before so it was all new to me,” said Ella Mae.
“Carol took me under her wing, and I have enjoyed it.”
Carol mentioned the opportunity to Nancy who
hesitated at first because she has never taught anything
before; but Nancy started sitting in classes to get to
know everyone and is ready to take over.
Ella Mae has always worked with acrylics; and even
when she went to Arizona for the winter, she continued
her artwork by enrolling in art classes there.
“It will be a good experience for me. I look forward
to getting to know people and being emerged in the
artistic world,” said Nancy. “Seeing what people can do
at any age is fascinating to watch.”
3
Happenings at the
Here is a glimpse of what’s been happening at the United Presbyterian Home
since you heard from us last:
Lunch Box Auction
The second annual lunch box auction was held in the Main Dining
Room on Friday, April 1st. The event raised$1,185 to benefit
Alzheimer’s research. The twenty-five boxed lunches auctioned off
were made by individual residents, employees, Sweet Blessings
Bakery, JP’s 207, Dodici’s Shop and Morrison Senior Dining.
Week of the Young Child
Week of the Young Child was celebrated on campus May 2-6. This is
an annual celebration to focus public attention on the needs of young
children, their families and caregivers of young children. UP with
Kids Day Care packed many activities into the week-long celebration.
Monday - Children wore their favorite hats and paraded the
Health Center on Monday.
Tuesday - FFA members arrived with animals for the children
to pet and admire. They brought a young calf, baby goats, piglets,
puppies and a black chicken.
Wednesday - Kids paraded the hallways in their pajamas and
shared their favorite stuffed bedtime pals.
Thursday - WACO fifth and sixth grade students visited campus
in the morning to read to the day care children and visit with
residents.
Friday - Dan Wardell, the host of the Kids Clubhouse from
Iowa Public Television, visited campus. He spoke to his audience
about the importance of reading, playing outside and using their
imagination.
Cinco De Mayo Prom
Residents celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Thursday evening with a
senior prom fiesta complete with music, dancing and Mexican hors
d’oeuvres. The Ken Paulsen Orchestra entertained a room packed full
of dancers and toe tappers for this year’s event. Residents dressed
for the occasion and many had their picture taken complete with
ponchos, sombreros and a guitar.
Mother’s Day Tea
National Nursing Home Week began with an afternoon tea to honor
the women of our UPH Community. Ladies dined on seafood and
chicken salad, macaroons, fruit tarts and petits fours. Mary Escher
and Donna Moeller provided accordion music for entertainment.
4
Employee Steering Committee Hits the Ground Running
The United Presbyterian Home has named seven
employees to their Employee Steering Committee
for the upcoming expansion project. The members
include Employee Steering Committee Chair Paula
Brinning along with Gail Rathmel, Traci Hora,
Michelle Steinberg, Jennifer Shive, Shannon Bausch
and Trevor Tschantz. The UP Home announced
plans for their Expansion of Quality First Services
in September 2015 which includes an addition on
to the south hall of the current Health Center. The
first floor of the addition will house 17 private rooms
and the lower level addition will have the wellness,
fitness and therapy facilities which will include a
warm water therapy pool and indoor track.
UP Home employees work towards raising money for the
Expansion of Quality First Services Building Project. (Front Row)
Gail Rathmel, Shannon Bausch and Paula Brinning. (Back Row)
Traci Hora, Michelle Steinberg, Jenny Shive and Trevor Tschantz.
the Committee Members is the chair of a team.
“I decided to help out with the Employee Steering
The employees have been working to raise money
Committee because I wanted to share my excitement
through some fundraisers to keep the process fun, to
about the new building project and I saw it as a
encourage teamwork and to educate the employees
way to bring all of the employees
about the project. All the money
together for one cause,” said UP
raised by the employees will go
I decided to help
Home Social Services Director
towards furnishing two sitting
out with the Employee
Paula Brinning who has worked
areas located on the first floor of the
Steering Committee
at the UP Home for 16 years.
new building. Any employee who
because I wanted to
“The project is important to me
turns in a letter of intent will have
share my excitement
primarily because I feel it will so
about the new building their name on the plaque showing
greatly improve the quality of life
their support for the project.
project and I saw it as
for our residents. As the social
a way to bring all of the
worker, I often hear from residents
employees together for “I got involved [in the Steering
that they would like their own
Committee] because I thought it
one
cause.
room. Many of them have given
would be a good way to get involved
up so much by the time they come
in the project and to help organize
Paula Brinning,
to the nursing home and it will be
employee
fundraising
events
Social Service Director at UP Home
great that they can still retain their
to go towards the project,” said
privacy and more of their personal belongings to
Administrative Assistant Michelle Steinberg who
make the transition smoother and their quality of
has been employed at the UP Home for 34 years.
life more homelike.”
“The therapy pool will be a tremendous asset to the
United Presbyterian Home and also the residents of
The Employee Steering Committee Team split
Washington.”
up the 128 employees into six teams, and each of
“
”
Wellness & Fitness Center Hosts First Blood Drive on Campus
The UP Home held its first blood drive on Friday, May 27th. The goal of the event was to collect 17
units of blood and we collected 19 ½ with 20 donors. We had 28 people register to donate blood and
11 first time donors! Thanks to the residents, employees and friends of the UP Home that participated.
5
SAVE
THE DATES
Nursing Home Week Celebration
CEO Mike Moore’s vision for the UP Home
Ever since I started this occupation, I have had a vision of what United
Presbyterian Home could be. In my involvement with many organizations
throughout this nation, I have imagined how specific pieces of other
organizations could be incorporated into United Presbyterian Home.
Those pieces started with more services and continued with added
structures. All for one purpose to keep UP Home a viable option for
housing and to meet the wishes and needs of our current and future
residents.
JUNE
15
20
Spa Day
Each month Simply Spa
comes to campus and offers their services to residents at a reduced rate.
The Longest Day
Some of the UP Home Staff posed for a picture during National Nursing Home
Week. To celebrate the employees, we catered authentic Mexican Food, held gift card
drawings every day and served soft-serve ice cream with toppings.
Each year the United Presbyterian Home celebrates National
This event is a fundraiser for the Nursing Home Week to recognize the employees as well as the
Alzheimer’s Association. It takes residents that we serve on campus. This year the celebration
place in the Fitness Center each was held May 8 to 14 with a variety of activities for residents and
year & many NuSteps will be in employees to enjoy, some of which included:
use from sunrise to sunset. Call 653-5473 to learn more or to Iowa City Senior Dance Team Performed
sign-up for a time to ride.
One of the more popular events of the week was the Iowa City
30 Fourth of July Celebration
Senior Center Dance team that performed on Monday afternoon.
For residents and their family
Five very energetic ladies
5:30 - Grill Out
ranging in age from 65 to
6:30 - Municipal Band
90 entertained the residents
7:15 - Freedom Dance in the with their choreographed
Main Dining Room
dance moves and pompom
routine to popular songs of
11 Pizza Ranch Tip Night
the day.
10% of all purchases from Music on Campus
5-9PM at the Washington
Residents enjoyed guest
Pizza Ranch will go to the performances by the Lincoln School fifth grade students known as
Longest Day Event.
the Sunrise Singers. After the students performed, the musical duo
27 Spa Day
of Gwen Ying and Martha Chalupa played spring tunes on the piano
Each month Simply Spa
and violin while residents sang along.
comes to campus and offers their services to residents at a Middle School Cleans Up Memory Garden
reduced rate.
About a dozen students from the Washington Middle School
29 RAGBRAI
worked one morning washing windows, pulling weeds and raking
The Registers Annual Great leaves in the Memory Garden. Their service at the UP Home was
Bicycle Ride Across Iowa
part of the Orange and Black Give Back Day. This is an annual
(RAGBRAI) is coming through
program started by the schools to teach young people the value of
on Friday, July 29. There will be
giving back to their community.
some riders staying on campus.
JULY
6
imagine. believe. achieve.
Over the years we have tried many program ideas like; caught ya, Kiss, luncheon
trips, gift of the heart, collaborating with WCDC to establish a strong laundry department, Wellness and
Fitness department, Art Classes, Men’s Club, and UP with Kids Day Care, etc. Some worked well for a while
and others never caught on.
We have also worked tireless to find better ways to take care of our staff. Benefit packages grew from no
benefits with very little vacation or sick time and no health care and wages close to minimum wage to free
life insurance, free nursing home insurance, practically free dental insurance, $300/month off of health
insurance, free meals with paid meal time, PTO and short term disability, reduced day care, competitive
wages, many added paid differentials and a good working environment.
We have done a lot and we will continue to do more. However, right now my vision is on the fall of my
working life at United Presbyterian Home. I have been dreaming and imagining what is needed to be done
for this organization to survive in these difficult regulatory times.
I believe expanding our services to the Washington Community is a must. I believe the paradigm has shifted
to an organization without walls. I believe we are on the cutting edge at UPH to tackle this paradigm. I
believe it starts with changing our care delivery to mostly private rooms with a strong resident centered care
philosophy. I believe we need to expand and offer our wellness and fitness center as well as our therapy
center to the outside community.
I believe with faith and trust we can and will achieve this dream. Once we do, we will continue to be the
provider of choice, we will strengthen our place in the Washington Community and we will insure the
success of United Presbyterian Home for another 70 years.
I am asking each of you as I approach handing the baton of leadership in the winter of 2017 of my working
career to join me in my dream for UPH and the Washington Community. Please join me verbally, physically
and financially, if possible, to achieve this vision for the seniors in Washington and surrounding communities.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Moore
7
1203 E. Washington Street
Washington, Iowa 52353
Retirement Living with a Family Atmosphere
319.653.5473 l [email protected] l www.uphome.org
Current Openings at the
Cottages
Cottage living combines the independence of living in one’s own
home with the security and privileges of the resources and fellowship
of the Home.
37 Locust Lane
• Two-bedroom, one full bathroom cottage with laundry room
• Bathroom features a large walk-in tile shower
• Cottage is located on a corner lot and has a new roof
• Newly remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances
• 1,134 sq. ft. of living space with one-car attached garage
Condiminium-Style Apartments (Kerr Hall)
Living in Kerr Hall also offers an independent lifestyle without any worries
of home maintenance. Popular amenities include a private balcony,
underground parking and a skywalk connecting to the Main Building.
Kerr Hall Apartment #353
• One-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment on the third floor
• 755 sq. ft. of living space with vaulted ceilings located on the
north side of the building
• One garage space in lower level garage
Main Building Apartments
We also have apartment openings available in our Main Building. These apartments range in size from
232-525 sq. ft and are available for monthly rent or through endowment.
319.653.5473 or [email protected]
8
Contact Diana today to schedule a tour!