Joining Hands Across Generations set for September 19 in Kendallville

Posted: 18 August 2010 at 7:31am

Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville will offer its first “Joining Hands Across Generations,” an event to promote health and wellness in the community, on Sunday, September 19.

Joining Hands Across Generations will include a 5K run, a 2K walk, the Fun Senior Stroll, and the Tot Trot, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kendallville Public Library, 221 South Park Avenue.

All pre-registered participants will receive an event T-shirt, and awards will be presented in several age groups. Registration before the event is $12. On the day of the event, it will be $15. For more information or to register, call Brian Shepherd at (260) 894-4638.

Proceeds from the event will help fund a new walking trail on the Lutheran Life Villages campus, 351 North Allen Chapel Road.

“Joining Hands Across Generations is another way we’re striving to promote overall wellness among our residents and staff, students at our Children’s Village early-learning center, and in the community as a whole,” says Jim Cross, administrator at Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville.

Stuff the Bus in Kendallville

Posted: 04 August 2010 at 10:11am

Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville is encouraging everyone to help “Stuff the Bus” on behalf of the Noble County Council on Aging from Monday, August 16, through Friday, August 27.

The plan is to stuff the Lutheran Life Villages bus to the brim with nonperishable food and other items to help area older adults having a tough time making ends meet. Some of the food items sought include canned goods, seasonings, condiments, beverages (coffee, tea, powdered drinks), potato chips, rice, and instant potatoes and other boxed foods. Other items include paper products, such as towels and napkins, and personal-hygiene products, such as toothpaste.

For the convenience of Stuff the Bus contributors, the Lutheran Life Villages bus will be parked from 1 to 5 p.m. at these locations:

• Tuesday, August 17: Scott’s, at the intersection of U.S. 6 and S.R. 3.
• Wednesday, August 18: Walgreens, at the corner of Main Street and U.S. 6.
• Friday, August 20: CVS, at the intersection of U.S. 6 and S.R. 3.

Donations may also be brought directly to Lutheran Life Villages, 351 North Allen Chapel Road, during the Stuff the Bus collection period.

"We’re more than happy to help the Noble County Council on Aging with this effort," says Jim Cross, administrator of Lutheran Life Villages Kendallville."The Council on Aging provides a variety of programs and services that are essential to the well-being of older adults in our community. We hope that people will remember to pick up a few extra items to help stuff the bus while they are shopping for their households."

A fond farewell to Johnny Rowlett

Posted: 04 August 2010 at 10:05am

When Bruce Blalock took over as president and CEO of Lutheran Life Villages in 2008, he met individually with members of his new staff to become better acquainted. After he sat down with John “Johnny” Rowlett, the organization’s longtime director of volunteers, Bruce had to clear his schedule.

“I asked Johnny what his volunteers did for Lutheran Life Villages,” Bruce recalls. “Three hours later, Johnny stopped talking. His enthusiasm for what he was doing was obvious, and as I quickly learned, the work of his volunteers was absolutely essential to Lutheran Life Villages.”

So it’s with no small sense of loss that Lutheran Life Villages has bid farewell to Johnny, who left the organization at the end of July after leading volunteer efforts for 16 years.

“I’m going to miss this job and working with all the wonderful people here on a daily basis,” Johnny says. “But the bottom line is that I’ll be able to set my own schedule as I pursue my business interests and work with civic organizations.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to know and to work with our dedicated volunteers,” Johnny says. “I look at every one of them as God’s hand extended—they’re an integral part of the mission of Lutheran Life Villages. We have the most dedicated, hardworking, faithful volunteers of any place I know.”

Indeed, Lutheran Life Villages’ volunteers—approximately 160 active, and another 100 on standby—give more than 25,000 hours of service annually. This large contingent of helpers saves the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and raises $30,000 to $50,000 annually through fundraisers such as the Bargain Bonanza Extravaganza.

During Johnny’s tenure, for example, funds have been raised to buy five buses, including the $60,000-plus vehicle purchased for the Fort Wayne campus this summer. Other money generated has gone toward significant remodeling efforts on both campuses in Fort Wayne and Kendallville.

“Johnny took a good volunteer program and raised it to a level of excellence,” Bruce says. “Now other retirement communities look at our program as one to emulate—and much of that has to do with the hard work and heart Johnny has put into our program.

“Johnny would be the first to say it has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the superb, fantastic, unbelievable volunteers who help our residents,” Bruce adds. “But, it also takes a dedicated, big-hearted person to lead and direct that group—and Johnny filled that role better than anyone I know.”

A native of Madison, Indiana, Johnny served as activities director at Byron Health Center in Fort Wayne for 23 years before joining Lutheran Life Villages. He’s currently a member of the board of directors of RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals, and will soon be president of the board for Audiences Unlimited.

Johnny is also co-owner of Rowlett and Laker, a company that provides training and materials for activities directors. The company is contracted by the state of Indiana, and also provides services in 24 other states.

John Morreale joins staff

Posted: 22 July 2010 at 7:13am

John Morreale has joined Lutheran Life Villages as director of maintenance. His duties include overseeing the maintenance staff and upkeep of the Fort Wayne campus, which includes 355,000 square feet of buildings on 49 acres.

“This position presents a fantastic new challenge,” John says. “I enjoy working with the people here, and I love what I do—improving our maintenance systems and increasing their efficiency. I’ve been in this profession for a long time, but I’m still learning every day.”

John was building and grounds superintendent at St. Vincent’s Villa on Wells Street when it was the YWCA campus. He’s commissioned by the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors and worked in the insurance industry for many years, providing inspection services and facilities risk assessment.

John is an alumnus of Purdue University and the University of Hawaii, and played soccer in college. His avocation these days is music. He’s been playing bass guitar for about 30 years and currently plays with a popular Fort Wayne-area blues band.

John has two sons. Derek is majoring in mechanical engineering at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne, while Michael is studying to be a surgical technician at Ivy Tech.

DaShonda Smith joins staff

Posted: 22 July 2010 at 7:10am

Da’Shonda Smith has joined Lutheran Life Villages as admissions coordinator for the Fort Wayne campus. Da’Shonda will oversee the process of welcoming new residents, schedule and conduct tours of the campus, and assist in marketing efforts.

“This is the position I’d been waiting for,” Da’Shonda says. “It’s an exciting job, assisting residents as they make plans, move in, and get settled. I also enjoy promoting Lutheran Life Villages and all the wonderful retirement-living options found here. This is a very welcoming community.”

A graduate of Elmhurst High School in Fort Wayne, Da’Shonda earned an associate degree in health-care administration at Brown Mackie College, where she’s currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health-care management. Before coming to Lutheran Life Villages, Da’Shonda served for six years as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at St. Anne Home in Fort Wayne.

Businessman donates $5,000 in tools

Posted: 22 July 2010 at 7:07am

As they say, “It pays to advertise.” That was certainly the case when one of Lutheran Life Village’s recent TV spots caught the attention of Fort Wayne businessman Keith Robinson.

The TV ad depicts residents participating in a variety of activities aimed at promoting their overall health and well-being. The part that piqued Robinson’s interest showed residents pursuing their hobbies in the workshop on the Lutheran Life Villages Fort Wayne campus.

The workshop is also Robinson’s milieu during his downtime. As founder and principal of Resource Financial on Magnavox Way, Robinson helps individuals and companies with financial and insurance planning. But he’s happiest when surrounded by sawdust, sandpaper, and shellac in his own home woodworking shop, where he makes furniture, home accessories, and toys. His crowning achievement is the 10-foot-by-5-foot conference table put to good use at Resource Financial.

"I don’t golf or hunt,” Robinson says. “Woodworking is the way I relax.”

Robinson had just updated his shop at home when he saw the commercial for Lutheran Life Villages. “The ad showed several guys working on what looked to be some antiquated equipment in the workshop,” Robinson says. “I had just bought some new equipment for my shop at home, and I was planning on selling my old equipment locally or on eBay.

“After I saw that ad, I thought, why not donate it to Lutheran Life Villages, where people would probably get more use out of it than someone I might sell it to? I’m sure that many, many men—and maybe some ladies, too—will use it there.”

Robinson’s gift to Lutheran Life Villages included some serious woodworking equipment with a combined value of approximately $5,000: a 10-inch cabinet table saw, a 6-inch jointer, a bandsaw, and a 15-inch wood planer.

“I thought maybe there was a need, so I responded,” Robinson says. “It looks like a perfect fit for Lutheran Life Villages and its workshop.”

The gift fits like a dado joint, says Bruce Blalock, president and CEO of Lutheran Life Villages. “We can’t thank Keith enough for this generous donation of equipment. Our workshop is the place to be for many of our residents, and these professional-grade tools will enable them to take their talents to a new level.

“Our workshop is just one of the countless ways we provide our residents with programs and activities that promote their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being,” Blalock adds.

Alexa Markley joins wellness team

Posted: 18 June 2010 at 8:08am

Alexa Markley, who served as an intern at Lutheran Life Villages in Fort Wayne earlier this year, has joined the staff on a full-time basis as the organization’s wellness coordinator.

In this new position, Alexa is responsible for regularly meeting with residents to create individualized wellness plans based on their goals and needs. She’ll also coordinate employee wellness programs and the intergenerational programming that joins residents with students at Children’s Village.

I’m very grateful to be here at Lutheran Life Villages,” Alexa says. “I’d grown close to so many of the residents and my co-workers during my internship—I’m happy to have the opportunity to continue to work with them.”

Alexa graduated from Ball State University in May, earning a bachelor’s degree in exercise science with a minor in physical activity for older adults. She’s also a certified nursing assistant (CNA). A native of Decatur, Alexa is a Bellmont High School graduate.

Buuck serving in development office

Posted: 07 June 2010 at 2:22pm

Indiana University sophomore Laura Buuck is serving as a summer intern in the development office at Lutheran Life Villages in Fort Wayne. Laura’s duties include assisting with fundraising, marketing, events, and volunteer management. A 2009 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School, Laura is studying business management and finance at the Kelly School of Business in Bloomington.

Help Feed the Need during Kendallville chicken fundraiser

Posted: 28 May 2010 at 12:06pm

On Friday, June 11, Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville will again offer succulent Nelson’s Port-a-Pit barbecue chicken during the retirement community’s second “Feed the Need” event.

Available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Scott’s parking lot at the intersection of U.S. 6 and North Old State Road 3, half-chickens will be just $5.

Pre-orders are already being accepted. Delivery will be available to all businesses and other groups that pre-order.

The goal of Feed the Need is twofold. First, individuals and groups that pre-order chicken are encouraged to buy extra half-chickens to help feed people in need at the Community Table, a program of the United Way located at Trinity United Methodist Church. More than 160 people benefited from last year’s event.

In addition, proceeds from this year’s event will be used to expand the walking trail and outdoor recreation area at Lutheran Life Villages, 351 North Allen Chapel Road. Lutheran Life Villages strives to promote the overall wellness of its residents and staff through a variety of programs and activities that promote physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

“This event is a great reason to plan a Friday picnic or workplace lunch featuring Nelson’s barbecue chicken,” says Jim Cross, administrator of Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville. “Enjoy delicious barbecue chicken, help feed families and individuals in need, and help us promote wellness among our residents and staff—everybody wins.”

To place orders or learn more, call (260) 347-2256 and ask for Leslie McKinley, ext. 3105, or Amy Saalfrank, ext. 3140.

Lutheran Life Villages Burghduff elected president of Indiana State Board of Nursing

Posted: 31 March 2010 at 8:38am

Jerry Burghduff, second shift supervisor of nursing at Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville, was recently elected president of the Indiana State Board of Nursing.

Burghduff has been a member of the board for three years, previously serving as both vice president and secretary. Board members are selected and appointed by the governor.

“The Indiana State Board of Nursing is responsible for ensuring public health and safety for all Indiana citizens through the establishment and enforcement of accreditation standards for all nursing schools in the state and for conducting disciplinary hearings for impaired nurses charged with violations of the Nursing Practice Act,” Burghduff says. “The board is additionally charged with recommending and drafting legislative rules regarding the practice of nursing.”

Burghduff retired from the U.S. Army in 1996 as a command sergeant major serving at Darnall Army Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas. He received his medical training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airborne Division. Burghduff joined Lutheran Life Villages as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) shortly after his retirement.

Burghduff also volunteers with the American Red Cross, serving as a liaison between the organization and members of the military deployed overseas. He also teaches courses in disaster relief, and has served with the Red Cross during numerous disaster-relief efforts.

Founded in 1932, Lutheran Life Villages is a provider of independent-living, assisted-living, and nursing-care communities for older adults on its campuses in Fort Wayne and Kendallville. The organization also offers early-learning, child-care, and intergenerational-interaction opportunities at its two Children’s Villages in Fort Wayne and Kendallville.

A state-licensed, nonprofit organization, Lutheran Life Villages is a member of the Indiana Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (IAHSA) and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). Lutheran Life Villages is an affiliated and recognized social ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, respectively.

Dignity, respect, compassion, Christian faith, and wellness through prevention are all hallmarks of the Lutheran Life Villages culture. All accommodations, services, programs, and employment opportunities at Lutheran Life Villages are available to people regardless of their religion, age, sex, color, national origin, or disability.

Despite stroke her art continues

Posted: 31 March 2010 at 8:35am

KENDALLVILLE — Artist Helen Pio’s right hand shakes as she draws a line on paper using a straight edge anchored by a paperweight.

The 89-year-old Lutheran Life Villages resident is naturally left-handed but a stroke in 2001 left her paralyzed on her left side and confined to a wheel chair. She struggles to speak. The words come out softly in spurts.

She communicates in other ways. Her room is filled with little stuffed animals, religious statues, framed oil paintings and colorful pencil sketches of landscapes, flowers and animals. “Mother painted all those,” said her daughter, Carol Wymer.

“Aren’t these beautiful,” said Nan Quaintance, a volunteer at Lutheran Life Villages, holding one of the paintings. “She’s an inspiration to us all.”

Pio smiled.

Quaintance said Pio is also known for her sense of humor.

“Helen likes to play jokes on us,” said Quaintance. “We have a photo in the office of her eyes peeking through the office door’s mail slot.”

Pio leaned her head back and laughed. Her daughter told a joke involving a granddaughter and Pio laughed again.

Pio grew up in Huntington County and attended Clear Creek High School where she took up art. Later she took lessons but painted only as a hobby and gave her paintings to family and friends. She never sought recognition for her artistic ability or sold her paintings.

Her family thought her painting days were over when she had a stroke, but Pio taught herself to draw and paint with her right hand. “We give paints and art supplies and she continues to paint,” said Wymer.

Pio paints from Christmas cards and other greeting cards, photos, pictures she sees in books and the view she has from her apartment window. She drew in pencil and then painted the yellow Holiday Inn Express building on U.S. 6 visible from her window.

Currently Pio’s working on a painting of the interior of the Lutheran Life Villages chapel she views on her TV screen when chapel services are televised to residents. The facility’s minister David Griebel requested the painting.

Pio picked up her TV remote and switched the TV to a videotaped chapel service.

Rolling her wheelchair to her desk, Pio demonstrated how she works on the chapel project. She placed the square plastic straight edge on the paper over the drawing, anchored it to keep it from sliding and picked up a pencil in her right hand. She had already sketched the enormous cross, wall panels and podium.

Pio began drawing a straight line under a lamp and then stopped when her hand started shaking. Tears appeared in her eyes. “It’s a challenge for her to draw a straight line sometimes,” said Wymer, placing a reassuring hand on her mom’s shoulder.

Sometimes Pio will work for hours at a time. It can take her weeks to complete a painting.

Her paintings are so precise, colorful and in proportion, Pio was jokingly asked if she uses painting kits like those with numbers indicating what color to use. “Oh, no,” she said shaking her head like a seriously-minded artist would respond to such a question.

“It’s amazing she’s so motivated,” said Quaintance, giving Pio a hug. “We love her.”

Despite her disabilities and age, Pio said she will continue painting. “It’s something to do,” she said.

______________________________
James Tew
Online Editor
KPC Media Group, Inc.
jamest@kpcnews.net
(260) 347-0400x190

www.kpcnews.com

Wii bowlers on a roll

Posted: 25 March 2010 at 8:02am

Lutheran Life Villages residents in Fort Wayne have been in the groove for several months after discovering Wii bowling and the benefits it provides—improved fitness, camaraderie, and the thrill of competition.

In fact, one group has taken the competition up a notch, participating in the National Senior League, a Web-based organization pitting more than 180 teams representing retirement communities from around the country.

During the current NSL spring season, the Lutheran Life Villages team—Wii Are the Champions—competes against a different team in its conference every Monday at 3 p.m. in the independent living recreation room.

“We decided to join this league because Wii bowling is so popular among many of our residents,” says Kelli Stopher, Lutheran Life Villages fitness coordinator.

“Wii bowling fits very well into our philosophy of promoting wellness on several levels,” Stopher continues. “From a fitness standpoint, Wii bowling is a great way to maintain fine motor skills and balance. It also promotes team sprit, and provides another occasion to socialize.”

This season’s NSL Wii bowling competition consists of 23 conferences, each with eight teams. Weekly intra-conference match-ups consist of two games, with four players from each team bowling in each game. At the end of the regular season, the top two teams from each conference will advance to the playoffs and a shot at the national title.

The 10 members of Wii Are the Champions represent both the independent-living and assisted-living communities on the Fort Wayne campus. For NSL competition, Lutheran Life Villages has provided team members with red, white, and blue polo shirts featuring their names.

Wii Are the Champions

• Billy Allen
• Marie Clarke
• Gretchen Fuhrmann
• Virginia Harwood
• Don Long
• Vivian Purvis
• Jean Quandt
• Phillip Urbahns
• Alice Fleck
• Bob True

NSL competition includes three seasons of Wii bowling and Wii golf every year. Wii Are the Champions compete in Conference 21. To check out scores and standings, or for more information about the National Senior League, check out www.nslgames.com.

Childrens Chapel Program adds a new dimension to intergenerational programming

Posted: 09 March 2010 at 10:36am

Lutheran Life Villages and Children’s Village in Fort Wayne have taken intergenerational programming to a higher power with the new Children’s Chapel Program, which began Thursday, March 4.

At 10:45 a.m. every Thursday, Children’s Village preschool students ages 3, 4, and 5 will join Lutheran Life Villages residents in Memorial Chapel for worship services led by Chaplain David Griebel. The program begins with a message children can relate to. The children’s portion of the service lasts only 15 to 20 minutes, a developmentally appropriate time frame for children that age.

“I’m very excited about the way this service will bring together all the people whom we serve,” Griebel says. “It’s wonderful to see the joy that the children bring to the residents when they come to Memorial Chapel.

“Staff members, both at Children’s Village and throughout Lutheran Life Villages, have done a great job in preparing the children for these weekly services,” Griebel adds. “We all will look forward to these opportunities to share God’s love.”

The Children’s Chapel Program is a new facet in an already-strong collaboration. Many Lutheran Life Villages residents participate in intergenerational programming at Children’s Village. Intergeneration programming joins students and residents for a variety of activities that strengthen the connection between generations, foster education and understanding, and enhance the lives of both groups.

Located on the Lutheran Life Villages Fort Wayne campus and administrated by Lutheran Social Services of Indiana, Children’s Village is a state-of-the-art early-learning center serving children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

“With this new Children’s Chapel Program, we want to nurture in our students a different wellness beyond educational,” says Kathy Lehman, director of Children’s Village. “We want to nurture their spiritual and emotional well-being as well.”

Participation in the program is optional, and permission slips were sent to students’ families. “This program may be an introduction to chapel services for some of our students,” Lehman says. “Or it may be something they’re accustomed to doing every Sunday.”

Yvette Luster-West joins staff

Posted: 05 March 2010 at 1:06pm

Yvette Luster-West joined Lutheran Life Villages as community liaison in January.

In this role, Yvette is responsible for external marketing, sharing information about all the good things Lutheran Life Villages has to offer. She’s already busy visiting hospitals, churches, and other organizations, making a connection with medical professionals, the business community, church leaders, and potential residents. Yvette will also coordinate special events aimed at putting Lutheran Life Villages in the spotlight.

“My goal is to spread the word in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area about what a great senior community we have at Lutheran Life Villages,” Yvette says. “Although it’s been several months since the name change, some professionals and community members are still not aware of our new identity as Lutheran Life Villages. I invite both professional and community members to visit us. When they come, they’ll experience the family atmosphere. I love to share all of the wonderful things happening here. The name change is a perfect match for what’s offered.”

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Harrisburg Community College, Yvette brings a wide range of experience to her new position. In addition to being a licensed practical nurse, she’s also held leadership positions in independent and assisted living and long-term health care.

“I’ve done a little of just about everything,” Yvette says. “But I have a real passion for working with the older community. I believe we have an obligation to give back for all they’ve sacrificed for us.”

Yvette and her husband, James, have a daughter, Amber. In addition to her duties with Lutheran Life Villages, Yvette volunteers for efforts that foster the empowerment of women and children.

Captain Phil passes away

Posted: 10 February 2010 at 8:21am

Lutheran Life Villages joins fans of The Deadliest Catch in mourning the loss of Captain Phil Harris, who died last night, February 9, due to complications from his recent stroke.

Our residents, staff, and friends who had the pleasure of meeting Captain Phil when he came to Fort Wayne in 2009 will remember a man who loved life and loved his job. We remember his comment, “Five years ago, I was just a crab fisherman, and five years from now, I will still be a crab fisherman.”

We express our deepest sympathy to his sons Josh and Jake and to the rest of the Cornelia Marie crew.

—Bruce Blalock, President and CEO of Lutheran Life Villages

Markley serving as wellness intern

Posted: 12 January 2010 at 1:37pm

Ball State student Alexa Markley is serving as an intern in the Wellness Department at Lutheran Life Villages this semester. Majoring in exercise science with a minor in physical activity for the older adult, Alexa is also a certified nursing assistant.

Alexa, who’s set to graduate in May, says she’s very excited for the opportunity to work with Lutheran Life Villages to complete her graduation requirements. She’ll assist in teaching group exercise classes, personal training sessions, and educational seminars, and she’ll also work on her own personal research project.

Every semester, several departments within Lutheran Life Villages provide experiential-learning opportunities to students from surrounding colleges and universities. The organization is pleased to help further the educational processes of today’s students—tomorrow’s professionals.

Lutheran Life Villages receives large endowment in estate bequest

Posted: 06 January 2010 at 7:53am

Lutheran Life Villages has received an endowment of more than $100,000 in an estate bequest. The bequest was earmarked to benefit residents at Lutheran Life Villages’ Kendallville campus.

“This generous foresight will enable us to continue to maintain the standards of excellence we’ve already achieved on our Kendallville campus,” says Bruce Blalock, president and CEO of Lutheran Life Villages. “Residents for years to come will benefit from this kindness.”

In 2008, Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville received the maximum Five-Star Quality Rating in the federal government’s first evaluation of nursing homes. The rating system, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, an arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, assigns nursing homes one to five stars based on the quality of care and staff and on health inspections.

Lutheran Life Villages Kendallville collaborates with national experts

Posted: 05 January 2010 at 6:23am

Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville has teamed up with researchers at the Scripps Gerontology Center in Ohio and the Center for Quality Aging at Vanderbilt University in an applied research program to improve care and quality of life for residents.

Over the next several months, Lutheran Life Villages, along with 39 other skilled-nursing-care communities across the country, will collaborate with researchers to improve incontinence care for residents, helping to address a chronic problem that has persisted nationally in long-term-care settings, despite repeated efforts to resolve it.

For the project, selected staff members at Lutheran Life Villages will attend monthly teleconferences to learn about new strategies for managing incontinence care. The teleconferences will be led by Dr. John F. Schnelle, director of Vanderbilt’s Center for Quality Aging and one of the nation’s foremost experts on incontinence management in skilled-nursing-care communities.

Between teleconferences, staff members will implement these best practices and provide feedback on the results to the research team. As a collaborative, all participating skilled-nursing-care communities and the researchers will then work to resolve any problems that arise and move on to implement next steps to continuously improve care.

There is growing consensus among long-term-care stakeholders, including researchers, policy makers, skilled-nursing staff, and resident advocates, that practice-based collaborative efforts such as this one are needed to advance skilled-nursing-care quality to the next level.

Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville has been given a Five-Star rating and is always seeking new ways to improve care for its residents. Participation in this project not only allows Lutheran Life Villages to do that, but also allows it to play at least a small part in improving care for all skilled-nursing-care residents.

The research project extends through July, 2010, but Lutheran Life Villages intends to continue to implement indefinitely the lessons learned from it for the benefit of residents because quality improvement is a continuous process at Lutheran Life Villages.

For more information about this or other services offered by Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville, contact Barbara Lewis, director of nursing, at (260) 347-2256 or blewis@lutheranlifevillages.org.

Virtual Event a real success

Posted: 17 December 2009 at 10:42am

Children’s Village and Lutheran Life Villages in Kendallville would like to thank everyone for not attending their inaugural Virtual Event on November 13. In fact, everyone is encouraged to continue buying tickets through December 31 even though the event is long over.

Seriously, the Virtual Event, a new twist in fundraising, was an unqualified success, generating more than $3,000 in scholarship assistance for families with students attending Children’s Village, the early-learning center on the Lutheran Life Villages campus in Kendallville.

Grace Housholder, virtual emcee of Virtual Event 2009, dines with the virtual attendees.

Individuals and organizations purchased tickets for the Virtual Event to gain the privilege of not attending the event. With no one in attendance, and no one to feed or entertain, all the money from the fundraiser went directly toward scholarships.

Grace Householder, virtual emcee of Virtual Event 2009, dines with the virtual attendees.

“This was the best event I’ve never been to,” says Grace Householder, virtual emcee of Virtual Event 2009. “My husband and I go to events throughout the year, and knowing that the full cost of the $20 ticket went straight to scholarships was rewarding.”

There were hundreds of visits to the Virtual Event Web site, http://virtualevent.lutheranlifevillages.org, which is still active and offering tickets to anyone who would like to help families in need.

The scholarship money is a godsend for many families, says Tam Parker, Children’s Village director. “We’re very happy with the results of the event. Noble County has been hit hard by the recession, and we have students from several families in which parents have lost their jobs or have experienced extended illnesses. Our need-based and bridge scholarships will help these families to at least keep their children at Children’s Village, and, we hope, provide some sort of continuity in their lives while the families try to cope with their situations.”

In addition to providing high-quality early-childhood care and education, Children’s Village offers intergenerational programming, which joins students with Lutheran Life Village residents, an activity that enriches the lives of both groups.

Lutheran Life Villages and Children’s Village wishes to extend their thanks to this year’s virtual sponsors, including table sponsors Brad Miller and Jim Cross and general sponsors Community State Bank, Four County Area Vocational Cooperative, Lutheran Life Villages Corporate Team, Children’s Village Community Advisory Committee, and Three Rivers Federal Credit Union. And thanks to Modern Printing for providing the ticket printing for the event.

These sponsors and additional businesses and organizations are urged to consider sponsoring next year’s Virtual Event and provide for sponsorship in their marketing and community-benefit budgets for 2010.

Brenda Blazier joins staff

Posted: 13 October 2009 at 12:08pm

Brenda Blazier has joined the Lutheran Life Villages administrative staff as executive assistant to President and CEO Bruce Blalock.

“I believe God led me to Lutheran Life Villages,” Brenda says. “I feel very blessed to be a part of the Lutheran Life Villages family.”

Brenda grew up in the Fort Wayne area, graduating from Norwell High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in marketing at Ball State University.

Brenda has many years’ experience in business administration, home health care, and customer service, including her most recent seven years in teacher support at Northern Wells Community Schools.

Brenda and her husband, Joseph, have two children, Brittany and Kent, a senior and a sophomore, respectively, at Norwell High School.

Heritage Trail dedicated

Posted: 10 August 2009 at 1:49pm

Something new is afoot—underfoot, actually—on the Lutheran Life Villages campus in Fort Wayne.

On Monday, August 10, Lutheran Life Villages formally dedicated Heritage Trail, a scenic paved path that will both encircle and connect the various communities on the 42-acre campus along South Anthony Boulevard.

To be completed in four phases, Heritage Trail will be approximately a mile in length. The trail will provide residents, staff, and visitors with safe, convenient outdoor passage between buildings—and a beautiful venue for recreation, relaxation, reflection, and renewal.

Heritage Trail features a large fountain, a putting green, gardens, benches, picnic areas—even a play area for dogs. The 6-foot-wide asphalt path provides ample room for traffic in both directions and a smooth surface for people using wheelchairs and walkers.

Bruce Blalock, president and CEO of Lutheran Life Villages, says Heritage Trail follows a philosophical path. “Through our wellness program, we strive to promote the well-being of our residents and staff on several levels, and physical fitness is just one of those levels,” Blalock says. “Not only will Heritage Trail serve to promote recreation and physical fitness, it will also provide a beautiful setting for family gatherings, quiet conversations, and solitary reflection.”

Another beautiful thing about Heritage Trail is that it’s being made possible through the generosity of people in the community.

Lutheran Life Villages is offering the opportunity to “adopt” various features and portions of the trail. The right to name the trail itself has already been claimed through a $50,000 gift, although the donor left naming up to Lutheran Life Villages residents. Two other main features—the putting green and the fountain—have also been adopted for $27,500 and $15,000, respectively.

However, there are countless other opportunities to adopt parts of the trail that fit any budget. Sections of the trail, benches, gardens, and other features and areas may be adopted by individuals or groups that wish to honor the living or memorialize the departed. For example, a 6-foot-by-6-foot “wellness square” can be adopted for just $100.

“Heritage Trail is really an ongoing project—we’ll add features as people sponsor them,” Blalock says.

One section of the trail connects the Lutheran Life Villages campus with the Fort Wayne Fire Department’s Station 12 on South Anthony, and firefighters are encouraged to take advantage of the trail’s offerings.

“Of course, we’re very happy to have a fire station so close, not just in case of a fire, but also in case of other emergencies,” Blalock says. “We hope firefighters from the station will use the trail and its amenities—such as the putting green—to both exercise and relax. I know our residents would love to have them visit often.”

Lutheran Homes begins new era as Lutheran Life Villages

Posted: 04 August 2009 at 10:41am

Lutheran Homes, a leader in retirement living in the Fort Wayne area for more three-quarters of a century, is now Lutheran Life Villages.

Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry was present for the official renaming ceremony on Tuesday, August 4, at the organization’s Fort Wayne campus, 6701 South Anthony Boulevard.

As Lutheran Homes—and now Lutheran Life Villages—the organization offers independent living, assisted living, and nursing care on its campus in Fort Wayne. Lutheran Life Villages provides assisted living and nursing care on its Kendallville campus (formerly Shepherd of the Hill). The organization also offers early-learning child care on both campuses.

“As we’ve positioned ourselves for future growth, we wanted our name and logo to reflect our true identity,” says Bruce Blalock, Lutheran Homes president and CEO. “We are a premier provider of retirement-living communities where the focus is on life-enriching opportunities. We now have a new name, a new look, and a new tag line, all aimed at maximizing and enhancing that reputation.

“This new identity mirrors our efforts to create a place where people want to live, professionals want to work, and family and community members want to visit,” Blalock continues. “Our new tag line—Lutheran Life Villages: A Better Way of Living—aptly describes our philosophy of nurturing overall wellness among residents and staff. At Lutheran Life Villages, wellness is more than ‘being healthy.’ It’s a philosophy that embraces life at every level: spiritual, physical, social, intellectual, emotional, and occupational.”

A big part of Lutheran Life Villages’ wellness initiative is Heritage Trail, which will be formally dedicated on Monday, August 10. Heritage Trail is a scenic paved path that will both encircle and connect the various communities on Lutheran Life Villages’ 42-acre Fort Wayne campus. The trail will feature a large fountain, a putting green, gardens, benches, picnic areas—even a play area for dogs. Heritage Trail will provide residents, staff, and visitors with safe, convenient outdoor passage between buildings, and it will also provide a beautiful venue for recreation, relaxation, reflection, and renewal.

“It is our strong hope that as we move forward, our new identity will help us communicate all that we are and hope to be in a community ready for a new era of care,” Blalock says. “More and more people are reaching retirement age, and the services we provide at Lutheran Life Villages will become more important than ever. Many of the newly retired have high expectations and standards for their long-term retirement plans. These are needs and desires that Lutheran Life Villages can readily fill.

“We’re excited about these changes—and we look forward to being of ongoing service to our community,” Blalock adds. “Lutheran Homes has been providing outstanding retirement options in northern Indiana for more than 75 years. So, as Lutheran Life Villages, we have quite a strong foundation to build upon.”

Resident wins ice cream party

Posted: 19 July 2009 at 10:39am

Ninety-five-year-old Concord Village (now Lutheran Life Villages) resident Lillian Mueller has written her way to a summer block party for herself and 100 of her friends, courtesy of Edy’s Ice Cream. Mueller’s essay was a prizewinner in Edy’s Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute.

Lillian’s party will take place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23, in the Heritage Room at Concord Village, 6723 South Anthony Boulevard.

Lillian is not only inviting friends from Concord Village and Lutheran Home, an assisted-living community, but also students from Children’s Village Early Learning Center, which is also located on the Lutheran Homes campus.

Edy’s will provide all the essentials: ice cream bowls, spoons, scoops, napkins, ice cream coupons, name tags, table covers, invitations, a yard sign and stand, a disposable camera, an apron—and wipes for sticky fingers.

The prize also includes certificates for 10 free 1.5-quart containers of Edy’s Slow Churned Light Ice Cream; certificates for 20 free Edy’s Slow Churned Light Snack Sized Cups; and an opportunity to be featured in Edy’s employee newsletter as well as on their Web site.

Heritage Trail to be dedicated

Posted: 13 July 2009 at 10:43am

Something new is afoot—underfoot, actually—on the Lutheran Homes (now Lutheran Life Villages) campus in Fort Wayne.

On Monday, August 10, at 10 a.m., Lutheran Homes will formally dedicate Heritage Trail, a scenic paved path that will both encircle and connect the various communities on the 42-acre campus along South Anthony Boulevard. Mayor Tom Henry is slated to be on hand for the ceremony.

To be completed in four phases, Heritage Trail will be approximately a mile in length. Construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 13.

Lutheran Life Villages officials broke ground for Heritage Trail on July 13. From the left are Kelli Stopher, wellness coordinator; Matt Maupin, administrator—Fort Wayne campus; Bruce Blalock, Lutheran Life Villages president and CEO; Troy Panning, Lutheran Life Villages board chair; Wilbur Knipstein, Lutheran Life Villages Foundation board chair; and Jon Dize, Lutheran Life Villages vice president of development.

While Heritage Trail will provide residents, staff, and visitors with safe, convenient outdoor passage between buildings, it will also provide a venue for recreation, relaxation, reflection, and renewal.

Heritage Trail will feature a large fountain, a putting green, gardens, benches, picnic areas—even a play area for dogs. The 6-foot-wide asphalt path will provide ample room for traffic in both directions and a smooth surface for people using wheelchairs and walkers.

Bruce Blalock, president and CEO of Lutheran Homes, says Heritage Trail follows a philosophical path. Overall wellness is the paramount purpose of the trail.

“Through our wellness program, we strive to promote the well-being of our residents and staff on several levels, and physical fitness is just one of those levels,” Blalock says. “Not only will Heritage Trail serve to promote recreation and physical fitness, it will also provide a beautiful setting for family gatherings, quiet conversations, and solitary reflection.”

Another beautiful thing about Heritage Trail is that it’s being made possible through the generosity of people in the community. Lutheran Homes is offering the opportunity to “adopt” various features and portions of the trail. The right to name the trail itself has already been claimed through a $50,000 gift, although the donor left naming up to Lutheran Homes residents. Two other main features—the putting green and the fountain—have also been adopted for $27,500 and $15,000, respectively.

However, there are countless other opportunities to adopt parts of the trail that will fit any budget. Sections of the trail, benches, gardens, and other features and areas may be adopted by individuals or groups that wish to honor the living or memorialize the departed. For example, a 6-foot-by-6-foot “wellness square” can be adopted for just $100.

“Heritage Trail is really an ongoing project—we’ll add features as people sponsor them,” Blalock says.

One section of the trail connects Lutheran Homes with the Fort Wayne Fire Department’s Station 12 on South Anthony, and firefighters are encouraged to take advantage of the trail’s offerings.

“Of course, we’re very happy to have a fire station so close, not just in case of a fire, but also in case of other emergencies,” Blalock says. “We hope firefighters from the station will use the trail and its amenities—such as the putting green—to both exercise and relax. I know our residents would love to have them visit often.”

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