Lutheran Home residents cruise to China
January 30th, 2012
All Aboard! On January 19, residents of the Lutheran Home shipped off on a cruise to China. Well, sort of…
Every few months, the Lutheran Home hosts a cruise to a new, exotic location without ever leaving the building. The Chapel of St. John the Beloved is decorated to provide residents with a vacation-like experience.
The most recent cruise was to China. Volunteers from China acted as “ship captains” and greeted each resident. Cruise passengers received personalize passports and were escorted on the “ship.” They received a delicious, ethnic dinner and Chinese beer, and they saw a beautiful slide show presentation. Cultural entertainment was also provided throughout the event to complete the experience.
These cruises give residents a chance experience something new, have fun, be active and socialize – it is a great example of how Lutheran Life Communities empowers vibrant, grace-filled living across all generations.
38-year-old patient recovers from injury at the Lutheran Home
January 24th, 2012
Christmas day should be a time for togetherness, celebration and reflection with loved ones, not a time to be stuck in the hospital. Such was the case for 38-year-old, and mother of two, Maria “Angie” Resendiz.
Angie was picking up wrapping paper after a busy Christmas morning when her foot got stuck on her pajama pants and she fell. Injuries to her knee, ligaments and ankle were extensive. The doctors forewarned her that rehabilitation from surgery would be long and too difficult to do at home – it would be weeks before she could put weight on her legs.
Angie’s husband did research on local short-term rehabilitation centers. “Privacy, comfort, cleanliness and staying connected to my family were the most important factors for me,” said Maria. “When we visited the Lutheran Home, we were immediately impressed with how welcoming and clean it was. It didn’t have that ‘hospital’ or ‘nursing home’ feel to it.”
“I love the fact that my room has WiFi – it was necessary for me to find a place with internet connections and privacy. At the Lutheran Home, I have my own room and a private bathroom. I especially like that my family can come and go anytime – there are no visiting hours – I can call my husband to bring me something as simple as lotion at 9:00 at night and he is able to come.”
Angie admits that she was apprehensive about recovering in a retirement community, but “it’s so much more than that.”
“I really do love it here, and everyone is so nice,” said Angie. “I can participate in group activities and discussions, or I can stay in my room and read if I want. Sure, I would rather be home, but this is a great alternative.”
The Lutheran Home has more than 50 rooms dedicated to short-term rehabilitation patients of all ages as we help them move forward after illness, injury or surgery that has set them back. Lutheran Home offers modern and comprehensive services to assist patients who run the gamut of specific needs.
Americana Arts Series
January 17th, 2012
Please join us for the second performance in the Americana Art Series as we celebrate our great American heritage of music
and the arts –
Maureen Christine
Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
National recording artist and celebrated concert vocalist Maureen Christine pays tribute to another beloved American art form – the Broadway musical. Maureen’s clear soprano voice will be backed by an instrumental quintet.
Maureen, pre-nominated for a 2002 GRAMMY award along side Harry Connick Jr. and Rosemary Clooney, is heralded as “a singer worth crowing about” by the Chicago Tribune for her thoughtful interpretations of great American standards, romantic ballads, and jazz classics.
Her concerts are continually met with praise. She has concertized around the world from Germany to Chicago, appearing at prestigious concert halls and opera houses, cabaret and jazz clubs, presenting arts centers and college auditoriums. She has won critical acclaim from New York’s Pink Paper for her “remarkable range and superb phrasing.”
Free Admission • Valet Parking
800 West Oakton Street • Arlington Heights, IL
Save the date for the final performance –
April 29, 2012 • Roy Vombrack Orchestra
The Americana Arts Series is made possible through the
generous support of Lois Siegel and Tom and Kathy McGrath.
2012 was welcomed with a big party
January 1st, 2012
At the Lutheran Home, we like to start the new year off with a bang. On December 31, all resident and their families were invited to attend our annual New Years Eve celebration. More than 100 residents came and had a great time.
Many people wore their fanciest clothes, some wore festive party hats and accessories, while others came casual and ready to have fun. There was live music entertainment, dancing, wine, a Champaign toast, dinner, and desserts.
Residents partied the night away and waited for the ball to drop at 8:00 pm. It was a fun way for everyone to bring in the new year together. The party is just another way Lutheran Home provides vibrant, grace-filled and active living experiences.
Mission driven nursing makes the difference in care excellence
December 23rd, 2011
Lutheran Life Communities is committed to providing care with compassion, excellence, stewardship, learning and innovation to empower vibrant, grace-filled living across all generations. Our mission statement and core values set the tone and guide everything we do. The Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights is an example of that.
Recently, Amy Iacch, Corporate Director of Clinical Services at Lutheran Life Communities, was observing a nurse performing one of her regular duties, a dressing change, at the Lutheran Home. “This wasn’t just a task she was performing, it was beautiful moment between friends,” said Amy.
What Amy witnessed wasn’t a nurse doing her job, it was a nurse showing genuine empathy, compassion and kindness toward a patient with whom she had built a real, true relationship. “The nurse, Susan Zachariah, was thoughtful with every movement, word and action,” said Amy. “Everything she did was to bring the patient comfort and happiness – it demonstrated how our nurses are mission driven and not task driven. It’s hard to put into words what I saw, but it moved me.”
“Ruth is a sweet and wonderful woman,” said Susan Zachariah. “It took a while, but now she trusts me, and I respect the trust she’s given me. Ruth has a lot of pain so I do what I can to ease her pain, put a smile on her face and help take care of her.”
Nursing involves looking at a patient holistically and not just the immediate problem(s). “Nursing is a calling, and Susan is here for all the right reasons,” said Amy.
When a patient can depend on their nurse and trust them completely, it’s a remarkable thing. All Lutheran Life Communities employ a consistent staffing pattern to promote relationships, and improve the level of care and excellence each resident receives.
