Commissioner: Younger generation owes nursing home residents respect
By KEVIN HOWELL
POSTED: May 15, 2008
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Visiting Salem’s Blossom Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center Wednesday afternoon, Traina spoke about the important role the elder generation plays in the community as well as presented the nursing home with a commendation from House Representative Linda Bolon for its service to the community.
Incorporating the theme “Love is Ageless,” Traina said she felt younger generations owe a lot to the senior citizens.
“The seniors in our lives have the history of the past and the future,” she said. “There dedication and wisdom is a part of our country today, and who better is there than [the younger generations] to carry on that tradition?”
As part of the Blossom’s National Nursing Home Week Celebration, Traina’s speech included a bouquet of seven heart balloons that she said symbolized the compassion she has for senior citizens and the seven days of the National Nursing Home Week.
Previously in the week, the Blossom residents participated in an ice cream social with their family members, an afternoon of dice games and a Fashion Bug fashion show, featuring United High
School students and resident Virginia McKinley. Upcoming activities include a cookout with area nursing homes, a happy hour with an assortment of cheese, fruits and meats and a performance by “Stormin’ Norman” Shaw on Saturday.
According to Activity Director Rhonda Peterson, Blossom is able to provide a week full of activities on National Nursing Home Week through the cooperation of the administration.
“We’re fortunate that our administrators have always put forth a lot of effort to make this event a success,” she said.
Involving the community in the events, Peterson said, as the activity director, she feels it is important to bring the community leaders, such as Traina, to the residents.
“Our residents are voters and help shape our community,” she said. “It’s important that they get involved in the community, but they can’t get out. So we need to bring the community to them.”
Established in 1967 by the Ohio Department of Aging and the Office of the Long-term Care Ombudsman, National Nursing Home Week draws attention to initiatives facility staff and advocates are working on to improve the quality of care and quality of life of nursing home residents throughout the state, according to a press release from the Department of Aging.
“Unfortunately, we hear a lot of negative things about nursing homes, but we don’t hear the multitude of positive stories about how facility staff, residents, families and advocates are working together to promote excellence in care,” said Barbara E. Riley, director of the department, in the release. “These partnerships keep residents and their families engaged in the care a facility provides and gives the staff effective motivation to provide the best care possible.”
Kevin Howell can be reached at khowell@salemnews.net
