St.Leonard: June 2012

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Wellness Advisory Team Update: Music Therapy and Stroke Recovery Part 1

Steve Makofka

Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to run EEG tests on a subject who is engaged in the Heart Song Workshop.

Activity 1 Teach and discuss the 6 principles of music memory formation. (Learning)

Activity 2 Work through the Life Soundtrack Worksheet to identify Heart Songs (Memory Recovery)

Activity 3 Bring up the Heart Songs on Youtube and play them for the subject. (Heart Song Music Therapy)

My desire is to monitor the brain activity during three distinctively different activities and compare them. The first activity is focused on learning new material.

The second activity is focused activity on memory recovery. What does the brain do when it is trying to remember? What does the brain do when it achieves that goal?

The third activity is to use the recovered heart songs as music memory and let the subject enjoy listening to them. The goal is for this activity to be restorative, peaceful and calming.

http://www.makofka.blogspot.com/

Team Maintenance: Finishing Touches for Skilled Rehab Unit!

The health care center's new skilled rehabilitation unit is opening soon and this team pulled together for the finishing touches. ~submitted by Arlene~

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

St. Leonard 5k with the Cutlips!

Team Assisted Care: Aviary Update!

A family of doves! Residents really enjoyed seeing the foursome cuddled together in the corner of the aviary. It is so special to see something like that. The two little ones just flew from the nest a couple of days ago and before you know it they will be full size. Come visit our activity room to see the variety of birds that we actually have.
~Submitted by Sister Christing~

Team Social Walking: Fawns Sharing a Walk Together!

Ginny shares this picture for everyone to enjoy!

It is amazing what you can see when you walk for leisure and fun! Send us pictures of scenic views from your social walking program and we will post them for others to enjoy

Team Spiritual Care: Show Yourself the Door

Sister Kateri Theriault Mission Integration

During a tour of San Francesco Basilica in Assisi, Italy, a friar took a group of pilgrims through the upper and lower churches and to the crypt where Saint Francis and his companions were buried. Throughout the tour he talked about the life of Francis and the architecture, art, and history connected to him. At the end the friar brought the group back to the upper church and showed them the stunning frescoes attributed to Giotto illustrating scenes from scripture and Francis’ life. As he guided the group to the exit he explained that on this wall was the most important scene yet: the door! The exit, he said, is a reminder to go through the doors and spread the Good News to the whole world. Something to think about next time you leave a church building!

TODAY’S READINGS: 2 Kings 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Matthew 7:6, 12-14 (372)

“Enter through the narrow gate.”

Team Assisted Living: Pet Therapy!

Team Alzheimer's Support: The Longest Day

The Longest Day Walk sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer's disease research and support. Community members and the staff of St. Leonard participated to show their support. According to tihe Alzheimer's Association every 69 seconds someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Virtual Team Memory Pillars Update: Chewing Gum!

Virtual Team Memory Pillars are currently exploring how various stimuli can enhance short term memory. In a 2002 study it was found that the initial flavor bursts of gum can briefly enhance short-term memory. However; in another study, chewing gum was found to be a distracter because of its multi-system sensory utilization.

Virtual Team Leader Support: Participation Criteria

A very interesting question was raised concerning what types of team participation count toward the Vital Life Community wellness program:

As long as an activity is done with one other person it counts!

Teams or individuals can also count from a distance-such as when they participate in Virtual Wellness Teams and/or the social walking program, because people participate with the intention of sharing or contributing to the greater good.

Teams can subdivide and/or work together depending on personal interest.

People who live off campus and on campus can participate

There are no age limits.

The spectrum for programming of wellness events are the eight dimensions of wellness: nutritional, physical, social, emotional, occupational, environmental, spiritual, and intellectual.

The amount of time spent on the wellness activity is up to you. We just ask that you note it on the matrix sheet when you turn in your Vital Life Community satisfaction surveys.

Virtual Team Brainstorm Update: Optical Illusions and More!

Team Captain Kelly Lance

Team Brain Storm now has 15 members! Please join our team & help us grow!

This week we looked at the definition of an optical illusion: An optical illusion (also called a visual illusion) is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source.

We then looked at the following illusion: Does this look like a spiral? It's actually a bunch of concentric circles. Use your mouse or finger to trace one circle and you will see that you come back to where you started instead of spiraling into the center.

We also did the following brain teaser: How can you make the following equation correct without changing it at all?

8 + 8 = 91. This equation fooled a lot of us. I think we tend to overanalyze these problems...

Answer: Look at it upside down. 16 = 8 + 8.

Virtual Team Word Challenger: Mind the Gap!

Which single three-letter word completes all of the following words?

H --- --- --- E R

T R --- --- --- S

R E P --- --- --- E D

C H --- --- --- I N G

mailto:AlActivities@stleonard.net for the answer

Virtual Team Parkinson's Update: Initiation of Locomotion!

We now currently have 13 members. This week we looked at a new study from the Journal of Physiology. This study looked at specific mechanisms involved with locomotion, or how the brain initiates movement in vertebrates. When mechanisms in the brain that initiate locomotion break down -- for example, in people with Parkinson's disease -- starting to walk becomes a real problem. Therefore, understanding the initiation of swimming in tadpoles could be a first step towards understanding the initiation of locomotion in more complex vertebrates, including people, and may eventually have implications for treating movement disorders such as Parkinson's.

~Dr. Jack Harless

Team Wasson Music Center: Music and Art!

Team Wassun and Team Makofka came by SDR today. It went extremely well. The girls with Team Wasson played the piano and the residents attempted to copy a Monet! This was the first experience the residents had painting to LIVE music, and the first time I attempted to have them paint from looking at something, There was so much concentration on their faces, and they painted for almost an hour and a half until the painting was finished. ~Keith

55+ Worker No. 6: Performance Management

It is reasonable to conclude that it can be a little stressful when it is time for a performance review. There are things that you can do throughout the year to give you confidence that your review will be right on target. For example, periodically do a self-assessment concerning your work outputs to see if they are congruent with organizational goals. Although today’s work environment is similar to previous work periods concerning work ethic, dedication, and work productivity, today’s workforce also requires that the 55+ worker be ready for change. Chances are your review will also include readiness for change concerning strategic congruence, training, and industry trends.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Team Chefs at St. Leonard: Cooking Demo

Michael and Jim created a sensory delight with a cooking demonstration involving grilled vegetable salads!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Team Social Walking Program: Scenes at St. Leonard

It's Summer! ~Ginny

It is amazing what you can see when you walk for leisure and fun! Send us pictures of scenic views from your social walking program and we will post them for others to enjoy!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Quest for Emotional Wellness No. 15: Setting Personal Goals

Many of our residents and staff participated in the 2012 5k event, which was recently held at St. Leonard, and as the runners and walkers finished the course their faces glowed with vitality and life. This event was a great example of self-determination and how extrinsically motivated individuals found strength in their ability to succeed. As researchers try to demystify why some people succeed more in life than others, they are finding that setting personal goals is what lights the fire to move past normal everyday barriers and obstacles.

Team Home and Garden: Social Vegetable Garden Update!

Team Leisure and Fun: River Downs!

On June 14th, a group of 26 residents (plus 4 guests) enjoyed a day at the races at River Downs in Cincinnati. With a nice meal, a program, being on a group picture, time in the air-conditioned Clubhouse, and the excitement of placing a bet--winning or losing, everyone had a great time!
~program design by Sr. Christine~

Team Home and Garden: St. Elizabeth Meditation Gardens!

A sea of Daisies is a wonderful wellness moment when you walk past these gardens!

It is amazing what you can see when you walk for leisure and fun! Send us pictures of scenic views from your social walking program and we will post them for others to enjoy!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Team Franciscan Center: Strength Equipment

The Franciscan Center offers a wide range of strength equipment to help you achieve your fitness goals. Machines include a leg curl, leg extension, biceps curl, chest press, shoulder press, pull-down, peck deck, reverse fly, assisted dip machine/assisted pull-up machine, and dumbbell’s ranging from three to thirty-five pounds. The Franciscan Center has Precor’s S-Line strength equipment. This line of Precor is designed for users of all levels. It offers streamlined operation and guides users through each station. It delivers a smooth, fluid motion that feels natural to the user. Seats are easy to adjust and comfortable to the feel. The pin loaded weight stacks are quick to change and are easy to make strength gains on from the five and ten pound increments. Orientations are offered to new members and personal training is available!

Fitness Supervisor

Jon Dolph

Team Franciscan Center: Hydration and Massage

My congratulations to all who participated in the St. Leonard 5k on Saturday, June 9th! Good times were had by all and what an exciting event! It was a beautiful day for running, walking, and socializing. In this month’s issue, I wanted to talk about the importance of hydration and how it relates to massage.

Water is the most important nutrient for your health. It’s no coincidence that it is the most abundant nutrient in the body. According to the USGS, up to 60% of the human body is water. The brain is composed of about 70%, lungs nearly 90%, lean muscle 75%, body fat 10%, and bone around 22%. Water provides several functions in the body, including: regulating body temperature, protecting and cushioning vital organs, aiding in digestion, lubricating joints, moisting air for breathing, and removing waste.

So, water is important for your body, but why is it important for massage? From the point of view of a therapist, when muscles and ligaments are properly hydrated they are easier to manipulate. In certain types of bodywork, such as lymphatic massage, accumulated materials get released into the bloodstream and need to be flushed out. Most importantly, you should drink water after a massage because massage itself can be dehydrating. By drinking water, you can rehydrate, decreasing the chance for pain and soreness following a massage.

Kristin Pitstick

Manager of the Franciscan Center Spa

Franciscan Center Day Spa 432-6540

Team Franciscan Center: June Update!

Greetings & happy June to everyone! Our annual 5K walk/run on June 9th was a real hit. We had close to 350 runners/walkers and the weather was beautiful. Congratulations to TFC members Christina Addison and Mary Lu Flynn who won medals in their respective age groups. Way to go ladies!

At-a-Boys & Girls go to TFC members Liz Taylor , Donald Brinkman, John Vallo and Jeff & Joan Cutlip for finishing the race with great personal times. We’re proud of everyone who participated.

Another new and exciting development on the St. Leonard campus is our Life Trail exercise station across from TFC. This outdoor exercise equipment will have a total of seven stations when it is fully finished.

The Life Trial will allow you to perform such activities as squats, upper body cycling, stairs, overhead press, wobble board, PNF exercises for greater strength, stability, and improved posture, and many more.

Each station offers three exercise panels with at least one wheelchair accessible panel at each station.

Every station does have safety bars for those who feel more comfortable with support while they exercise. There are a total of 159 possible exercises that can be done with this equipment in the beauty of the great outdoors.

We will be having a Life Trail orientation class every Tues. morning at 8 a.m. through the month of July for those that are interested in finding out more about this wonderful addition to wellness on the beautiful St. Leonard campus.

Call TFC today to sign up for the Life Trail orientation class at 436-2203.

Happy Father’s Day to Dad’s everywhere!

Dr. Jack Harless

Manager of the Franciscan Center

Team Pitstick: Walking on the Pitstick Farm

What a beautiful rainbow!

It is amazing what you can see when you walk for leisure and fun! Send us pictures of scenic views from your social walking program and we will post them for others to enjoy!

Fit-for-Driving No.15: Air Quality Forcasts

During the summer months you may hear air quality forecasts that indicate that the air pollution index is high and that certain actions are advisable. The EPA is a great resource for advice, and it is an area to discover the focus of ongoing research in the area of air pollution control. Every adult can contribute to this effort by keeping their vehicles tuned and properly maintained. In addition, carpooling, using public transportation, and even consolidating trips can make a difference in our future air quality forecasts.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Team Events: Father's Day Brunch!

The guest speaker for the Father's Day brunch was the head coach for the U.D Football Team; Rick Chamberlin!

Team HCC: Air Force Museum Visit!

Bob takes his friends to see his B-10 jacket that he donated to the Air Force Museum.

Team Fitness Gurus No. 28: 5k Aftercare for your Body

It is a good idea to cool down after your 5k run/walk by walking or slowly jogging in place for 5-10 minutes. Gentle stretching is also recommended as an aftercare approach from a strenuous activity. Talk about proper hydration with your physician or dietician, and reduce alcohol intake before and for several days after the race. Avoid fatty foods, and avoid splurging on taste treats, instead try to stay the course and reward yourself with a healthy diet. Finally, don’t quit, continue to set goals to maintain or improve your overall fitness level.

Team Garage Sale: Great Deals and Treasures!

Team Garage Sale: Fun and Function!

Team Spiritual Care: Words to the Wise about Scripture

Sister Kateri Theriault
Mission Integration

To encounter scripture is to encounter the Word of God, but sometimes you need a little help in understanding how God is speaking to you right now. When you are attracted to a passage of scripture but not sure what to do with it, find some saints, pastors, poets, or theologians who have meditated on and written about the passage. Their words might be just the springboard you need to gain greater understanding. For example, Jesus’ enigmatic command to turn the other cheek? Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker Movement sets this scripture in the context of living nonviolently. “To be truly nonviolent,” she writes, “is to ‘resist not evil,’ turn the other cheek, put aside all power, walk another mile, give up coat and cloak, too.”

TODAY’S READINGS: 1 Kings 21:1-16; Matthew 5:38-42 (365)

“When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.”

Monday, June 18, 2012

Team Events: Thank You 5k Volunteers!

The 8^th Annual St. Leonard Live Now, Age Later 5K Run/Walk was a huge success! The success of this event relied heavily on our supportive staff members and volunteers. The volunteers provided a solid backbone for the operation of this event in areas such as registration, parking, course enthusiasm, water stops, and breakfast. Our volunteers are dedicated to the St. Leonard core values of reverence, service, and stewardship and we are beyond thankful. Our 5K volunteers donated their time, energy, enthusiasm, and talents to make this special event the best it could be! St. Leonard is forever grateful for our volunteers and thankful for their hard work behind the scenes at the 5K!