Cerenity Senior Care

Music Connects Cerenity Humboldt Resident and Volunteer

paula.mielke — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:26:31 +0000

Judy Nobles, volunteer, and Annie Schmitt, a resident at Cerenity Senior Care – Humboldt, share a passion for music. Three years ago, Judy’s husband resided at the Humboldt Care Center. To give back, Judy began playing the organ at special events and to entertain residents. Once when she was playing, she felt a “presence” at her side. It was inquisitive Annie, who wanted to know about the assorted buttons on the organ. Judy began giving Annie, who knew how to read music and play piano, weekly lessons. Annie’s first public performance was at her 95^th birthday party. Read more about Judy and Annie in the Star Tribune.

Staff Learn How to Use Energy Therapy to Help Residents Relax, Reduce Pain

paula.mielke — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:31:43 +0000

About 50 Cerenity Marian employees from multiple disciplines recently received training in Healing Touch, a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. Staff learned about the body’s energy system and the benefits and history of Healing Touch. Our bodies have seven energy centers called chakras. Healing Touch techniques open and balance the energy levels of these chakras, which helps a person self-heal. Other benefits are physical and mental relaxation; reduction of agitation, stress and anxiety; and pain relief. There are five levels of Healing Touch; Marian nurses learned level one. Rita Johanson, a nurse manager in Marian Care Center, completed a more extensive training earlier and has used Healing Touch techniques when caring for residents. “One resident was actively dying and very restless, even with the medications we were administering,” said Rita. “When I did the healing touch with her, the nurses reported that she was relaxed and able to sleep for up to three hours without signs of distress.”

Cerenity Humboldt Featured in Local Newspaper

paula.mielke — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:04:52 +0000

The Community Reporter, a newspaper that serves the west end neighborhoods of St. Paul, recently featured an article about Cerenity Humboldt and the clay classes held for residents in conjunction with Northern Clay Center. “NCC Director Sarah Millfelt was introduced to Cerenity Humboldt when her father was a patient in the TCU. A four-year Wallace Foundation Excellence Award Grant in 2008 allowed NCC to expand their programs directed at adults 55 and older. In addition, they received a 2012 Arts Learning Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board (funded in part by the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people ofMinnesota in November 2008).

Northern Clay began by training Cerenity’s Recreation Therapy staff, which then joined NCC staff in offering the classes. The program was uniquely designed to meet specific needs identified by Cerenity, including providing residents with experiences that improved their social and motor skills, allowed for their creative energy to take new forms, and resulted in tangible works — ‘keepers.’ NCC took the residents’ work back to their center for firing.”

Residents’ Painting Brightens Room

paula.mielke — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:31:53 +0000

Cerenity Humboldt assisted living residents worked together to produce their version of a water lilies painting by Claude Monet, French impressionist painter. During Assisted Living Week, therapeutic recreation coordinator Dana Hughes primed a 4-by-8 sheet of plywood and asked for volunteers. Six residents created the painting, using house paint. The painting was framed and hangs in the lower level recreation room, adding color and beauty.

Three Stories to Warm Your Heart

paula.mielke — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:37:03 +0000

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we asked three couples who reside at Cerenity Senior Care to share their stories. Watch Three Stories to Warm Your Heart to learn how they met, how long they have been together and what makes their relationships special. Enjoy and share!

Cerenity Humboldt Installs Electronic Medication Record System

paula.mielke — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:47:43 +0000

Something very cool now sits on top of each med cart at the Cerenity Care Center-Humboldt: a touch screen monitor. From this monitor, nurses have access to each resident’s medication and treatment orders. The monitors are part of the Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) system installed in mid-January to help reduce medication administration errors and increase staff efficiencies. “Using eMAR makes passing meds more efficient for our nurses and reduces the risk of a medication error,” said Michelle Frevert, director of nursing, Humboldt Care Center. Now rather than page through large, cumbersome 3-ring binders, nurses just touch the screen to view medical records. The records include the resident’s photo and room number. There also is a small keyboard on the cart so nurses can document medications and treatments as they are administered.

“I adapted very quickly,” said Susan Bergdahl, RN, fourth floor. “I don’t know that I could go back. Now I can switch between meds and treatment orders, and chart and document more efficiently. This allows me to spend more time with residents for assessments.”

“The eMAR system brings us into the 21^st century,” said Michelle. “Now we can do more accurate, efficient record keeping.”

Cerenity Humboldt received funding for implementing eMAR and training staff through the State of Minnesota Performance-Based Incentive Payments Program (PIPP).

Birds of a Feather Resident Art Show

paula.mielke — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:31:13 +0000

“Birds of a Feather” is the theme of the Cerenity Residence-Humboldt Art Show that opened Friday, January 27. The show features peacock paintings, bird drawings, fresco books, owl collages and pumpkin owl stamps – beautiful artwork created by the residents. The artists were on hand at the opening to discuss and celebrate their work. All enjoyed snacks, including Bird’s Nests, chocolate-covered chow mein noodles formed into nests and filled with jelly beans. Recorded bird sounds playing in the background was a nice touch at the opening! The art show will continue through February. An array of art classes are provided through the therapeutic recreation program at Humboldt.

Tenants Testing Acupuncture to Treat an Array of Disorders

paula.mielke — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:42:20 +0000

“My toes have been hurting for eight years, but now I’m nearly ready to play football,” said a Cerenity-Marian tenant after receiving his second acupuncture treatment. Northwestern Health Sciences University is conducting a 15-week pilot program at Marian, offering free acupuncture for tenants and staff. The response has been very positive – the 22 sessions offered each week fill up quickly. Tenants are turning to acupuncture for help with joint pain, sinuses, appetite suppression, constipation, anxiety and array of other disorders. “I’m not expecting a miracle,” said a tenant who has a bone spur and joint pain. “But I’m hoping for 10 to 20 percent relief from pain.”

Cerenity-Marian Residents Participate in Study on Qigong

paula.mielke — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:07:09 +0000

Ten residents in Cerenity-Marian’s enhanced and memory care assisted living program participated in a study last spring to measure whether a meditative exercise movement known as Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) would improve balance and lessen pain among these seniors with memory loss. The results of the study are published in this month’s edition of Catholic Health World. The residents continue to practice Qigong two to three times a week.

Learn how to manage ongoing health conditions

paula.mielke — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:41:08 +0000

Cerenity Residence – South St. Paul is offering a six-week workshop on managing ongoing health conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, chronic pain, heart or lung disease, cancer or obesity. The series will be held on Thursdays, 2 to 4 p.m., Feb. 16 to March 22. There will be an information session at 2 p.m., Thurs., Jan. 19. Caregivers and family members are welcome to attend as well. To register, call 651-280-2515. For more information, view the attached flyer.