The Clarke Area Retired School Personnel met on May 11, 2009, at the Osceola Senior Center. Twenty-two members answered roll call. Hostesses were Margaret Swaney, Virginia Ogan and Kathyrn Havard.
Selena Selsor and Mary Baker presented a program about the new Southern Hills Specialty Care Clinic which opened December 16, 2008. When entering the facility, one must punch the entrance button. When leaving punch the middle code. This same code is used to enter and leave the dementia and Alzheimer unit.
The new 45,000 square foot clinic is a ninety bed center. Telephones and cable TV are available to all rooms. There are forty private rooms with showers. The center offers three different levels of care for residents in their individual area...bariatric patients, memory care, behavioral care, rehab to home care and skilled care. The skilled care includes nursing, therapy, wound care, as well as daily professional care. There are four dining rooms. The laundry is in a separate building.
Activities include ice cream Friday (last Friday of the month,) exercising, music, cooking club, ladies tea, men’s coffee, Bingo and devotions. Osceola policemen have been the recipients of cookies baked by the cooking club. Outings are planned to places of interest in the community, such as, Terrible’s Casino, Southern Hills Winery, and the Community Meal Site. A goal is to build a garden managed by the residents.
The Clinic participates in the Green Thumb Program and has employee incentive and bonus opportunities. CNA classes are taught and there is a tuition assistance program for RN degrees. High School Students can shadow to learn about a worker’s day.
Another company is working on plans for an assisted living complex to be built near the Southern Hills Specialty Clinic.
Business for CARSPA included plans for the district meeting and membership drive. Glenda Bright composed the text for invitations to new members. The next meeting will be June 8.
The meeting closed with the singing of “Grace” accompanied by Jan Chambers on the piano.