St. Anne’s Living Center – Page 27 – St. Anne's Living Center

March 3, 2015

March is International Listening Awareness Month – 15 tips for good listeners

As we observe this month, I have to share a humorous story from the med. line at St. Anne’s. We Sisters eat supper across from the nursing office and often hear the comments and conversations of residents who are in line. One evening, over a year ago, two ladies (both hard of hearing) really gave us cause to chuckle. After several minutes of unsuccessfully trying to get a message across to her comrade, the other lady finally shouted “Do you have trou-ble with your hear-ing?” I guess you kind of had to be there, but we still laugh about it to this day.

Having good hearing definitely has its advantages, but, regardless of one’s auditory acuteness, we can all try to be good listeners. Serving at St. Anne’s, this month is a good reminder to me of how important it is to truly listen to people, to take the time to be attentive. Sometimes, I find that I am busy, yet a person needs my attention. This Listening Awareness Month is another reminder to me to stop (when possible) and really listen to our residents, regardless of my other priorities. Whatever your situation may be, I’d like to encourage making the time and effort to listen to others.

15 key points for good listening:

http://www.sitepoint.com offers some excellent advice.

First, stop talking.
Stop everything you’re doing and listen.
Use “inviting body language” – tell them by your posture that you’re open and listening (uncross your arms, face the person who is speaking, nod, etc.)
Don’t be planning out what you will say next.
Be open-minded and avoid passing judgment on the speaker.
Put yourself in the other person’s shoes.
Don’t interrupt.
Get clarification for a better understanding of what was said. An informative article from the Chicago Tribune offers other insights:
Focus on the other person, not on you’re thinking…Absorb the feedback…be sure you are really taking in the information the other person is giving you.

Another helpful sight on being a good listener further suggests that “active listening is blocked by your inward thinking, open out and look at the problems from the other person’s perspective.” Furthermore, “by being a good listener this can also help you become better friends with the person by getting to know more about them.” I think many of our people here can really use a good friend, one who listens. The article offers a cute, but poignant comment: “Remember that you have two ears and one mouth for a reason…you should be listening more than you are talking.” Some more helpful tips they offer are:

Use eye contact to show that you’re interested.
Avoid comparing the person’s experiences to your own.
Absorb what they’re telling you; try to remember what they’re saying.
Show them you were listening: the next time you see the person, follow up with a question about what they told you before.
“Put aside your own needs, and wait patiently for the other person to unfold their thoughts at their own pace and in their own way.”
Avoid saying “I” or “me” a lot. This is a good indicator that you’re focusing more on yourself than on the person’s situation.

February 28, 2015

Gotta love peanut butter – Gracie does!

Did you know that peanut butter’s good for more than PB&J sandwiches? Growing up, we used to hide pills in peanut butter to get my dog to swallow them; my parents heard this trick somewhere. Since then, we’ve discovered that it works well for the St. Anne’s yellow lab, Gracie, as well. In fact, yesterday, I was using peanut butter to clean a stubborn spot of the table, and Gracie followed her nose.

Gracie likes peanut butter — I don’t normally advocate dogs being up on furnature, but I’ve got to admit this was funny! (I did coax her on for the sake of a photo opp.)

You see, peanut butter is a great multipurpose cleaner (see below)

Sometimes you’re all out of a common product, but peanut butter will do the trick. Also, it’s a more affordable alternative to some products. Here’s a list of handy uses for George Washington Carver’s masterpiece. Peanut butter may be used as:

Shaving cream
Leather cleaner
Mouse trap bait
Ant bait (2 t. peanut butter, 1/2 t. baking soda, and 1 t. of borax)
Odor eliminator [(e.g., fish) Put a tablespoon of smooth peanut butter in the frying pan (once your dinner has been taken out!) and fry it for a minute or two.]
Squeak eliminator (instead of WD-40 on squeaky hinges or drawers)
Lubricant (e.g.,on lawn mower blades, saws, etc.)
Gum remover
Glue remover
Price sticker removal
Windshield cleaner (bug spot remover)
Wood scratch repair (on wooden furniture, doorjambs, bannisters, etc.). Put peanut butter on the scratch and let it soak in for 30-60 min. Rub it away with a cloth and the scratch will be almost impossible to see!
CD/DVD scratch repair (for a CD or DVD that keeps skipping, or won’t play, rub a little smooth peanut butter onto the scratch and wipe it away with a soft, dry cloth.
Bird feeder (Cover pinecones with peanut butter, roll them in birdseed, and hang them up in your yard. Watch the birds come stock up on food this winter!)
Butter substitute (in cooking)
Moisturize your hair (Follow it up with shampoo, and be amazed at how shiny your hair can be.)

(These suggestions were taken from: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/21-surprising-uses-for-peanut-butter.html)

February 23, 2015

Coming up….National Chili Day (February 26)

By Sister Christina Neumann

A visitor to our Home recently commented to our residents about having to “put up with institutional” cooking, but I really don’t think that applies at St. Anne’s. Among other things, we have some of the best chili around. As we approach “National Chili Day,” I thought I’d give a little information about this delicious meal and share a recipe.

People have been enjoying chili for a long time; The first recorded recipe for chili con carne was in 1519 (nationalchiliday.com quoted Wikipedia for this info.). Did you know that “a green chili pod has as much vitamin C as six oranges?” And, what is there, better than chili, for opening up plugged sinuses?

According to an article on the health benefits of chili, “the main component in chillies is a chemical called Capsaicin, which…lowers blood sugar levels, improves heart health, boosts circulation and protects against strokes…” Chilies also “can help burn fat.” Chili powder itself has some interesting health benefits listed here. It a good source of vitamin A and C as well as some important minerals, according to livestrong.com.

I’ve been enjoying chili for years. We used to make it back home. The recipe used here at St. Anne’s would probably make you a much bigger batch than you’d care for (we serve a lot of people), so I’m sharing with you the “Neumann Chili Recipe.” I had to contact my mom for details, since I remember just throwing it together without any real recipe.

Hamburger Chili

2 pounds hamburger

1 large diced onion

1 tablespoon salt (or to taste)

pepper

3 Tablespoons chili powder

1 can tomato sauce or soup

2 14 oz. diced tomatoes (canned)*

3 15 oz. cans kidney** beans drained

Brown hamburger with onion. Add spices and the rest of ingredients. Let cook for at least half an hour. (Simmering on low for a while longer enhances the flavor.)

Great served with grated cheddar, onions, sour cream, and corn chips.

Notes:

*Instead of the tomato soup and diced tomatoes, I remember using frozen, home-grown tomatoes. It is fun to pull bags of tomatoes out of the freezer (that you froze the last Fall) to use in this delicious chili.

**We actually used a few different kinds of beans, which enhanced the recipe.

I have found that adding cumin and garlic powder really adds nice flavor as well.

February 21, 2015

February is Low Vision Awareness Month

Much of the information for this article was found at amd.org.

This topic is very pertinent to us at St. Anne’s! Three of our basic care residents, in fact, are totally blind. Other people here, including myself, face less serious vision impairments. People can be born with conditions that result in low vision or develop problems later. In the United States, the most common causes of low vision are age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy. AMD affects over fifteen million adults over the age of 50.

People with blindness can do all sorts of things, even bowling!

One of our ladies was born with sight but started losing it while in her thirties due to glaucoma. The doctors said her sight would not improve. For a time, though, she rode bicycle and worked at the hospital. Now living at St. Anne’s, she does very well for herself and even helps out in the community.

February is a good month to be aware of low vision and start making extra efforts to be helpful to those who face this challenge. For us who live and work with the blind, we can be alert for them of obstacles which they are in danger of stumbling on. We can guide them through an area that is cluttered or set up differently than they are used to.

If you yourself have low vision, magnification devices, electronic devices, and other technologies may be helpful to best use your remaining vision or you can learn alternative ways to do things. Here are a few practical suggestions:

Improve the lighting. This may not necessarily mean that you should increase the lighting or the brightness. Glare is often a problem for people with low vision. Experiment to see what works best for you. Special lights are available.
Use high contrast for reading and writing. Write in large letters with a broad felt tip pen on white paper.
Use large print books or books on tape, disk or mp3. Most libraries have a section of these. There are also special libraries for visually impaired. (I personally have taken advantage of these.)
Use a hand-held magnifier.

ND Vision Services here in Grand Forks is a wonderful resource.

Sr. Christina Neumann

February 18, 2015

Something special about ‘Nites’

Last week, I worked the night shift and had some thoughts to share about it.

Caught on camera! — I put our new surveillance cameras to good use.

Starting this past June, I’ve worked ‘nites’ a half dozen times. Although our night staff are good at ensuring the health and physical well-being of our residents, they themselves are not immune to physical ailments. When no other backup can be found, I’m called upon. Through this, I’ve discovered: There’s something special about ‘Nites.’

Along with housekeeping and laundry, we take turns doing rounds throughout the night. As I walk from room to room, checking on the (hopefully) sleeping residents, I am often struck by the specialness, almost sacredness, of this work. People who can occasionally get on one’s nerves during the day are now so still, so vulnerable. I realize that I am entrusted with the wellbeing of several priceless human beings. They are all unique individuals who deserve my respect and my care.

I am most grateful for the opportunity to work the night shift, which gives me new insight and appreciation into the care of our residents.

I guess Gracie isn't always much help as a guard-dog! — I guess Gracie isn’t always much help as a guard-dog!

February 11, 2015

Elderly at St. Anne’s help teach virtues to young people

Guest Post by Lynn Lane (mother and organizer in the Club)

The past weekend Little Flowers Girls’ Club visited St. Anne’s Guest Home. The average age of members is eight. Generally at our meetings, the girls give a presentation on a saint and a virtue in which they have been working on. The residents at St. Anne’s provided an excellent audience for our young girls to make these presentations. From a six year old to ten year olds, these girls were not the least bit intimated by the kind people who reside at the Guest Home. I was so pleased that the residents were interested in the girls presentations.

Learning and practicing virtues can be difficult. Being with the elderly can teach these young girls about many virtues:

Faith…seeing our elderly brothers and sisters having confidence in their surroundings and caregivers. Their past and current experiences can teach the younger generation about trust in God regardless of our state in life.

Hope…as the elderly reach a place in life in which possibility of death and eternal rest becomes nearer, they can demonstrate hope in the Lord for their eternal peace and salvation. They can also demonstrate hope for their family who have gone before them and who will be left behind on earth with in confidence in prayer.

Love of God…the elderly can demonstrate to the youthful their love of God through regular Mass attendance and adoration which are so beautifully provided within their home. They can also demonstrate this through the way in which they decorate their apartments or rooms and how charitable they are to others for the glory of God.

Love of Our Neighbor…living in tight-knit circumstances particularly after being independent and industrious for the majority of their lives can create hardships and more opportunity to show love of neighbor through compassion and patience for their neighbors. Just as living at home with our families we sacrifice to make others happy and have patience when things can become annoying this is ten-fold in a living environment with multiple people.

Obedience…the elderly demonstrate obedience by following the rules established in the setting in which they are living, by being civic minded, by being good examples to the children through their interactions with others. Most of all they demonstrate their obedience to God by serving Him, loving others and accepting help from those who are trying to glorify God through a ministry of love and assistance.

Piety…the elderly can demonstrate this by desiring always to do that which is pleasing to God. They can express this through actions and conversations with staff, visitors and neighbors.

Humility…as our bodies age they can disappoint us through limitations and pain. It is a humbling experience. The elderly are phenomenal examples of persevering despite their bodies limitations. They can show us how to glorify God through the things they are able to accomplish, especially creatively accomplish.

Industry…we can learn from the elderly and from the staff and leaders at the Guest Home. They work hard to make the lives happy and healthy for those that are living there. Doing their work to glorify God.

Truthfulness…when our elderly friends can share their experiences with us through dialogue. The good times and the bad. Reminding us of how God has been ever present in their lives.

February 4, 2015

National Snack Food Month

There’s lots of information out there about snacking, and lots of options for non-mealtime munching. As our society becomes busier, snacking has become even more common. At St. Anne’s, our residents are not exempt from this cultural trend; they are provided with three snacks a day, if they wish.

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Unfortunately, snacking is often not so much about satisfying hunger and nutritional needs as it is due to habit and gratifying our taste buds.

Nonetheless, we can make healthy choices when we snack. An article by May Clinic provides some suggestions for 100-calorie snacks and has many other helpful hints. Snacking may actually be a healthy choice to help you avoid bingeing, according to this same source. This can also keep your blood sugars healthy, according to an informative article by AARP. Planning ahead and divvying out appropriate portions is also a smart move for healthy snacking habits.

Fruits and vegetables are a good choice in that they provide needed vitamins and minerals and also fewer calories than many other choices. Whole-grain snacks are another good option, as they “are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which give you energy with staying power,” according to this Mayo Clinic article. Low-fat whole-grain crackers, whole-grain pretzels and whole-grain crispbreads are a few suggestions. Various sources also laud the use of nuts as a snack food; they provide needed protein and, due to the longer time they take to digest, they make you feel full longer (AARP article). They also, according to one online source for seniors, “are a rich source of antioxidants, healthy fats and calories.” Nuts can be a great alternative to chips and “junk food” when you’re craving something salty and crunchy. If you need some protein, boiled eggs can also be a good choice, says this source for seniors. Some other healthy ideas are: Rice cakes, granola, trail mix, and dried fruit.

Dairy products can also be beneficial, as they are a good source of calcium and provide protein; be careful, though, of the extra sugar or fat contained in some of these. Low calorie/light yogurt, for example, is a nutritious option.

As people age, fiber is something to look for. Dietary fiber, according to helpguide.org, along with helping with bowel regularity, can also decrease risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes; it can also “improve the health of your skin, help you lose weight, and boost your immune system and overall health.” This article continues to point out that our digestive systems become less efficient as we age and thus fiber becomes more important. It is suggested that women over 50 get over 20 grams daily, and men, at least 30. With this goal in mind, snacks such as whole grains, wheat cereals, barley, oatmeal, beans, nuts, carrots, celery, and tomatoes, apples, berries, citrus fruits, and pears are healthy options.

Unfortunately, as we age, our metabolism decreases which can easily lead to “putting on the pounds.”

As we get older, along with healthy eating between meals, sufficient hydration throughout the day is very important. According to this same helpguide, people can be more susceptible to dehydration when they get older because they “lose some of the ability to regulate fluid levels and our sense of thirst is may not be as sharp.” Remember to drink plenty of water (8-10 glasses a day). Doing so can even curb your appetite and reduce your “need” for a snack.

February 4, 2015

Furniture for Sale

St. Anne’s Guest Home

2 love seats

Good condition

$50/piece

Call Sr. Rebecca at 701-746-9401.