SIDNEY — Wilson Health, Ohio Living Dorothy Love, city of Sidney, Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County and the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA are the co-sponsors of the annual Shelby County Health Fair, which is planned for Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA, 300 E. Parkwood, Sidney.
City of Sidney: A place to call home
Home.
For most of us, the very word evokes warm memories of catching sight of our front door, the embrace of loved ones, the smell and taste of freshly baked pastries, and the sound of pets welcoming us. Recently, Sidney residents who participated in the update of the comprehensive plan were asked for words that they used to describe Sidney – and the word used the by most respondents was home.
Like most cities, Sidney is a collection of neighborhoods. Three of the neighborhoods are designated as historic because of the variety of homes and buildings located within those neighborhoods. Many years ago when the city developed a master plan, it was decided that no child should be further than a half mile from a park. As a result, there are currently 21 neighborhood parks.
In fact, Sidney is home to more than 450 acres parkland, including the 226 acre nature preserve known as Tawawa Park. The park system includes more than 18 miles of recreational trails, sports complexes for both youth and adult leagues and a 612,000 gallon aquatic facility with a 30-foot high, 295-foot long spiral waterslide in which residents and visitors can cool off during the heat of Ohio summers.
Sidney is home to more than three dozen churches, including most major denominations. Each church community provides programming for their members and for visitors.
Arts and cultural venues also call Sidney home. Within Sidney, you’ll find exciting arts, cultural and social opportunities planned year round.
Sidney is a full-service community, and is therefore home to a professional police force, emergency medical and fire services, and world-class water and sewer utilities. Community residents rest well knowing these public services are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
A number of incredible health care providers also call Sidney home. Medical, dental, vision as well as non-traditional practitioners can be found in the area.
Strong healthcare partnerships and collaborative agreements also lead to better healthcare opportunities in the community. Wilson Health, the local hospital, holds the highest “A” ranking and has been named one of the safest hospitals for patients in the United States.
Sidney is home to premier educational opportunities. Public and private/parochial schools are available in Sidney. The educational philosophy here has never strayed from the old and very basic goal of giving young people the skills they need to become productive citizens. The schools provide their students with a wide variety of curricular and extracurricular activities –the opportunities are seemingly endless. Locally sponsored scholarships help send many graduates on to post-secondary educational institutions.
Sidney has more manufacturing jobs per capita than any other municipality in Ohio. Sidney is home to the world’s largest soybean processing plant. Sidney is home to the largest manufacturer of air conditioning compressors. Sidney is home to America’s number one selling refrigerated pizza. Half of the refrigerators that are in recreational vehicles are manufactured in Sidney. The work ethic of our citizenry is one of the primary reasons that Sidney’s employers have chosen to make Sidney their home.
Located along the Great Miami River, Sidney is also home to an extensive transportation network. With four interchanges on I-75, Sidney offers easy access to amenities beyond those found locally. There is a demand-response, origin to destination public transportation system that averages more than 48,000 passengers a year. There is a modern municipal airport with a 5,000-foot runway. There are also north-south, east-west connecting rail systems.
Sidney, Ohio is a community like no other — ideally located and attractive to business and industry, and Ideally attractive to families. Sidney is home!
Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County: 20th anniversary planned in 2017
Everyone at the Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County is looking forward to a very successful 2017.
Last year 41,098 visits were made to the center, and the organization is expecting even more this year. Almost 39 percent of those visits were for some type of exercise
For those who are 50 or better, the center provides a wide array of programs. Much of its emphasis is on living healthy. The center has many exercise programs for all levels of ability. There is chair exercise, chair yoga and chair volleyball. They also offer Move-n-Groove, which is faster paced for the more agile members. The new exercise room is well equipped with all the machines geared towards a healthy life style. There is also a certified personal trainer who will write a personalized routine for participants. A walking track is available year round for each person’s convenience.
The Senior Center offers its members two pool tables, a ping pong table, and a WII. For card enthusiasts, there is bridge, Texas hold ‘em, pinochle, euchre and bid euchre.
The choir is one of the best around. They enjoy performing at local nursing homes and other venues. If you enjoy singing, the choir has a spot for you.
The Hampton Inn graciously allows members to use its pool for Aqua Aerobics sessions twice a year. In the summer the center also has Aqua Aerobics at the Sidney Pool.
The center also offer quilting, crocheting, and knitting. Bingo and shuffleboard are scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays. One of its newer activities is Pickleball. This is a smaller version of tennis, but played with a whiffle ball.
The center also hosts six blood drives per year which includes a home cooked meal. Health luncheons are hosted by various agencies in the area. The center has a carry in with entertainment once a month. The entree is provided by Dorothy Love.
Do you like to dance? The center hosts four dances a year which are open to the public.
Members hold several fundraisers a year. The annual spring card party is always in April. The center usually offers other fundraisers during the year.
The center will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on Sept. 9. They are in the planning stages, so stay tuned for more details.
They also offer bid euchre on Tuesday nights and regular euchre on Thursday nights. Once a month, they have Friday night out.
As you can see, we offer programs that promote education, healthy living, recreation and socialization.
The Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County‘s membership fees are only $30 per calendar year (only $2.50 per month) ($35 if you live out of county). All of the activities listed above (except dances) are included in the membership fee.
The center’s hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, call the center at 937 492-5266 or stop in at 304 S. West Ave. for a tour.
The center is supported by the United Way, the city of Sidney, County Commissioners, grants, membership fees and fundraisers.
Sidney-Shelby County YMCA: Finding new ways To care
The year 2017 brought many opportunities for the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA to seek new initiatives to improve the health of those who live and work within Sidney and Shelby County. This community integrated health model strives to intentionally build and strengthen relationships between traditional healthcare systems and community-based organizations in order to reach more people and to help them live the healthiest lives possible.
Recent studies show that a person’s health can be significantly influenced by what occurs at home, our workplace, and in our day-to-day living.
As part of the YMCA mission to promote individual, family and community health and continue collaborations with area organizations to promote wellness, the YMCA has begun to initiate evidence-based community centered health programs with the support of other organizations such as Wilson Health, Dorothy Love, the Shelby County Health Department, as well as key individuals. These programs strive to address critical needs and provide ways of closing the gap for those of all income levels and circumstances who struggle with chronic disease as it becomes more and more prevalent in our society.
One such program includes the continuation and expansion of new partnerships for providing the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, serving the Sidney-Shelby community for the last three years, where many individuals experience real results from the year-long program in which instructor-led small group classes encourage lifestyle changes which help to foster improved health outcomes.
New for 2017 was a YMCA Parkinson Exercise Program, led by Erica Boerger, who approached the YMCA in February 2016 about conducting this type of program in order to complete her doctoral work in occupational therapy. An advisory board was established and began meeting in August 2016 to help guide Boerger and the Y to create this new program and to maximize the impact on those in the community with Parkinson’s Disease. Capital renovations to improve access and other necessary acoustic and safety adaptations in the new space for this program were partially funded by a Monarch Legacy Grant through the Community Foundation of Shelby County.
Within the first few weeks of running the program, nearly 30 individuals were registered and participating regularly. Classes consisted of a variety of exercises to improve strength, mobility, fine motor skills, and cognitive activities specifically designed to target and improve the most prevalent symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Several participants began to experience and share improvements ranging from basic activities of daily living to improved balance and a reduction in the number of falls.
“We are now treating patients who have hope that they might be able to improve their quality of life by attending this program. That maybe they might be able to tie their shoes tomorrow, or dress themselves without help. Or go to the grocery store without feeling as if they are going to fall down,” said Bob Schroerlucke, a member of the class and advisory committee for the Parkinson Exercise Program.
“I believe that the success of both the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program and the Parkinson Exercise Program are both directly related to the strength of our partnerships with key community partners,” said David O’Leary, Y operations director. “Sharing expertise, space, staff and resources provides the framework to serve more people and achieve greater results that otherwise would not be possible if we were doing it on our own.”
Whether it’s providing programs which serve individuals with pre-diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis, high blood pressure, or other health issues, the Y will continue to seek partnerships with local organizations to create integrated health programs to better serve the needs of the Sidney Shelby County community.
Wilson Health Hospice: Celebrating 30 years together
Wilson Health Hospice is a not-for-profit organization providing quality care in Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Miami and Shelby Counties for the past 30 years! Wilson Health Hospice is a path of hope. It is a program designed to bring quality of life and compassionate care to people facing a life-limiting illness or terminal disease. Hospice care involves a team approach including physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, therapists and trained volunteers.
Wilson Health Hospice specializes in pain control and symptom management. Our team believes that everyone has the right to live pain-free and to be cared for with dignity. The hospice team also helps to diminish the feeling of isolation often experienced by a patient and their family. The emotional and spiritual support provided by the hospice social workers and chaplains allows patients and family to deal with unresolved issues and feel more at peace.
Thanks to generous donations, we are able to cover the cost of all patient medications, medical equipment, provide care for those with no means to pay and provide additional services such as music therapy and massage therapy. Hospice care can be provided wherever the patient calls home: a private residence, a nursing home, assisted living, independent living or retirement center.
When faced with a life-limiting illness or terminal diagnosis, there is not just one right decision. There is no “one size fits all” answer. Everyone is unique with a special set of hopes and dreams. Most people have a proposed bucket list-either on paper or in their heart — that they hope to accomplish in their lifetime. It seems as though the strength of a person’s will to live is impacted, if not determined, by the number of items on the bucket list that still need to be accomplished and discussions that need to happen.
Wilson Health Hospice in partnership with The Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County and Mary Rutan Hospital will be hosting free screenings and discussion of the PBS FRONTLINE film Being Mortal. Based on the best-selling book by Atul Gawande, MD, this documentary explores the hopes of patients and their families facing terminal illness and their relationships with the physicians who treat them. The first screening with be held at The Senior Center of Sidney-Shelby County on June 6, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. and the second screening will be held at the Crossroads Business Center in Bellefontaine, Ohio on June 28, 2017, at 12:30 p.m. The events are free and open to the public, meals will be provided. For additional information and to RSVP please call Wilson Health Home Care & Hospice at 937-498-9335.
