SIDNEY — Fair Haven Shelby County Home made some definite advances in 2015, inside the building and outside also.
“The biggest project completed was our generator replacement project, which was completed late in the year. We made a significant investment in the future of our building by purchasing a state-of-the-art 694 amp generator (200 KW) that replaced the two older generators (90 KW and 60 KW) we have used for a long time,” said Administrator Anita Miller.
Her report continues:
These units not only improve upon the backup power provided in the past, but will also nicely accommodate the needs of the new addition when it is complete.
Fair Haven’s leadership team continued to work with Freytag and Associates in order to iron out the details of the building addition. The group’s goal is to ensure that the building will provide everything needed in the present day, plus be able to keep up with the evolving demands of the long-term care industry.
It is a privilege to always work to improve the lives of Fair Haven residents, and this year we focused on staff education and diversifying the programs we offer residents.
Music played a major role in resident life this year. Fair Haven became an official Music & Memory facility in 2015. This program benefits residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia by using individualized playlists of a resident’s favorite music. The Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman Office provided Fair Haven with five free iPods, earphones, and an iTunes gift card to start the program, which has been successful and popular.
In addition, the Sidney High School marching band brought their half-time show on the Fair Haven lawn on Oct. 23 before the team went on to play at Piqua that evening. They put on a spectacular program that had residents clapping hands and tapping toes.
Residents were also involved in a Facebook video produced in partnership with the Sidney Post’s video department. They performed a routine to “Hang On, Sloopy” before the big game against Michigan.
In 2015, Fair Haven sent 17 employees through the State Tested Nursing Assistant program at Piqua’s Upper Valley Career Center, and the results were excellent. While other facilities across the country struggled to find and keep aides, the plan to “home-grow our own” STNA’s proved to be a worthwhile effort.
Fair Haven also continued to be a popular site for nursing student clinical placement during 2015. Residents and staff always welcome new faces warmly, especially students and interns who are driven to invest in residents’ well-being, medically and socially.
The Resident Council officers continued to advocate for their fellow residents at Fair Haven by discussing the building project and offering opinions. The three officers met with Fair Haven leadership over lunch during the summer to discuss the portions of the project that were most important to the residents. They analyzed potential floor plans and room-arrangement mockups so that the architectural team could incorporate those desires into the plan.
Residents enjoyed a list of destination activities over the past year. Fair Haven partnered with the Inspired By art studio, which hosts residents four times a month for art projects. Groups of residents also went on trips to Lima’s Old Barn Out Back for lunch, to Piqua to see Christmas light displays, and many Walmart shopping trips too.
Experiences like these help enrich the lives of residents and keep them connected to what is happening in the larger community. They remind these senior citizens that they are not just residents of Fair Haven, but they are an honored and important part of Shelby County’s population.
