Residents’ Van Trip – Concert at Leicester Commons
Our residents enjoyed New Orleans style music performed by The Dixieland Stomp Read more
Dog Days of Summer Party!
“Dog Days” are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the northern hemisphere, they usually fall between early July and early September. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather.
We had a great time welcoming “the dog days of summer” this afternoon. Some of our canine friends paid us a visit to spend the afternoon with our residents. Our talented activities team put together a fun little skit called “Old Dogs and New Tricks”. Later, our residents sang along with some old ‘dog’ and ‘summer’ themed classic songs like “Lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer”, “How much is that doggie in the window” and “Hound Dog”. Our doggie visitors were presented with home-made treats and doggie bandanas. The residents enjoyed hot-dogs prepared in our kitchen and fresh watermelons.
Here are some pictures from the party:
Communication Difficulties and Seniors
There are many different hearing, language, and speech problems that affect the senior community. By understanding the symptoms, seniors can seek the treatment they need and identify the problem as early as possible. At Odd Fellows Home we provide audiology services which involve an Otoscopic evaluation and a hearing screening. A licensed speech therapist also provides treatments to residents who have speech difficulties. A holistic treatment plan is created involving the physician and different departments like nursing, activities, rehabilitation, etc.
SeniorsList.com has listed below some common communication difficulties experienced by the senior population:
Hearing difficulties affect over 10 million seniors in the United States and the most common cause of this is presbycusis which is age-related hearing loss. This loss of hearing happens slowly, and first results in the difficulty to hear high-frequency sounds as someone talking. As this condition gets worse, lower-frequency sounds can become difficult to hear as well. Some of the symptoms include: difficulty hearing in noisy places, ringing in the ears, and voices sounding slurred or mumbled. It will also be easier to understand a man’s voice than a woman’s. While there is no cure for this condition, there are some treatments available with the most common being hearing aids. Of course any purchase of a hearing aid should be completed by licensed audiologist.
Aphasia is a condition where seniors experience impairment in language ability. Symptoms may include the inability to understand language, inability to form words or pronounce words, and inability to read or write. The major causes of aphasia are strokes and head injuries. And because of the complex nature of aphasia there is no universal treatment method. It presents itself differently in patients and, therefore, requires a team effort in providing a treatment plan. This may include a doctor, social worker, speech pathologist, psychologist, and occupational therapist. Overall treatment has been known to create positive outcomes when learning to adjust to these limitations in communication.
Dysarthria is a disorder that interferes with the normal production of speech. People who have dysarthria often have challenges with vocal quality, range, tone, strength in speech, and timing. Causes of dysarthria include degenerative disease (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, and ALS), embolic stroke, and traumatic brain injury. Treatment is typically done by speech pathologists and includes a variety of techniques.
If you notice a change in speech, memory, organization, or communication in general than it should be reported to your physician or the senior’s physician immediately. These problems can often occur when there is an underlying problem, so it’s important to address this as soon as possible.
Clarence Plant recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow
Hearty Congratulations to Clarence Plant on being recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow on July 21st 2011 by the Rotary International.
Mr. Douglas Detweiler, Rotary International presented this prestigious award to Clarence Plant, the Secretary and Board of Trustees of the Odd Fellows Home of Massachusetts. This award was presented to Clarence in recognition of his donations and his dedication to the Foundation.
Clarence has received many such recognitions for his charitable work and involvement with community issues such as his work with the City Manager’s Neighborhood Cabinet, the Inter-agency Council on Housing and Homelessness Leadership Council, and community organizations through the years, including Girls, Inc. of Worcester and YMCA of Central Massachusetts.
Annual Independence Day Cookout
Our biggest event, The Annual Odd Fellows Home Independence Day Cookout was on 30th June. Read more
Annual Independence Day BBQ
The much awaited event is finally here!
Our Annual Independence Day BBQ is eagerly anticipated not only by our residents, their families and our staff, but it is also a huge hit in the area among our friends, and loyal supporters.
We are Very Happy to Invite you to Our Annual Independence Day BBQ. Come and enjoy the delicious food barbequed by our own Barbeque Specialist and Secretary, Board of Trustees, SGM Clarence Plant. As a part of the evening’s festivities, we will also be honoring our resident veterans. There will be Uncle Sam and balloons for kids’ entertainment, so bring your little ones along. Black Sheep Band will be entertaining our guests that evening.
Date: Thursday, June 30th
Time: 4PM – 6PM
Venue: Odd Fellows Home, 104 Randolph Road, Worcester, MA 01606
RSVP by June 27th to the Receptionist at (508) 853-6687
Join us for an evening of fun and patriotism!!!
Nursing Home Week Celebrations
Nursing Home Week celebrations are under way at the Odd Fellows Home, this week is dedicated to the residents, families and staff of the home. Nursing Home week at the Odd Fellows Home is filled with fun activities that are enjoyed by all. This week is an opportunity for us to honor and appreciate all the staff for the dedication and commitment that they bring to their jobs throughout the year.
Below is an article from the American Health Care Association on the Nursing Home Week.
National Nursing Home Week® (NNHW) May 8 – 14, 2011
NNHW spotlights nursing home residents and staff and encourages all to celebrate those that make a positive difference in their lives every day. A supportive and caring environment, such as a nursing home, provides enrichment for residents and families to continue growing, learning and teaching through various ways. The week also provides an opportunity to honor all those who contribute to our nation’s nursing homes – residents, family members, employees and volunteers.
This year’s National Nursing Home Week® theme, “Fulfilling the Promise” – like the uniquely American phrase “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” – is all about living life to its fullest potential. We are familiar with the necessities of health care – e.g. medical treatments, nursing care, therapies and nutrition. What distinguishes long term and post-acute care from other health care settings is their focus on caring for the whole person.
“Fulfilling the Promise” means holistic care. This is seen when staff give comfort on difficult days, smile when sadness intrudes, hug when spirits sag, friendship to lighten a day, confidence when in doubt and companionship to counter fear and loneliness. “Fulfilling the Promise” produces meaningful, and most importantly, positive outcomes, satisfaction and an excellent working environment.
Content Source: American Health Care Association
Easter Bunny Visits
The Easter Bunny visited our residents on Easter Sunday 04.24.2011. Read more