Kiwanis Hears about Seniors

Arthurene Davis, director of the Jasper County Senior Center, and Donna Graybill, Director of Nursing at the Retreat Nursing Home were the guest speakers at Monday’s Monticello Kiwanis Club meeting.

Ms. Davis told everyone that the door to the senior center are open to them five days a week. She said it has come a long way in the process of beautification. Ms. Davis said she ad recently acquired new blinds, and now was in need of someone to install them.

She talked about enhancing the lives of the senior citizens that the center serves, saying that they don’t want the seniors to come out and just sit. They play games, she said. Les Steele comes once a month and provides music which they love, and they have another entertainer that also comes monthly.

She told of the annual veteran’s breakfast at the center which was attended by 100 people this year.

She invited all present to the senior party that will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. She said it will be a Christmas celebration filled with cheer.

Ms. Davis talked about budget cuts, and said so far she was still doing o.k., but she is concerned.

Ms. Graybill said she is still new to the Retreat, having only begun work there a few weeks ago. And, she had nothing but praise for the family atmosphere and the good care that residents get at the Retreat.

Ms. Graybill said she had been a registered nurse for some 20 years, having worked 11 years at the health department, and the last eight years she has worked with hospice.

She said in working with hospice she visited 25 long term care facilities around the state, and she said she knows how they operate and how they appear.

She said that the Retreat is one of the smallest in the state, and it has people waiting in line to get in. Dr. Laura Moore is the medical director, and she is always available. Ms. Graybill talked about the benefit of the Retreat being adjacent to the hospital both for emergency services and for therapy services.

She said what a benefit it is that the staff and the residents know each other. She also said she has a great activities director, Penny Coffey, and said the Retreat Christmas party is today, Dec. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m.

She also talked about how much the music means to the seniors. “People react to music.”

Ms. Graybill said the staff is awesome; they have such a love for the residents. She also said the Retreat has a five-star rating, another thing to be proud of.