ERH is proud to announce that two members of our executive team have been selected for positions with LeadingAge Ohio, a statewide senior advocacy organization!  R. Douglas Spitler, President and CEO of ERH (above photo), was appointed to the LeadingAge Public Policy Congress as one of four representatives from LeadingAge Ohio.   This means that he will represent the state association and its members in identifying and setting national senior service public policy priorities. He is also a past chair of the LeadingAge Ohio Board of Directors.

Laura Lamb, Vice President of residential housing and healthcare at ERH was also selected to join LeadingAge Ohio.  She oversees all management aspects for Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community and Deupree House and Deupree Cottages, which serve about 450 residents and employ 300 people.

Congratulations to both members of our team, continue to make us proud!

ERH VP of Residential Housing and Healthcare, Laura Lamb

Our Wonderful Driver Gary!

At ERH, one thing we are very proud of is the dedication of our staff, and their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.  Driver Gary Morgenroth is the perfect example of this enthusiasm and devotion. Recently, he took a busload of Marjorie P. Lee residents to Union Terminal to see the OmniMax film Rocky Mountain Express. Although the tickets had been reserved in advance, they were mistakenly sold before the residents arrived.  Gary found himself with a busload of disappointed residents.  Since Gary is a current volunteer docent for the Historical Society Museum and has worked previously as a city surveyor, he used his knowledge to take the residents on an extensive tour of the city.  The residents were thrilled and commented that Gary’s Cincinnati tour was so interesting and informative that they would recommend everyone receive one!  Great job Gary, thanks for saving the day!

If you are interested in brightening the lives of older adults, visit our Volunteer Page, Deupree House Meals on Wheels Page, or the ERH Home Page.

That’s what makes the videos we just finished for Deupree House and Marjorie P. Lee so wonderful. Residents get to share their smiles and their stories about what makes these communities home for them. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy them!

Delivering a hot meal to Cincinnati area seniors takes as little as an hour a week - but it can leave you feeling good for days!

I didn’t even have to ring her doorbell once.

Every time I’ve delivered for Deupree Meals on Wheels since our ERH office staff adopted a route, it never failed that Mrs. Smith (not her real name) would not answer her door before the second push of the doorbell. But that particular morning, she was at the door waiting.

And smiling broadly.

“You’re a familiar face!” she said as she opened to door to me that morning. “I just love seeing you folks. It makes my heart sing.”

That was it – a few very simple words describing what I felt delivering a meal to Mrs. Smith and the others on our route.

I had never had any trouble talking my own reason for delivering meals. I love the interaction and enjoy meeting the people we serve. For me, just this one simple act brings our ERH mission to life: “We enrich the lives of older adults in a person-centered, innovative and spiritually based way.”

But here was a woman who was giving thanks not just for a meal, but for the people she’s meeting. In those simple words that Mrs. Smith  articulated everything I felt. I couldn’t help but feel good. It’s what I think every person who delivers for Deupree Meals on Wheels – not to mention any other ERH volunteer -  believes every time they finish their route. Their heart is singing.

This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the people like Mrs. Smith who cross my path wherever it leads. They are just one of the many blessings that we encounter in these topsy-turvy times.

I can’t wait to see if I’ll have to ring the doorbell next time I’m delivering to her door.

It takes as little as one hour a week to deliver for Deupree Meals on Wheels. For more information about this and other volunteer opportunities, call Sierra Sherman at (513) 533-5003 or visit www.epsicopalretirement.com/volunteeropportunities.

A rainbow of color covered the Deupree House event center in October as residents showed off their handiwork – over 70 hand-crafted fleece blankets – destined for the shoulders of some of Cincinnati’s less fortunate to help them stay warm this winter.

Members of Deupree House’s Outreach Committee – a group of residents organized this past summer to do charitable work – created the blankets for “Blanketed with Love”, a local group that distributes donated blankets to people who are homeless, homebound, poor, ill or disadvantaged. They fashioned the blankets using instructions from the organization, tying together two pieces  of fleece to create a layer of warmth during the cold winter months, or even just when someone feels the need to wrap them- selves up for a little while.

“The committee’s goal when they started was 50 blankets,” said Rochelle Dietz, Life Enrichment Director at Deupree House. “They wound up finishing 75 by the middle of October – a real testament to their concern and determination to help other people.”

The blankets will be distributed throughout churches and faith organizations that are part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network to offer meals and overnight accommodations to people in need.

To find out more about Deupree House, call Gini Tarr at (513) 561-4200 or visit www.deupreehouse.com.

]]> http://episcopalretirement.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/blanketed-with-love-at-deupree-house/feed/ 1 episcopalretirement Residents are "blanketed with love" Residents are "blanketed with love" http://episcopalretirement.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/the-garden-that-jack-built/ http://episcopalretirement.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/the-garden-that-jack-built/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:26:07 +0000 episcopalretirement http://episcopalretirement.wordpress.com/?p=41 ]]> I’m often amazed and awed by the talents of residents living in ERH communities. A great case in point: Jack Fix, resident at Deupree House.

Since he and his wife Helen moved in several years ago, Jack has showcased his many artistic talents in a variety of ways. His art – a wonderful handmade collection of sculpted wood and other media – have been placed on display at Deupree House. He has also offered his expertise to the Council on Lifelong Engagement as a speaker to students at various schools.

But Jack is also an avid gardener. He worked with us on a video showcasing the work he’s done on a garden located near the Deupree House kitchen. Once a desolate spot, Jack has worked with the helping hands of other Deupree House residents to develop the plot into a sanctuary for relaxation and reflection, all the while taking in beauty that Mother Nature has bestowed. Take a look for yourself and enjoy!

Is this a common question in your life? Many of us jam-pack so much stuff into our daily routines, seemingly there’s no time to relax for just one minute, let alone exercise. Lack of time is one of the most common excuses for not having a decent fitness regimen. But do you realize that in the time it might take you to go through your e-mail, you could fit in a good workout? We’re not talking about giving up 60 minutes either; all you need is 10.

Just 10?

Forget the “all or nothing” mentality when it comes to exercise. Fitness does not live or die by 60 minute workouts; there is middle ground. Short spurts of exercise, when they accumulate, have been shown to share similar benefits of longer workouts.

Your body will reap numerous benefits just by becoming more active. This approach is perfect for times when you want to start off slowly and build up a routine. And, you have the opportunity right in the convenience of your work place!

Easier Than You Think

Treat these 10 minutes like you would a regular workout. Take 1 – 2 minutes to warm up and get the muscles ready, including stretching. Follow with at least 7 minutes of exercise at a medium or high intensity. Then make sure to include a 60 second cool down.

Since it’s brief, it’s important to work at a moderate to high intensity to obtain all of the benefits. Work at raising your heart and respiration rates. Just like regular workouts, try to include cardio, strength training and flexibility work in your shortened routine. Either knock out all three during the 10 minutes, or plan a 10 minute segment for each area.

Example: Push out 10 minutes of cardio on the stationary bike. For strength, do push-ups, wall sits or lift dumbbells. For flexibility, it’s helpful to just stretch every day. Work different muscle groups and keep it simple. After 10 minutes, you will feel healthier and be on your way to developing solid fitness habits.

But I Still Don’t Have Time

It only takes 30 minutes a day, broken up into manageable chunks of 10. Start with a quick exercise when you wake up. The second session? A lunch break or afternoon break is the perfect time to re-energize and get the blood flowing again. The last 10 minute blitz could come in the evening, even while you are watching TV. It’s an ideal way to involve the family as well. Go for a power walk after dinner with your spouse or ride bikes with the kids.

It is all about convenience; if you try, you can fit exercise into your schedule no matter where you are. Do it at home or at work, outside or in the living room. Start building exercise spurts into your daily routine and you’ll start feeling better.

ERH offers “Get Fit for Fall” program to staff

During the months of September and October, ERH will show their staff members how this is all possible! Beginning September 19th,  ERH will offer their staff members weekly walking groups, a variety of 10 minute fitness classes such as stretching, strength training, yoga and more. ERH will host Family Swim Nights at the Marjorie P. Lee and Deupree House pools, both located in Hyde Park. ERH will also be sponsoring 10 minute foot and hand massages for relaxation.

At the end of the six week “Get Fit for Fall” program, ERH will host their first All Company Walk!

ERH wants their staff members and YOU to live well into the future. For more information on the wellness programs at Deupree Houseand Marjorie P. Lee, visit deupreehouse.com/wellness and marjorieplee.com/wellness.

We’re off and running!

Episcopal Retirement Homes is starting a blog … and it is off to an amazing and awesome start! Just getting a look at all we can do here is wonderfully refreshing.

Of course, as we continue to build this presence we will look to you, our readers, for input on potential topics. We’ll certainly talk about what’s happening around the ERH family of communities, in-home and community-based services. But we also want to focus on the people that make our communities and services so terrific in the first place. After all, they are the heart of who we are!

There will be other items of interest, too, based on your feedback. Do you want to read about care options? What about what’s going on with something like Alzheimer’s or dementia care? Would tips on staying active and healthy at home be of interest?

Please let us know using the comments feature here, or email us at erhmarketing@erhinc.com. After all, this blog is for you! We look forward to talking with you in the months and years to come!