Page 20 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria June 2014

feature story
Just Like Home
Since its founding, Apostolic Christian Home of Eureka has
expanded from a Health Care Center for residents requiring skilled
nursing to include independent living units and a special memory
support unit created for Alzheimers and dementia patients.
Apostol i c Chri sti an Homes 22-bed state-of-the-art speci al
memory care uni t, Hei terl and, provi des a pl ace that meets
dementi a resi dents physi cal , emoti onal , mental , and spi ri tual
needs in accordance with Psalm 71:9: Cast me not off in the
time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength fails.
A
nonprofi t Chri sti an reti rement communi ty, Apostol i c
Chri sti an Home of Eureka i s centered around fami l y
and focused on providing for residents needs at every
stage of life.
Dedicated on January 16, 1966, Apostolic Christian Home is
exactly what its name implies a home. Through a staff mem-
bers kind word, smile, or considerate gesture, each resident is
able to experience all the comfort and love a true family brings
whi l e mai ntai ni ng the i ndependence and freedom to preserve
their dignity and self-respect.
Exceptional Care for a Better Quality of Life
By Sara Browning
Apostolic Christian
Home of Eureka
Staff and residents develop a special bond as they interact.
June 2014 Peoria Healthy Cells Magazine Page 21
Our smaller 22-bed unit creates a sense of family that makes
residents feel safe and happy here, says Carrie Franklin, RN,
Director of Heiterland. Translated from German, Heiterland means
cheerful country.
Heiterland is celebrating its 20
th
anniversary this summer. Our
goal at Heiterland is to provide our dementia residents the best
quality of life at every stage of the disease, says Carrie. We
create an environment that allows our residents to feel as if they
are at home with family.
Indeed, Heiterland has everything residents need to feel secure
in their surroundings. A kitchen leads into a private dining room
where residents can choose from several menu options. Follow-
ing a delicious meal, residents may lounge in recliners or engage
in activities.
Resident rooms are located just down the hall. Residents and
families are encouraged to furnish their room with their own bed-
spread, pictures, lamps, and chairs to create an environment
that feels like home. We encourage residents families to bring
in family pictures and photo albums, colorful drawings from the
grandchildren, and anything that reminds residents of being at
home, says Carrie.
Outdoors, residents are welcome to stroll through the beauti-
ful enclosed courtyard. Our courtyard is very functional for our
residents, explains Carrie. We have raised flower beds as well
as a walking path so residents know where to go.
Experiencing Genuine Care
Apostolic Christian Homes dedicated staff of RNs, LPNs, and
CNAs minister to the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of
each resident 24 hours a day. Paula Stoller, a registered nurse
at Apostolic Christian Home for six years, says it is important
for staff to learn to see things from the standpoint of a resident
living with dementia so staff can better understand how to ease
residents difficult moments.
Many times our residents with dementia may feel sad or
frustrated that they cannot do everything they used to be able
to. Knowing what motivates them, what makes them feel good,
what is important to them, their interests, their hobbies, and their
background can help us know how to make life better for each
resident, she says.
Staff members will often go out of their way to make a resi -
dents day a bit brighter. I have often witnessed staff go above
and beyond their job description, Paula explains. For example,
we have a resident in Heiterland who loves spaghetti. Sometimes,
a staff member will go to a restaurant and pick up spaghetti for
her especially. We become very close to our residents. They are
very much an extended family.
As an RN, part of Paulas responsibilities include helping
residents family members understand their loved ones behav-
ior patterns. Oftentimes, family members are grieving for their
loved one and for the loss they are experiencing because of the
dementia, Paula explains. One way we help our residents and
their families is by turning their attention to what residents can do
rather than what they cant do. For example, we have a gentle-
man here who may say only one or two words to a staff member;
yet he can read an entire book about birds out loud to our staff.
Its really amazing when you realize the capabilities our resi-
dents still have. There is a joy in being able to create meaningful
moments for those who cannot create them for themselves!
Feeling Good Again
The staff at Apostol i c Chri sti an Home stri ves to mai ntai n
residents functionality as long as possible by engaging them in
Residents and staff share together in a variety of activities.
Social interaction is an important part of the residents lives.
Page 22 Healthy Cells Magazine Peoria June 2014
feature story continued
activities designed to keep their minds stimulated. Activities are part
of a care plan that is designed according to each residents specific
needs and goals.
We try various activities with residents until we find something that
clicks with each of them on any given day, says Carrie. This is impor-
tant because our residents needs change daily.
Activities are designed for groups as well as individuals. Taking a
group of men who love to fish to the Bass Pro Shop is an example,
Carrie says, adding: Im always on the lookout for things I can use that
will make our residents happy. I was thrilled the other day when I was
able to modify tackle boxes for our residents who like fishing. It makes
them happy to do what they used to do before they came here. Making
them happy is very gratifying!
Activities also help residents feel that they have accomplished some-
thing worthwhile and meaningful. Through these types of exercises, resi-
dents maintain their sense of purpose in life. For example, one gentleman
who lives at Heiterland sweeps the floor while some of the women love
to bake cookies and hand them out to other residents.
Residents also have access to therapy and restorative programs.
These programs create a plan to keep our residents active and inde-
pendent, says Carrie. One activity, the balloon toss, helps maintain large
motor skills. Residents have fun using a pool noodle to hit the balloon
back and forth.
Nurturing Betty
Jeff Schumacher visits his mother, Betty, as often as he can in Heiter-
land. Bettys husband, Lloyd, who lives with macular degeneration, came
to Apostolic Christian Home around the same time as his wife and lives
in an apartment at the Home.
Eureka was our home, says Jeff. We grew up here, and we loved it.
Because of that, I knew Apostolic Christian Home was the place I wanted
my parents to receive their care.
But choosing Apostolic Christian Home meant more to Jeff than keep-
ing close ties with his hometown. The staffs genuine love, compassion,
and kindness made a significant impression.
First and foremost, Jeff says, the staff is wonderful! The level of love
my parents have received has been above and beyond anything I would
have expected. The staff always greets residents with a smile, a touch
on the shoulder or even a hug, and they truly care about my mothers
well-being. My mother, for example, loves to serve other people. The
staff designs activities to give her opportunities to continue to serve. If
she were not allowed to serve, her sense of self-worth would diminish.
In addition to staff services, Jeff appreciates the fact that he is pro-
vided an opportunity to meet with those who care for his mother and
share his concerns. Ultimately what impresses me is that I have the
opportunity to sit down with the staff and voice any comments or ques-
tions and receive quality feedback. Its just one more way Apostolic
Christian Home is exceptional. I am forever grateful for the staff and for
the people who volunteer here and commit themselves to making my
mothers life better even for one glimpse of time.
A provider of quality care for residents with Alzheimers disease and
other forms of dementia for 20 years, Apostolic Christian Home allows
residents to live their best life while receiving support on every level
as well as the love and compassion that allows residents to thrive.
Compassion coupled with professional care at every stage of dementia
combines to ensure residents and their families are happy to call Apos-
tolic Christian home.
For more information on Apostolic Christian Home
of Eureka, visit www.each.org or call 309-467-2311.
Apostolic Christian Home is located at
610 West Cruger Ave, Eureka, IL.
Baking cookies is a favorite activity for the residents. After mak-
ing cookies, they will deliver them to other residents and staff.
This resident paints a birdhouse as one
of his handyman activities.