Pioneer Celebrates 85 Years of Service!

Express A PioneerCare Publication Vol 62 Number 4 October-November 2013 email residents@pioneercare.org www.pioneercare.org phone 218.998.1500 Pioneer Celebrates 85 Years of Service! If you d rather receive Express by email, please contact: steveg@pioneercare.org PIONEERcare Pioneer Home, Inc 1006 Sheridan Street S Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Non-Profit Organization US POSTAGE PAID Permit #56 Fergus Falls, MN ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Express Page 2 Serving Since 1928 by Steve Guttormson, Marketing & Development Director The year was 1928. The silent film, Wings, was voted best picture in the first-ever Academy Awards. Johnny Weissmuller, who later played Tarzan in the movies, won two gold medals for swimming at the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Maya Angelo, Rosemary Clooney, Shirley Temple, Fats Domino and Jimmy Dean were babies. In Fergus Falls, a high school senior named Julius Quello was playing basketball for the Otters, according to a Daily Journal story by Tom Hintgen a few years back. They had a great team. Their only losses were to their rivals in Moorhead. Other team members included Chuck Severn, Parmar Carlson, James Grina, Maynard Lee, Vincent Gates, Robert Harris and Willis Alexander. The Ford Model A was the most popular American car in 1928. October 7 was an important day in Fergus Falls that year. The very first residents moved into what was then called Pioneer Memorial Home that day. Eleven people made their home in the just-completed building that fall. It was the first organization of its kind in Otter Tail County. Two years earlier, a small group of citizens had met in the basement of Bethlehem Lutheran Church to study its feasibility. They later elected a board of directors that included A.G. Anderson, president; the Reverend H.H. Hagen, vice president; M.T. Moen, secretary; P.M. Ree, treasurer; the Reverend E. Pederson, the Reverend H.M. Thoreson, the Reverend A. J. Quello, the Reverend S.C. Simonson, and M.H. Stang. Pastor Thoreson collected applications from prospective residents before the movein date. Quite a number have applied for admission but do not wish to move during the winter. Temporary accommodations can be given to quite a number in the winter, wrote the Fergus Falls Daily Journal on December 8, 1928. Pioneer Memorial Home was dedicated the afternoon of July 20, 1929. Bethlehem, First and Zion Lutheran Churches held special services that morning. Augustana and Hope Lutheran Churches joined as sponsoring congregations years later. Hilda Slind was the first to run the operation. She initiated interest in starting a Ladies Hilda Slind Aide society to benefit Pioneer. The Sunshine Society held its first organizational meeting on June 26, 1929. Members were to pay monthly dues of 15 cents and prepare at least one item to be sold at the fall sale. Lillian Saure was the first licensed administrator, serving in that capacity from 1965 to 1975. During that time, Pioneer was licensed for 81 beds, including 47 nursing care and 34 boarding care residents. Other leaders came after, including Carmon Jackson and John Richards. Today, we are pleased to have Nathan Johnson at the helm as PioneerCare CEO/Administrator. If you are receiving care from Pioneer, your Personal Health Information (PHI) will not be used for marketing purposes without your authorization if/when PioneerCare receives financial compensation for marketing purposes that generates a profit. You may be contacted as part of a fundraising effort for PioneerCare. As a resident, tenant or client, you have the right to opt out of receiving communications regarding fundraising activities. PioneerCare cannot sell your PHI without your authorization.

Express Page 3 A Christ-Like Way by Harry Olson, Chaplain Our PioneerCare Mission Statement directs every staff person to care for those we serve in a Christ like way. Sound heavy? Definitely. You may ask what in the world does this look like? For us it is living a relationship that establishes accountability and builds trust with each person and family under our umbrella of care. While this may sound a large obligation to manage, it is from a biblical perspective a great privilege. The scriptures continually call the whole church into loving action caring for the most vulnerable persons and families in our communities and world. This biblical theme of caring for others with the greatest needs is one of the most repeated mandates recorded in the bible. The importance of serving the most vulnerable in our communities cannot be overstated. PioneerCare, as an extension of the Church, is dedicated to this extremely important mission and has been doing it for eighty five years. Knowing the significance of this calling to serve and doing so is a privilege that leads us to Christ living among us. Jesus says that when you do it to the least of these you do it to me. Leading Sunday or midweek worship, sitting with a resident who is ill or visiting with another who grieves living alone helps me and all our staff know the face of Christ with us. These real time experiences are very humbling and at the same time gratifying. It makes what we do at PioneerCare very meaningful and a humble privilege of service. Malik Twedt (standing), Tanner Johnson (left) and Riley Johnson (right). Summer Help PioneerCare s maintenance staff grew in numbers during the recent summer months, thanks to a youth employment program through the Minnesota Workforce Center. Malik Twedt, Tanner Johnson and Riley Johnson worked on a variety of maintenance projects and housekeeping tasks under the supervision of Brad Bushinger, PioneerCare s director of environmental services. One such project involved landscaping improvements at the south entrance to PioneerCare Suites on Sheridan Avenue. We want to expose them to different types of work while they re with us, so they get a well-rounded experience, Brad says. PioneerCare has had a relationship with the Rural Minnesota CEP Program since 1996. Chad Nelson, youth director for the program, routinely stops by to see how participants are doing. When asked what they enjoyed most about working at Pioneer for the summer, they agreed that working with the people was their favorite thing. What was their least favorite? Picking weeds! PioneerCare Foundation supports the mission of PioneerCare. If you are interested in learning more about contributing, please contact Steve Guttormson at 218.739.7723 or by email at steveg@pioneercare.org. Donors may also give online through GiveMN.org. A direct link is found on our web page at www.pioneercare.org, or if you have a smart phone, you can scan the QR code at right and it will take you directly to our donor page.

r a d n e l a C r From Ou Express Page 4 Ongoing Pioneer Events The following are regularly scheduled events selected from our calendars. Please see activity calendars at your location or online for a more complete list. Mondays & Tuesdays at 7:00 pm: Card Games at Pioneer Pointe Mondays through Thursdays at 10:00 am: Fit & Fun at PioneerCare Suites Tuesdays 2:00 to 4:00 pm: Popcorn Sales at PioneerCare Center Tuesdays at 3:00 pm: Quilting in the PioneerCare Deerwood Household (every other week) Wednesdays at 1:00 pm: Cribbage at Pioneer Pointe Wednesdays at 1:30 pm: Bingo at PioneerCare Suites Thursdays at 11:00 am: Bible Study at Pioneer Pointe Thursdays at 1:30 pm: Manicures at Care Suites (every other week) Thursdays at 3:00 pm: Bingo in the PioneerCare Center Garden Court Thursdays at 6:15 pm: Men s Night at Apple Blossom Fridays at 10:00: Renew Your Spirit at PioneerCare Suites Fridays at 11:00 am: Creative Arts in the PioneerCare Center Hobby Room Fridays at 3:30 pm: Sing-A-Long at Pioneer Pointe Fridays at 6:00 pm: Night at the Movies in each Care Center neighborhood Fridays all day: Canine Company at the Cottages (FF) Saturdays at 2:00 pm: Coffee Time at the Cottages (FF) Event dates and times are subject to change. Upcoming Care Center Events By Liane Barton Well, here we go again with another fall season that will surely set off a busy round of events. On Monday, Sept. 30 the Fergus Falls High School Homecoming Royalty stopped by to greet our care center residents and parade around in their finest. We all love to see the beautiful dresses and suits these young people wear to Homecoming. There are usually some interesting comments about the dresses-how short, low cut, etc. It makes for some good conversation. Halloween is always a busy day getting the court yard decorated. This year s theme is Who gives a Hoot with an owl décor. The trick-or-treaters are welcome from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. In the past, many families have donated candy. If you would like to donate candy to this event, you can leave your donation at the desk in the front lobby. Many of our residents feel they need to donate something and it s good when we can say it s already been donated. Thanksgiving is approaching fast. Again we ask, PLEASE call to make reservations if you plan to have dinner with your loved one. It makes the day so much more pleasant when we have enough for everyone and seating is set up in advance. You can call and leave your name and number of guests with the receptionist-phone number is 998-1500, by the 18th of November. Please call for more information. I know it seems early, but just to let everyone know: we will be having the annual Live Nativity on December 24 at 10:45 am followed in the afternoon by a live Christmas Concert performed by Pianist Michael Nelson from Minneapolis. The concert will begin at 2:00 pm. You are all invited to both these special events that make Christmas a bit more special at PioneerCare. That s about it for upcoming events at PioneerCare Center. Enjoy your fall and drive safely as the weather begins to change!

Express Page 5 New Program Coordinator for PioneerLink Sara Hage has joined PioneerLink as its new program coordinator. Sara most recently worked as an agent with State Farm Insurance in Fergus Falls. People with complicated oral medication regimens benefit from PioneerLink s MedSmart device and others use the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) to empower people to live more independently and ensure they are safe in their homes. More details are online at www.pioneercare.org or by calling Sara at 218.998.2628. Auxiliary News by Norma Worden, Auxiliary Vice President We have had a busy fall in the fun and fund raising part of our Auxiliary s job. Another successful Dinner and Jazz event was well attended and enjoyed by all. One benefit was it allowed one resident to take his wife out to dinner. As you read this, our Apple Dumpling Day will have happened and I am sure it will have been enjoyed by many of you. We will announce the winner of the quilt in the next edition of Express. Now, we move from Apple Dumplings to our next project: our annual pie sale. You will find an order form inserted into this newsletter. Please note the November 14 deadline for ordering and the November 22 date for pick up. We will host a Christmas shopping event for care center residents on Monday, December 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon in the Garden Court at PioneerCare Center. The event helps them do some shopping, have gifts wrapped and obtain assistance with sending Christmas cards to loved ones. The Auxiliary continues to offer a number of Items on our gift cart. New are scarves that are fashionable as well as pretty. These items are available during daytime operating hours at the care center. As always, you are invited to help with any and all events including Desk Duty in the Lobby. Speaking from experience, it is an enjoyable four hours. I bring knitting or sewing and visit with those who come through looking for room numbers. Some staff and residents come by to visit as well. We have simple tasks to do from time to time but not many. Please consider spending a morning or afternoon welcoming people to Pioneer. Just contact Liane at 218-998-1506. Worship at Pioneer The following are our regularly scheduled worship events. Please join us... Sundays at 9:30 am: Rotating Worship at Pioneer Cottages - please see current calendar at the cottages for details Sundays at 10:30 am: Catholic Mass in the PioneerCare Center Prayer Chapel Sundays at 11:00 am: Pioneer Worship in the PioneerCare Celebration Center Mondays at 11:00 am: Worship at Deerwood Household Mondays at 1:30 pm: Worship at Autumn Lakes Household Mondays at 3:30 pm: Worship at Heritage Cottage Tuesdays at 11:00 am: Worship at Homestead Cottage Tuesdays at 3:30 pm: Worship at PioneerCare Suites Dieseth Chapel Wednesdays at 11:00 am: Weekly Worship at Cherrywood Household Wednesdays at 2:00 pm: Worship at Heartland Cottage All dates and times are subject to change; please confirm your plans to attend.

Express Page 6 News from Pioneer Pointe and Care Suites by Paulette Hoebelheinrich, Housing Manager Autumn: Ah breaths of fresh crisp air in the mornings that sometimes last all day long. Sweatshirts and light jackets feel so good. Harvest is nearing completion and lands are being laid to rest for the winter. Tenants and staff at Pioneer Pointe and Care Suites are planning fun filled events during the months of October and November. Oktoberfest noon menus offer German cuisine that will be enjoyed on Thursdays during the month starting October 10. Trick or Treaters are invited to both Pioneer Pointe and the Care Suites from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m. on Halloween evening. Tenants will be handing out TREATS to ward off any TRICKS. Thanksgiving on November 28 will bring many tenants and their families together. A number of tenants are invited out for the day, while others entertain family and join together for a wonderful noon meal prepared by our chefs. Whatever the case may be, we wish all a Blessed Thanksgiving with friends and family. Pioneer Cottages Update A team from Pioneer Cottage in Breckenridge recently participated in the annual Walk to End Alzheimers in Fargo. The Footprints Through Life team, organized by Katie Burkman, raised over $635 in funds. I appreciate all the support from Pioneer and our friends and family throughout the years for added encouragement and support. This is a great cause and I hope to continue the the effort to end Alzheimer s or assist in donations for advancements with this devastating disease. If you would like to learn more about Pioneer Cottages, please contact Heather Nelson in Fergus Falls at 218-998-9677 or Barb Mohs in Breckenridge at 218-643-9570. The Footprints Through Life Alzheimer s team included Jenna Seidel, Barb Mohs, Becky Coyle, John Coyle, Courtney Solvie, Katie Burkman, Tara Krogh.

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Express Page 8 Images of our Past From Our Photo Album... Original location built in 1928 Lillian Saure, the first administrator certified by the State of Minnesota Early residents of Pioneer Hilda Slind, hired in 1929 to manage operations Pioneer Pointe opened in 1997 Pastor A.T. Tjornhom joined Pioneer in 1955 as the first chaplain Care Center ground breaking in 2009 Care Center residents moved to the Mabelle location by parade in May 2011 Do you have a picture for our photo album? Please email an electronic copy to steveg@pioneercare.org