A Note From Our Administrator
Medicare Open Enrollment
It is that time of year again, and as residents of an assisted living or other long-term care community, now is the time to think about your Medicare Benefits and assure they are the best fit for your current providers. For The Gardens of Cedar Rapids it is important to understand how your plan works with our pharmacy (Right Dose Pharmacy) and our therapy department (Millennium Therapy). Whether you reside in long-term care and need to think about future coverage for skilled nursing care and prescription drugs, or if you reside in assisted living or memory care and need to think about out-patient therapy services (typically covered by Part B), now is the best time to ask questions and get the plan that is best for you.
For 2019 coverage, open enrollment will run from October 15th, 2018, to December 7th, 2018. During the annual enrollment period (AEP) you can make changes to various aspects of your coverage. You can switch from Original to Medicare with a supplement or whatever plan best suits your needs in your healthcare setting. Please take the time to check with your therapy staff or administration to hear what plans are in network with The Gardens of Cedar Rapids.
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Meet Tina Parizek!
Tina is our new front desk receptionist!
From Tina:
"I live in Walford with my husband Myron. We have 3 children that are all in their twenties. Our son Keegan graduated from the U of I in May and accepted a job in Minneapolis. Our other son Konner is a senior at ISU and our daughter is a sophomore at U of I. I group up in Northeast Iowa on a farm. I graduated from Waukon High School and then moved to Cedar Rapids to attend Kirkwood Community College. After graduating from Kirkwood, I worked in an office for 12 1/2 years before starting a family. I was then fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom. I enjoyed my time home with them and being able to spend time volunteering in their classrooms. During their childhood years, I worked various part-time jobs. I have enjoyed my first month at The Gardens of Cedar Rapids and I look forward to getting to know the residents and the staff better. "
We are so happy to have you Tina! Welcome!
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November Events
Coffee Club
Join our Community Relations Director Amy every Monday morning at 9:00am in our Piano Lounge for coffee and great conversation! No R.S.V.P. necessary, just come and see! Complementary coffee mug is provided at your first visit.
Karaoke and Music with Richard "Loco" Lee
This Sunday, November 4th at 1:30pm, head over to our Skilled Dining Room for classic favorites and blues tunes performed by "Loco" Lee! Richard "Loco" Lee is a local railway worker with a passion for music. Karaoke is encouraged, but not required.
Musical Fellowship with Stonebridge Church
Sunday, November 11th at 3:30pm members from Stonebridge Church will be putting on an afternoon of musical fellowship in our Piano Lounge. All are welcome to attend!
Bingo with Prairie High School
They're back! Students from Prairie High School will be playing Bingo with us on Saturday, November 17th from 10:00-11:15am. The event will be located in our Skilled Dining Room. All residents and family are invited to join!
Assisted Living Family Brunch
Our November assisted living brunch is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th at 10:00am. This month we will have a Thanksgiving theme! Come hungry! All invited family and friends of our assisted living tenants are welcome to attend! Please R.S.V.P. to Eva by Friday, November 16th.
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Christmas Lunch
Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 13th! We will be hosting a building-wide Christmas lunch, beginning at noon. Come see Santa and join your loved one for a festive and delicious meal! Please R.S.V.P. to Eva by December 6th to reserve your spot!
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Resident Spotlight
Larry Priske
Lawrence "Larry" Priske was born on August 30th, 1935 in Eldora, Iowa. He was raised there with his two brothers and two sisters. He graduated from Eldora High School in 1955, and later that year joined the Navy. His service in the Navy ended four years later in 1959. After his service he joined Rockwell Collins as a Foreman Supervisor. He retired from Rockwell in 1991. Larry has four kids, three girls and a boy. He married his wife Betty, in 1988. The couple has resided in the Cedar Rapids area for the past 40 years. Larry was invited by the Freedom Foundation in Cedar Rapids to go on an Honor Flight in 2016 in honor of his service in the Navy. Larry enjoys visiting with friends and family, playing bingo, eating Pizza Ranch, chicken wings, and sharing his contagious smile with all he meets. His family feels fortunate to have found The Gardens of Cedar Rapids, who has accommodated Larry's desire to have his at home caregiver of five years working close by. Join us Wednesday, November 28th at 3:30pm in our Piano Lounge for an "Afternoon with Larry!"
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Reminders
Flu Season
Flu season is here once again. We ask if you are experiencing ANY cold or flu like symptoms that you refrain from visiting our facility. Help keep our residents and staff safe and healthy! Thank you!
Holiday Meals
The holidays are quickly approaching! On Thanksgiving and Christmas day, our chefs will be preparing traditional holiday food for the noon meal. If you will be joining us for a meal around the holidays, especially on either Thanksgiving or Christmas, please let us know today so that we can make the proper accommodations. Our building fills up quickly this time of year and your reservation helps us immensely! Thank you!
Labeling Laundry
Residents residing in our long term care and skilled nursing units are asked to clearly label their clothes with their name. This helps ensure that our laundry staff is able to return clothing items to their proper owners. Please speak with Brenda our Housekeeping Manager if you have any questions.
Meal Punch Cards
We love having visitors at our dinner table! Just a reminder that if you are joining us regularly for meals we offer a meal punch card. You can purchase 5 or 10 meals at a time. The cost is $5 per meal. See Tina at our front desk to purchase yours! Your sever will ask to see your card at the time of your meal.
Transportation to Appointments
Transportation to appointments is available for our assisted living tenants on Thursdays during business hours. We appreciate at least one week's notice so that we can accommodate staff's schedules. Speak with Eva or Terry for questions or to schedule transportation.
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In Loving Memory
Cecil Perkins
November 12th, 1928 - September 16th, 2018
Robert Trumpold
November 15th, 1934 - October 18th, 2018
Donald Weiss
June 24th, 1933 - October 27th, 2018
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November Birthdays!
John L. - November 6th
Frances K. - November 15th
Julianne M. - November 17th
Arlene M. - November 20th
Richard S. - November 20th
Evan T. - November 25th
Emil G. - November 30th
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About Thanksgiving...
Article taken from Wikipedia
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, after Congress requested a proclamation by George Washington. It has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who in the Heavens," to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. Together with Christmas and the New Year, Thanksgiving is a part of the broader fall/winter holiday season in the U.S.
The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in October 1621. This feast lasted three days, and—as accounted by attendee Edward Winslow—it was attended by 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.
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Phone List
Main Line 632-1350
Fax Line 632-1469
Nurses Station Suites 200 Ext. 111 , 632-1484
Nurses Station Suites 100 Ext. 112 , 632-1485
Memory Care Wing 632-1481
Assisted Living Wing 632-1448 , 632-1489
Millennium Therapy Ext.110 , 632-1483
Amanda Loesche- Office Manager Ext.101 , 632-1482
Jenna Gardner- Administrator Ext.103 , 632-1476
Amy Kubik-Hasley - Community Relations Director Ext. 109 , 632-1477
Mary McDaniel -DON LTC/Skilled Ext. 107 , 632-1478
Dallas Urbain- Assisted Living DON Ext. 106 , 632-1480
Eva Coblentz- Activity Director (319)930-8768
Bridget Martin- Social Worker Ext. 104 , 632-1479
Matt Munyakazi- Restorative Nurse Ext. 152 , 632-1487
Kitchen Ext. 105 , 632-1486
Wishing you all a wonderful month and happy Thanksgiving!
