American House Westland Hunter 35700 Hunter Avenue Westland Michigan 48185 (734) 728-8670 americanhouse.com Barbie Campbell Renee Hamblin Jill Klein Nicholas Batey Bill Abraham Damin Harris George Simmon Angela Phillips John Ingison American House Staff Executive Director Assistant Director Life Enrichment Director Dietary/Housekeeping Dir. Maintenance Director Assistant Cook Night & Weekend Manager Night & Weekend Manager Transportation Driver Important Phone Numbers Main Office (734) 728-8670 Medical Team (734) 721-9188 Medical Team 2nd number (313) 204-1769 Transportation Driver (734) 558-0493 Beauty Salon Amelia (734) 728-8864 Beauty Salon Open on Thursdays @ 10:00 am Community Store Open Mondays & Thursdays 2:00/4:00 Winter Outings With the winter months approaching, we will be taking fewer outings to avoid the cold temperature and bad road conditions. Please be aware of the American House policy: When the school buses shut down because of dangerous roads or weather conditions, our buses shut down as well. If you have any questions or concerns about transportation please feel free to speak with the office. December 2015 Holiday for Hope/Christmas Party We would like to invite families to join their loved ones for the annual Holiday for Hope Tree Lighting Ceremony & Family Christmas Party on Thursday, December 3rd, from 4:00 to 8:30. Enjoy dinner, live entertainment, and cocktails. Please RSVP by November 30th. We hope to see you there. Days of December December brings the arrival of winter, the holiday season, and the eve of the new year. Enjoy this exciting time!
2 December Giving Back Benefits the Brain Giving your time and talents often brings personal and emotional satisfaction. Evidence shows volunteering provides feel-good benefits and brain health advantages too. Doctors say no matter where or how seniors lend a hand, taking part in engaging environments, social interaction and mentally stimulating activities that volunteer opportunities provide creates new pathways in the brain, which can help prevent memory loss and cognitive problems. Because of their sense of purpose and accomplishment, volunteers also report feeling happier and more satisfied with their lives. If you are looking for volunteer jobs in our community, speak with Jill. Surviving the Holiday Season By Brian Rosso, R.D. During the holiday season, the average person experiences increased stress and gains about five pounds. This weight gain and stress can be minimized by following the suggestions listed below. Exercise on a regular basis. People who schedule time to exercise are more successful at keeping the extra pounds off and feel better overall. Avoid overeating your holiday favorites! Eat a healthy meal before going to a party. Drink plenty of water, decaffeinated tea or decaffeinated coffee. Not only will the liquids hydrate you, but they will also fill your stomach and decrease your chances of overeating. Enjoy your favorite holiday foods, but eat them off a small plate. This limits the amount of food you will eat and helps keep the extra pounds off. Keep your stress to a minimum over the holidays. Get plenty of sleep; at least eight hours a night. Socialize with family and friends. Eat well-balanced meals. Do not forget breakfast it is the most important meal of the day. Happy Holidays from American House! Hot Cocoa and Health A cup or two of cocoa each day may do more than ward off a chill. Cocoa is rich in antioxidants, potassium, iron and other nutrients. Hot chocolate is also chock-full of flavonoids, powerful compounds that are being studied for their link to fighting cancer, preventing stroke and delaying dementia and other cognitive problems. Plus, sipping this sweet treat can make you feel better not only because the drink is delicious, but also because it raises the body s levels of serotonin, which produces endorphins and can banish a bad mood. Staying Active It is important to stay active all year, especially during the winter months. American House offers different exercise programs to help keep everyone active. Tuesdays and Thursdays are senior exercise classes with Jill. Twice a month, Neeta Patel offers a Senior Yoga class, and once a month senior exercise instructor Brooke Munson. All exercise programs are friendly for everyone! Check the monthly schedule for dates.
3 Flower of gggggggg [December] gggggg [Narcissus] Botanical name Narcissus poeticus actaea... Other names Narcissi... Description Small multi-petaled blossom... Colors White, pink, yellow, orange... Facts Flowers are extremely fragrant. All daffodils are narcissi, but not all narcissi are daffodils. Parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested. December Birthdays Raymond Farmer Agnus Evlow Lura Gray Laurie Bailey Robert Thorne Angie Watson Employee Birthdays Shelby Bray Ethan Belnap Barbie Campbell 6th 5th 15th 19th 28th 31st 10th 12th 29th Birthday Celebration Join us on Wednesday, December 2, at 2:15, for the birthday celebration. Live music entertainment performed by Craig Marsden. We hope to see you there!! Meaning From the Greek word meaning vanity and youth Famous Faces Born in December Dec. 1, 1945: Bette Midler Dec. 2, 1983: Aaron Rodgers Dec. 4, 1949: Jeff Bridges Dec. 4, 1964: Marisa Tomei Dec. 7, 1932: Ellen Burstyn Dec. 9, 1957: Donny Osmond Dec. 11, 1931: Rita Moreno Dec. 15, 1933: Tim Conway Dec. 17, 1946: Eugene Levy Dec. 17, 1975: Milla Jovovich Dec. 19, 1980: Jake Gyllenhaal Dec. 21, 1948: Samuel L. Jackson Dec. 24, 1971: Ricky Martin Dec. 25, 1948: Barbara Mandrell Dec. 26, 1954: Ozzie Smith Dec. 28, 1934: Maggie Smith Dec. 28, 1981: Sienna Miller Dec. 29, 1947: Ted Danson Dec. 31, 1995: Gabby Douglas December Flower of December: Narcissus Botanical name: Narcissus poeticus actaea Other name: Narcissi Description: Small blossom with multiple petals, similar to the daffodil Colors: White, pink, yellow and orange Season: Fall to spring Meaning: From the Greek word narcissus, representing self-esteem and vanity Bloom size: 12 to 18 inches tall Color pattern: Solid and bicolor Facts: Flowers are extremely fragrant. Galanthine, a substance in the flowers, is being used in medical research to treat Alzheimer s disease.
December 2015 Important Notices Please be aware that with the winter season here we will be going on fewer outings to avoid cold weather and bad road conditions. The monthly schedule is subject to change at anytime. Though we do our best to keep scheduled programs, changes do sometimes occur. If you have any questions about the schedule, please speak with Jill. She will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Shopping We will not have a shopping trip on Friday, December 11th. Due to Christmas falling on a Friday, that week we will be going shopping at Meijer on Wednesday, December 23rd. BINGO There will not be Bingo on Christmas Day. We will need volunteers to call Bingo on Friday, Dec. 11th & Monday, Dec. 14th. If we do not have volunteers Bingo will be canceled. Sunday Monday Tuesday Saint Nicholas Day 6 8:00-10:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 9:30- Catholic Service (2nd Floor Solarium) 2:00- Afternoon Show 8:00-10:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 9:30- Catholic Service (2nd Floor Solarium) 2:00- Afternoon Show 8:00-10:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 9:30- Catholic Service (2nd Floor Solarium) 2:15- Entertainment With John Latini 8:00-10:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 9:30- Catholic Service (2nd Floor Solarium) 2:00- Afternoon Show Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 10:00- Nails With Jill (1st Floor 11:45- TED Talks 6:30- Card Playing (1st Floor 13 14 10:00- Nails With Jill (1st Floor 12:00- Choir Performance @ Penrickton Center for the Blind (Depends on a Caller) 6:30- Card Playing (1st Floor 20 First Day of Winter 21 27 10:00- Nails With Jill (1st Floor 11:45- TED Talks 3:30- Hot Cocoa in the Cafe 6:30- Card Playing (1st Floor 10:00- Nails With Jill (1st Floor 11:45- TED Talks 6:30- Card Playing (1st Floor 7 28 10:00- Yoga Class With Neeta Patel 12:00- Decorating Christmas Trees Floor) followed by... 10:30- Meditation 12:00- Brain Busters 2:00- Creative Arts (Holiday Decor) 1 8 15 10:00-Yoga Class With Neeta Patel 12:00- Brain Busters 2:00- Creative Arts (Ginger Bread Houses) Floor) followed by... 10:30- Meditation 12:00- Brain Busters 2:30- Resident Meeting Floor) followed by... 10:30- Meditation 12:00- Brain Busters 2:00- Creative Arts (1st Floor) 22 29
Calendar of Events Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 10:00- Bank Run 10:00- Library Drop Off 2:00- December Birthday Celebration 2:15- Entertainment With Garvin 2 10:00- Beauty Salon Closed 4:00/8:30- Holiday for Hope/Christmas Party 3 National Cookie Day 4 8:00/10:00- Hot Breakfast 10:00- Kroger 11:45- Sunshine Committee/ Clipping Coupons for the Troops 6:30- Friday Night Holiday Movie 8:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 12:00- Balloon Volleyball 5 9 10 11 12 11:00- Cooking Club 2:15- Entertainment With Craig Marsden 10:00- Beauty Salon 2:30- Yahtzee 3:30- Puzzle Corner 6:00- Northridge Christmas Play 6:30- Card Playing ( 8:00/10:00- Hot Breakfast 10:00- NO SHOPPING 11:45- Sunshine Committee/ Clipping Coupons for the Troops (Depends on Caller) 6:30- Friday Night Holiday Movie 10:30- Blood Pressure Checks 2:00- Wayne- Westland Senior Chorus Performance 5:30- Hines Park Christmas Lights 16 10:00- Beauty Salon Floor) Followed by... 10:30- Morning Meditation 11:00- Max & Erma s 2:30- Yahtzee 3:30- Puzzle Corner 17 8:00/10:00- Hot Breakfast 10:00- Meijer 11:45- Sunshine Committee/ Clipping Coupons for the Troops 6:30- Friday Night Holiday Movie 18 8:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 12:00- Balloon Volleyball 19 23 10:00- Meijer 10:00- Bank Run 10:00- Library Drop Off 2:15- Entertainment With Ken Kirk 10:00- Morning Exercise 2:30- Eggnog & Cookies by the Fire Place 3:30- Puzzle Corner 6:30- Card Playing ( 24 25 National Candy Cane Day 26 8:00- Coffee Chat @ Breakfast 12:00- Balloon Volleyball 11:00- Cooking Club 2:00- Musical Bingo 30 10:00- Beauty Salon Floor) Followed by... 10:30- Morning Meditation 2:15- New Year s Eve Celebration With Jack Bailey 6:30- Card Playing ( 31 Winter Arrives
6 Talk About It Christmas Carolers Be sure to check the daily activity board in the lobby for dates and time for Christmas Carolers. This year, our guests are Girl Scouts, 2nd & 3rd graders from St. Raphael Catholic School, and a local family. Christmas Dinner Meal times on Christmas Day will be served at normal times. If you are going to be out of the building, or if you are going to have a guest join you, please let the office know. American House Senior Choir We are always looking for new choir members. The choir travels to different building for rehearsals. They have preformed at the VA Hospital, Children Hospital, Nursing Homes & Schools. Speak with Jill for more information. Holiday for Hope/ Christmas Party Residents and Families, please join us on December 3, 2015 for our Christmas Party and Holiday for Hope Tree Lighting. Supper will be served from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Entertainment with John Latini & Dessert 6:00 to 7:30. Then, join us in the Cafe for Cocktails from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. RSVP by November 30th NorthRidge Christmas Play Thursday, December 10th we will be attending the Glory of Christmas Play @ the Northridge Church. Discount ticket prices for our Residents will be $15. We will depart from the building @ 6:00 pm. (8 tickets available) Wayne-Westland Senior Chorus Wednesday, December 16th Wayne-Westland Senior Chorus will be performing their Holiday Show, @ 2:00 pm, in the Dining room. Musical BINGO December is Bingo s Birthday Month. On Wednesday, December 30th, in place of entertainment, Jill will be hosting musical Bingo @ 2:15. Come give it a try and win great prizes. New Year s Eve Celebration On Thursday, December 31st, @ 2:00, come bring in the New Year 2016 with Live Music Entertainment with Jack Bailey, champagne, and good company. We hope to see everyone there!! 4. Custom 5. Campanulas 6. Day of festivity 7. Annual Christian celebration 11. Penny-pincher 13. Greeting paper 14. Present 15. Arrangement of flowers... 1. Nutty person 2. Signs of welcome 3. Sources of illumination 8. Decoration 9. Foliage with berries 10. Christmas drink 12. Wax cylinder
7 Veterans Day November 11 was Veterans Day. Our Veterans enjoyed a free lunch provided by Applebee s. Then later followed a special flag folding ceremony & gun salute by the American Legion Livonia Post. Thank you all for your service! 2015 Halloween
December 2015 AMERICAN HOUSE WESTLAND HUNTER 35700 Hunter Avenue Westland, MI 48185