Sunnyside Staff Takes to the Alleys
by Victoria Doyle
Admissions Coordinator
Salem, OR -- Low scores are good in golf, but not when bowling. Still, it didn’t matter to the five teams from Sunnyside Care Center who joined the local community for a fundraiser to benefit Serenity Helping Hands. Over $1,200 was raised from the event held at Town & Country Lanes in Keizer, Oregon.
From first-timer bowlers to veterans, Sunnyside was well represented. Led by Sunnyside’s self-proclaimed bowling fanatic, CNA CeCe Watson, staff from nursing, housekeeping, admissions and Peoplefirst Rehab joined 115 others in what was dubbed a Bowling Extravaganza FUN-Raiser.
Serenity Helping Hands is a nonprofit organization created and operated by Serenity Hospice employees that is dedicated to enriching the lives of those in need through service projects.
Kyllonen Named to Case Management Board
by Steven Ross
Executive Director, Northwest Continuum Care Center
and
Victoria Doyle
Admissions Coordinator, Sunnyside Care Center
Kathy Kyllonen has been named to the Board of the Oregon Medical Case Management Group. Kathy is currently a Community Liaison working out of Longview, Washington in the NW Region. She works with Medford Health and Rehabilitation, Medford, OR; Sunnyside Care Center, Salem, OR; Northwest Continuum Care Center, Longview, WA; and Vancouver Health and Rehabilitation, Vancouver, WA. Kathy has held a variety of positions over the past 26+ years with Kindred including roles in activities, admissions, and sales and marketing. In addition, her early career experiences as a CNA have given Kathy insight into direct care of our residents. This makes her well suited to work with the OMCMG and their mission to provide a common ground for individuals practicing case management in health-related fields. Case managers work within hospitals and with insurance companies and act as key figures in the admissions process for both skilled and long-term nursing care facilities and for other health care needs.
"I feel that Kathy is an excellent choice for this group. She has seen the operation of our centers from multiple perspectives and is aware of the challenges that we face daily. But on the flip side her experience in marketing and customer relations allows her to see the perspective of the case managers and this makes her invaluable in bridging that gap," said Steven Ross, ED at Northwest Continuum.
Sunnyside Resident Continues Christmas Tradition of Giving
by Victoria Doyle
Admissions Coordinator
Salem, OR -- As part of a Christmas tradition, resident Adelaide E. (at right) of Sunnyside Care Center organized donations of teddy bears for a local shelter. Executive Director Jeanine Knight of Simonka Place accepted the donation of over 100 bears and other stuffed animals at a private luncheon hosted by Mrs. E. Simonka Place is an emergency shelter for women and their children that is part of the Union Gospel Mission of Salem. With the aid of countless friends, staff and other volunteers, Mrs. Eller was able to continue her active participation in making Christmas donations to the shelter.
Special Bond and Oath Unite Two Military Men and Inspire a Trip Home
By Victoria Doyle
Admissions Coordinator
Salem, OR ---
Sunnyside ED Keith Titus and Mr. Jean have a unique connection borne of their military experiences in service to our country. Jean is a veteran of the siege of Bastogne, a smaller battle fought in and around the Belgian town during the larger Battle of the Bulge. The legendary
Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division was one of the units present at Bastogne. Many people know of the battles from Band of Brothers, an HBO miniseries based on a book of the same name by Stephen Ambrose.It was Titus who reminded Staff Sergeant Raymond Jean of the oath he had taken as a member of Headquarters Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division.
"It meant a great deal to me to see Ray walk out of here" explained Titus. "I remember very well when he came in December of last year. His wife told me that their personal physician had told Ray and his family that he would never walk again." Neither he, nor LPT Jeroen LaPorte, were willing to give up.
"I just reminded him of that oath he took in 1943," Titus said. "It got him through the war, and it's also what got him through this." Jean admitted that it was this pledge that kept him going and prevented him from giving up even when he wanted to.
All of the staff at Sunnyside felt privileged to know both Mr. Jean and his wife Pat during his recovery. Especially welcome were the tales of the their 11 children and dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
"It is true that Ray and I have a bond that goes beyond generations," Titus added. "It has been a supreme personal honor to know this man who is one of the Band of Brothers. It is not very often we get to know one of the real heroes to whom we all owe so much. It has been very important to me to be a small part of his success."
Jean received an unexpected honor while a patient of Sunnyside. The facility contacted the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The goal was to correct an oversight from Jean’s service as a veteran. While on a home-visit one weekend, privately with his family, Mr. Jean was presented with a set of "glider wings" that should have been given to him in England 64 years before. "This was a big boost to him. It just took a long time for the Division to catch up to him," explained Titus. Which adds another dimension to the oath: How far can you go to make things right? "How far? All the way!"
first Rehab Manager and OTR Brenda Long. Front row (l-r), Raymond Jean and Director of Social Services Miki Hammer.Pictured above, Mr. Jean's discharge from Sunnyside Care Center. Back row (l-r) Mrs. Pat Jean; Charge Nurse Dee Pfel, LPN, LPTJeroen LaPorte, People
